I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 30
“Both of you.”
“But I’m saying that you can only save one.”
“Still, I’ll save you both. And instead, I will die.”
“…”
Sarubia seemed at a loss for words at Rufus’s resolute response. It was an absurd answer to save both people and be willing to sacrifice himself. What in the world could be more precious than one’s own life?
However, Rufus was sincere in his willingness to sacrifice himself to save Sarubia and Baroness Inferna.
So, Sarubia understood what she had to do.
“…Alright, Rufus.”
Sarubia offered the warmest smile she could muster.
“I think you’re amazing for being like that.”
She couldn’t tell Rufus what she was thinking right now, but she knew that he was that kind of person. He was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself for the people he cared about.
That’s why she couldn’t say this out loud.
I’m sorry, Rufus.
Sarubia held the necklace Rufus had given her tightly in one hand.
Sarubia, born as a saintess, felt an instinctual urge to not interfere with the death of others. However, she had always been curious about what would happen if she were to go against her instincts.
Today, she might find the answer.
As the sun set and darkness began to envelop the surroundings, the impending death of someone loomed.
***
The door to Baroness Inferna’s room was finally opened in the evening.
“What are you two doing here?”
Baroness Inferna, upon discovering Rufus and Sarubia standing guard outside her door, furrowed her brow in surprise.
“We were waiting for you, Grandmother.”
Rufus answered politely, with his hand still on the hilt of his sword.
“Well, you should have just gone into your room and spent a good time together. What’s so good about sitting around in front of an old woman’s room…”
Baroness Inferna croaked and moved slowly. Her strength and energy was not the same anymore, given her old age.
“Would you like to have dinner?”
“No, I’ve slept so much that I have no appetite. You kids should eat. I’ll get ready to go outside.”
“Where are you going?”
At that question, Baroness Inferna looked at Rufus with perplexed eyes.
“Where am I going? It’s the fireworks festival today. Did you forget?”
Today was the last day of the Victory Festival. To mark the end of the monumental celebration, the King promised a spectacular fireworks show. The palace, which usually prohibited the entrance of outsiders, would also be partly open to the public today.
Of course, the annex where Rufus and his family were staying was not open to outsiders. However, the space opened to visitors was not very far from this place. Thanks to the wave of visitors, the annex became noisy.
“Sister Ruby, it’s my first time seeing fireworks today.”
Over dinner, Edel said this to Sarubia.
“Really? Then, you can look forward to it. They’ll be using fireworks made by the royal mages.”
Sarubia replied with a smile.
“What’s the difference between those and the fireworks sold in the market?”
“They’re very different, of course! Fireworks made by mages look like they’re truly alive.”
“Alive? They’re moving?”
“Yes, the fireworks move like a living snake. But they won’t just burst once and end, but will move slowly in the air and make fun shapes.”
“Hm, even if you say that, I can’t imagine it.”
Though Sarubia exuberantly explained, Edel couldn’t seem to get a grasp on it. This was the same for Rufus. He, too, had never seen fireworks made by mages.
If they were the usual fireworks, he would have watched with little interest. Nevertheless, he could still not think about anything else as they climbed onto the roof deck of the annex to watch the fireworks show.
“Grandmother, look at that! The fireworks really are moving!”
Edel tugged his grandmother’s sleeve and shouted excitedly like a child.
“Oh, that’s amazing!”
Baroness Inferna, clad in thick outerwear, also looked at the night sky with her eyes lit up.
The fireworks created by the mages were quite literally spectacular. They sparkled as though they were the stars knitted throughout the galaxy, rising with a bright red hue and soaring high like a hawk in the sky. At the same time, the light that thereafter poured out was like a rush of water, bursting out with a pure white illumination. There was a steady stream of applause throughout the royal palace.
“It’s time for the last flame.”
Baroness Inferna murmured. She looked a little tired. However, she didn’t sit down. She simply continued to watch because she could still bear it.
Then, Rufus thought.
I hope the fireworks show can end like this. I hope that my grandmother can go back to her room and sleep peacefully tonight. And the next day, I hope that my grandmother can wake up as if nothing had happened and eat breakfast again…
As he turned his eyes, he saw Sarubia, who was standing next to Edel.
“……”
Without saying a word, Sarubia only smiled.
