My Ruin to You - Chapter 180

Perhaps he hadn’t expected an answer either; after holding her profile in his gaze for a moment, he began walking again. Roseline followed silently in his footsteps. She paid no attention to the garden, stubbornly keeping her eyes fixed on the heels of the man walking ahead until they arrived at a greenhouse.

He opened the door and gestured inside. Roseline hesitated, then stepped in. Starlight poured through the arched glass roof above. The pebbles scattered among the water-laden flowers and lush leaves shimmered faintly. On the wooden table placed in the center of the greenhouse, a meal set for one was prepared.

“Eat and then go.”

As if that was the only matter at hand, Valen turned away calmly. Click. As the door closed, Roseline finally looked away from where he had been standing and shook her head repeatedly.

Was she that predictable, or was that man just too sharp? It was as if he had anticipated her refusal of both the first invitation and the second summons, preparing a separate meal in this meticulous plan. She clicked her tongue in disbelief.

“It’s my loss if you don’t eat.”

From the bread with its soft texture, to the perfectly cooked meat without a trace of blood, and even the dessert—everything was what Roseline liked. This greenhouse included.

◇◇◇

The next day, Schnitzel’s mood was at its peak. The moment day broke, Schnitzel burst into Roseline’s room and pestered her to go on an outing to the village. Naturally, Valen came to mind. Specifically, his warning that leaving the mansion would reach his ears.

But she wasn’t running away; it was just a village outing. What could be the problem? So, she went along with Schnitzel’s enthusiastic plans.

Schnitzel, delighted, even brought her own maids to help dress and prepare Roseline.

“Is all this really necessary just for a trip to the village?”

“What are you talking about? If we’re going out, we should go all out, right? We can’t go out looking shabby, can we?”

The one wounded by the term “shabby” was Lina. Having worked hard to serve her young lady, Lina, perhaps provoked by Schnitzel’s words, rolled up her sleeves declaring she would show her true skills today.

“……Isn’t it a bit too much?”

By the time all the preparations were finished, it was nearly noon. Roseline looked at her reflection in the mirror and muttered, turning to look at the two women.

“See, my eye is always accurate.”

“You are so beautiful, young lady.”

They didn’t even listen to Roseline’s words with half an ear. They just said their piece and admired her.

Today, Roseline looked like a scene straight out of a watercolor painting. The sky-blue dress Schnitzel had brought fit her as if it had been made just for her. The round neckline was made of sheer, closely-woven fabric, and lace embroidery resembling flower petals adorned the dress from the chest down to the waistline. The slightly flared skirt accentuated her slender figure, and the hairstyle Lina had meticulously crafted harmonized perfectly with the dress.

“You could take your marriage vows looking just like this.”

“Pardon?”

“It means you are that beautiful, young lady. Truly perfect.”

Schnitzel gave a benevolent smile to Roseline, who asked back with a puzzled expression. There was no scolding for asking questions repeatedly, nor any remark about the wary, suspicious look in Roseline’s eyes.

Something’s up.

Roseline carefully observed Schnitzel, who was oddly excited. A suspicion flashed through her mind—did she summon her brother?—but she quickly shook her head. No matter how desperately Schnitzel wanted to set up her brother with Roseline, she wouldn’t be so insane as to call him here if she were in her right mind.

If asked whether Schnitzel was in her right mind, one couldn’t immediately nod in agreement, but Roseline wanted to believe she wouldn’t go that far.

However, just past noon, Schnitzel’s buoyant mood plummeted straight to the depths of the earth. The reason was a change in schedule; all Manifestors had been summoned to the training grounds. Roseline was inwardly relieved, while Schnitzel was furious. But what could she do? Gnashing her teeth, Schnitzel headed for the training grounds. Or so Roseline thought. She never could have dreamed that Schnitzel would push her into her own carriage, which was waiting in front of the annex.

“Listen carefully. We heard nothing about any summons. I will take responsibility for any punishment.”
“Young lady, wait a moment. Please, just calm down first…”

“I think I will calm down if we go to the village today. Without fail. Do you understand?”

“No. I don’t understand, young lady. If we just wait until after the summons, then…”

“Now, let’s go!”

Easily overpowering Roseline’s resistance, Schnitzel knocked on the window, and the carriage began to move. Roseline stared at Schnitzel sitting beside her with a stunned expression.

“Um, it might not have been an order from His Highness? Don’t be so afraid. Everything will be fine.”

It seemed she was the one who was afraid. Contrary to her aloof expression, her eyes were shaking restlessly. No, if you’re this scared, then why on earth are you doing this?

A sense of foreboding rose within her. That one assumption she had made—that it couldn’t be, that he wouldn’t go that far.

“Sigh, Elsie. When are you ever going to grow up?”

The man who gently opened the door of the carriage parked on one side of the square and leaned his head out was Schnitzel’s brother.