My Ruin to You - Chapter 7

Had it been about a month?

A time that could feel both fleeting and endless. The tall, stately man drew eyes even from afar.

He had pushed through a journey meant to take five sleepless nights in just three—anyone would look haggard after that. Yet even after such an ordeal, his sharp features under the autumn sun remained flawless.

The deep black of his tailored coat and trousers complemented his dark hair perfectly, exuding authority despite the lack of embroidery or adornment.

And today, Roseline planned to say goodbye to this extraordinary man.

“…You’re here? Oh… It’s been a while.”

Was it because her mind was filled with nothing but those two syllables—break up?

The forced greeting lacked courtesy, warmth, anything—it was just awkward. Even she could feel the distance in her own words.

How did I used to greet him?

The days when she’d welcome him with open affection felt like a distant past. Roseline fumbled like a puppet with its strings cut, and the sharp-eyed man didn’t miss the strained atmosphere.

“Yes, it has been.”

Valen smiled faintly and tugged her arm, pulling her closer from where she stood at a careful distance.

“Ah—!”

“Seeing you act so formal, it seems the time apart wasn’t just long for me.”

He steadied her as she stumbled, pulling her firmly against him. A large hand cradled the back of her head.

“I missed you, Roseline.”

His murmur was low as he buried his nose in her hair. A deep inhale made the muscles of his back tense, stretching the fabric of his jacket taut.

“You really are acting like a stranger.”

Perhaps her silence was too unusual. Raising his head from her scent, he met her eyes.

Though his gaze was softened by a quiet smile, the piercing gray-blue of his irises felt unnervingly cold. A thief’s guilt. She couldn’t hold it for long, her lashes fluttering down—

Peck.

His lips brushed hers. The stiffness that had seized her lasted only a moment before her wide eyes snapped open even further.

Their reunion spot? A wide-open street, right in front of the academy gates. Beyond the wrought-iron fence, a pack of wolves lurked, eyes sharpened to tear into Roseline’s reputation.

“Y-Your Highness—”

She squirmed to escape his hold, but his arm around her waist didn’t budge. He simply watched her, calm and unreadable.

It was strange. Even in an era where public displays of affection were commonplace, Valen had always known restraint. A beast in private, but in public, every inch the composed imperial.

“…Let me go.”

Roseline’s gaze fixed on the sharp line of his jaw as she pushed lightly against his chest. A flicker of something bright flashed in his eyes as she pulled away—then vanished just as quickly.

“I don’t want to.”

He smiled, the delicate curve of his eyes softening as he pulled her back into his arms. The fluster was entirely Roseline’s. The more she pushed against him, unable to hide her discomfort, the tighter his grip around her waist became.

“Why are you like this today?”

It was what Roseline wanted to ask, too. If not for those two crushing words lodged in her chest like stones, she might have dared to tease, Your Highness is the one acting strange. Did you eat something wrong?

But not today. Today, she wasn’t here for playful banter—she was here to deliver the heavy weight of goodbye.

And to do that, she needed to escape his embrace first. This wasn’t a conversation for the middle of the street; she’d planned to find a quieter place. Just as she tried to wrench his arm away—

“Did I upset you by coming uninvited?”

His voice, low and edged like a blade, cut through the air. Roseline’s grip on his thick forearm tightened as she jerked her head up to stare at him.

Had she ever seen this expression on him before?

It was unsettling. He wasn’t glaring, wasn’t raising his voice—there was even a light laugh tangled in his words, as if joking. But one wrong move, and it felt like a death sentence would drop.

“N-no? Of course not. You’re misunderstanding.”

She shook her head repeatedly, denying it. This isn’t her being spineless—anyone would react the same way, she reassured the courage buried deep inside her.

“How’s your body?”

Releasing her, he laughed lightly.

“…I’m fine. But you shouldn’t have traveled so far just for me.”

“Did I come all this way just to hear you push me away?”

“…Ah.”

“Say what I want to hear. You know.”

A playful glint flickered in those gray-blue eyes, steel dipped in mischief.

“……”

She knew what he wanted. It was her turn to say she’d missed him too. But those words wouldn’t come easily.

“I… thought about Your Highness. A lot.”

“Not about running away?”

“Wh-what?”

How did he know?

The fact that she had entertained that thought—so much it nearly split her head open—made her heart plummet to her toes. She blinked unnaturally, studying him. The moment their gazes tangled, his eyes curved into crescents.

“Just joking. I’m glad.”