I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 101
The royal knights were watching the conversation between Rufus and Sarubia with interest.
Of course, Rufus and Sarubia were quite far apart from the knights. Therefore, the knights couldn’t hear the content of the conversation between the two.
However, the knights were paying attention to the fact that these two seemingly unrelated individuals were having a very intimate conversation.
“Call me Lady Sarubia, not just Saintess.”
Sarubia lifted her head with a somewhat haughty air.
“What will the knights think if you speak to me so casually, Lord Rufus? So, please show some respect.”
She seemed to be trying to appear dignified. However, to Rufus, it just looked like she was playing around. Still, Rufus decided to go along with her act.
“Yes, understood, Lady Sarubia.”
“Well done. You’re very obedient, Lord Rufus. I’ll give you a compliment.”
Sarubia chuckled.
Rufus swept a hand over his face as he listened to her tender laughter.
Truly.
He couldn’t fathom her intentions.
What was she thinking right now? Why did she so desperately want to go to the borderlands? Because she didn’t want to be apart from him?
He could understand that feeling. Rufus felt the same way.
But the Sarubia who had been insisting she couldn’t quit her job just hours ago, the Sarubia who had hidden the fact that she was a Saintess all her life, why had she suddenly made such a decision today?
“You have no idea what I’m thinking, do you?”
Sarubia suddenly asked.
“Not at all.”
Rufus immediately responded.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to know now.”
With a gentle smile, Sarubia extended her hand towards Rufus.
“I have my reasons. Please trust me.”
“……Alright.”
Rufus nodded and took Sarubia’s hand.
Even though he didn’t understand, and no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t decipher her thoughts, he would trust her.
Because she asked him to trust her, he would.
While holding Sarubia’s hand and feeling her warmth, a murmuring noise came from behind. The waiting knights were whispering to each other. They seemed confused about the apparently romantic relationship between the two.
Rufus then slowly let go of Sarubia’s hand.
“……Come to think of it, what do they think we are?”
“What else would they think? They’ll see me as a nobleman who’s fallen for the Saintess.”
“Is it okay to let them think that?”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it? And why do you keep speaking so informally?”
“……My apologies, Lady Sarubia.”
“I like this. I can live for the fun of training you, Lord Rufus.”
“……”
Rufus sighed dryly.
We’ll see if you keep talking like this even in bed.
***
The hero Rufus, who had beheaded the Demon King, six royal knights, and the Saintess, Sarubia.
All members of the search party specially dispatched by the king were assembled.
“We are now departing.”
Rufus, having finished reorganizing, looked at the knights.
“It normally takes several days to reach the borderlands at an ordinary pace. However, we don’t have that kind of time. So, we will push our horses to move as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, understood.”
The knights, standing upright, listened to Rufus’s orders.
“My plan is to arrive at the borderlands in two days.”
In two days?
The knights’ eyes widened in surprise. Even at the fastest pace, it takes at least three days to reach the borderlands. Two days seemed inconceivable.
As the bewildered knights doubted their own ears, Rufus added more.
“We will camp in the Armeta Forest tonight.”
“Armeta Forest… sir?”
The Armeta Forest was quite a distance from the kingdom’s capital. By carriage, it took a solid two days. They planned to reach it in just one day?
One of the knights protested.
“Lord Rufus, moving that quickly will be hard on the horses.”
“Use magic.”
“Excuse me? But using that much magic could strain our bodies…”
“Drink potions to bolster your magic.”
Rufus cut off the knights’ complaints.
“Stop whining. Do you think we’re going on a picnic to the borderlands?”
“……”
Intimidated by Rufus’s scolding, the knights bowed their heads solemnly.
“Don’t make me repeat myself. Our goal is to reach the borderlands by tomorrow.”
“……Yes, understood.”
“And since Lady Sarubia has no experience riding horses, she will ride with me.”
The knights glanced at Sarubia. She was already waiting on Rufus’s horse.
“Don’t expect special treatment. Don’t fall behind and keep up.”
With that warning, Rufus mounted his horse. Sarubia’s back pressed against Rufus’s chest.
Sarubia turned her head towards Rufus, who was seated behind her, with a bright smile.
“Would you believe me if I said this is my first time riding a horse?”
Sarubia, with her hair tied back tightly, asked playfully.
“If Lady Sarubia says so, how could I possibly doubt it?”
“What if I get motion sickness?”
“That won’t happen.”
“How do you know?”
“You’ll pass out in ten minutes anyway.”
“What?”
Instead of responding, Rufus spurred the horse forward.
Ha-yah! With a robust neigh, the horse started to gallop. The horse carrying Rufus and Sarubia sped past the other knights’ horses.
“Whoa, wow.”
Sarubia stiffened atop the racing horse.
The sound of wind rushing past her ears sounded almost like a scream. Her hair, untamable, flew wildly. The accelerating beat of the horse’s hooves seemed to whip her heart faster.
