I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 219
“I’ll go out and inspect the wagons myself.”
The Baroness of Inferna headed to the mansion’s front gate with her butler in tow.
There, she found not only the coachmen waiting but also others.
“Are there truly five wagons in total?”
“Yes, that’s what we were instructed.”
“I see. You’ve worked hard.”
Somehow, Rufus had already arrived ahead of them, and naturally, Sarubia was standing by his side.
Rufus was chatting with the coachmen as he inspected the goods inside the wagons. From his composed demeanor, it was clear he had anticipated their arrival.
The Baroness approached Rufus.
“Rufus, what is all this? Did you buy these items?”
“Yes.”
“And where did you get the money?”
“It came from somewhere.”
At Rufus’s curt reply, the Baroness silently turned to her butler.
“Butler, go to my office and fetch the Inferna Barony’s ledger—”
“I didn’t use the barony’s funds. It’s money I received as a reward from the royal family.”
Rufus quickly clarified. The Baroness’s expression stiffened slightly.
“If you received money from the royal family, you should have handed it over to the head of the barony for its prosperity. Why did you spend it on your own whim?”
“My apologies.”
“I’m not asking for an apology. Procedures must be followed. So, what herbs did you buy?”
“Cytiro.”
“Cytiro?”
The Baroness’s eyebrows raised slightly.
She knew of Cytiro well—an herb said to grow only in the Empire.
Occasionally, people from the Empire would secretly cross the border to sell Cytiro near the Inferna Barony. Whenever that happened, the Baroness would purchase it. It was affordable, effective for minor ailments, and beloved by both her and the barony’s residents.
“Five wagons’ worth? That’s excessive. We could’ve bought some when the Empire’s traders crossed over.”
“There’s actually one more wagon on its way.”
“You’ve spent a fortune, haven’t you?”
Clicking her tongue in disapproval, the Baroness turned to the mansion’s staff, who had gathered out of curiosity.
“What’s there to gawk at? Since you’re here, help my grandson unload these herbs he brought home after drinking.”
“I wasn’t drinking.”
“Then you bought all this while sober? That’s even worse.”
The Baroness cast a deeply exasperated glance at Rufus.
Rufus understood her frustration. The barony was already struggling with limited funds for development, and now he had spent the hard-earned money on herbs. It was no wonder she was upset.
But her displeasure would soon pass.
‘Just wait and see, Baroness Inferna.’
Soon, these herbs would play a crucial role in swaying the kingdom’s public opinion.
“Is there a place to store these herbs?”
“Put them in the food storage. It’s been a bad harvest this year, so there’s plenty of space.”
The Baroness’s curt reply was interrupted by a sharp bird cry. At the same time, a shadow descended over Rufus’s head.
It was a large bird.
“What… That bird!”
“It’s the same one from before!”
The staff, wide-eyed, began whispering and pointing at the sky. It was the same bird that had delivered Rufus’s letter to the Baroness after the demon subjugation campaign.
The bird’s chest gleamed faintly, catching Rufus’s attention.
“…”
Narrowing his eyes, Rufus focused on the golden insignia engraved on the bird’s chest—a familiar mark.
No doubt about it. It was a royal messenger bird, enchanted by the royal mages.
―So, the moment has finally arrived.
Rufus extended his hand calmly. The bird circled his hand briefly, sniffing it, then burst into a stream of light.
With a soft thud, a single letter fell into Rufus’s hand.
“What’s the letter about?”
Sarubia, standing close to Rufus, peeked over curiously.
Glancing at the seal on the envelope, Sarubia let out a small yelp as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t have.
“C-Could it be from Crown Prince Viren?”
“Yes.”
In Rufus’s hand was indeed a letter bearing the seal of Crown Prince Viren.
The Baroness seemed momentarily at a loss for words, while the butler appeared deeply unsettled, wondering how such a letter had come to Rufus. The other staff, busy unloading the herbs, were dumbfounded, their jaws practically on the ground.
Yet Rufus, the letter’s recipient, remained entirely composed.
“Sarubia.”
“Yes, yes?”
“I’m afraid we’ll need to postpone the wedding.”
After skimming the contents of the letter, Rufus glanced at Sarubia.
Sarubia couldn’t hide her confusion.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to meet you personally.”
―As expected.
Crown Prince Viren, you never fail to meet my expectations.
Rufus couldn’t suppress a smirk. But with all eyes on the letter in his hand, no one noticed his subtle reaction.
