My Ruin to You - Chapter 226

Since her mindset while moving between the camp’s healing centers and standing on the battlefield as a Tara was as different as heaven and earth, she had many thoughts throughout her duties. Some days she was suddenly afraid, other days she felt empty. When she pondered why she was here, where this life was flowing, her thoughts naturally turned to Valen.

The sight of Armenia, writing a letter to her lover every night, also made Roseline reflect on her own past memories.

Looking back from a step away, she finally saw her own fault too. The twisted affection and obsessive control were his share, but just one thing—the fact that she had dared to hastily judge and lightly dismiss his feelings, thinking ‘Even if he breaks up with me, Valen has nothing to lose’—that one thing remained like a stubborn burr.

“What are you thinking about?”

A quiet voice broke her reverie. Roseline, who had been lost in her own thoughts while staring somewhere at his broad shoulders, lifted her head. When their eyes met, Valen’s eyes curved into round crescents. Does it make him that happy? Roseline found herself smiling bitterly.

“I was thinking this position is uncomfortable.”

“My apologies. How unfortunate.”

“Let me down now. I still find you awkward and need time to adjust. We were apart for a long time, you know.”

It was an expression softened in Roseline’s own way. Yet, the moment her words ended, the smile in Valen’s eyes vanished, replaced by a chilling atmosphere.

“Who said we were apart?”

“……”

“Were we ever over?”

“……Yes, well. Fine, let’s consider us never having ended then.”

Agreement was difficult, but she knew there was no point in arguing point by point with a man who wouldn’t be persuaded. Whether things were this way or that, if the meaning of the relationship was the same, there was no reason to engage in a tiresome struggle. Moreover, regardless of Roseline’s acceptance, the whole world had already openly acknowledged their relationship. Once, during a crisis in battle, a knight had shouted loudly: Save the Grand Duchess!

She’d heard that knight was later summoned by the Commander. The reason for the disciplinary action wasn’t ‘causing confusion with incorrect information,’ but ‘exposing the identity of the lady who is to become the Grand Duchess.’ At the time, she thought the world had gone mad. But in hindsight, when the man at the center of that world is that fervent, how could the world itself be sane?

“I could move up that adjustment period for you.”

Sure enough, this man was extreme. The meaning of the hand gently stroking her waistline, the gaze tilting his head to meet hers, and the low, husky voice was clear. It was astounding, truly.

“This seems a bit inappropriate.”

Roseline coldly removed the shameless hand. But no matter how she pushed it away or brushed it aside, the hand, which she thought had moved away, persistently clung to her again, as if teasing her.

Roseline glared at him, her eyes narrowed. Even her dismissive gaze seemed to amuse him, and he let out a soft laugh.

“What’s inappropriate?”

“Reconciliation is fine, everything’s fine. No, wait, is it right to be like this already?”

“That’s what I’m asking. What do you mean by ‘like this’?”

“Please have some conscience. I am not yet prepared to spend the night with you.”

“Spend the night?”

“Stop pretending you don’t know. You know exactly what I mean.”

Valen shrugged his shoulders as if he had no idea what she was talking about. Annoyed by his infuriating act, Roseline pushed him away with all her might and planted her feet on the floor. Knowing he wouldn’t let her go so easily, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“Ah, I understand now.”

“…Uh, what exactly do you understand?”

“You’re saying you’ve even thought about spending the night with me.”

“No, that’s not…!”

Roseline slowly turned her head to look at him.

“While I’m touched, that’s not what I meant by moving up the adjustment period. I just meant spending time together.”

How could this be?

Roseline’s pupils shook violently. Her cheeks flushed a bright red, and her earlobes turned crimson. Forget I said anything, Roseline muttered softly before sharply turning her head away. The low, spreading sound of his laughter was incredibly irritating, but she was too embarrassed to look back at him.

Her attempts to get up also repeatedly failed. The more she squirmed on his lap, the more solid his left thigh became. To be precise, it wasn’t his thigh, but the manhood nestled against her left side. As the fully-roused pillar hardened like a club, Valen leaned his forehead against the nape of Roseline’s neck and let out a sigh.

“Stop. We must follow the proper order.”

“……”

“We can’t very well have our wedding night in a barbarian’s bedchamber.”

It was a peculiar fastidiousness. Strictly speaking, it wouldn’t have been their wedding night, but Roseline chose silence, afraid that if she retorted, he might pounce, saying, “So since it’s not the wedding night, anywhere is fine?”

It was only after a considerable while that he finally set her down. It took quite some time before they could hold a normal conversation. Valen suggested they stay together until his departure for Runzak, and Roseline set a condition: he must properly inform the Manifestors back at the camp of her survival.

The matter of Roseline’s treatment would come after that. Only two days remained until the date Valen had promised.