I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 25
“We saw each other at dinner.”
“I came because I wanted to see you again.”
“You really have no patience.”
Sarubia smiled and lay down on the bed. Then, she lightly tapped her side.
“So, are we going to sleep together?”
“Just a moment.”
Recalling his grandmother’s advice, Rufus first closed the window. The cool night breeze that was blowing outside abruptly stopped.
“Are you feeling too hot now?”
When Rufus lay down beside Sarubia, he asked softly.
“Um, it’s fine. Why?”
“I closed the window, so if it gets too hot, I’ll fan you instead.”
“Your body feels cool, so I’m fine.”
Sarubia turned her body and laughed.
Rufus hugged Sarubia from behind. His chest pressed against her back.
“Tonight, we’re just holding hands and sleeping beside each other, okay? If not, I’ll scold you.”
As she whispered while playing with his hand, Rufus nodded.
“Alright.”
“You agreed so easily? I thought you’d complain.”
“I’m not a beast, and if you don’t want it, I won’t force you.”
“Oh my? Then who was it who rushed like a beast last time?”
“So, did you dislike it?”
“I liked it better over time because your skills have improved.”
“What skills?”
“Figure it out.”
Rufus thought it was a very characteristic answer, and as he stroked Sarubia’s hair with his hand. The light, creamy color was so soft.
“Come to think of it, why are you named Sarubia?” he muttered like he was talking to himself.
Sarubia is a red flower. If a child were born with red hair, the name Sarubia wouldn’t sound strange at all.
However, Sarubia’s hair was a light, ivory color with a hint of gold. It wouldn’t be enough to say it was quite distant from the bright red hue of her namesake’s flower petals.
“Is there a similar reason for your name being Rufus?”
“Did your grandmother like the Sarubia flower?”
“That’s too one-dimensional of an interpretation. It’s because I like it, not my grandmother.”
Sarubia replied with a chuckle. Rufus found her answer intriguing.
“So, did you choose your name yourself?”
“Um, yes. I didn’t have a name originally. My parents abandoned me as soon as I was born.”
Sarubia lightly fiddled with Rufus’s fingers.
“When I was living in the orphanage, there was an older kid there who gave me a name… but what he gave me was an ugly name, so I didn’t like it.”
“What was the name?”
“Mm. It was such an ugly name that I don’t want to say it.”
Sarubia chuckled softly and went on to talk about her childhood.
“I think I was around twelve years old. They were recruiting maids to work in the palace. So they just sent me from the orphanage. They said I should work and earn a living on my own now.”
Twelve years old.
At an age where it should have been acceptable to be coddled and play in their parents’ arms, Sarubia had already thrown herself into the world to earn a living for herself.
Rufus silently observed Sarubia’s back.
A small and slender back.
How much of a burden had she carried all these years?
“When I entered the palace, the head maid asked me to tell her my name. So, I just mentioned the name of the flower I liked. It was the Sarubia flower.”
“…”
A girl with no name. A girl whose existence had been ignored.
Rufus didn’t know much about Sarubia. He had no knowledge of where and when she was born, where her family that had abandoned her was, how she had managed to survive in the palace all these years. Or, most importantly, why she had chosen the difficult life of a maid.
Sarubia was a saintess. She could have lived a life of luxury.
However, she chose to live as a simple maid.
What had led her to forsake all the wealth and privileges and opt for the challenging life of a maid?
Rufus wanted to know more about Sarubia, but she had no way of bringing up such heavy topics.
She always deflected questions with a smile, as if talking about her past were embarrassing.
“I will wait.”
Rufus buried his face in Sarubia’s shoulder.
“Yes? What are you waiting for?”
“For you.”
I will wait until you fully open your heart to me.
Swallowing those words, Rufus firmly held her slender body against him.
For a while, there was no exchange of words between the two. Only the sound of their hearts beating resonated in their ears.
“…Rufus.”
Sarubia called his name in a hushed voice.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s hot.”
“…”
Reluctantly, Rufus released Sarubia upon hearing her words.
Sarubia’s ears had turned bright red by now. Rufus pretended not to notice her embarrassment.
“By the way, I haven’t given you this yet.”
