My Ruin to You - Chapter 219

Soon enough, the figure in his arms went limp. Valen firmly caught Roseline as she lost her balance and slumped, gently disentangling her from his embrace. When her head lolled back limply, he quickly shot a hand out to support her neck. She had cried so much that her tightly closed eyes and cheeks shimmered, having caught the moonlight.

“Roseline.”

He called her name, but no answer returned from the one with closed eyes. Valen cupped Roseline’s neck and first checked her pulse. The pulse felt through his fingers was thin and slow, but stable. Her breathing was even too. It seemed the accumulated fatigue, depleted mana, and the long bout of crying had completely released her tension, causing her to fall into a sleep as deep as a faint.

“Roseline.”

Knowing no answer would come, he called her name once more. As expected, Roseline remained silent. Valen raised his hand and softly wiped away the remaining moisture on her cheek.

As his thumb stroked her wet cheek, her small face was entirely covered by his hand. Only after smoothing back the hair covering her forehead did Valen lift Roseline into his arms. Then, last year’s banquet suddenly came to mind. It was his first day back in this life, just as it had been for Roseline.

Until he entered the banquet hall—no, until he spotted Roseline among the Academy’s Manifestors—he had thought everything had returned to its place. But Roseline had turned pale and grown restless just at his appearance, and she was so broken that even a single glance made her look ready to faint. What more could he possibly expect from a Roseline like that?

He ached to touch her, to reach out, to reclaim her, his fingertips sore from clenching, but he endured.

Although Roseline accused him of deceit, waiting and watching until the harrowing memories faded was the best Valen could do.

“Your Highness.”

As Valen emerged into the corridor carrying Roseline, those waiting in silence all bowed their heads in unison.

“You’ve been through a lot. Thank you for your hard work.”

Compared to the detailed praise he had lavished on Roseline, this recognition was indifferent and dry. Yet Merrick, who had been steeling himself for severe punishment, flinched and raised his head. He wore an utterly astonished expression. Edan, who raised his head as well, showed a quite similar reaction. Only the Knight Commander remained, his face ashen, as he dropped to one knee.

“Please execute me, Your Highness!”

His booming voice resonated loudly through the corridor. A deep annoyance gathered in the space between Valen’s brows. He checked on Roseline, asleep in his arms. Her eyelashes fluttered faintly from the sheer volume of the sound.

Shhh, it’s alright. Sleep.

His voice was endlessly tender, as if soothing a child fussing in its sleep. The hand patting her shoulder was the same. One might wonder if a grown adult needed to be lulled to sleep like that, and furthermore, the Grand Duke was not the sort of man to put even his own child to sleep in such a manner. At least, the Valen they knew wasn’t. But the loyal knights, as always, acted as if they had heard and seen nothing, simply keeping their heads bowed.

“I will atone for my crime with my life! Please, execute me, Your Highness!”

Though not lacking in sincerity, the Knight Commander, who seemed to have no sense of tact, was busy confessing only his own crimes. Merrick, standing right beside him, nudged the Commander’s thigh repeatedly with his foot. It was improper etiquette, but better than letting him continue this frenzy.

However, the seriously distraught Commander didn’t even twitch at the ticklish foot prodding his thigh. Just as Merrick was pondering whether he should kick a bit harder—

“Fine. Perhaps I shall.”

The cold voice spread like a chill. Merrick quietly withdrew his foot and glanced at Valen. His impassive expression gave nothing away. Valen carefully adjusted his hold on Roseline and continued.

“If the young lady wakes because of your voice, then perhaps I will.”

“…My apologies.”

The Knight Commander’s voice rapidly shrank. After briefly running his eyes over the kneeling Commander’s head, Valen moved on. Merrick, following without hesitation, guided Valen to the best room—the one formerly used by the lord of Cassas. The quick-witted Merrick postponed his report to the Grand Duke, simply wishing him a restful night before closing the door.

Valen laid Roseline down on the rough-hewn log bed covered with animal pelts. The nights in Cassas were cooler than in the Empire, and even in summer, a frosty chill lingered in the air. Valen pulled a fur blanket over the sleeping Roseline, then stood by the bedside and removed his armor, all while gazing at her peacefully sleeping face.