I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 210
“Even now, you should prepare for the worst-case scenario in case the alliance with the Empire breaks down. Otherwise, the people may suffer greatly.”
That line especially weighed on his mind.
Every night as he lay in bed, that thought plagued him, making it impossible to sleep. Even his wife, who noticed his troubled expression, asked him why he looked so worn out with worry.
What on earth…
What harm could come to the people?
It was as he was carefully mulling over Rufus’s words that—
“Daddy!”
The office door flew open, and a small girl ran toward Viren.
“Esmeral!”
Viren reflexively stood up and lifted the little girl running toward him. She burst into laughter as he held her.
“Y-Your Highness Esmeral!”
The guards outside the door rushed into the room, flustered. They hadn’t managed to stop Esmeral, who had darted into the crown prince’s office like an untamed foal.
“It’s fine. Go back outside.”
Holding his daughter in his arms, Viren waved the guards away. Only then did they bow in apology and step back outside.
“Esmeral, what brings you here?”
“I wanted to play with you, Daddy.”
Esmeral laughed again, nestled in Viren’s arms. Her clear, bright laughter eased some of the burden weighing on Viren’s chest.
“But it’s work time right now. I’ll come to your room later.”
“You said that yesterday too, but you didn’t come. Mommy keeps wearing black clothes and praying, and my uncles don’t visit anymore…”
“……”
With a faint smile, Viren gently stroked Esmeral’s head.
Did little Esmeral understand? That both of her uncles—Prince Camus and Prince Tarek—could never be seen again?
She was still just a child, too young to even read properly. When they forced her into a black dress, she cried and fussed so much that she couldn’t even attend the funeral. When her mother came back with swollen eyes and a pale face, Esmeral had merely blinked at her like a goldfish.
‘She’s still too innocent to comprehend death.’
Viren shook off his bitter smile and held Esmeral tightly. She laughed, saying he was squeezing too hard, and began to kick her legs playfully. Watching her, he felt his heart calm down.
Yes, he would worry about everything else later. Was there anything more important in this world than the child he held in his arms?
* * *
—To Your Great and Honorable Majesty, the Demon King.
If it’s acceptable, I’ll gladly offer up even my lowly and miserable soul without regret. So please, hear this poor soul’s wish: Please kill that bastard Rufus.
Strike him down with a thunderbolt and smash his skull to bits, or at least make him stumble around drunk one night and get run over by a carriage.
Ah, but he doesn’t drink, so the second one’s not possible. Oh well, there’s no choice. Just strike that Rufus bastard down with lightning. Please.
Iruel inwardly cursed Rufus as he raised his whip.
Crackle! The horses let out a neigh as they were lightly whipped. But that was all. Despite the whip, the horses stopped in the middle of the Armeta Forest showed no intention of moving.
“These horses don’t listen to me? Hey, you stubborn creatures, don’t you understand me?”
Fuming, Iruel leapt down from the driver’s seat and poked the bellies of the unmoving horses. But the horses ignored him as if he were a mere fly, lazily munching on the grass growing by the roadside.
“Oh, to hell with it!”
Frustrated, Iruel flung open the covered wagon’s door.
Bang!
“Oh my goodness!”
Startled by the loud noise, Iruel jumped in fright.
Realizing he nearly tore off the door, he carefully closed it this time and sprawled onto the cramped seat inside. The scent of herbs piled high up to the covered wagon’s ceiling filled his nose.
“Ugh, this blasted healthy smell! I’ve sniffed so much of this stuff I’ll probably live to a hundred!”
Scratching his head irritably, Iruel reached into a sack hidden in the corner of the covered wagon. Inside was a bottle of alcohol he’d bought with the last of his money. Originally, he had sworn never to drink while driving a carriage, but looking at the state of the horses, it seemed they wouldn’t move for hours.
‘Just one sip. Oh, but I don’t have a glass. Well, in that case, just one bottle.’
Iruel popped the cork and tipped the bottle to his mouth.
A warm tingling spread to his nose. He quickly finished the bottle, then lay back, using it as a pillow. His head spun.
