My Ruin to You - Chapter 232

However, not everyone in their ranks welcomed the Grand Duke’s romance. Mür, who had been demoted, watched the scene from a distance, grinding his teeth. And someone else was quietly watching Mür.

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After sharing the joy of reuniting with the Manifestors at the infirmary, Roseline returned to her original duties. She spent her days busily, running around the infirmary and, in her spare moments, checking on Valen’s wound. Perhaps her frantic running about paid off, as new flesh finally began to fill the wound that had shown no signs of healing properly.

Valen also spent his days busily. Instead of launching a frontal assault on Runzak Castle, which had firmly established its defenses even before their forces encamped, he engaged the enemy passively. He cut off their supplies, isolating them completely from the outside, while gradually wearing down the enemy’s morale through sporadic raids.

As Valen had predicted, news also arrived of the Carnoc King taking the field. Though his forces were lacking because uncooperative lords refused to contribute troops, the King made a bold decision. His plan was to pin Valen’s focus on Runzak Castle and strike his rear. When Valen heard of this strategy, he laughed as if astonished.

“How convenient. Let him keep deluding himself.”

Because the impatient King had marched out with only a minimal garrison left behind, the Carnoc capital was swiftly captured by a force of just a few thousand soldiers. When the King received the news that the Imperial flag had been planted over the Carnoc palace, he was enraged but did not turn his army around. Instead, he increased the pace of his march.

While their own forces took turns on missions and enjoyed ample rest, the Carnoc army, having rushed from the capital without a break, saw their stamina hit rock bottom and their morale plummet.

The situation in Runzak Castle was also dire. Isolated with their supplies cut off, they could only count the days, desperately waiting for the King’s support. Although some within the castle walls expressed skepticism about the King’s strategy, they had no better alternative to break the stalemate.

The morale of our forces was sky-high. Voices rose, declaring that the day had finally come to resolve a grievance held for centuries and to erase Carnoc from the map entirely.

And finally, Valen’s deployment was decided. It was the day news arrived that the Carnoc King had nearly reached Runzak.

In theory, Valen’s victory was certain, but since when did war follow only theory?

Once his deployment was confirmed, Roseline found herself caught in a strange mood. It was especially so because, while gathering various bits of information through eavesdropping, she had started to believe that Valen’s deployment might even be canceled.

“But, Your Highness, this isn’t your first time being deployed, is it?”

As this night marked the final treatment, Roseline was examining his wound more meticulously than ever before when she spoke. Valen, who had been offering his hand while sitting on the table and watching Roseline’s serious expression, nodded.

“Correct.”

As he agreed, Roseline’s expression grew even more grave.

“I see,” she muttered softly. After carefully tying the bandage, she lifted her head. Her hardened face and slightly furrowed brow even looked somewhat tragic.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“Questions?”

“After all, I do have practical experience.”

She broached the subject cautiously, worried it might wound Valen’s pride. There was a world of difference between planning strategies looking at maps in a tent and actual combat. It was also different from confronting the infected in the Marquisate. The infected charged without knowing pain or fear, but the enemy fought desperately to survive. That instinctual desire was the biggest difference.

“How admirable.”

Despite her rare, serious advice, Valen couldn’t hold back a laugh, as if watching a young child perform a cute trick. Roseline slapped the table. “This is no time for laughter!” At that, Valen wiped the smile from his face, rubbing his hand over his features.

“I am curious, though, about what you were thinking back there.”

“Back where? In Casas?”

Valen nodded. Roseline was sitting beside him, maintaining a suitable distance for effective treatment. They had turned their chairs to face each other, but they weren’t close enough for their knees to touch. It was, of course, the distance Roseline preferred.

Roseline fell deep into thought about the past, and Valen, finding her small feet hidden under the chair, tapped the tips of her shoes with his boot. Just then, Roseline began to speak.

“‘This is bad,’ ‘It can’t be,’ ‘I have to do it quickly,’ ‘Now.’… I think I only had thoughts like that… There was no time to think. Only to make judgments.”

“That’s war,” Roseline added, shrugging her shoulders. She even pushed her chair back sharply, as if telling him to stop pestering her.

A sigh escaped Valen. Roseline bringing up her battlefield experience made a part of him ache inside, and he clearly had the thought to feign fear and use that as a way in. But when he recalled the image of Roseline fretting in the midst of the battlefield, he just felt sorry for her, and a brake was applied to his shameless desire.

“It’s quite something that you’re worrying about me, but it’s okay. You don’t need to be concerned.”

“……”

“I’m good at everything. You know that.”