I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 2
Lost in thought as he walked alone, Rufus suddenly stopped in front of a particularly glittering palace. It was the palace where Princess Sordid, the king’s beloved daughter, resided.
Indeed, the palace of Princess Sordid, as she was the king’s most favorite princess, lived up to its reputation. The outer walls of the palace were covered in gold and silver dust, and the roof was adorned with various rare gems. The palace, bedecked with the kingdom’s most precious treasures, was a symbol of extravagance. However, among all the splendors, what dazzled the most was neither the gold nor the jewels nor the crystals.
It was Princess Sordid herself.
There was no jewel that shone as brightly as she did in the hearts of all the young men.
Although Rufus had never seen her face, he had heard many rumors about Princess Sordid. Marrying Princess Sordid wasn’t just about winning a beauty—it was about gaining wealth, power, and honor.
Princess Sordid would be able to provide everything that he didn’t have.
“Do you have any business at Princess Sordid’s palace?”
As Rufus wandered near the princess’s palace as if entranced, he heard a soft voice.
It was a maid.
“Nothing in particular,” Rufus replied curtly, then turned his attention back to Princess Sordid’s palace.
Where would the princess be right now?
“The princess isn’t in the palace right now.”
As if she could read Rufus’s thoughts, the maid continued, her voice quiet.
Rufus glanced at the maid. It was slightly annoying how she spoke to him without being asked. However, he was also curious about the princess’s whereabouts.
“Then, where is Her Highness now?”
“She is currently meeting with the Imperial Prince of the Empire in the royal garden.”
“Why is the Imperial Prince in our kingdom?”
“There has been a proposal of marriage. His Majesty the King wishes to unite the Princess with the Imperial Prince.”
A proposal, she said. Rufus mulled over the maid’s short and harsh words.
Yes, in the end, he was not the kind of person who could compete.
The one to stand by the princess’s side was the prince, not Rufus, who had nothing to his name except his noble title.
‘What foolish dreams I have.’
A self-deprecating smile kept escaping his lips. He now realized how foolish he had been.
He had harbored ambitious thoughts, trying to outdo the princess. And as a result, he was now destined to be forcibly taken to the demon-slaying unit.
The maid watched Rufus.
“So, you’ll be going to the demon subjugation unit.”
“How do you know that?”
“You met His Majesty the King.”
“But what does that have to do with it?”
“His Majesty the King has sent all the men who proposed to Princess Sordid but were not to his liking to the demon subjugation unit.”
So he wasn’t the only one subjected to this scheme.
‘That blasted king.’
Rufus ground his teeth with trembling anger. He would rather be rejected outright than be sent to the demon subjugation unit. Was the king really commanding him to die?
“But still, it’s fortunate.”
“What?”
Rufus frowned at the maid’s statement.
Even though she had a mouth she could use to speak, wasn’t she being too casual? To say ‘it’s fortunate’ to someone who is about to die.
“You won’t die until the expedition is over.”
Rufus’s expression turned even more hostile.
“How do you know that?”
“Well, I can just tell.”
The maid chuckled and scratched the back of her head.
Rufus stared at the maid.
Was she trying to comfort him?
But he didn’t feel any relief. Rather, he felt uncomfortable. Despite being a noble, he was in a situation where he had to accept empty words of comfort from a mere maid.
“That’s not even funny. Are you making a fool of me right now?”
Spitting out words with a sharp tone, Rufus glared at the maid. Upon hearing this, the maid blushed with embarrassment.
“N-No, I’m not making fun of you. Actually…”
She trailed off.
The maid looked around anxiously, as if afraid someone might overhear her. After confirming that there was no one else around except her and Rufus, she made a small gesture to him.
“Sorry, but can you lend me your ear?”
“Hah.”
Rufus let out an exasperated sigh. He was commanding someone who wasn’t even a proper servant. He found the situation so absurd that he couldn’t even muster anger. He was simply dumbfounded.
