I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 227
Upon arriving in the capital, Rufus and Sarubia secretly met with Crown Prince Viren’s envoy.
The Crown Prince wanted to ensure that no one knew he had summoned Saintess Sarubia to the royal palace.
Rumors were already spreading across the kingdom that the King had treated the Saintess poorly.
No one knew where the rumors had originated, but they had spread too far to be suppressed. The royal family could not afford any more scandals involving Saintess Sarubia.
Thus, Crown Prince Viren had initially asked Rufus to bring her to the palace discreetly.
“I apologize for asking you to make such a long journey after you had only recently arrived in the borderlands,” Crown Prince Viren said courteously, opening the conversation as they sat alone.
Sarubia, seated across from him, shrugged lightly.
“No need to apologize. The coachman had the hardest job. It wasn’t that tiring for me.”
“That’s a relief.”
Nodding absentmindedly, Viren dismissed the attendants serving tea and quickly got to the point.
“The reason I’ve summoned you to the royal palace is to ask for a prophecy.”
“……”
Sarubia unconsciously clenched her hands into fists on her lap.
As expected.
Rufus had been right when he spoke to her during their journey to the capital.
“The Crown Prince must have summoned you because he needs your help.”
Rufus had said while carving a piece of wood during a brief stop to feed the horses.
“My help? What could I possibly help with?”
Sarubia had asked, tilting her head as she watched Rufus work on his carving.
“News hasn’t reached us in the borderlands yet, but Princess Sordid’s engagement has been annulled.”
“What?”
Sarubia’s eyes had widened in shock. Princess Sordid, engaged to the Empire’s Prince Erius, was now without a fiancé?
“But… wasn’t she engaged to Prince Erius? It seemed like the wedding was imminent!”
“That was the plan, but Prince Erius led a coup in his homeland.”
“My goodness.”
Sarubia had clasped her hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. Perhaps it was because the news involved the princess she had once served, but her reaction was stronger than expected.
“Don’t worry. The coup failed.”
Scrape, scrape.
The rhythmic sound of Rufus’s knife shaving wood filled the air, as if to steady the mood. The shavings piled up neatly on a sack spread across the floor of the carriage.
“But with the groom missing and his whereabouts unknown, Princess Sordid can’t marry.”
“So… Your Highness is asking me to determine whether Prince Erius is dead or alive?”
“Most likely.”
Thud.
Rufus set down the carving knife and began sanding the wood. Once the surface was smooth, he picked up a damp cloth.
“…But I don’t know how Prince Erius will die.”
“Didn’t you see him during the banquet? He was standing next to Princess Sordid.”
“Oh, I was so flustered when the princess suddenly appeared that I barely noticed him.”
“I see.”
Holding the carving between his thumb and forefinger, Rufus lifted it toward the light streaming through the carriage window, inspecting his handiwork.
“But will the Crown Prince be satisfied with your answer?”
“……”
At that moment, an image of Prince Camus flashed through Sarubia’s mind.
No matter how much she prophesied his death, the prince never believed her. Prince Camus, who closed his eyes and covered his ears until the very end—would Crown Prince Viren react the same way?
“Humans only hear what they want to hear.”
Rufus tied the sack of wood shavings tightly.
“So just tell them what they want to hear.”
“Even if it’s a lie?”
“And if it is?”
Rufus tossed the sack to the carriage’s footboard and took Sarubia’s hand. Something hard pressed into her palm.
“If he’s already fated to die, there’s no way to verify the truth.”
Sarubia slowly opened her hand. Resting on her palm was a small carving of two fish, their tails intertwined as though embracing. Though she found it endearing, there were more pressing matters to address.
Clack.
Placing the carving aside, Sarubia ensured the coachman couldn’t overhear their conversation.
“How did you know the Crown Prince is going to die?”
Sarubia’s face had gone pale, her disbelief clear. Rufus, however, remained unperturbed, deflecting with ease.
“This situation will completely sever the relationship between the King and the Crown Prince. When that happens, one of them will die. Don’t you think?”
“……”
Sarubia couldn’t argue with him.
How could this man see so far into the future?
“Even though you know everything, you won’t help the Crown Prince?”
“How could I help him?”
Rufus gently tucked Sarubia’s disheveled hair behind her ear.
“He’s a man destined to die. I’m no Demon King—I’m just a human. What could I possibly do to save him?”
“……”
Recalling that conversation in the carriage, Sarubia lifted her gaze. She looked deeply into Crown Prince Viren’s eyes, which were fixed intently on her.
“You seem eager to know whether the Imperial Prince Erius is alive or dead,” she said.
At her words, Viren’s face lit up immediately.
“As expected of you, Saintess. Yes, I wish to know if Prince Erius is still alive, and if so, where he is now.”
Like many others, Crown Prince Viren had a grave misunderstanding of Sarubia’s unique magic. He believed she could peer into anyone’s death at will, regardless of who they were.
But that was impossible.
Yet she wouldn’t correct him.
She remembered the accusing eyes of Roned, who had resented her until the end. And she saw again the image of Prince Camus, who could not accept his death even in his final moments.
For a brief instant, Sarubia reflected.
―Rufus.
Perhaps you’re right.
Hope is something only the living can feel. Even if only for a fleeting moment, wouldn’t it be kind to let someone hold onto a small sliver of hope?
With that thought, Sarubia smiled brightly and uttered a lie.
“Prince Erius is alive.”
