I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 128
“……”
Prince Camus kept his mouth tightly shut, like a lock. He watched intently as those following Prince Tarek departed.
Among them was another person who caught Prince Camus’s eye.
“Aren’t you tired, Prince Tarek?”
The hero who beheaded the Demon King, Rufus.
In fact, Prince Camus had never heard of Rufus’s name before this subjugation mission. His family, the Barony of Inferna, held no power. However, Rufus had achieved the remarkable feat of personally beheading the Demon King during this mission.
Prince Camus, who served Crown Prince Viren, was very aware of the rumors circulating among the people. He already knew that the citizens praised and supported Rufus as a hero.
In short, he was dangerous.
‘Soon, some nobles will approach Rufus.’
Prince Camus pondered.
Although a low-ranking noble, Rufus was the hero who saved the Kingdom of Hevania from the threat of the demons. There would be plenty of nobles seeking to build a relationship with him to benefit from his status. It was only a matter of time before Rufus held significant power in noble society.
‘He will become a major obstacle to Crown Prince Viren’s succession to the throne.’
Of course, the best way would be to bring Rufus into Crown Prince Viren’s fold. However, Prince Camus did not find that idea appealing.
Crown Prince Viren’s political stance was very similar to the current king’s. And Prince Camus knew that the relationship between the Inferna Barony and the king was not good.
‘The Baroness of Inferna always opposed the king’s policies.’
The king was extremely reluctant to provide subsidies to the border territories. He believed that resources for the capital should not be wasted on remote areas. Thus, whenever Baroness Inferna submitted a petition, the king would often burn it.
No matter how much he swore loyalty to the royal family, Rufus was fundamentally a man of the Inferna Barony. He would undoubtedly follow the will of his family’s head. Therefore, bringing Rufus to the side of Crown Prince Viren would be difficult.
In that case.
‘I must get rid of Rufus as soon as possible.’
Watching Rufus’s figure disappear into the distance, Prince Camus made a sharp decision.
There’s still time. I must cut Rufus off before he could gain more power.
With this thought, Prince Camus turned his gaze to the woman walking beside Rufus.
The Saintess Sarubia who predicted death.
Although she was born a commoner, that was not important. She was a Saintess.
For some reason, she had been hiding her identity until recently when she finally revealed it.
For the past few days, the entire kingdom had been in a slump due to Prince Tarek’s disappearance. Even after the demon subjugation mission was over, the people could not rejoice.
Then, like a comet, the Saintess named Sarubia appeared.
Along with her appearance, Prince Tarek, who was thought to be dead, returned unharmed. As a result, some people began to pray in her name, calling the Saintess Sarubia a miracle sent by the gods.
Soon, many noble families will flock to her, claiming to be her patrons.
Saintess Sarubia.
Their side must gain her support as soon as possible. They need to make her a supporter of Crown Prince Viren to secure the people’s loyalty.
‘I heard she has just come of age.’
Prince Camus recalled the information he had obtained through his secretaries.
Nobles will soon start proposing to her, seeking to gain honor and power through marriage with the Saintess. They could not let other nobles take her away.
‘She is too grand to be a crown princess, but she would be suitable as a prince’s consort.’
Prince Camus watched the distant figure of Sarubia disappear with a sinister smile.
She is a woman who has just become an adult. She must be unfamiliar with men.
‘I don’t like that she has lived as a lowly maid, but she is young, so she will be pleasing enough in bed.’
Thinking about acquiring the Saintess, Prince Camus smiled slyly.
At that moment.
Up ahead, Sarubia turned her head with a bright smile. Prince Camus was momentarily taken aback by her clear smile.
‘Is she smiling at me?’
…No, she wasn’t.
Sarubia was smiling radiantly at Rufus, who was walking beside her. Whatever amused her so much, she was chuckling and spreading cheer.
Rufus, facing Sarubia, said something, then bowed his head toward her. Rufus slowly kissed her hair.
Prince Camus’s eyes widened at the sight. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
How could those two…
Hadn’t Rufus and Sarubia met for the first time during the search for Prince Tarek? Yet now they were behaving like lovers.
As he blankly watched the two, Rufus turned his head back. In that instant, Rufus and Prince Camus locked eyes. Stunned at having inadvertently witnessed their secret, Prince Camus froze in place.
Watching the prince, Rufus narrowed his eyes.
In that fleeting moment, Prince Camus read the emotion on Rufus’s face.
Rufus was mocking him.
