I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 158
With those parting words, Baroness Inferna stood up from her seat.
“Well then, this old woman will take her leave and get some rest. See you tomorrow.”
After finishing his brief meeting with Baroness Inferna, Rufus headed straight to Prince Tarek’s quarters. It wasn’t that her advice didn’t resonate with him, but there was no time to rest.
Prince Camus. The second prince of the Hevania Kingdom and the closest ally of Crown Prince Viren.
Originally, Rufus had planned to deal with him slowly over time, but now his mind had changed.
It was revolting. The fact that the man was still breathing made him sick to his stomach.
The repulsive face of Second Prince Camus flashed through his mind.
Even in his past life, Camus had relentlessly tormented him. How could Rufus ever forget the wretch who, leading Crown Prince Viren’s remaining forces, fought to the bitter end? The depraved prince who even cursed Rufus’s deceased parents.
It was unforgivable.
“Ah, Sir Rufus.”
The scribes of Prince Tarek hurriedly bowed their heads as they welcomed him.
“As it happens, His Highness Prince Tarek was just about to call for you… But here you are already.”
Rufus sneered.
Of course, he would want to see me. He must know the weight of his sins.
“R-Rufus.”
Prince Tarek, who had been sitting, stood up to greet him.
Seeing the sight of Tarek in his disheveled state, Rufus couldn’t help but feel disgusted. He looked as though he’d spent the entire day lazing in bed. The stench of alcohol filled the air around him. For all his fine clothes, the man was little more than a beggar.
After dismissing all the servants, Rufus strode quickly toward Iruel.
“Iruel.”
“R-Rufus.”
Ha, ha! Iruel let out a stiff laugh.
“D-Did you sleep well?”
At Iruel’s pathetic attempt at small talk, Rufus narrowed his eyes.
“Shut up.”
“Y-Yes.”
Ha ha ha… Iruel forced a weak smile, but inside, he was crying.
Iruel was troubled in his own way.
No matter how he looked at it, the whole thing felt unfair. All he had done today was sleep in until midday like usual. But then the scribes had rushed in and reported the following:
‘Your Highness… Prince Camus visited this morning.’
‘Huh? That son of a… I mean, why did my dear brother come?’
‘Well… he insisted on meeting with Saintess Sarubia…’
The scribes then went on to explain the situation.
From what Iruel gathered, this is what happened.
Prince Camus had barged in, demanding to meet with Saintess Sarubia. However, Sarubia had been away from the palace, and when he couldn’t meet her, Prince Camus flew into a rage and caused a scene.
Ah, that lowlife scum.
Iruel had been downing drinks as the scribes relayed their report when the following information came to light.
‘In the process, Baroness Inferna was injured.’
The moment Iruel heard that, the drink he was sipping spilled down his front.
‘…What did you just say?’
The second he received that news, Iruel knew he was doomed.
There was no doubt in his mind. Once Rufus learned of this, he wouldn’t let him off.
And sure enough, Iruel’s intuition hadn’t failed him.
After returning from his outing with Sarubia, Rufus had come straight to find him.
Look at that bulging vein in his neck. It’s a wonder how his eyes aren’t shooting daggers right now.
“W-What lovely weather we’re having, ha ha.”
Desperately trying to win Rufus over, Iruel tried to shake a metaphorical bell, but Rufus ground his teeth and ignored the attempt.
“Get on your knees.”
“W-What?”
“I said get on your knees, you cursed wretch. You couldn’t even stop one worthless prince, and now look at this mess?”
As he saw Rufus’s ferocious expression, Iruel thought, Even the face of the demon lord would look kinder right now.
“L-Look! Sir Rufus! I feel truly sorry about Baroness Inferna being injured! But honestly, what could I have done?”
Iruel’s desperate plea for leniency began.
“What could I have done while you were away from the palace? I’m nothing more than your puppet!”
“Puppet?”
Rufus’s expression turned even more dangerous at Iruel’s words.
“Who said you were a puppet?”
Rufus stormed forward, making Iruel flinch.
Uh-oh, this mouth of mine.
Clearly, he had just made things worse. He needed to pacify Rufus quickly.
“H-Ha ha! R-Right? That was out of line, wasn’t it? I don’t know my place, calling myself a puppet… I’m nothing more than the dirt under your boots…”
“Get a grip, Iruel.”
Rufus grabbed Iruel by the collar.
“You’re not my puppet. You’re my right hand.”
“R-Right… hand? What did you say?”
Iruel’s eyes widened in disbelief as he hung from Rufus’s grip.
Right hand? Right hand?
He couldn’t believe his ears. Could he really have heard that correctly?
“Wait… Sir Rufus, since when did ‘right hand’ become a synonym for ‘slave’?”
Iruel received a punch on the spot.
“Ah, right, of course. I’m really touched now.”
Rubbing the back of his throbbing head, Iruel’s eyes welled with tears.
“Sniff… To think I’m your right hand… I always thought you saw me as nothing more than trash, the lowest of the low… but I was wrong…”
‘What a loudmouth for a piece of trash.’
Rufus clicked his tongue and gave Iruel a disdainful look.
