My Ruin to You - Chapter 193

Even Schnitzel, who was prone to extremes, looked on the verge of tears over the incident. Her expression was so completely different from when her eyes had sparkled brightly in the carriage that Roseline couldn’t even bring herself to scold her.

Luan, who had been detained, was quickly released, but Schnitzel, utterly cowed, couldn’t properly meet Roseline’s eyes for some time. Grounded and unable to go out, she seemed to only exchange letters with Luan. It was only after receiving his reply that she showed a slight revival of her spirits.

“It’s not because of that incident, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t try to pair me with your brother anymore, my lady. It’s also disrespectful to your ladyship’s sweetheart, isn’t it?”

“Sweetheart? What sweetheart? If I had a sweetheart, would I have been so insane as to arrange such a meeting?”

Is using a ‘sweetheart’ as an excuse to reject someone a universal practice? Roseline thought. Well, that’s possible. She nodded in understanding, then suddenly paused.

No. That’s not possible.

“Lord Schnitzel seemed to have a strange misunderstanding. May I ask what you told him about me?”

“What misunderstanding?”

“It seemed he thought I had feelings for Lady Schnitzel.”

“Huh?”

Schnitzel frowned as if she had heard something absurd. When Roseline explained the whole story, Schnitzel made a disgusted face as if she had swallowed something very bitter and shook her head.

“I did compliment you, but I never meant it in that way. Tch, my compliments were based purely on objective judgment, not because I particularly like you or meant anything else by it.”

“Why not? You’re allowed to like me. I like you very much too, my lady.”

“Aren’t you even embarrassed?”

“No.”

“….A-anyway, it seems my brother was seriously mistaken. I’ll apologize on his behalf. I’m sorry.”

Although she found it strange how he had interpreted another person’s compliments in that way, she didn’t press further. She guessed he might have misunderstood Schnitzel’s intentions. Perhaps he thought that since Schnitzel, who usually never talked about others, suddenly started listing compliments, she was helping a secretly lovestruck Roseline as her friend.

This, too, was logic she couldn’t comprehend, but it wasn’t an area where Roseline’s understanding was necessary.

“Let me ask just one last thing.”

This was when Roseline was halfway through writing her statement of reflection. Schnitzel, who had put down her pen, cautiously continued.

“Are you really not considering meeting my brother? Not at all? Not even a little?”

As the topic returned once more, Roseline also put down her pen.

“My lady.”

“Don’t glare at me like that. This isn’t my opinion, but my brother’s wish.”

What is she talking about now?

Roseline’s head tilted in confusion.

“He said he was impressed by your proactive spirit. He wants to make up for last time and asked me to put in a good word for him. I’m just conveying the message as it was written in the letter; it’s not a demand.”

Contrary to her words, a faint light shimmered in her subtly sneaking glances. It was a glimmer of hope. Determined to put an end to this tedious conversation today, Roseline picked up her pen, feigning complete indifference.

“Please tell him I have a sweetheart. I would appreciate it.”

“But you don’t.”

“I do.”

“Don’t tell me that sweetheart is His Highness the Grand Duke?”

At the sharp question that suddenly flew her way, the wrist holding the pen momentarily twitched. Roseline’s sharp gaze turned toward Schnitzel.

“Do you know how scary you are when you glare?”

“Then why don’t you stop giving me reasons to glare? My eyes hurt too, you know.”

“Just listen to me for a moment. I am incredibly grateful for the part where you met with His Highness and tried to save my brother. And I am also deeply thankful for how you used your wits to hide my brother.”

“But why are you asking such an absurd question?”

“When I thought about it carefully, it seemed a bit strange.”

“Which part?”

“Everything, from the part where His Highness agreed to meet you, to him later releasing my brother.”

“……”

“The way you are wary of His Highness is one thing, and the way His Highness’s gaze lingers peculiarly on you is another.”

Schnitzel listed off all the things she had found suspicious. Starting from when he came to the academy and specifically called only Roseline out, to during the journey when he used Merrick to pointlessly propose meals. She had been observing everything all along.