My Ruin to You - Chapter 25

“Honestly, there’s nothing this man doesn’t know.”

It was likely a jab at the young noblewoman who had whispered the secret—though Roseline had only learned today that the girl’s uncle belonged to the Magical Order. But then again, her family was the House of Ruav, a branch of Count Ruav’s line.

Still, the real issue wasn’t who had blabbed or how the news had reached her.

“…Was it really you who ordered my disqualification?”

“I may have suggested something along those lines.”

Roseline blinked slowly.

Somewhere inside her, something crumbled—but that was it. She had worried she might explode in fury, that her magic might spiral out of control, that she might slap Valen across the face and end up on the executioner’s block. But in reality, the shock was… less than expected. Maybe it was because, from the moment she had fixated on why, she had already braced herself for this miserable truth.

“…Why?”

So she asked—the question that made the least sense, the one that had been circling her mind all along.

“Are you asking what I said to the Grand Magister, or why I said it?”

“I’d like to hear both. But if I had to choose, the latter first.”

“Because forcing you to leave before your term is up would be better—for you and the Order—than never going at all.”

“…Why?”

“Once you graduate, we’ll have to hold the ceremony.”

Roseline’s head tilted in confusion. Valen was answering earnestly, yet despite speaking the same language, his words might as well have been foreign.

Ceremony? What ceremony? It can’t be my funeral, right?

Staring into her teacup, she mentally ran through every possible ritual that might apply to her. But once the thought took root, all she could picture was herself lying peacefully in a coffin.

“You look utterly lost.”

A faint laugh laced his words, as if he found her deep contemplation unbearably cute. Just as her irritation began to simmer at his roundabout way of speaking—

“Marriage, Roseline.”

His flat tone shifted the atmosphere of the parlor.

“M-Marriage?”

“Yes. Marriage.”

“…You’re marrying me?”

“Obviously.”

“…Why?”

The question slipped out unfiltered. Her expression was blank—eyebrows raised, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape.

“Why are you being so adorable today?”

His gaze held an odd amusement, as if he were enjoying her stunned reaction. A quiet chuckle escaped him as he tilted his head.

“You love the palace gardens, don’t you? We could hold the ceremony there in spring. But even those few months feel too long to wait.”

“……”

“I can’t wait any longer, Roseline.”

It was a declaration—they would marry before winter’s end. Her mouth stayed open as if she’d been struck in the back of the head. This was twice as shocking as hearing Valen had manipulated the Magical Order. Good God. A marriage where even the bride didn’t know about it?

“…One moment. I need—I need cold water, Your Highness.”

Roseline raised a hand like she was calling for a truce. Valen gave a slight nod and immediately summoned the butler, ordering ice water—and it. Soon, the butler returned with a tray bearing a glass of water, precious ice cubes bobbing inside, and a small wooden case that could only be it.

As Roseline gulped down the water in desperate swigs, Valen moved to sit beside her and opened the case. Inside the walnut wood box, a gemstone shimmered with the same hue as her eyes. A ring.

“This wasn’t how I planned to put it on you, but it’s fine. It was always meant to be yours anyway.”

He slid the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. Roseline sat frozen, only her eyes moving as she stared dumbly at the jewel now adorning her finger.

“You don’t need to prepare a thing. I’ll handle notifying your estate. The same goes for the duchy—tend to injured beasts, read your favorite books, do whatever you please.”

His gentle voice painted a picture of some distant future. Just as he said, she imagined herself in the duchy, healing wounded animals or flipping through books to pass the time.

The imagined life was too peaceful. The problem was—it wasn’t the life she wanted. The premise itself was flawed. She hadn’t healed animals out of passion, just because she couldn’t ignore their pain. She hadn’t endured three years of grueling training just for that. And above all, marriage had been the furthest thing from her mind.