I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 102
“What’s the rush?”
“There’s no rush.”
Rufus’s calm reply came from behind.
“So it’s not urgent! Yet you’re driving the horse just like your personality!”
The horse accelerated further. The trees on either side began to blur into something green, no longer distinguishable as trees.
“Can’t we go a bit slower? What if we die doing this?”
Sarubia, overwhelmed by the speed, clenched her eyes shut. Her appearance was both cute and pitiable.
Rufus considered stopping the horse immediately but realized it was impractical.
“Lady Sarubia, who predicts death, would know better, wouldn’t she? Am I going to die from falling off the horse?”
“It’s not that, but this is still too scary!”
Sarubia felt like crying right then. Watching her, Rufus slightly opened his mouth.
“Actually, I have something to tell you.”
“What, what is it?”
“The Inferna family isn’t financially well-off. So, when it was time for me to learn horseback riding, we didn’t have a horse at the manor.”
Sarubia’s mouth dropped open.
“What? Then how did you learn to ride?”
“I only got perfect scores in theory.”
“There’s no such thing! Please tell me you’re joking!”
“I’m not very good at making jokes.”
“Wait, you’re lying, right? Please say it’s a lie!”
Exactly ten minutes after they started, Sarubia eventually fainted due to Rufus’s horrendous riding skills.
***
When Sarubia regained consciousness, it was already after sunset.
“Ah.”
Sarubia bolted upright as she opened her eyes.
She was lying on a blanket, with a pillow that seemed filled with grains indented beneath her.
“You’re awake.”
Rufus greeted the newly awakened Sarubia. He was leaning against the opposite side, carving wood.
They were inside a tent, which seemed freshly set up given the creases still visible on the fabric.
Voices from outside the tent could be heard, suggesting the knights were standing guard outside.
“How long did I sleep?”
Sarubia crawled out from under the blanket and slid next to Rufus.
“All day.”
“Really? I feel like I’ve become too lazy.”
“I did wake you up around noon, but you seemed too tired, so I used magic to put you back to sleep.”
“I see.”
Sarubia rested her head on Rufus’s shoulder.
Her head felt foggy. Was it because she slept too much, or were her eyes just heavy? Even sitting still now, the muscles around her waist ached.
No matter how soft a saddle might be, the continuous jostling had evidently taken its toll.
Rufus put down his carving knife.
“How’s your body feeling?”
“My waist hurts.”
“That’s bad. We have to go again tomorrow.”
Rufus clicked his tongue and wrapped an arm around Sarubia’s head.
“That’s why I told you to stay at the palace.”
“I don’t want to. I like it better here.”
“Here? The Armeta Forest?”
“No, by your side.”
Sarubia grabbed one of Rufus’s arms.
“You’ve worked hard all day driving the horse. And you probably didn’t sleep well last night either.”
“……”
Rufus smiled and looked down at Sarubia.
Sarubia seemed still half-asleep, drowsily clinging to him. Her adorable appearance made him think.
Maybe.
Going to the borderlands with Sarubia isn’t such a bad idea after all.
“What are you making?”
Sarubia pointed to the wood carving Rufus was working on.
“Just.”
“Just what?”
Thinking it quicker to show than explain, Rufus handed the carved piece to Sarubia.
A wooden piece as small as a coin. The elongated oval shape had tiny eyes, a round snout, and fine scales.
“It’s a fish.”
“Yes.”
“It’s really ugly.”
“……It’s supposed to be an ugly fish.”
Rufus, who had smoothed the carving with sandpaper, offered it to Sarubia. She blinked, quietly observing the fish carving.
“Did you make this for me?”
“If you want it, take it.”
“What if I said I didn’t want it?”
“Then I’d have to throw it away.”
“So you made it for me?”
“I just made it, that’s all.”
Sarubia chuckled at Rufus’s reluctance to admit.
“How did you know I like fish?”
“You said you go fishing often.”
“Right. Fish are tasty.”
Sarubia quietly looked down at the wooden fish in her palm. It was crudely made, almost embarrassing to call a work of art.
Despite being tired from riding all day, he had gone to the trouble of picking up a carving knife to make something for her. Truly, he was not a cute man.
“Are you hungry?”
“I just woke up, so I’m not sure.”
“You should eat something anyway. Wait a moment.”
Rufus stood up and headed towards the tent entrance.
Just as he was about to leave the tent, the voices of knights gathered around the campfire could be heard.
“Rufus and the saintess, they’re definitely not just acquaintances.”
“Of course. The mere fact they’re sharing a tent already speaks volumes.”
Rufus approached them.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ru, Rufus sir!”
The knights who had been warming themselves by the fire stood up abruptly.
“I thought I heard my name, what’s the matter?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
The knights looked down, tensely wondering if Rufus had overheard their conversation in detail.
Rufus chose not to reprimand them.
“Sarubia is awake. Bring some food.”
“Yes, sir.”
The knight responsible for cooking stood up.
Dinner was boiling in a pot over the fire. A soup made with meat and grains brought from the palace.
“Put a lot of meat in it.”
Just as a knight was about to scoop some out, Rufus made his request.
“Yes sir, I’ll put a lot in.”
“I mean it. A lot.”
“Y-Yessir.”
“When you think you’ve put too much, add one more scoop.”
“……”
