My Ruin to You - Chapter 76

She stared a moment longer at the empty space where they had stood, then looked around, unsure what to do or where to go—until she felt eyes on her. When she turned, she saw Valen standing in front of the large central barracks. He wasn’t alone. An unfamiliar knight was fervently explaining something to Valen and the Captain. The Captain listened with grave seriousness, while Valen flicked his fingers lightly in Roseline’s direction. Come here, it seemed.

She knew indulging his whims kept his madness at bay. But for some reason, the thought of approaching him now was unbearable. Not because she hated or resented Valen—but because the stranger beside him made her uneasy. Swallowing a sigh, Roseline dragged her feet as slowly as possible toward him.

“As His Highness is well aware, the plague spreads with terrifying speed and lethality. The situation is… less than ideal. The capital and each territory have sealed their gates and imposed strict entry controls, but the real problem lies in the villages outside the walls…”

Only when Roseline approached did the unfamiliar knight finally sense her presence, trailing off mid-sentence as he turned. The Captain gave a slight nod of greeting, while Valen smiled softly and pressed his fingers to Roseline’s forehead.

“If you’re awake, you should’ve come to me first.”

“I didn’t know where you were.”

“Excuses.”

“…….”

“Does she need an introduction?”

Pulling Roseline close by the waist, he directed the question at the Vice-Captain, whose eyes were darting nervously between them. Rumors about the Grand Duke’s lover had run rampant, but since their only encounters had been brief glimpses at banquets, the Vice-Captain stared at Roseline with open curiosity. She was far more beautiful than the rumors suggested. Though her face was slightly pale from the life-and-death struggles in the plague-stricken territory, it only accentuated her serene aura. Just as Valen’s expression began to frost over at the Vice-Captain’s awestruck reaction, the Captain nudged his foot in warning.

“Ah—my apologies, my lady. I’ve heard much about you. I’m Calden.”

Calden extended his hand. Now it was Roseline’s turn to place her hand atop his palm and introduce herself—a perfectly ordinary courtesy, but not a good omen. Valen’s narrowed eyes, fixed on the calloused hand, and the sharp angle of his brows said as much. Roseline, too, found the Vice-Captain’s wide-eyed, inquisitive stare unbearably uncomfortable.

He’s heard much about me? What exactly has he heard? How much does he know? The thought alone made her shrink back.

“Seems like none of it was accurate.”

Instead of Roseline’s hand, it was Valen’s icy voice that landed on the Vice-Captain’s palm. Calden blinked rapidly, turning to Valen in confusion.

“I’m extremely possessive.”

“M-my apologies, Your Highness. I’ll be more careful.”

Calden hastily withdrew his hand, bowing his head.

Though the exchange defied all social norms, Roseline felt relieved to skip the introduction. Goodness, why am I like this? If I’m already cowed this easily, how am I supposed to survive this wretched empire? Get a grip. Even as she steeled herself, her head kept drooping toward the ground.

“Continue.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Vice-Captain resumed his interrupted report. Population movements in projected outbreak zones, countermeasures, the plague’s spread beyond initial estimates—information Roseline couldn’t have known while isolated in the castle poured out one after another. The conversation was strictly official. While Roseline was involved in the plague’s affairs, she had no standing here to listen to reports or voice opinions.

“We’ve deployed surveillance units in teams of three across the outer regions, and so far, no infected have breached the walls. All trade routes have been closed, and incoming merchant ships are being turned back at the ports.”

As he listened to the report, Valen kept a careful watch on Roseline—her gaze fixed on the ground, her teeth gnawing at her lips, her nails digging into her palms as if fidgeting. These were all habits she displayed when forcing herself to endure something unpleasant.

“Shall we go inside if you’re uncomfortable?”

Valen tilted his head to meet her eye level. His voice was as gentle as his scrutinizing gaze, which traced every possible source of her discomfort. The Vice-Captain’s eyes darted busily at the sight of the affection he’d only heard rumors about, now unfolding before him. Meanwhile, the Captain—who had witnessed everything from their intimacy to their fallout over the past few days—stared blankly into the distance. Then, spotting a figure approaching from the camp’s entrance, the Captain narrowed his eyes.

Amidst the knights and soldiers in steel armor, the figure wore leather—an elite soldier who had slipped out of the castle. The moment recognition struck, the Captain spoke urgently.

“Your Highness. Forgive the interruption, but Sir Edan is approaching.”

Roseline, who had just parted her lips to speak, stopped and turned her head. It was the knight who had sought Valen out at the smithy for a private conversation. Just as he had that day, Edan now returned alone—this time with a large wooden crate tucked under his arm.