My Ruin to You - Chapter 222

The Vice Captain fell to his knees. His voice, begging for death, echoed, resonating through the space. Roseline’s eyes widened in surprise, and as she hunched her shoulders, Valen’s eyebrows sharpened into an angle.

“How many times must I say the same thing.”

The voice that came down was cold. Remembering the warning from last night, the Vice Captain, still on his knees, glanced furtively at the table. The knife gripped in Valen’s hand was positioned at the edge of his vision. The Vice Captain swallowed dryly, as if steeling his resolve, and bowed his head again.

“The crime of disrupting the front lines due to a misjudgment and, furthermore, upsetting Your Highness’s mood—I will repay it with my life.”

His voice was quieter, but its content was resolute.

“Please take my life as well, Your Highness.”

Giorno also knelt. Then Edan knelt beside him. Of the four, only Merrick remained standing firm. There was no change in his expression.

“…Um.”

Roseline raised her hand slightly, as if seeking permission to speak. Merrick, who glanced at her, shook his head slightly. It was because the image of the screamer rat from last night, raising its short arm, overlapped in his mind.

Unlike the others vying to confess their crimes, Merrick wasn’t taking this situation seriously. If the Grand Duke had intended to punish them, he would have beheaded them all last night. He had summoned them in front of the Young Lady to convey yesterday’s events and to grant them leniency. Even if it wasn’t the Grand Duke’s initial intention, the Young Lady would surely try to save them, thus providing a pretext for mercy.

“The Vice Captain had sufficient reason for his misunderstanding. The situation was like that. There were a great many Carnoc troops. At first, there weren’t that many, but after hearing the horn, they swarmed from all directions.”

Roseline was of the same mind as Merrick. Summoning them precisely during mealtime meant he wanted to hear her opinion, and indeed, that was the case.

“Is that so?”

Valen rolled the knife on the back of his hand and looked over at Merrick.

“Yes, Your Highness. It seems they were organizing their forces and preparing for a surprise attack.”

“If the Vice Captain hadn’t sent the follow-up force, the situation would have been even more dangerous.”

The follow-up force was entirely the Vice Captain’s decision. Moreover, the Vice Captain had recommended the plains, but due to a strong insistence from someone in the party, the forest path was chosen. The opinion that crossing the plains would make them highly visible to the enemy also had merit, so their wish was respected.

However, judging from extensive combat experience, forests posed a significant risk of ambush. Furthermore, not long after the advance team departed, a perfectly fine bowstring snapped cleanly, increasing the Vice Captain’s unease. That’s why he hastily assembled a strike force and sent them as a follow-up. A full two thousand troops. Without the Vice Captain’s judgment and the strike force, the situation would have been far more disastrous.

“I’ve understood, so finish your meal.”

Valen, who had been chewing on the inside of his cheek while pondering, gestured with his eyes to Roseline’s plate.

“…If I may be so bold, might I ask what you understood?”

Given his illustrious history of understanding things in his own way, Roseline asked cautiously. Despite her polite tone, mindful of the listening ears, the look she used to scrutinize Valen was full of doubt. Valen let out a helpless laugh.

“It means the Vice Captain made the right judgment, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“However, not all of his judgments were correct.”

“…But if the result is good, isn’t everything good? I think you of all people would know that……”

“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t received a good result yet.”

“……”

“Eat. If it won’t go down, have some fruit instead.”

She doubted she could even swallow water, let alone fruit. What did he mean by a ‘good result’? Did she truly have to marry him to satisfy him? Could one’s patience stretch, but not their conscience?

In that brief moment, as a chain of worries stretched out, Roseline dug up an old, frayed memory. It was a memory of the things Valen liked.

“……You have it.”

Roseline transferred the largest piece of steak to his plate. Since she hadn’t kept her promise to return the ribbon, she figured giving him a piece of meat would be acceptable. But Valen was far more brazen than she had anticipated.