My Ruin to You - Chapter 238

Merrick’s pupils shook. The Grand Duke was implying he would become the bait—it was too dangerous. Furthermore, if the pretext was to punish Mür and eliminate the foolish enemies still clinging to vain hopes, they already had more than enough justification right now.

“We have sufficient pretext even now.”

“If we catch them now, I would have to show mercy.”

Mercy. It was a statement difficult to understand immediately. Not only Mür, but the prisoners would also lose their heads—could that be called mercy? Moreover, Mür, who had succumbed to the spy’s temptation, would be branded a traitor, his head mounted in the square, and his house would be annihilated. This meant the disposition the Grand Duke desired was something beyond that.

Merrick thought of Roseline. More precisely, of her stubborn and clear nature.
Next, the image of the Grand Duke, who had worried daily while watching his lover suffer under Mür’s torment, flashed through his mind. He seemed to be biding his time. For him, the ‘pretext’ was a justification that would make Roseline understand. A reason for which, no matter how cruel the punishment he meted out, Roseline would not blame him, and thus, the distance between them would not grow.

“I will take charge of Sir Mür, Your Highness.”

“Fine, suppose you handle him. Then what about Carnoc?”

“……”

“Merely catching them conspiring is meaningless. They will keep assuming ‘what if’ and plot another conspiracy. Just as they turned their focus from Roseline to me.”

It was a valid point. The front lines had collapsed faster than expected, but the enemy couldn’t let go of hope. As the Grand Duke said, they packaged their numerous past failures as ‘what ifs,’ denied reality, and sought a reversal. Their futile hope had led to the plan to assassinate the Grand Duke.

“It’s too dangerous, Your Highness. They are seasoned commanders. Your Highness could be harmed.”

“All the better.”

“Your Highness.”

“Look. My hand is all healed, but she still won’t come even when I call.”

Valen clicked his tongue while looking at his palm, now covered with new skin. On the day he returned to the camp, she had even come out to greet him, but after just a few days, she was already neglecting him.

However, the statement that she wouldn’t come even when called was not entirely accurate. Valen summoned her every hour, and Roseline responded only once out of three calls. The fact that she responded at all was a tremendous improvement, but since greed inherently knows no bounds, he now wanted more.

“However……”

Merrick, who had trailed off, moved his lips. The Grand Duke’s innate physique, temperament, and cold, rational judgment were more seasoned than any knight Merrick had ever seen. No knight had ever bested him in a spar. Moreover, blessed with powerful magic as he was, the likelihood of him faltering, even if enemy commanders swarmed him, was slim, yet Merrick couldn’t entirely dismiss his concern.

“Must I hear more of your opinion?”

The voice that brushed his ear was cool. After a moment’s hesitation, Merrick shook his head.

“My apologies, Your Highness. I will follow your command.”

Merrick left the tent with a heavy heart.

◇◇◇

The next day, Roseline observed Mür with a dubious gaze. Why is he acting like that?

It was strange. A guard had urgently called for a medic, saying the condition of the captured prisoners was poor, and surprisingly, Mür had volunteered. That Mür, who looked down on those of lower status than himself as beneath the dirt under his feet, was offering to heal prisoners? It was laughable enough to make a passing dog chuckle, and highly suspicious. But whether that was only Roseline’s thought, their superior just nodded in agreement, saying, “He’s finally come to his senses.”

“I’ll go too……!”

Perhaps because the prisoners’ presence had already been on her mind, Roseline’s hand shot up as well. But before her words even ended, Merrick quickly grabbed her arm, pulling it down, and promptly let go. When their superior glanced over, Merrick just slightly nodded his head as if to say ‘handle your business’ and then stood in front of Roseline.

“What are you doing?”

“I have something to tell you briefly.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you outside. Please come out.”

He grabbed me first, then shook off my arm as if discarding trash. But just as she was about to question him blocking her way, Merrick’s expression was far too grave.

So, Roseline followed Merrick out without another word. As they exited the healing center, the Silver Fist knights naturally fell in behind them. Roseline, looking back and forth between Merrick leading the way and the knights following, tilted her head in confusion. When she asked how far they were going, Merrick just urged her on, saying they only needed to go a little further.

It was in the direction of the central command tent.

“Come this way.”

Stopping at a suitable spot, Merrick led Roseline into an alley beside the tent, leaving the knights behind. It was the side of a tent whose purpose was unclear. After positioning Roseline there, he meticulously scanned the area around and inside the tent. Then, with a heavy expression, he spoke.

“Do you still think the prisoners are suspicious?”

“Yes.”

Roseline nodded without hesitation.

“Then please see His Highness now and tell him your thoughts.”