I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 168
“Primrose, you…!”
But Roned couldn’t even reach the feet of the Saintess. A heavy club struck his back. Roned, severely beaten, groaned as he collapsed to the ground.
“Don’t you dare approach the Saintess.”
The soldier, gripping the club tightly, threatened Roned.
Roned, with a dazed look, stared at the soldier and the weapon he held. His eyes, half-lidded from intense pain, eventually focused on the woman standing before him.
“…”
The Saintess looked down at him without a word.
Her gaze was cold, devoid of any trace of emotion.
Roned couldn’t contain the surge of anger that welled up inside him.
This wasn’t right.
No matter what, this wasn’t right. How could she forget the grace he had shown her as a child? And on top of that, betray him?
“Primrose, you wretched little wench! How could you do this to me!”
Roned shouted without even realizing it.
“Do you know how I raised you when you were a child!”
“I was never raised by you.”
Her calm voice descended softly, like winter snow.
“I grew up on my own.”
This damn…!
Roned clenched his fists, ready to leap at the Saintess at any moment. But fear of the soldier by her side kept him from moving.
If only that soldier wasn’t there, he would grab that wretch by the hair and slam her head against the wall!
Just as he was grinding his teeth, thinking of how to get back at that cursed girl—
“Take it.”
Thud—a heavy sound. A rather weighty sack was dropped in front of Roned.
“What is this?”
“You’ll know when you open it.”
Though suspicious, Roned opened the sack. Inside, he found it filled with gleaming gold coins.
The unexpected sight of the gold made Roned gasp.
“Th-this is…!”
“This is the money I’ve saved over the years while working as a maid in the palace. I had nowhere to spend it, so I saved every penny.”
The salary she had saved over several years. Though she didn’t earn much as a maid, it had accumulated into a significant amount.
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
The Saintess’s voice continued quietly.
“I’m giving you everything I have. So now, leave the palace. And never show yourself before me again.”
With those words, the Saintess turned sharply and began to walk away.
Roned, as if entranced, stared at the money Primrose had left him.
Money. It was money.
This amount of gold was more than enough to start a business again. He wouldn’t need to do menial labor at other people’s houses anymore.
He could make a fresh start.
He could rise again.
He could live a faithful life once more, with warm clothes, daily food, and a house with a roof over his head. It was everything Roned had ever wanted.
But.
Something was missing.
“Wait a minute!”
Roned reached out both hands toward the Saintess as she was about to leave.
“What is it?”
The Saintess, holding back the soldier who was about to beat Roned again, asked with a calm gaze.
“Are you trying to buy me off with this mere pittance?”
Roned kicked the sack of gold with his foot. The sack spilled open, and the coins rolled across the floor.
Roned, straightening his aching spine, stood on the scattered gold.
“Do you think I’ll be satisfied with this kind of money? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“…How much more do you need?”
The Saintess asked coldly, and Roned let out a dry laugh.
“Listen carefully, Primrose. Prince Camus promised me land and a knighthood in exchange for arranging a meeting between you two. This paltry sum can’t even compare.”
“So what?”
The Saintess asked, her voice cold and lifeless.
“Just meet with Prince Camus once.”
Roned stepped closer to the Saintess.
“All I’m asking is for you to meet the Prince just once, in front of me. Then Prince Camus will grant me the promised land and title. Can’t you do that?”
“No.”
The cold reply came instantly. Roned’s face twisted in rage.
“You wretched girl! All you have to do is meet the Prince once! How hard can that be!”
“As you said, it’s not difficult to meet Prince Camus.”
“Exactly, you understand. Then why won’t you!”
“I don’t want to.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to. There’s no reason for me to do something I don’t want to do.”
Sarubia stared directly into Roned’s eyes as she spoke.
“If you don’t want to die, you should escape before Prince Camus finds you.”
Sarubia began to walk away again, but Roned stubbornly followed her.
“No, Primrose! You must meet with Prince Camus before the banquet tomorrow! That’s the only way I’ll get the reward I’m owed!”
“I warned you.”
Sarubia pulled her robe back over her head.
“If you don’t want to die, leave this place immediately.”
With those words, Sarubia exited the prison.
“This cursed girl…”
Grinding his teeth as he watched her leave, Roned quickly began gathering the gold coins that had fallen on the ground. He couldn’t afford to waste even a single coin.
