My Ruin to You - Chapter 75

When I opened my eyes again, I was in an unfamiliar space. A slanted ceiling and an outer covering swaying in the wind. It was a barracks. Regardless of Valen’s unstable state of mind, it was unlikely that a barracks would be set up inside a castle teeming with infected, so it seemed I had been brought outside the castle while unconscious. So, this is how it turned out.

“……Fine. As long as I’m alive, that’s enough.”

As if to hide her complicated feelings, Roseline grumbled and pushed off the thick blanket covering her. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but unlike her heavy heart, her body felt surprisingly light. There was a bed—too wide for one, too narrow for two—a wooden desk, and a single chair in front of it. True to a field barracks, the space was sparsely furnished, and nowhere in it was Valen to be seen.

“He wasn’t in his right mind.”

Roseline shook her head as if shuddering. Even as she slipped her feet into the boots neatly placed under the bed, she didn’t stop her disparaging remarks about the owner of this barracks. Back when she first learned that Valen possessed both formidable magical power and immunity, she had even entertained the blasphemous thought that perhaps he was closer to the imperial throne than she was.

The Grand Duke conquers, the Emperor governs.

The proclamation that granted legitimacy to the Grand Duke’s military authority while reinforcing the Emperor’s power was the late Emperor’s decree. Looking back now, it truly was a stroke of genius. Had Valen ascended the throne, the guillotine might never have known a day without blood.

Only now did she understand. Perhaps that unrivaled madness was the one flaw in an otherwise perfect man.

She had always considered her own possessions insignificant compared to Valen’s. But for the first time, she felt she was the more valuable one. Status, wealth, power—she lacked much in those areas, but in morality, humanity, and character, she was far superior. That much, she could be confident in.

Amusingly, this childish comparison brought her comfort. At the same time, she felt pathetic for immediately resorting to such crude measurements the moment she opened her eyes.

“…….”

Roseline, now outside the barracks, scratched the back of her neck. She had expected someone to be guarding the front, but there was no one. Barracks of similar size were arranged at regular intervals, and in the distance, she could see the castle walls. It was the Marquis’s territory.

“You rascal! I told you not to wander around recklessly!”

“But it’s too stuffy to just play inside!”

Just as she hesitated over where to go, a familiar voice reached her ears. Turning her head toward the sound, she saw a woman approaching, holding a child’s hand. It was the pregnant woman and Rudy from the survivor group.

“Ah, it’s the Awakener! The Awakener!”

Likewise, Rudy, who had also spotted Roseline, shifted his feet as if about to run over immediately. But the pregnant woman, standing stiffly in place, pulled Rudy’s arm and scolded him sternly, “Mind your manners, Rudy.” Then, with an expression hardened into formality, she bowed her head toward Roseline.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No! Yesterday, you made a huge barrier for us, didn’t you? When I grow up, I wanna be just like the Awakener—”

“Sigh, Rudy.”

The pregnant woman was wary of Roseline to an excessive degree. It was painfully obvious how desperately she wanted to take the chattering child and leave—so much so that it left a bitter taste.

“It’s cold out, what are you even doing… Oh, goodness.”

The reactions of the other survivors who emerged from what appeared to be their barracks weren’t much different. At best, it was reverence wrapped in politeness; at worst, outright rejection. After all I’ve done to keep them alive. She hadn’t expected gratitude, but for the response to be this harsh—it was impossible not to feel hollow. Still, she couldn’t entirely blame them.

“You should go. The child must be cold.”

“…Yes, my lady.”

“Ah, wait—where’s the Chancellor?”

“The men have been assigned barracks on the outer perimeter.”

So he was alive. Roseline gave a brisk nod, and the pregnant woman quickly disappeared into the barracks, pulling the child along. The location of the barracks provided for the women and children was… interesting. Too close to Valen’s, considering commoners were staying there. The man he was now wouldn’t prioritize their safety—not like before. What’s the game here?

“…….”