My Ruin to You - Chapter 62

The hand patting her back, the warmth—all of it was achingly familiar. The scene repeated over and over. Just as her rationality shook her by the collar—How can you sleep so carelessly, do you even know where you are?—her eyes would fly open, only to drift closed again, soothed by that low, reassuring voice.

“…Hah.”

When she finally woke properly, dawn light filled the window. And for some reason, Roseline was curled in Valen’s arms.

“……”

If Valen had been the one holding her, she could’ve at least blamed him—but no, the only thing he’d offered in his sleep was an arm for her to pillow. By all appearances, she had been the one to roll over, burrow into his side, and cling to him like a limpet. Ugh, what is this?

This completely undermined her big speech to him the other day.

“……”

She wanted to slip out of bed as carefully as possible, but the damn chain wasn’t helping. Clink. The oblivious hunk of metal scraped loudly, and Valen’s lashes lifted—steel-gray eyes locking onto her.

“Sleep more.”

His voice was thick with sleep. Propping himself up halfway, he pulled Roseline’s stiffened form back into his arms. It was a habit from countless mornings just like this.

Valen, still half-asleep, might not have been aware of reality—but Roseline had no such luxury. The most mortifying part was the unmistakable heaviness pressing against her lower stomach. Wow, even in a world like this, that still works, huh?

“Uh, Your Highness—”

“Mm.”

He only pulled her closer, as if he knew why she was squirming, deliberately grinding his e******n against her while pressing kisses to the nape of her neck, the hollow behind her ear. His wandering hand slid lower, groping under her skirt like it had a mind of its own.

“Your Highness—?!”

Roseline frantically grabbed his wrist, and the lewd movement stopped dead.

“Ah.”

The awkward silence ended with a slow exhale.

“My mistake.”

A conversation from two days ago flashed through her mind. “Are you still under that misconception?” she’d asked.

She’d taken it to mean they were nothing to each other now—no expectations left. And it seemed Valen had been thinking the same thing just now. Who even remembers a passing comment like that and throws it back like this? The man’s memory was terrifying.

“This kind of thing keeps happening because we’re stuck together like this. Either unchain me, or chain me to someone else. Obviously, I’d prefer the first option.”

Finally free of his embrace, Roseline muttered under her breath. It was just an accident—a side effect of too much time spent tangled up together—but that didn’t make it any less embarrassing. Yet before she could sit up, he yanked her back down onto the bed. Her wide eyes stared up at Valen looming over her.

“I haven’t been awake long enough to filter my words. So take them as they are.”

“……”

“If you were chained to another man like this—stuck to him day and night—I’d kill him, Roseline.”

His gaze poured down on her without the slightest waver—only Roseline, reflected in those steel-gray eyes, trembled.

“…Why?”

“You figure it out.”

Valen gently rubbed the chained mark on Roseline’s wrist. Then, as if he’d said all he needed to, he withdrew without ceremony—even undoing the shackle around her wrist.

“Get out.”

It was the freedom she’d wanted so badly, yet Roseline couldn’t bring herself to leave the bed right away. Half of her wanted to demand an explanation; the other half wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard anything at all. Her thoughts spun wildly, directionless.

What would I even do if I knew what he meant?

She’d chalked it up to love-hate. He’s too attached to truly hate me, but too resentful to be kind—that’s why his attitude keeps swinging. Maybe that was just her way of avoiding the truth. Because even if she understood whether his heart leaned more toward love or hatred, there was nothing she could do about it now.

And still, nothing had changed. After staring at Valen with conflicted eyes, Roseline finally left the bedroom—but her thoughts lingered behind. Even as she distributed mana to the knights who’d endured a grueling night, her mind kept circling back to him.

He must still have feelings for me. Oh god, was that why he chained us together? Because he wanted to stay close? What do I do? Is he going to suggest we run away together the moment we leave the territory? This is bad. Really bad.

She lost herself in these thoughts.

“Are you a knight?”

“…Huh?”

“You’ve only received the most basic training. You shouldn’t be using mana recklessly.”

What a pointless worry it had all been.