I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 204
Sarubia smiled warmly.
“You look cute like this, Sir Roroel.”
“Um, please, whatever you do, don’t ever say that in front of Sir Rufus.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“Because if you do, a terrifying spell will turn me into a squirrel-skin handbag.”
“Oh, what are you talking about?”
Sarubia chuckled and gently set Iruel down on the ground. The little squirrel scurried down to the grass and, in a moment, transformed back into human form.
“….”
Iruel looked down at his hands, still dazed. He could hardly believe that he had just been buried alive in a coffin.
They stood in a vast royal cemetery, beautifully adorned with grand flower beds and elegant statues—so lavish it could be mistaken for a grand banquet hall. But apart from Iruel and Sarubia, there was no sign of life.
Glancing toward the disturbed burial site, Iruel saw his coffin, the soil scattered around it, and a small shovel lying in the dirt, about the size of a grown man’s forearm.
“….”
Did she dig up the coffin with that tiny shovel?
Still trying to process it all, Iruel turned to Sarubia.
“Um, Sarubia, did you really dig all this with that little shovel?”
“Yes.”
“That must’ve been a deep grave. You’re incredible, Sarubia.”
Iruel clicked his tongue in admiration, somewhat awestruck. She was small and delicate, yet surprisingly strong—a truly remarkable young lady.
Sarubia shrugged modestly.
“It wasn’t that deep. Royal tombs are sized based on their accomplishments, after all.”
In other words, Prince Tarek’s grave was modest, as his achievements were minimal.
‘Should I be thanking him for being so… inept?’
Glancing back at Prince Tarek’s gravesite, Iruel picked up the shovel.
“What are you doing, Sir Roroel?”
“Digging.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Prince Tarek’s grave is a mess. I should put it back as it was.”
“Oh, that.”
Sarubia reached into her robe pocket and pulled something out.
“Rufus gave me this to use.”
In her hand was the magic stone of the Demon King Audixus. Iruel’s face lit up as he saw it.
“Thank you for saving my life, Sarubia.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing! Hahaha!”
Snatching the magic stone from her hand, Iruel snapped his fingers. Immediately, amplified power from the stone spread across the ground, and in the blink of an eye, Prince Tarek’s grave returned to its original state.
***
“Have you finished offering your prayers, Lady Sarubia?”
Nad, holding a torch, greeted Sarubia. He had been waiting at the cemetery entrance below the hill while she prayed, as Sarubia had asked him not to intrude on her solemn time for the deceased.
“Yes, with your help, I was able to finish my prayers in peace. Thank you.”
Sarubia’s expression was noticeably lighter. Seeing her worry-free face, Nad’s spirits also lifted.
‘That’s why people should live with kindness.’
Humming a tune, Nad escorted Sarubia. She discreetly clenched the edge of her sleeve as she followed him.
“Please, don’t tell anyone that I came here tonight.”
Upon returning to the caretaker’s hut, Sarubia asked Nad and the other attendants seriously.
“If they find out I prayed for the princes, His Majesty will be furious. Please, I’m asking you all.”
With that sincere request, Sarubia lowered her head. Touched by her humility, the attendants hurriedly reassured her, promising to keep her visit a secret.
“Of course, milady. Cemetery caretakers know when to keep their mouths shut.”
“Rest easy, we won’t breathe a word.”
As Sarubia received their assurance, Rufus quietly called Nad over.
“Nad, weren’t you originally assigned to work in the office? How did you end up stationed here at the cemetery?”
Nad let out a deep sigh.
“I don’t really know. They suddenly said the cemetery was short-staffed and sent me here.”
It was clear from his tone that Nad wasn’t entirely happy with the assignment.
“As you know, Sir Rufus, I’m used to handling paperwork, so manual labor like this is a bit…”
“I see.”
Rufus nodded sympathetically.
Though he himself was the one who arranged for Nad’s transfer to the cemetery, he had no intention of revealing that to him.
Rufus had anticipated that once the effects of the poison, Hiramith, wore off, Iruel would regain consciousness. To dig him up before he panicked, it was essential to unearth the grave in a timely manner.
He knew he could discreetly slip past the guards patrolling near the cemetery using his magic to mask his presence. However, openly digging up a grave while the caretakers watched was out of the question.
Thus, Rufus had planned ahead.
