My Ruin to You - Chapter 63

“I’ve lost count of how many times it’s been today.”

For some reason, he’d been nitpicking her all day long. Even the noble girls who used to pick on her at the academy were cute in comparison. His icy glare and freezing tone crushed even the slightest hint of rebellion in her.

It had started with an apple.

A knight had handed her one, saying he’d grabbed it from a market stall, and they’d sat down to introduce themselves. Though they’d been risking their lives together for days, they hadn’t even known each other’s names—an awkward realization that led to belated introductions. Among them was even an academy classmate. They’d been in different departments, rarely crossing paths, but his face was definitely familiar.

‘Is this a banquet?’

Then Valen appeared with the chain in hand and shattered the mood with a single sentence. The air froze, and the knights scattered like they’d been caught red-handed. Her brief moment of freedom ended just like that. Colder than the metal chain, Valen shackled her again, snatched the half-eaten apple from her hand—the one still bearing her bite marks—and took a crisp bite himself.

‘You’ll take anything offered to you, won’t you?’

‘What was I supposed to do, refuse?’

‘Be careful. Accepting random things will get you in trouble.’

At the time, she’d thought it was jealousy.

But she was wrong.

At meals, he snapped at her for chewing too loudly. If she glanced back while walking, he’d scold, “Is it that hard to look straight ahead?” Once, he even glared before yanking her hood over her head—as if he couldn’t stand the sight of her.

And now, this whole scene just because she’d used healing magic on a knight who’d been cut on the arm. Roseline was convinced Valen bore at least some blame for her sudden mistakes. When someone of his status radiates displeasure, of course she’d get flustered and slip up.

“Yes, yes. This uneducated fool won’t do a thing. Forgive my rudeness, Your Grace.”

She’d barely finished her sarcastic apology—eyebrows drooping in mock remorse—before her expression vanished the second she turned away. Valen’s eyes hardened into ice, but that was strange too. He told me not to, so I won’t—why’s he still mad?

At this point, even his earlier words took on a different meaning. “Take them as they are”—there was a reason for that warning. He’d meant don’t misinterpret things. Assuming his feelings for his ex could only be love or hate was flawed from the start. Just because he didn’t want her chained to another man didn’t necessarily mean affection. If Valen were stuck side by side with some noblewoman, even she—though not as extreme—wouldn’t exactly be thrilled.

“If he really still had feelings for me, he wouldn’t be dragging me around like a prisoner.”

“It looks like snow will fall soon, Your Highness.”

The captain’s cautious voice cut through the frozen tension. Valen, who had been intently watching Roseline’s hooded profile, finally looked up at the sky. The sunlight that had guided their steps was long gone, replaced by dark clouds—and in the distance, yellow smoke curled upward. A signal.

◇◇◇

Their temporary shelter was a blacksmith’s forge.

Given the outer city’s prevalence of wooden commoner homes, finding a suitable hideout had taken time. The forge was ideal—thick stone walls, no windows, and only an internal ladder leading to the second floor. The outdoor furnace also made it easy to keep a fire burning.

Though a lowly baroness, Roseline was still nobility—this was her first time in a blacksmith’s workshop. She craned her neck, fascinated by the anvil, workbench, and iron tools lining the walls—

“Your Grace.”

The forge door creaked open, and one of the knights who had separated from them yesterday entered. Edan, from Team 1. Roseline was certain he was the one who’d fired the signal. But why? She studied him, trying to decipher its meaning—until her vision jerked sideways. Valen, who’d been harassing her all day, yanked the chain sharply, as if unable to break his own habit. Irritation flared, but drawing on her academy days of dealing with noble girls, she forced a smile.

“It seems I’ve upset Your Grace again. My apologies, Grand Duke.”

“All you know is how to provoke me.”

Valen shot her a venomous glance before sighing inexplicably and unfastening the chain from his own wrist. He locked it to a ring on the workbench, then yanked her hood down past her nose.

“Do try to wait quietly. I’d hate to lose my temper if you ran away again.”

You could’ve just let me go.