I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 126
The story of Roned and Primrose, two orphans
On the seventh day of Rufus’s deployment to the border, urgent news struck the capital of the Kingdom of Hevania like a lightning bolt.
“The hero Rufus, who slew the Demon King, has returned with the missing Prince Tarek!”
The breaking news set the entire royal capital ablaze with excitement. The whole nation buzzed with the miraculous survival of Prince Tarek and the hero Rufus who had rescued him.
“Oh, my son Tarek!”
Upon hearing the news of Prince Tarek’s return, the king burst out of his office barefoot.
Prince Tarek, alighting from the carriage that had arrived just in time at the royal capital from the border, was neatly dressed. Behind the prince stood the commanders of the search party and the dispatched royal knights, standing upright. And in the center of them stood Rufus and Sarubia.
The king extended his arms toward Prince Tarek.
“Tarek, you were alive after all! How could you torment this old father so?”
“I apologize for causing you worry, Your Majesty.”
Prince Tarek bowed his head calmly.
“But now that I have returned, you need not fret any longer.”
The king, embracing his youngest son, eventually burst into tears. Those watching the scene had their eyes well up with tears.
All but one.
‘Pathetic.’
Standing behind Prince Tarek, Rufus silently watched the king.
It was despicable.
The human act of shedding tears while embracing his son was utterly despicable.
The image of the king mocking Sarubia after killing her flickered before Rufus’s eyes. The tears the king shed were so hypocritical that merely watching made Rufus feel nauseous.
‘I will kill him.’
Watching the king sigh in relief as he patted Prince Tarek’s shoulder, Rufus clenched his fist tightly.
I will kill him.
I will kill the king.
Without fail.
Even if the king cries out in utter despair, I will kill him without blinking an eye.
I will definitely kill the king.
Rufus smiled coldly.
Everything was going according to Rufus’s plan.
From the start, the king had expected Prince Tarek to behead the Demon King. However, an entirely different man had brought the Demon King’s head, and Prince Tarek had gone missing.
A noble from the baron family stole the credit, and to make matters worse, the king lost his cherished son. The king’s wrath was inevitably directed at Rufus.
Rufus exploited that anger.
He bowed his head humbly, claiming to be a loyal servant of the royal family. Then, he promptly found the long-lost Prince Tarek that the king had been desperately searching for.
Seeing the ring on Prince Tarek’s finger, the king did not doubt for a moment that the returned prince was his son.
Not for a moment.
‘Fool.’
Rufus snickered as he watched the king rejoice while embracing Iruel, who was in the guise of Prince Tarek.
The king would start trusting Rufus, who had returned with Prince Tarek. And from now on, the downfall of the royal family would begin.
“Rufus?”
Sarubia tilted her head and tugged on Rufus’s sleeve.
“Rufus? What’s wrong? What’s so funny?”
“……Nothing.”
Rufus quietly let the smile fall from his lips.
“Just, I’m happy.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re beside me.”
Rufus whispered to her as he watched Iruel skillfully play the role of Prince Tarek.
“Rufus.”
The king, having finished his emotional reunion with Prince Tarek, approached Rufus.
“As per my command, you have returned with my beloved son Tarek. Your contribution is immense.”
“It is my duty, Your Majesty.”
Rufus, lying prostrate before the king, uttered words of flattery.
“It is a great honor to be able to serve the illustrious Kingdom of Hevania and Your Majesty the King.”
“I will highly regard your loyalty. A great man has come from the insignificant Barony of Inferna!”
The king, bursting into laughter, then turned his head toward Sarubia, who was standing beside Rufus.
“Saintess, thank you for your prophecy for my son, Prince Tarek.”
“It was nothing, sire. I merely did what was necessary.”
Sarubia bowed to show her respect.
With a satisfied expression, the king alternated his gaze between Rufus and Sarubia.
“Your contributions are indeed great. To celebrate the success of the Demon King subjugation and the safe return of Prince Tarek, I shall host a grand banquet. You must attend.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The king once again looked at his son, Prince Tarek, whom he had regained with great difficulty, before returning to his palace.
As soon as the king left, Prince Tarek walked over to Rufus and Sarubia.
“Without you two, I would not have been able to return to the capital. As a token of my gratitude, I would like to invite you to be my honored guests in my palace.”
Iruel, indeed skilled in deception, flawlessly played the role of Prince Tarek.
Just as Rufus and Sarubia were about to respond in kind to Iruel in the guise of Prince Tarek…
“Tarek, you managed to return alive.”
A cold voice came from the direction where the king had disappeared.
“I had already made preparations for your funeral, yet here you are, returning so thoughtlessly.”
The harsh declaration caused the commanders and royal knights to freeze completely. Sarubia instinctively clutched the hem of her skirt.
“…….”
Rufus pressed his lips tightly together and looked at the owner of the voice.
A man with radiant blonde hair like Prince Tarek, but with eyes as sharp as thistles and a fixed smile at the corners of his mouth.
Rufus knew this man well.
The second prince of the Kingdom of Hevania, Camus. The rival of Prince Tarek and the closest aide to the Crown Prince.
To be precise, a man who wished to be the closest aide to the Crown Prince.
“Well, if it isn’t Prince Camus.”
Prince Tarek laughed heartily as he approached Prince Camus.
