I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 173
“……”
Rufus gazed coldly at Princess Sordid and her fiancé, Prince Erius. Whether he noticed Rufus’s stare or not, Prince Erius bowed politely to Crown Prince Viren and spoke.
“It is a great honor to take such a beautiful woman like Princess Sordid as my wife.”
‘Of course, that won’t happen.’
Rufus scoffed to himself.
Memories from his past life resurfaced.
Prince Erius, the fiancé of Princess Sordid. Soon, he would initiate a rebellion in his homeland, the Bonastrika Empire.
Having garnered only minor support in Hevania, Prince Erius would plot to kill his own sister, the crown princess, and seize the throne.
However, his plan would ultimately fail, and he would flee to a foreign country. This event would lead to the empire severing its alliance with the Kingdom of Hevania.
Princess Sordid, suddenly losing her fiancé, would spend the next three years without a single suitor until Rufus’s return.
It was fortunate.
It was fortunate that Prince Erius would rebel. Rufus could turn this situation to his advantage, reaping great benefits.
“Then, please enjoy the evening.”
With her boast about her fiancé complete, Princess Sordid gracefully walked away. She did not forget to cast one last glance at Rufus—a look full of contempt.
“……”
Rufus pressed his lips together at her brazen display.
He wasn’t angry. There was no reason to be.
But.
It was laughable.
What a foolish woman. She didn’t even seem to fear the future that awaited her. The day her beloved fiancé betrays her, the day she loses her brothers, and the day she watches her father die.
Rufus couldn’t wait to see the expression on her face when it all happened.
“Don’t they make a lovely pair?”
As the princess and the imperial prince disappeared, admired by all, Crown Prince Viren asked casually.
Rufus nodded as if he had been waiting for the question.
“Yes, they do.”
“Do you truly think so?”
Crown Prince Viren spoke as though he were testing him, glancing at Rufus’s expression.
The prince’s intent was clear. He wanted to know if Rufus was truly fine with Princess Sordid, promised to him after slaying the Demon King, being given to another man.
Of course, it didn’t matter.
Rufus had grown sick of the princess long ago. The image of her cursing him with her nails clawed at his throat still haunted his mind. The mere thought of it made him feel as though his insides were twisting.
“How could I feel otherwise?”
Suppressing his fury, Rufus spoke with his usual calm tone.
“Hmm.”
Crown Prince Viren, seemingly taken aback, cleared his throat and turned away.
“Then, enjoy the evening.”
With a brief farewell, Crown Prince Viren began to walk away. But just as he did—
“Your Highness, I have something urgent to tell you.”
Rufus suddenly spoke up.
“What is it…?”
For a brief moment, suspicion flickered across Crown Prince Viren’s face.
‘Why would he approach me?’
That must have been what he was thinking.
It was only natural. Rufus was a nobody, an obscure noble who had only gained entry to the palace because he had beheaded the Demon King. For him to approach the crown prince out of the blue was an audacious act.
After all, the man before him was the crown prince of the kingdom. Even if Rufus was a war hero, he was still just a low-ranking noble. There was no reason for the prince to speak with him. But Rufus had bait that Crown Prince Viren could not resist.
“Queen Echinacea’s cursed sword.”
“…What?”
“I’ve discovered its whereabouts.”
Bowing his head slightly toward Crown Prince Viren, Rufus whispered in a low voice, ensuring only the prince could hear him.
Crown Prince Viren seemed to be processing the words that had just come out of Rufus’s mouth.
His face was half-dazed.
Of course, it must have been hard to believe.
A man who had appeared out of nowhere was now claiming to know the location of his long-lost mother’s cursed sword. How could it not seem strange?
But no matter how unbelievable the situation, the prince would come to believe him soon enough.
So, Crown Prince Viren.
Will you take the bait I’ve offered?
“Are you certain that you know the location of my mother’s sword?”
“How could I possibly lie to Your Highness?”
“……”
Crown Prince Viren remained silent for a long moment, clenching his fists tightly. His gaze bore into Rufus, as if he intended to rip the truth from him.
Rufus kept his expression calm and indifferent throughout.
“…Let’s move somewhere more private.”
Glancing at the crowd approaching from afar, Crown Prince Viren murmured quietly.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rufus allowed a cold smile to play across his lips.
—He took the bait.
Before following the crown prince, Rufus turned to Sarubia, who had been waiting nearby.
“I’ll be back shortly, Sarubia.”
“What? You said yesterday that we’d stick together.”
Sarubia pouted her lips in protest.
“There’s something I need to discuss with the crown prince. I won’t be long. Stay with Baroness Inferna in the meantime.”
“Fine.”
Sarubia glanced over at Baroness Inferna, who was standing with Edel not far behind her.
No one dared to approach the baroness, who was clad in her medal-adorned uniform. Thanks to that, there was a large empty space around her. The baroness, however, didn’t seem to be the least bit offended by the fact that she was being treated like an eccentric.
