I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 148
From the morning, good news awaited Prince Camus.
“I can meet the Saintess today?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Roned bowed respectfully as he reported to Prince Camus.
“I gave the Saintess a heads-up last night. She should receive the message through her attendants in the morning, so it would be best to visit her in the late morning.”
“Good, very good.”
A look of delight spread across the prince’s face.
Saintess Sarubia had entered the palace a few days ago. Since her arrival, he had been eager to meet her, but every attempt had ended in failure.
He had heard every possible excuse and pretext from the Saintess. The most absurd reason for refusal was that she needed to go fishing.
After she had avoided Prince Camus in every possible way and refusing his invitations, today, he would finally meet Saintess Sarubia.
‘It seems the claim about the Saintess’s brother is not a lie after all.’
Prince Camus, satisfied, stroked his beard.
Roned.
Prince Camus did not know much about where this man, Roned, had come from or what he had been doing.
Of course, he had the scribes conduct a brief background check, but Roned had no notable background.
Like any other commoner, Roned had been wandering around doing odd jobs to make a living. Apart from his sworn sibling relationship with Saintess Sarubia, there was nothing remarkable or noteworthy about him. He was truly an insignificant man.
‘Let’s prepare to meet the Saintess.’
Prince Camus decided to trust Roned’s word that he would arrange a meeting with Saintess Sarubia.
‘I’ll use this opportunity to bring her to my side.’
Prince Camus hurriedly began to have his attendants dress him up.
It had been several days since Prince Tarek returned from the battlefield. The banquet promised by the king to honor Prince Tarek’s return was to be held the following day. Saintess Sarubia would appear at the banquet as a guest of honor. Many would rush to approach her.
Even though he was a prince, it was impossible to monopolize Saintess Sarubia at such a public event, especially with so many noble youths vying for her attention. Therefore, today was his last chance.
“Prepare a gift for the Saintess.”
Prince Camus, dressed in resplendent silk robes, ordered his scribes.
“Do you have a specific gift in mind, Your Highness?”
Instead of answering, the prince turned his head toward Roned. Quickly understanding his intention, Roned spoke up.
“A ring would be a good choice.”
“A ring?”
“Yes. If you gift the Saintess a ring today, she will wear it out of courtesy at the banquet tomorrow.”
“Hmm.”
“If the Saintess is seen wearing the ring you gifted her at the banquet, it will send a clear signal to other noblemen, won’t it?”
Prince Camus immediately grasped Roned’s plan.
What does it mean if Saintess Sarubia is wearing Prince Camus’s ring? It would be a warning that Saintess Sarubia is someone Prince Camus has taken an interest in.
Prince Camus chuckled.
“You’re quite cunning.”
Indeed, it was a clever and sly suggestion.
“You flatter me, Your Highness.”
Roned maintained a modest smile and bowed his head.
Once ready, Prince Camus set out with Roned in the late morning.
Prince Camus and Prince Tarek were half-brothers. Though they spent their childhood together, they were never close. In fact, their relationship was worse than that of strangers. Thus, when Prince Camus appeared at Prince Tarek’s palace, the soldiers there frowned unconsciously.
It was rare for Prince Camus to visit Prince Tarek. And when he did, it was never with good intentions.
Prince Camus approached the gate guards leisurely.
“Open the gate. I am here to see the Saintess.”
However, the soldiers did not budge.
“Apologies, but Your Highness cannot see the Saintess.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Saintess has declared she will see no one.”
It was an expected response. Until now, Saintess Sarubia had refused to see anyone who came to visit her.
But today was different.
Prince Camus signaled to Roned.
Clearing his throat, Roned spoke in a soft voice.
“If you knew who I was, you wouldn’t speak so carelessly.”
The guards exchanged glances, as if asking each other if they knew this person.
Roned straightened his back and spoke without hesitation.
“I am the Saintess’s brother.”
At this bold declaration, there was a brief moment of silence in front of Prince Tarek’s palace.
But it didn’t last long.
“Even if you are the Saintess’s brother, you cannot enter without permission.”
A firm response came from the guard.
Cannot enter?
A startled Prince Camus glared at Roned. Had he not confidently declared they would definitely meet? Yet now they were being told even the Saintess’s brother couldn’t enter the palace. What was going on?
Roned also looked confused.
“There seems to be some misunderstanding. I left a gift for the Saintess with the gate guard last night. Was it not delivered to her?”
“Ah, you mean the paper bouquet.”
A guard who had heard the story from the night watch scoffed lightly.
“Yes, the bouquet was delivered to the Saintess.”
“Did she not give any response after receiving it?”
“No, there was no message.”
Roned could not hide his bewilderment.
‘This isn’t how it was supposed to go.’
Cold sweat began to trickle down Roned’s back.
