My Ruin to You - Chapter 6

How fortunate the young lady was to have someone as steadfast as the Grand Duke by her side. Hoping that bastard would get his due punishment and that her young lady would have a peaceful day, Lina began her own.

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“The disciplinary committee is undecided?”

Contrary to Lina’s hopes, Roseline’s day was a mess. Before classes began, she went to her advisor to ask about the committee, only for the professor to give her an awkward smile.

“You haven’t fully recovered yet, my dear. And Young Master Vermouth’s condition isn’t exactly ideal either. We’ve agreed to convene the committee once everyone is in better health.”

“…When? After His Highness the Grand Duke arrives in the capital?”

“Celodienne.”

“This is my matter, Professor. My own doing. He isn’t even my guardian.”

“Think rationally, won’t you?”

“……”

“You know as well as I do that attacking a fellow student with magic is a serious disciplinary matter. And you even used magic outside your affinity. Suspension is on the table. Why can’t you see that buying time is in your own best interest?”

It could mean hiding behind the Grand Duke’s influence. It could be a euphemism for not daring to defy his will. Or perhaps it was both.

“You seem tense. Don’t worry about attendance—focus on recovering first. Awakened are the empire’s greatest pride, after all. You must take care of yourself.”

The world is the one making me tense. So tense, in fact, that even the professor’s kindly smile and concern for her health took on another meaning. Since you’re wary of the Grand Duke’s gaze, just stay put in bed and don’t cause trouble—

For a moment, Roseline steadied her breathing, glaring at the shelves of books before finally speaking with grim resolve.

“Professor.”

“Hm?”

The professor raised his teacup with elegant restraint, the motion unfolding in slow motion. In that split second, countless impulses crowded the tip of her tongue.

“…Thank you for your time. I’ll take my leave now.”

In her mind, she wanted to snap back—Go ahead, suspend me, expel me, I don’t care!—but reality made her this pathetic. If the mention of suspension was meant to intimidate her, it worked. She’d only expected a few rounds of community service at worst. Suspension? Unacceptable. Who benefits from that? Only I lose.

“This is so frustrating. That potato-faced bastard—I really should’ve boiled him alive.”

Leaving the office, Roseline thumped her forehead against the cold wall. If that bastard Vermouth hadn’t interfered, the breakup, what little remained of her academy life—all of it could’ve been more peaceful. But no, he had to be useless.

“Maybe I should just drop everything and go to Belhar.”

If she crossed the border and started anew, she’d manage somehow, wouldn’t she? Sorting through what little she had left, she could probably scrape together enough to settle down.

Gods. What am I even thinking?

When things spiral this badly, the mind conjures all sorts of nonsense.

Slapping her cheeks to snap out of it, Roseline trudged forward weakly. At the far end of the hallway where she disappeared, a dark shadow flickered.

The days that followed were quiet. Whether it was the effect of blasting Young Master Vermouth with offensive magic or not, the outright sneers dwindled. She’d learned a valuable lesson. Violence is the best way to shut a foul mouth.

But as the Grand Duke’s arrival drew nearer, an inexplicable emotion churned inside her like a typhoon.

What even is the heart? What is love?

Some days, it gnawed at her as guilt. Other days, it weighed on her as obligation. And in fleeting moments, it lingered as regret—relentlessly shaking Roseline to her core.

The brief respite of quiet days had eased her nerves, and now cowardly compromises kept pushing their way into her thoughts. Maybe I’ve found a way out. Every time they run their mouths, I could just beat them up once and stay without breaking up.

But she quickly shook off the absurd notion.

Even if I turned into a thug and smashed every noble in sight, the Grand Duke wouldn’t bat an eye. But what would become of his reputation, tangled up with someone like me?

That left only one path, enduring it all, swallowing it down. But now—she was tired of it.

She knew. Breaking up with the Grand Duke wouldn’t erase the rumors overnight. But at least she’d be free of him. And with time, the distance would only grow.

“Roseline.”

On one of those days, when she had finally steeled her wavering heart—Valen returned.