My Ruin to You - Chapter 218

So he had to admit it. If he couldn’t have everything, and if his endless greed would lead to Roseline’s ruin, if one of them absolutely had to endure, then it was right that the burden should be his.

“You did well, Roseline.”

Valen pulled Roseline close and hugged her shoulders. Then he patted her lightly trembling body. As if to comfort her, or to soothe her.

Roseline swallowed her ragged breaths and cried quietly, her forehead resting against his chest. It was a habit of hers. A leftover from childhood, when she used to cry stifled into her blankets.

Valen loosened the arm tightly holding her slender waist to stroke the back of her small head, while using his other hand to gently pat her back. He comforted her like that for a long while, then quietly, yet without missing a single thing, praised her for every moment—from her deeds on the battlefield to everything that had happened today.

I told you you had the qualities of a Tara, didn’t I? Merrick was impressed, said your reaction speed was incredibly fast. I heard your mana coordination has improved a lot, too. I was worried sick you might fall from your horse, but they said you ride quite well, so I was relieved. You did well, Roseline. If it weren’t for you, everyone here with you would have died. You saved them.

“…….”

Through the crack in the door that hadn’t been fully closed, his affectionate voice flowed out. The eyes of the Knight Commander, who had rushed over upon hearing news of Valen’s arrival and was standing guard in the corridor, wavered. Merrick and Edan, who had regained their original forms with the help of a healing-type Manifestor, had similar reactions.

As the Grand Duke, Valen wasn’t stingy with praise, but he wasn’t generous either. On the rare occasions he did commend a feat, it mostly ended with a simple, “You’ve worked hard.” So, witnessing this utterly unfamiliar scene, they were gripped by shock.

But Roseline, her view blocked by his broad shoulders, remained unaware of their presence. Valen had known from the start, but since the most important thing to him was solely the person in his arms, he didn’t cast a single glance toward the door.

Merrick quietly reached out and closed the door. Click. The sound of the door closing seeped through her sobs.

Roseline’s sorrow didn’t subside easily, and the hands soothing her trembling body didn’t stop either. Her sobbing figure was undoubtedly pitiful, yet, as if he couldn’t help his innate nature, he was simply glad she was breaking down in his arms. Because it was a side of her she wouldn’t show anyone else.

Therefore, he postponed telling her to stop crying and greedily held the warmth he had finally reclaimed after a long wait. He did so for a long while. It was just when Valen, starting to worry about Roseline’s dehydration and depleted stamina, was thinking he should rather lay her down.

“…I pretended I wasn’t, but I was actually always happy.”

Her mumbling scattered his thoughts. He tried to see her face, but Roseline buried her head deeply as if she didn’t want to be seen. It resulted in her nestling even deeper, but she seemed unaware. Valen narrowed his eyes and let out a low sigh. Even that trivial action was unbearably endearing, enough to make his head feel fuzzy.

Unaware of his thoughts, Roseline rested her cheek on the armor now soaked with her own tears and continued her unfinished words.

“I like that there are more people who care for me. I like that there are more things I can do. I… I like those things.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Don’t ever make me feel wretched again. Then I also……”

“……”

“I won’t hate you anymore, Your Highness.”

Valen was rendered completely incapable of action, like a novice experiencing first love for the very first time. It wasn’t a grand confession of love, nor was it complete forgiveness. Yet, he felt so overwhelmed, as if her words, forced out with such difficulty and muffled pronunciation, were his salvation.

He stood frozen in place, unable to move for a long, long time.