My Ruin to You - Chapter 60

“……”

Clink.

The real problem was the chain around her wrist. The manacle, fastened like a bracelet, linked her to Valen’s left wrist—and whenever the chain pulled taut, his icy gaze followed.

“Your Highness, you seem terribly uncomfortable as well. Won’t you just remove it?”

There was a reason for her newly polite attitude overnight. First, she felt at least some responsibility for losing the barrier and the horses. Second, until this morning, the restraint around her wrist had been made of leather. Furious at being caught and then leashed, Roseline had thrown such a fit that Valen, with a nod, had undone the strap—only to immediately replace it with the current chain before she could even rejoice.

“Uncomfortable?”

Miraculously, he responded. Roseline nodded vigorously like a puppet with its strings cut, and Valen smirked before tugging the chain.

“Ah—”

As she stumbled off-balance, his arm slid naturally around her waist to steady her. His sharp, dangerous gaze lingered before his fingers brushed lightly against the curve of her neck.

“If it’s too uncomfortable, I can put it around your throat instead.”

“If Your Highness wears one around your neck, then I’ll gladly do the same.”

Her tone was obedient, but her words were laced with thorns. The hand she used to push his arm away from her waist was just as icy. Valen stared at his rejected hand for a moment before scratching his brow with a sigh.

“I don’t know why I even indulge you.”

The words were meant to be heard—I’ll let it slide this time, but not again. Roseline deliberately ignored the implication and turned her head.

“Oh, look over there.”

Just then, the city gates creaked open. The scouting party had returned after surveying the outer city.

“Report: The northern sector of the outer city is clear. However, if the weather worsens, they may become active again. We should prepare.”

“If we send the other teams ahead and station ourselves closer to the inner city to monitor their movements, what do you think, Your Highness?”

Valen nodded at the captain’s suggestion. Before leaving the temporary stronghold, the group of over twenty split into three teams—a strategy to disperse their path and reduce risk. Most of the knights from the Grand Duchy remained with Valen, while Teams 1 and 2 were assigned one each: Edan for Team 1, Merrick for Team 2. Likely a precaution for Valen’s protection—after all, the Grand Duchy’s knights would serve their lord more faithfully than the Imperial knights.

The knights bowed respectfully before passing through the gates one by one. By the time their figures disappeared, Valen, Roseline, and the remaining knights also stepped into the outer city.

At a glance, it didn’t seem much different from the inner city—but considering its twice the size and population, the danger here was far worse. Unlike the inner city’s stone structures, the outer city’s wooden buildings made finding shelter tonight no easy task.

“Your Highness. The chain is too loud—wouldn’t it be better to take it off, even just for a little while?”

“Then stay close so it doesn’t make noise.”

She’d tried her luck while waiting for the knights to finish scouting, but he didn’t budge. Before long, the knights returned with confident expressions—they’d found a place to stay. It was a shop-lined alleyway. The building had an interior staircase leading to the second floor, with only one exit and no windows, and the steep steps made it easy to defend.

The real problem lay elsewhere. There’s nowhere left to run. Yet even after sunset, Valen refused to remove the chain. Worse, while the knights took turns keeping watch, Roseline—still chained to His Highness—was confined to the bedroom alongside him.

“Won’t you take this off now, Your Highness?”

“You never tire of asking.”

Who’s the stubborn one here? He only ever unshackled her for the most essential moments, and even then, just briefly.

“Where exactly would I run? Even if I die, I’d rather die in the capital—so just take it off already.”

“Hmm. I don’t trust you enough for that.”

“Then chain me to someone else!”

Valen’s expression, which had been lazily amused, hardened in an instant. Lying in the center of the old bed, he yanked the chain sharply, sending Roseline tumbling forward onto him. She tried to push herself up, but his hands stopped her.

“Wouldn’t I be better than a stranger? At least I’ve had you beneath me before.”