I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 122
How much effort must it have taken to acquire this precious magic stone.
Iruel repeatedly bowed his head toward the witch Odr.
“Thank you, Mother. I’ll treasure it as a family heirloom for life.”
“Keep it as a family heirloom, huh? You have to return it to the Demon King later, so take good care of it, understand?”
“Ha ha! Just trust me!”
Iruel declared confidently, puffing out his chest as he stood up.
“Oh, and you know you shouldn’t make contact with the saintess, right? If you do, the transformation spell will be undone.”
“Of course.”
Iruel nodded.
“I’ll make sure to explain it properly to Miss Sarubia.”
Having made his bold promise, the son of the witch, in the guise of Prince Tarek, strode into the forest.
The prince’s ring on his departing finger sparkled even in the darkness.
***
“Rufus.”
Sarubia called her lover in a low voice.
“What are you planning to do next?”
“I’m going to marry you.”
The matter-of-fact reply came back.
Sarubia, unwittingly, blushed.
“Not that, I meant more about the immediate future.”
“The immediate future?”
“Well… I’ve already prophesied that Prince Tarek is not dead. But the prince is already dead.”
“Uh.”
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“…”
With his eyes closed, Rufus said nothing.
Sarubia brushed his hair softly as she let out a quiet sigh.
“Let’s run away to the empire together.”
“…”
Rufus looked up at Sarubia, whose face was obscured in the darkness.
Right now, what expression was she making?
“It’s not too late yet. We have time until dawn breaks, we can move right now.”
“…”
“We’ll be able to settle well once we reach the empire. That country is famous for welcoming foreigners. I’ll work hard. Let’s live there together.”
Leaving everything behind and starting anew with Sarubia.
Rufus considered the possibility.
Would the king really pursue the fleeing Rufus?
No, he probably wouldn’t. Currently, negotiations for a marriage between Princess Sordid and an imperial prince were underway. The king wanted nothing more than to see these negotiations succeed. Therefore, he was desperate to please the empire.
If the king had any sense, he wouldn’t request the empire to send back an immigrant. Wasting manpower on petty search efforts would hinder diplomatic relations. So, he needn’t worry about reprisals after running away to the empire with Sarubia.
What about the position of the Bonastrika Empire?
Indeed, as Sarubia said, the empire was favorable towards foreigners. There are many immigrants, so the empire wouldn’t suspect people coming from other places. He and Sarubia would likely adapt easily to that place.
Rufus and Sarubia could settle in a moderately developed manor in the countryside. Working daily to earn their keep, building a small cabin to shield against rain and wind, and falling into deep sleep to relieve fatigue—they could enjoy a simple life together like this.
It’s not bad.
No, rather, it’s appealing.
But.
“……I can’t go.”
Not yet.
There are still things that need to be done.
Sarubia bit her lower lip hard.
“So you intend to be executed, as His Majesty the King commanded?”
“No.”
Rufus slowly opened his eyes and got up.
“His Majesty has commanded me to bring back Prince Tarek, so I must swiftly follow his command.”
“You were planning to ask Sir Roroel, weren’t you?”
As Sarubia brushed off the dry grass clinging to Rufus’s back, she suddenly asked.
“……”
Taken aback by the unexpected question, Rufus clamped his mouth shut. It felt like she hit the nail on the head.
Involuntarily, Rufus turned his head. Their eyes met, and Sarubia’s golden pupils sparkled.
“Right? Sir Roroel is a mage who excels at transformation magic.”
“Mage……”
Mage, mage.
So Sarubia had thought of Iruel in that way.
“You plan to have Sir Roroel transform into Prince Tarek to deceive His Majesty, don’t you?”
“……You knew.”
Rufus sighed.
Indeed, Sarubia was quick. She had precisely grasped Rufus’s schemes.
But there was something Sarubia did not know.
Iruel was not a mage and was not proficient in transformation magic. Turning Iruel into Prince Tarek was the work of his mother, the witch Odr.
“Such a scheme will be uncovered soon enough. Please don’t do it.”
Sarubia grasped Rufus’s hand.
“Why do you say that?”
“What kind of father wouldn’t be able to recognize his own son? And what about all those people in the palace?”
Sarubia’s voice followed, filled with concern.
“Even if Sir Roroel is skilled at transformation magic, it’s just an imitation of appearance, right? He can’t perfectly mimic the prince’s usual speech and behavior.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Rufus smirked.
“That’s right, there’s absolutely no need to worry.”
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice interjected from behind. Startled by the sudden presence, Rufus reflexively grabbed the sword at his waist.
“Who is it?”
“Guess who! Try to guess who I am! No prizes though!”
Rustle, rustle.
The figure emerging from the darkness was a tall, robust adult male.
Every movement he made, even just walking, dripped with elegance. The handsome man scattered smiles like the wind.
In that moment, an undeniable aura was felt. Even Sarubia, who had no talent for magic, could instantly sense it.
‘……Wow.’
He was emanating such overwhelming power.
