I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 15
The memories from three years ago resurfaced.
Slowly and cautiously, the maid turned her head toward Rufus. Then, she stole his lips again.
It was a very brief moment.
Rufus’s heart sank in the passing warmth that brushed against him.
It felt like a dream. Beyond the skin that had touched almost like a cruel prank, something indescribable blossomed. The roots of the emotions he hadn’t let out at that time had now firmly taken root.
“You…”
Rufus, who had focused solely on the maid in his gaze, managed to speak.
“Why do you keep doing this to me?”
Why.
Just why are you treating me so kindly?
Just why do you keep tending to my pain?
Just why are you sharing your warmth with me?
At his pressing question, the maid gently stroked his hair.
Then…
“Because you remembered my name.”
Name.
Her name, Sarubia.
That’s right. There was not a day that he had forgotten her name. Rufus had always remembered that name.
Perhaps it was because she was a saintess. Or perhaps it was thanks to her prophecy that he would definitely survive until the end of the demon subjugation.
Regardless of the reason, it remained unchanged that over the past three years, he had recalled her name countless times.
“Shall I tell you an interesting story?”
The maid lightly teased Rufus.
“Truthfully, when you appeared in front of the princess’s palace a while ago, I recognized you as the man from three years ago.”
“…Did you really?”
“Yes, I was just pretending that I didn’t know you. I’m sorry.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I was curious about your reaction.”
Reaction?
“I wondered what expression you would make if I said I didn’t remember you.”
As she spoke, the maid stuck out her tongue playfully.
“You…”
This mischievous girl, really.
He thought it was annoying, yet his heart felt lighter.
“So, what expression did I make?”
“Didn’t you notice what expression you were making? You looked like you were about to cry.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
The maid nodded.
“Was it so heartbreaking that I didn’t remember you? I didn’t know you’d cherish a mere servant so much.”
“That’s right.”
As a maid, she playfully tossed out the words to lighten the mood, but Rufus seized onto them.
He couldn’t let this pass.
“Your words seem to be all correct.”
It finally makes sense now.
“Really? What’s correct?”
“Everything you said seems to be right.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Sarubia.”
Rufus called the maid’s name.
“Come here.”
At his call, the maid approached Rufus.
It was the culmination of everything.
He firmly grasped her wrist as she walked toward him. He pulled her to him, causing her to tumble toward him.
He held her when she reflexively tried to get up. He kept her in his embrace and bowed his head impatiently.
Then, impatiently, he kissed her.
He nibbled gently on Sarubia’s lower lip. When she exhaled with a soft moan, he seized the opportunity and pressed harder.
There was no consideration. He was just impatient to be with her.
He didn’t exactly understand why he was behaving this way. He didn’t want to understand. There was no time for that.
He knew it was rude. He knew it was disrespectful to the other person.
But he couldn’t stop himself.
He just wanted to bask in her warmth right now. He wanted to bury himself in her small body, find solace, and fill his empty heart with her. It was a selfish and primal desire.
He left traces on her eyes, cheeks, ears, neck, and every reachable part for a long time. He stole her warmth thoroughly.
“You, really…”
Sarubia finally pushed Rufus away. There were tears in her eyes.
Seeing her like that, Rufus paused.
Had he been too aggressive?
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re so bad at this.”
“…”
If he said he wasn’t hurt by those words, it would be a lie.
“Why are you in such a hurry? Take it slow.”
“Do you think I have time for that?”
“What?”
“Sarubia.”
Rufus firmly held Sarubia’s chin.
“Open your mouth.”
The man, who had blushed at her teasing about not kissing, had vanished.
Months of tension and anxiety on the battlefield, the sense of detachment, thinking he would lose someone precious – all of it had torn him apart. So now, he could only blindly explore her.
Or else, he felt like he would die right here and now.
