I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 139
“I’ve come to see Prince Tarek.”
Rufus informed the guards standing in front of Prince Tarek’s room.
“Sir Rufus, His Highness the Prince is currently…”
The guards looked troubled upon seeing Rufus.
“What is it?”
“Well, actually…”
Behind the hesitating soldiers, the playful laughter of women could be heard.
“Your Highness, that feels so good! Please do more!”
“I’ll pour you another drink, Your Highness!”
As expected.
Rufus sighed in exasperation.
Hearing the voices of women from the palace at this late hour, it was easy to guess what was happening inside Prince Tarek’s room. Things were undoubtedly happening that innocent Edel should never know about.
“When did he start drinking with the ladies?”
“About three hours ago.”
Three hours ago. Rufus clicked his tongue inwardly and turned to the scribe waiting beside him.
“Scribe, inform His Highness that I have come to see him.”
Shortly after, the laughter of the women that had filled the room gradually died down.
“His Highness will see you now, Sir Rufus.”
The scribe, who had just returned from the prince’s room, bowed his head in front of Rufus. Though he had only been inside for a brief moment, a strong smell of alcohol emanated from him.
Rufus entered Prince Tarek’s room alone.
“Your Highness.”
As he stepped inside, something rolled towards him. It was a wine bottle, its contents not yet dried.
“My apologies, Sir. We will clean up immediately.”
The maids attending to Prince Tarek hurriedly bowed and picked up the wine bottle.
“….”
Without saying a word, Rufus surveyed Prince Tarek’s room.
It was a complete mess.
The office, where the dignity of royalty should be evident, had been transformed into a disordered, cheap banquet hall. Empty wine bottles were scattered across the purple carpet. Each one was an expensive, high-end brand.
The room reeked of strong perfume and alcohol, making Rufus feel nauseous.
At the center of this chaos lay a man.
“Look who it is, the hero who killed the Demon King!”
Prince Tarek, his face flushed red, greeted Rufus with a wide grin.
Rufus glanced at the maids who were tidying up the room.
“Leave us.”
“But the room is still…”
“It’s fine. Lock the door until I say you can come back in.”
At Rufus’s command, the maids hurriedly gathered the empty wine bottles and exited the room.
Once all the servants had left, Rufus approached Prince Tarek.
“Iruel.”
“Iruel’s not here! You’ve come to the wrong place, hehehe.”
Iruel, in the guise of Prince Tarek, laughed foolishly. He tapped the wine bottle he was holding with a spoon, causing the liquid inside to slosh around.
Rufus frowned.
“Iruel.”
“Iruel isn’t here. I’m Prince Tarek. Yay, I’m a prince! My father is the king! Bow down, you bastard Viscount Eustice!”
“Iruel.”
“Why do you keep—”
Unfortunately, Iruel couldn’t finish his sentence.
Slap!
Stars exploded in front of Iruel’s eyes. Rufus had finally slapped Iruel’s cheek.
Iruel’s body tumbled heavily onto the soft carpet.
“Shut up, Iruel.”
Rufus’s cold eyes glared at Iruel. Shocked, Iruel clutched his cheek.
“I-I’ve never even been hit by my mother!”
“Stop drinking so much, you witch’s spawn.”
Rufus snatched the wine bottle from Iruel’s grip.
“Why, why! You told me to drink and play with women as usual! I’m following your orders, so why are you making a fuss!”
Iruel, deprived of his drink, began to protest to Rufus. Rufus looked down at Iruel with eyes full of contempt, as if he were gazing at a filthy drunkard.
“Yes, I did say that. But I also told you not to drink too much today because we have an important task. Don’t you remember?”
“Uh, um, I think so? I don’t remember, heh!”
Iruel received another slap.
“I-I remember! Today we’re supposed to go retrieve Queen Echinacea’s sword, right?”
“Yes. And yet you’ve gotten yourself thoroughly drunk.”
Rufus looked down at the kneeling Iruel.
“Is your brain that of a bird?”
“N-no, it’s not.”
“I’ll give you exactly ten minutes to get yourself together. Otherwise, I’ll cut off one of your fingers.”
“W-What? My finger? Haha! You’re joking!”
“Do I look like the kind of person who jokes around with someone like you?”
Without changing his expression, Rufus drew the sword hanging at his waist. Seeing the blade gleam under the dim lights, Iruel recoiled in fear.
“S-Sir Rufus, fingers aren’t like hair, they don’t grow back once they’re cut.”
“So what?”
“Y-You madman!”
Terrified, Iruel began pounding the floor desperately.
“I don’t care, just give me back my drink! I need to catch up on my drinking quota for the past few months!”
“Stop talking nonsense and sit up properly.”
“No, no! I’ve only had ten bottles so far!”
Iruel started rolling around on the floor.
Ten bottles. To have drunk that much and still be speaking coherently without slurring his words. Rufus looked down at Iruel with an incredulous expression.
“Stop this madness and pull yourself together.”
“Please, just one more sip! I need it to cleanse my palate!”
“I’ll rip your mouth apart.”
“You’re killing me! Please, just one more sip!”
