My Ruin to You - Chapter 237

He was a soldier assigned to guard the healing center. They had become familiar with each other’s faces from passing by, but they were not on terms to have a conversation. Moreover, the soldier was a commoner, wasn’t he?

Mür, who glared at the commoner who dared speak to him without knowing his place, turned away coldly without a reply. It was at a time when he thought nothing was going right, and even commoners were looking down on him.

“You are the only one, Sir Knight, who can change the tide of this war.”

Mür stopped dead in his tracks. Then he spun around. As if he had anticipated Mür would turn back, the soldier, who had stayed in his spot, gave a sly smile.

“What do you mean?”

“I have never seen an awakener as splendid as you, Sir Knight. It’s just a pity that no one recognizes this exceptional ability, which is why I’m telling you this.”

Was he even in his early twenties?

The youthful-faced soldier took a step closer. The sweet talk continued for a long time. The soldier seemed to know quite a lot about him, mentioning not only recent events but also his excellent grades from his academy days, praising Mür highly.

“You’ve been investigating me.”

“Not at all. Your reputation is simply so widespread that it has reached my humble ears.”

Ahem.

“His Highness is truly heartless. To not recognize the ability of such an outstanding individual and to treat you so poorly, wrapped up in the folds of a woman’s skirts…….”

Although his status was low and he was young, he was far more clever than the fools in the battalion. Mür genuinely thought so. Having met someone he could finally have a conversation with on his level, he felt inclined to take him to the barracks to talk more, but the lowly status was a problem. Just as he was about to close the conversation and was parting his lips, the soldier moved even closer.

“I have something to show you.”

The soldier stretched his neck, looked around, and pulled a letter from inside his boot. Then, he unfolded the paper and handed it to Mür. Unhappy that the letter came from such an unclean place, Mür glanced at it with a disgusted expression.

“Wh-what is this……!”

He couldn’t decipher the contents of the letter, which were written in code, but the seal stamped at the end was unmistakably the crest of the Carnoc royal family.

“The one I serve is His Grace, the Duke of Eidenvalt.”

Eidenvalt was the deceased king’s nephew. He was also the one who should have ascended the throne following the king, who died without an heir. In other words, the soldier before him was not an imperial commoner, but an enemy spy.

“Even if this war ends now, what will Valen d’Haudemer give you?”

The spy, now showing his true colors, pressured Mür with a quiet but clear voice. He glanced at the stunned Mür, folded the letter, and tucked it back into his boot. All the while, Mür just blinked with a confused expression.

“Make your decision. If you join our cause and render service, wealth and honor will follow.”

Mür’s heart raced. It was a flame of anger, a pulse of resentment. A month ago, he would have dragged this barbarian straight to the Grand Duke and revealed the truth, but the current Mür no longer had any loyalty left to protect his honor. Mür clenched his fists tightly.

“What must I do?”

The spy looked around again. The camp, bathed in the setting sun, was steeped in a red light. Beyond the boisterous noise and the sound of scraping iron, the banner of the Grand Duchy fluttered proudly. The spy, who glanced at the golden eagle emblazoned on the black flag, wiggled his finger at Mür. As if telling him to come closer.

Instead of pointing out his rudeness, Mür brought his face closer and listened intently. From the alley opposite the tent where they had put their heads together, a black shadow flickered and vanished.

The shadow, which had lingered in place for a long time, turned away quietly, hiding its presence as it always had, heading towards its master.

“The bear has caught the weasel.”

Upon receiving the report, Valen nodded indifferently without even looking up from his documents.

“Continue watching.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the soldier who had completed his task withdrew, Merrick spoke up.
“The young lady is suspicious of the prisoners, Your Highness.”

The pen signing the documents hesitated. An ink stain spread on the paper, but he paid it no mind and turned to look at Merrick. A strange light flickered in his deep blue eyes. The only one who could bring life to his expression was the young lady.

“She said the captured prisoners are unusual, that they must be assassins.”

“Her instincts are good too.”

“……”

“And so?”

“Sir Edan explained thoroughly, but she didn’t seem convinced.”

Valen laughed silently. A smile of satisfaction, as if praising her, soon vanished. His long fingers tapped the table. Tap, tap, tap. The dull sound spread through the flickering lamplight.

“Strengthen the guard around the healing center and lower the alert level near the command tent. If the prisoners riot, give them a path.”