My Ruin to You - Chapter 233

Valen hooked his foot around Roseline’s chair and pulled it sharply toward him. Screech— As the chair scraped across the floor, Roseline, unable to withstand the momentum, tilted backward.

She agreed with the sentiment that he was good at everything, but somehow, it felt like his words carried a different meaning now. There was a clear intent behind the way his foot insinuated itself between her neatly placed feet, tapping the toe of her boot, and in the gesture of his hand drumming on her touching knee.

Roseline, who had no intention of engaging in any kind of act with a man in the barracks, especially one about to depart for battle, decisively pushed her chair back.

“Since you’re good at everything, I needn’t worry. Have a safe trip.”

Roseline offered a faint smile. Truthfully, when the news of Valen’s deployment had spread, the young ladies had been in an even greater uproar. Although it was quite embarrassing, given her history of loudly proclaiming numerous times that she and the Grand Duke were not involved in any relationship, fortunately or unfortunately, they had grown so accustomed to the rumors they paid them no mind.

Furthermore, knowing the Grand Duke had fainted upon hearing the news of Roseline’s awakening as a Tara, they had sternly warned her, explaining the perilous state of the front lines at the time, not to even think of stepping forward as a Tara again.

After hearing of Valen’s deployment, they had all spoken in unison. When one’s beloved departs for war, one must give him a token—like an embroidered handkerchief or a pendant.

But she had neither the skill for embroidery nor any inclination to do so. She only needed to keep her promise not to hate him; since when did she have to make him a token just because he was supposedly handsome? It was utter nonsense.

“Is that all?”

“I wish Your Highness a victorious campaign.”

“Fine, I’ll take what I want myself.”

“…What are you going to take?”

He shrugged as if it didn’t matter and stood up. Roseline’s head tilted back to follow his now higher eye level. He gave a faint smile, finding her dazed expression as she stared up at him adorable, but only for a moment.

Valen lifted Roseline and sat her on the table. Having been ambushed with kisses several times before, Roseline reflexively covered her mouth.

“W-what are you trying to do?”

“It’s not like I’m going to put it in, so why?”

“W-who said you could put anything in?!”

“Don’t beg for it when I have no intention of putting it in.”

“…Are you even listening to me?”

“Of course.”

He didn’t seem to be. After pressing a brief kiss to the back of her white hand, Valen began to undo the front of Roseline’s robe. This was no time to be covering her mouth. When Roseline flinched and tried to push his shameless hands away, Valen gathered her slender wrists together and held them in one hand. Then, with his other hand, he unfastened two buttons and buried his lips in the collarbone revealed between the garments.

“Hng.”

A sharp pain spread as his teeth bit into the vulnerable flesh. Her neck instinctively recoiled. Only then did Valen release her wrists and, as if to soothe her, licked the spot where his teeth had marked her skin. He sucked greedily at the glistening, saliva-slicked area, leaving an even deeper mark. It wasn’t until Roseline’s legs kicked out into the empty air that he pulled his lips away with a look of regret.

“I’ll be back before it fades.”

He rubbed the mark he’d left with his thumb. As if still reluctant to part like this, he finally left brief kisses on Roseline’s forehead, the tip of her nose, and her lips. Then, with his own hands, he neatly straightened the clothes he had disheveled.

This, too, was a testament to his patience. For a man so far from abstinence, he could have easily satisfied his desires through coercion or coaxing, yet he always held back remarkably well. Perhaps it was all a calculated plan to slowly break down her defenses bit by bit before devouring her whole.

“What, is it not enough for you?”

Feeling her sullen gaze, he met her eyes as he fastened the last button for her. Roseline, who didn’t feel his remark was worth a response, merely scrunched the bridge of her nose.

“So now you won’t even answer me.”

His words were laced with laughter. Roseline recalled a past that felt like a lifetime ago. There had been a time when she had to be cautious with every word, constantly watching her step around him. The fact that Valen no longer felt intimidating to her was something she’d never have believed possible, even if she lived two lives.

“Merrick will be with you.”

“Yes.”

“He is a second-best choice, not an invitation for idle chatter, so don’t get too familiar with him.”

She was certain that Merrick was a man who wouldn’t bat an eye even if Roseline danced naked. But she knew that if she said anything, he’d just seize the opportunity to ask if she planned on undressing, so Roseline simply nodded.

“……”

A wave of slight regret washed over her in the ensuing silence. She hadn’t given him a token like a handkerchief or pendant, but perhaps she should have at least prepared some medicinal herbs. Or at least some clean linen cloth.

“Come back safely. When we return to the capital, I’ll give you a new ribbon.”

But for now, all she could offer were words. She knew Valen still wore the fire-scorched ribbon like a piece of armor, so she made a promise for the future.