My Ruin to You - Chapter 29

“Was it just needless worry?”

Contrary to her fears, her days remained quiet. She had imagined everything—from Valen casually showing up at the academy to the worst-case scenario of being expelled. But five days had passed, and nothing happened.

Well, not nothing. Lady Ruav was nowhere to be seen.

Rumors said she had been summoned back to her family’s estate, though no one knew whose influence lay behind that call. The noblewoman who had once clung to Lady Ruav like a shadow now tiptoed around Roseline, watching her with nervous eyes.

Finally, today, the girl mustered the courage to speak.

“My lady,” she began timidly, “I don’t know how much you heard that day, but… I never meant to speak ill of you. I’m sorry for the delay in apologizing.”

“True. You are a bit late.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said, you’re a bit late.”

The noblewoman blinked, stunned. Perhaps she had expected Roseline to play the gracious lady—”Oh, think nothing of it! If anything, I should apologize for eavesdropping!”—because her expression went blank, her brows twitching as if doubting her own ears. Roseline just shrugged, as if to say, What’s the issue?

“I—I truly am sorry, my lady. I was so worried my thoughtless words might have driven a wedge between you and His Highness that I… delayed coming forward.”

“Why go that far? Everyone gossips sometimes. I’ve cursed you out plenty in my head too. Even now, actually.”

Roseline smiled sweetly. The noblewoman stared, slack-jawed, as if watching someone eat spoiled food and collapse. Then, flushing crimson, her lips began to tremble. No fists had been thrown, no hair yanked—yet she looked utterly devastated. Watching her quiver, Roseline felt a bitter pang. Was this all it took to make them cower? Had I really endured all that time, afraid of something so petty?

To Roseline, patience had been love. She had mimicked the demureness of noble ladies, fearing her actions might tarnish Valen’s honor. But that meager patience was now part of the past.

“Ah, and just so you know—I’m no longer involved with His Highness. So save your time from now on.”

“Wh—what? What do you mean…?”

The noblewoman’s face paled. Odd. Shouldn’t she have perked up, ready to fire off mocking condolences? Instead, her lips just moved soundlessly.

Even in announcing the end of a relationship, she was still gauging the power dynamics—Was it our loose tongues that ruined things? If so, how do we beg forgiveness? But whatever her worries, they were no longer Roseline’s concern.

As Roseline turned away, the other students—who had been pretending not to eavesdrop—hurriedly busied themselves with anything else.

The news of the breakup between the Grand Duke and a mere baron’s daughter spread like wildfire. Though whispers swirled about the reasons behind their split, no one dared ask Roseline directly. Even among the maids, the rumors reached Lina, whose expression twisted in disbelief. At first, she had assumed it was just a lovers’ quarrel—but now, faced with the undeniable truth, she finally grasped the reality.

“If I told you I left a lump of gold lying on the roadside, what would you say to me?” Lina asked one day, arms crossed.

“Are you insane?” Roseline replied flatly.

“Exactly! That’s exactly how I feel right now!” Lina threw her hands up. “My lady, are you feeling unwell? Did you hit your head somewhere?”

“Are you calling me crazy?”

“A sane person wouldn’t make such a decision!”

Lina’s nagging had doubled. She followed Roseline around the dormitory, extolling Valen’s virtues—how handsome he was, how powerful, how perfect. If Roseline retorted with, “Yes, he’s so perfect, that’s why I let him go,” Lina would explode: “What’s wrong with you?!” The only escape was to feign exhaustion and retreat to bed early.

In the quiet darkness, under the pale glow of moonlight through the small window, Roseline’s thoughts inevitably drifted back to Valen. She wasn’t the only one feeling the delayed sting of separation—Lina wasn’t alone in that.

What kind of pathetic longing is this?