My Ruin to You - Chapter 182

In a rush, Schnitzel spilled these words and, without waiting for a response from those left behind, closed the carriage door. It was incredibly fast.

Luan, with a dumbfounded expression, stared at the carriage and belatedly tugged on the door handle, but it didn’t budge, held fast from within with all its might.

“Depart!”

As Schnitzel shouted loudly and banged on the carriage wall, Luan flinched and stepped back. Heartlessly, the carriage left, abandoning Roseline. Stranded in the plaza, Roseline could only stare blankly at the rapidly turning carriage wheels, her mouth agape and unable to close. How could this happen?

For some reason, the words Valen had spoken the previous night echoed in her mind. He had asked if she had a plan, and then…

‘My orders remain the same as before.’

‘It means that the moment you leave the residence, it will surely reach my ears. Do you understand?’

At the time, she thought she understood, but she was mistaken. Only now did she truly understand. It wasn’t a warning not to run away. It was a forewarning and a threat about what would happen today.

“Excuse me, Sir… when did you arrive at the Grand Duchy?”

“Two days ago.”

Luan said. Although he had occasionally sent letters to the academy looking for his handkerchief, after he began his journey, he sent messenger birds almost daily, which greatly worried his father.

Thus, he had no choice but to personally deliver the handkerchief. Fearing their paths might cross if he went to the layover point, he had instead come directly to the Grand Duchy first to wait. So it wasn’t unreasonable that Valen knew the news. A man who had a clear grasp of all the Empire’s affairs would hardly be unaware of what happened in his own domain.

“On behalf of my sister, I apologize. I am sorry, young lady.”

“This is not something for which you need to apologize, please do not trouble yourself over it.”

Roseline forced a smile. The deed was already done, but at least she had realized it now. All that remained was to part ways here and return to the residence.

“There is also something I must apologize to you for.”

Luan’s expression grew quite serious. He seemed hesitant to even bring it up, blinking rapidly and looking unsure of what to do. Roseline looked at him with bewildered eyes.

“You’re apologizing to me?”

“I know it is improper to say this, but if I let it slide any longer, it seems Elsie will not give up, so I am risking rudeness to speak.”

“……”

“I already have someone in my heart. Therefore, I cannot accept your feelings.”

“……Pardon?”

The feeling of being rejected without even having confessed.

It was so absurd she couldn’t even get angry. Instead, a senseless laugh burst out. Knowing full well the starting point of this ridiculous misunderstanding, Roseline rubbed her forehead gently, pondering where to begin unraveling it.

“I have much to say, but first, I wish you a good relationship with your beloved.”

“It must be difficult to gather your feelings, yet you even offer blessings. As I heard, the young lady is not only beautiful in appearance but also kind-hearted.”

“No, Sir. You misunderstand. I do not have feelings for y-–.”

“I understand. Haah, please do not forgive me for only causing you pain.”

“I’m sorry, but I am not hurt.”

“Since you possessed the discerning eye to choose me among countless men, you will surely meet someone better than me. My heart also aches terribly for having to reject someone so beautiful.”

Roseline also grew sad. It seemed there wasn’t a single sane person around her.

No, is it even possible to think that someone could like me without having ever met me?

If there had been enough time, she would have corrected the misunderstanding point by point, but right now, the matter at hand was more urgent than Luan’s delusion.

“It would be better for you to hear the full story from the young lady. I received a summons before coming to see you, so I must return urgently.”

“In that case, let me…”

“I apologize for interrupting, but I can return alone just fine. That is what I prefer.”

Clatter, clatter.

The sound of hooves was heard just then. The ground vibrated faintly, tickling the tips of Roseline’s toes. The cheerful laughter of children playing cut off abruptly, and passersby on the street all turned to look in one direction. In the distance, knights on horseback were approaching, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The ominous events were not over.