My Ruin to You - Chapter 30

She had been the one to push him away, yet somehow, the pain had become hers too. If the grief of losing her parents had been despair, this breakup was a different kind of agony—a gnawing hollowness, a helplessness that left her breathless. Sometimes, just the thought of Valen made her chest ache so badly she could barely move. Other times, it felt like something sharp had carved out the pain, leaving nothing but emptiness behind. There were nights she buried her face in her pillow and sobbed.

Maybe I should’ve just agreed to be the Duchess.

On the worst days, when missing him became unbearable, she clawed at her blankets, drowning in regret. But then she shook her head. Even if she reconsidered a hundred times, she knew—Valen wasn’t someone her fragile heart could handle. No, if she were truly honest, she had chosen cowardly avoidance because, in the end, she valued herself more than him.

I have to forget. I can forget.

Someone once told her, there’s nothing time can’t fix.

Maybe one day, when she was an old woman with silver hair and grandchildren gathered around her, she’d laugh and say, “Did you know your grandmother once fell in love with a Grand Duke?” Maybe then, this pain would be nothing but a bittersweet memory.

As always, things didn’t go as smoothly as Roseline hoped. Her moping over the breakup lasted only so long—because reality came crashing down.

Graduation was approaching.

And not a single place wanted her.

Not one.

“Not a Single Place Wanted Her”

The capital’s Healing Bureau, the Imperial Knights’ Medical Corps—even the royal territories and noble fiefdoms—every prestigious institution had rejected Roseline.

“They seem concerned about your mana instability,” the professor who had written her recommendation said with an awkward smile. “If you were to use out-of-affinity magic during fieldwork and lose control, it could lead to a major incident.”

“But I’ve never once used out-of-affinity magic during training or exams.”

“From an academic standpoint, you’re an exceptional Awakened. The fact that you can wield out-of-affinity magic is proof of your talent. But fieldwork is different. They have to be cautious.”

“Be honest with me. Is that really the only reason?”

“…That’s all I can say for now.”

The answer was vague, but it was enough. All the talk of instability and mana was just an excuse—the real reason was someone’s influence. With nothing left to say, Roseline bowed and left the office. Just this morning, she had clutched her hollow chest, thinking of Valen. Now, that emptiness was ablaze with fury.

“My lady, how did it go?”

Back at the dormitory, Lina asked worriedly.

“This country is hopeless.”

Roseline shook her head sullenly.

“See? If only you’d accepted the proposal and become the Duchess—”

“You should’ve stopped me back then with this much passion!”

“Huh? Did you even give me a chance to?”

“No, I didn’t!”

Lina stared at her in disbelief before wailing about what would become of their future. Roseline sighed deeply, then quietly stood and opened the wardrobe.

“Wh-what are you doing, my lady?”

“Yeah, I’m immigrating.”

No matter how she looked at it, this kingdom was a lost cause. She hadn’t committed treason—all she’d done was date the Emperor’s brother for a few years and then turn down a proposal. Ruining her future over that made no sense.

“Where will you go?”

“Belhar.”

“…My lady, do you have money?”

“Enough for the two of us to scrape by for a while.”

“Huh? Me? Why me? You mean I’m going too?”

“Obviously.”

“B-but I don’t speak a word of Belharian, my lady!”

“Have you already forgotten your promise to stay by my side no matter what?”

“…Did we ever make such a promise?”

“We’re making it now. Come on, pinky swear.”

Roseline, who had been tossing clothes into her bag, suddenly stuck out her finger. Lina—the loyal maid who had followed her to the capital despite having no money but plenty of principles—hesitated this time, quietly hiding her own hand.

“My lady, please don’t be like this. Go see His Highness and try to work things out, alright?”

Even the most loyal maids have their naive moments. It seemed the thought that the great and magnificent His Highness might be the one ruining her future had never even crossed her mind.

“I’d sooner scrape by digging up herbs in the mountains than go crawling back to him. Never.”