My Ruin to You - Chapter 224

An old memory surfaced. She had heard similar words back at the County. As it wasn’t a particularly good memory, Roseline’s expression darkened. Valen, who couldn’t possibly be unaware of that thought, tilted his head toward her over the table.

“It’s not an order. It’s a request.”

Roseline stared intently at Valen. The man, watching her reaction and waiting for an answer, seemed restless. His usually lofty posture had crumbled; his head tilted for a long time to meet her eyes, and the red tongue that swept over his dry lips were clear evidence of this.

“It won’t take long. Just a moment.”

“Okay.”

“Will you wait?”

“Yes, please take your time.”

Not all their days together had been good, so whenever sharp moments like this resurfaced, it took practice and courage not to hate him. So, she had only just taken the first step. Since the words had come from her own mouth, she had no one else to blame. Roseline stood up with a stiff expression, and Valen followed.

“Why?”

Feeling his presence, Roseline stopped and turned to look back.

“Tell me if you think you’ll start hating me again. We can postpone the meeting.”

A shadow of concern flickered across his handsome features, which had been lavishly smiling just moments before, as if it were all a lie.

“I’m still trying, but if you keep this up, I might start hating you.”

“Keep what up?”

“Please, go to your meeting. I’ll wait.”

Roseline gestured past his shoulder as if urging him to go quickly. Yet, Valen couldn’t bring himself to turn away easily. So, when Roseline gave his arm a slight push and said “Go on,” once more, he let out a sigh, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and led her to the sofa. Even after seating her there, he repeated “Wait for me” twice more before finally turning away.

By then, a map had been spread out on the table. Returning to the table, Valen took the head seat instead of his previous chair. It was also a spot with a good view of the sofa. The Vice Captain and the knights finally gathered around the table and sat down.

“Pierreden.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“How many troops do you think Carnoc can mobilize?”

“If they issue a full mobilization order, they could gather around ten thousand, but the lords are unlikely to cooperate willingly.”

The Vice Captain calmly explained the lords’ discontent with the Carnoc royal family and the current situation. Merrick added to the report. According to messages from agents infiltrating Carnoc, talk of surrender was already circulating among the lords.

Throughout their reports, Valen’s gaze never left the back of her head, peeking over the sofa. As if she had picked up some knowledge from her few days on the battlefield, the pink-haired head nodded and tilted throughout the lengthy report.

Valen’s previously rigid expression gradually softened. When Roseline leaned slightly forward, as if wanting to hear more clearly, a helpless laugh escaped him.

“…Since the surprise attack failed, we anticipate they will launch an all-out war once they have reorganized their forces.”

Edan, watching his mood, cautiously added his piece. Finally, Valen’s gaze also turned to the map.

“We must end it before that. Move all forces except the defensive troops from the encampment.”

“Do you mean this place, Casas?”

Instead of answering, Valen placed markers on the map. Two black flags were placed on the encampment, and three on Casas. Soon, he picked up one flag from the encampment and slid it to an unfamiliar region.

“Runzak.”

It was a city located east of Casas, a gateway on the route to the Carnoc capital.

“The same for Casas. Pull half the forces to Runzak.”

This time, one of the black flags above Casas moved towards Runzak. Their eyes followed the moving markers. Each of them pictured the battlefield’s layout in their minds, studying the map intently. It was then that one of the two flags left in Casas moved. The eyes of those watching widened.

“The mobile strike force will head for the capital.”

“……”

“Accordingly, bring me the King’s head.”

It was a diversionary tactic. If the Empire’s large forces moved to Runzak, the enemy would focus all their defensive efforts on protecting the capital. The main battle would unfold at Runzak, creating an opening to draw out the King. Edan was appointed commander of the strike force. Giorno seemed to want the position internally, but given his recent actions, he firmly pressed his lips together and only glanced at the map.

“Then, who will command the forces moving from Casas to Runzak?” the Vice Captain asked.

Holding the fortress at Casas was also a crucial role, but he needed an opportunity to redeem himself for his past mistake. Valen, his gaze fixed on the head peeking over the sofa, opened his mouth.

“I will take it.”