My Ruin to You - Chapter 250

He added his personal opinion that it seemed she intended to offer prayers, as Your Highness had shown no signs of improvement.

“The temple?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“When.”

“She should return soon. It seems you haven’t yet seen the letter the young lady left.”

His gray-blue eyes scanned the room. Spotting a neatly folded piece of paper on the bedside table, he moved toward it without hesitation. He hurriedly unfolded the paper—devoid of an envelope or seal, simply folded twice—and the familiar handwriting filled his vision.

His smooth brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. Afraid that gripping it tightly would crumple the letter, he couldn’t even clench his fist, instead reading the few short lines over and over again.

“Did the young lady open the drawer?”

The steward trailed off, saying he wasn’t sure. But Valen was certain. This was a reply to the letter he had left behind—one he could neither send nor bring himself to discard.

Finally, stability returned. As if the twisted thoughts and uncontrollable anxiety had never existed, they vanished without a trace. A laugh escaped him. He just missed Roseline.

“Prepare a bath. And tell them to ready the horse.”

◇◇◇

The moment the Grand Duke rose to his feet, the residence regained its vitality. As if he had never been unconscious, the Grand Duke’s posture and gait were no different from any other day. Unless one closely parted his hair, the external wounds were not noticeable. The primary reason was the generous use of rare herbs permitted only to the imperial family, and the second was the devoted care of his physician and the young lady.

While Valen, freshly washed, changed his clothes, Merrick reported on the events that had transpired. The most pressing matter was Roseline’s routine, but since she had stayed by his side the entire time, there was nothing particularly noteworthy. Nevertheless, Valen delved into the brief routine, continuing his questions. Did she eat well? Where did she sleep? Did she exchange any letters

He sighed upon hearing that she hadn’t eaten well, and let out a soft laugh when he heard she had taken brief naps beside him every day except the first day they arrived in the Duchy. After the report that there had been no exchange of letters whatsoever, he shook the water from his hair and added one comment.

“It seems my luck is still somewhat usable.”

Just as Merrick had expected. Whether by intent or carelessness, the life-threatening, critical injury was, to him, merely a pretext to firmly keep Roseline by his side. It was a desperate, obsessive affection. But Merrick suppressed his personal opinion and continued his report.

The new king of Carnoc, the surrender documents sent by the king, the situation on the front lines, etc. He listed concisely, focusing on the important matters the newly recovered Grand Duke absolutely needed to know.

“The prisoners.”

“The bodies have been moved separately, and the eight survivors have been imprisoned.”

“Mür.”

“Similarly imprisoned.”

“Transport them to the Duchy.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Valen began fastening the buttons of his crisply ironed shirt one by one. As he reached the final button at the collar, Merrick knelt.

“…Please punish me, Your Highness.”

His expression was calm, as if resolved to accept any punishment. Valen’s gaze, which had been looking out the window, skimmed the top of Merrick’s head. It was an indifferent look, devoid of any discernible emotion.

“Indeed, you should be.”

“…”

“But not now. So, do your job.”

Valen turned his attention back to the window. The carriage had arrived quite some time ago, but its door remained unopened. Edan, who had approached it, had turned back without even knocking for some reason, and the other knights were also standing with their backs to the carriage.

It seemed Roseline had fallen asleep inside the carriage. While he found her habit of falling asleep anywhere endearing, it didn’t quite sit well with him, so his steps quickened. Merrick followed behind him.

However, the closer he got to the carriage after leaving the entrance hall, the more his thoughts shifted. The atmosphere was strange. Some knights were glaring at the sky with red-rimmed eyes, and Edan and Giorno also looked utterly devastated. As if they had just received tragic news.

“Y-Your Highness…!”

Edan was the first to spot the Grand Duke. Soon after, the other knights’ eyes widened in shock. Hadn’t the Grand Duke, just before their departure, shown no signs of even waking up?

Yet here he was, striding toward them as if he’d forgotten his injuries, causing every single knight to hold their breath. Stupid questions swirled in their minds.

“The young lady.”

Only after Valen gestured toward the carriage and pressed the question did they scramble to pay their respects.

“She is inside, Your Highness.”

The moment Edan answered, Valen’s brow furrowed. It was because the sound of heart-wrenching sobs, as if someone was wailing, came from inside the carriage.

Valen asked no further questions. His feet moved first. He passed the knights standing like statues guarding the carriage and yanked the door open. Roseline, who had been lying face down on the seat weeping, lifted her head.

“Why are you crying?”