My Ruin to You - Chapter 34

The noblewomen stood close enough that their hushed gossip reached Roseline’s ears with startling clarity. Standing beside her, Lady Schnitzel snapped open her fan and glanced back. Recognizing her, the ladies smiled sweetly and nodded in greeting—but when the lady narrowed her eyes and glared back insolently, they quickly dispersed.

If you have nothing better to do, must you flap your tongues over nonsense?

The lady muttered under her breath, then shot Roseline a sidelong glance.

“She certainly stands out.”

Her faded pink hair wasn’t particularly rare, but the wild, cascading curls naturally drew the eye. And then there was her face.

Petite yet striking, her delicate features shifted in atmosphere with every change in expression. Of course, anyone’s demeanor shifts with their mood—but Roseline’s contrasts were stark. Most of the time, her face was an unreadable blank, but when she occasionally broke into a smile, it was like stepping into a sunlit garden in full bloom. If asked who the most beautiful person she’d ever met was, Schnitzel wouldn’t hesitate to name Roseline—but if asked whether that beauty had been a blessing, she couldn’t answer so easily. Too much had been overshadowed by it.

Schnitzel knew of Roseline’s efforts. On campus, there were only three places one could reliably find her: the dormitory, the training halls, and the library. Schnitzel hadn’t deliberately followed her around—she’d simply wandered to avoid the inane chatter of noble ladies and kept stumbling upon her.

‘Ugh. What does this even say?’

One day, it was the sight of Roseline hunched over a book, utterly absorbed.

‘Huh? Wh—why isn’t this working?’

Another day, it was her shadow in a dim training hall, secretly practicing magic from an incompatible lineage.

‘A young lady doing paid embroidery?’

‘Is your tone always this tart?’

‘It’s hardly work for noble hands, but if you’re covering the fabric cost too, the price goes up.’

‘Fair enough.’

Yet another day, it was her passing by, chatting easily with a maid.

The most beautiful person Schnitzel knew was also the one who used her time most wisely. But all of Roseline’s hours had been dulled, buried under her dazzling looks and the shadow of her illustrious lover. Schnitzel had no interest in meddling in others’ affairs—yet watching it all unfold still grated on her.

“Tch. Are you seriously letting gossip get to you? Stand straight and lift your chin.”

Lady Schnitzel smacked Roseline sharply between the shoulder blades. Startled, Roselin straightened her posture, though she hadn’t even registered the whispers. She nodded reflexively.

The banquet had only just begun, and she was already exhausted. From dawn until now, Lady Schnitzel and her maids had hounded her relentlessly.

‘If you’re going to accompany me, you’ll need to uphold some decorum. Understood?’

‘Our house could use a healer, too. My father is a reasonable man—and my brother is still unmarried, by the way. Understood?’

‘Don’t misunderstand. We’re only pretending to be friends. There’s no real camaraderie between us. Understood?’

“Now, even when the lady says nothing, I still hear the phantom echo of ‘Understood?’ in my head.”

But Roseline had never been one to be harsh with those who showed her kindness—and Schnitzel was no exception. Even when it was slightly annoying or exhausting, she kept nodding along with a dutiful Yes, yes.

“After the first dance ends, I’ll dance with my brother. If I ‘accidentally’ twist my ankle and fall, you’ll come heal me immediately. Let me remind you again—my brother is unmarried.”

But this clumsy scheme was where Roseline drew the line. What was she even supposed to do about the brother being single? There was no reason for the lady to go this far, and more importantly, Roseline had no intention of joining the Schnitzel household. Even a flea has its pride—why would she drag a perfectly good family into ruin? With the directive already issued, provoking the Grand Duke’s displeasure would only make things worse.

“No, there’s no need to go that far— Calm down, my lady. I appreciate the sentiment, but I refuse.”

“Is this really the time to be picky? And what exactly do you refuse? Sometimes the simplest methods are the most effective—don’t you know that?”

Just as the lady, hiding her mouth behind her fan, raised her voice in frustration—

“Their Imperial Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, have arrived. All present, show your respects.”

The music and chatter ceased. As the side doors of the dais opened and the Emperor and Empress entered side by side, the attendees bowed in unison. Roseline and Schnitzel were no exception. Roseline stole a glance at the dais. Though his hair was as black as ink, the Emperor’s appearance and presence were nothing like Valen’s.

She had seen the Emperor before—last summer, at his birthday banquet, when she’d attended as Valen’s partner and greeted him for the first time. Their temperaments were as different as their auras. The Emperor was a wise and benevolent ruler—so what, exactly, was Valen’s problem?

“To those who have completed their honorable training, We bestow Our blessing and trust. You are treasures who will become part of the Empire’s history. May the light of glory accompany your journey.”

After the Emperor finished his address and took his seat on the highest throne of the dais, the music that should have resumed never came. In the silence, the master of ceremonies boomed once more.

“His Highness, the Grand Duke of Haudemer, has arrived. All present, show your respects.”