My Ruin to You - Chapter 209

Roseline’s deployment was decided.

Having passed a demanding test held that very day, Roseline was recognized by the evaluators for her outstanding skills. Assessments followed, praising her competent magical control and particularly her exceptional ability to apply magic across both defense and healing.

However, since neither Roseline herself nor the Grand Duke wanted a formal position, it was a temporary assignment to replace the fallen Tara.

Of course, Valen had hoped Roseline would fail, but when he received the news that she had passed every stage without a single mistake, a fleeting laugh escaped him. It was simply because he was proud of her.

But it was only for a moment. Putting aside his base desire to keep every part of Roseline for himself alone, there was no way he could feel at ease sending this person he had only just barely regained into mortal danger. It seemed there could be no greater penance than this—to send her off while bearing the weight of her potential ruin, after having drifted alone, haunted by her destruction. Yet, if what she wanted was his endurance, he had no choice but to give it.

He had thought about it. He could do many things; he had various options. But Valen chose the most difficult path, just as Roseline wished. To hold onto his worn-out patience and simply wait.

“How do you feel? It went according to your wishes, Sir.”

However, his patience and mercy did not extend to everyone. Unable to let it pass, as the crime of luring Roseline out was particularly reprehensible to him, Valen summoned Giorno on the night before her deployment.

“…My apologies, Your Highness.”

“A given statement.”

A cold voice laced with ridicule tightened around Giorno. Giorno hung his head low. For two and a half days, Giorno had been summoned here and there, hearing all sorts of things. He’d never seen Merrick, usually so calm, that angry before, and the Section Head, true to his fiery temper, had even flipped a table. Even now, the Section Head was glaring at Giorno.

And it wasn’t just the Section Head. Among those seated around the meeting table, no one looked kindly upon Giorno, who was left standing awkwardly, unable to take a seat.

Compared to them, the Grand Duke’s reaction was the calmest, which made it all the more terrifying.

“If it were peacetime, I would have killed you without hesitation.”

His voice was flat, devoid of inflection, as if delivering a verdict. The way he rolled his stiff neck left and right was utterly indifferent.

“But that would be meaningless.”

“……”

“You have them too, don’t you? Things you must not lose.”

It wasn’t leniency. It was a warning more dreadful than a threat to his neck. Even the Section Head, who had been glaring at Giorno until now, glanced sideways at the Grand Duke and Giorno with widened eyes. Giorno immediately dropped to one knee. Unsure whether to beg forgiveness for his rash judgment or to plead only for his life to be spared, he simply wore a stiff expression, his hands trembling uncontrollably for a long moment.

“You, and everything you must protect, now depend on the young lady’s safety. Ensure not a single hair on her head is harmed.”

The order was finally given. This, too, was not leniency, but there was only one answer Giorno could give.

“I will keep it in mind, Your Highness. I will protect the young lady with my life.”

Giorno placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head. It was a vow, a resolution, and submission. The Grand Duke, who never repeated himself, coldly averted his gaze. The Section Head, who had been glancing at the head seat to gauge the mood, pointed with his chin to an empty seat and said, “Sit down, quickly!” The meeting began the moment Giorno, hesitating, rose and took his seat.

The path to the enemy camp was a terrain of wide plains stretching between rocky mountains and a forest. For the past several hundred years, all battles against the Carnoc had been fought on these plains. Both enemy invasions and imperial advances had always crossed the plains without exception. Occasionally, archers were positioned on the rocky mountains or small guerrilla units were sent into the forest, but the main stage was always the plains.

However, this battle was different. The strategy was to deploy 70 percent of the forces on the plains while organizing the remaining 30 percent into a cavalry charge unit to advance through the forest. While the 70 percent engaged the enemy in a fierce battle on the plains, the key to the plan was for the 30 percent charge unit, having quickly broken through the forest, to strike the enemy’s rear and collapse their formation.

The charge unit was formed around Vice-Commander Edan, while the plains battle was commanded by Commander Pierreden. Since the charge unit’s mission, though critical, involved deep penetration into enemy lines and carried many risks, Roseline and Giorno were assigned to the plains. Merrick also set aside his duties as an attendant and entered the battle as a knight. His sole mission was Roseline’s safety.

Roseline was issued a Tara’s combat uniform. It wasn’t full armor, but the outer layer was made of magically woven fabric, and the inner layer was lined with beast hide, making it impervious to most swords. The white top had a hem that ended mid-thigh for increased mobility, and the bottom was form-fitting pants, with leather boots rising above the knees to protect her legs.

The black cloak covering her shoulders and the silver brooch fastening it signified her affiliation with the Duchy. Surprisingly, it took only a single day to create a combat uniform that fit Roseline perfectly.

And finally, the day of deployment arrived. It was the point where eight days remained in the one month Valen had promised.

“Waaahhh… Waaaah…”
“Why are you… sob… making such a fuss? It’s bad luck… Waaah…”