I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 40
At the head maid’s question, Rufus didn’t know how to respond.
He knew her well, but the problem was that Sarubia would not remember him.
“I don’t know her well, but I wish to get to know her more.”
After a moment of thought, Rufus replied. It was the best answer he could muster.
The head maid scrutinized Rufus carefully, examining his features and attire.
“Excuse me, but may I know your name?”
“Rufus Inferna. Of the Inferna baronial family.”
Rufus blurted out his name, feeling suddenly cornered.
“Young Lord Inferna, please, I implore you, do not touch that girl.”
The head maid looked at Rufus for a moment and then sighed deeply.
“Touch her? What do you mean?”
“Sarubia is still young. An innocent girl who knows nothing of men…”
“No, that’s not my intention.”
Rufus hurriedly clarified, not wanting to be mistaken for a licentious man pursuing a young woman.
“I was merely watching her work diligently. I had no unsavory thoughts.”
“Then, it seems I have misunderstood. Please accept my apology.”
“No, it’s not that. It seems there was a misunderstanding in my words.”
“Anyway, if you are not here to see the princess, I shall take my leave.”
The head maid glanced at Rufus briefly before heading towards Princess Sordid’s palace.
Sarubia, who was sweeping, brightened up upon seeing the head maid. The head maid, in return, smiled warmly at Sarubia and offered her a large cookie, as big as her own palm. Sarubia accepted it and chewed contentedly, a smile on her face.
The cheerful conversation between the two reached Rufus faintly.
After a brief friendly exchange, they parted ways. Sarubia picked up her broom again, and the head maid turned into the palace.
“…….”
As the head maid entered Princess Sordid’s palace, she glanced back at Rufus. His heart prickled as if pierced by a needle. Despite having done nothing wrong, he felt guilty.
Hesitating for a moment, Rufus finally approached Sarubia after the head maid had disappeared.
“Hello, my lord.”
Sarubia looked at Rufus, who was approaching her, with bright eyes.
“The head maid told me. You’ve been watching me for a while now, haven’t you?”
She smiled playfully.
Ah.
Seeing that smile made the tip of his nose tingle. His heart, which he had just managed to calm, began to pound wildly again.
This was really, really more serious than he thought.
“You must be here for the princess, right? It’s not good to have eyes for another woman while devoted to the princess.”
She teased him in a jokingly serious tone.
He has missed her. Her frivolous jokes, the way she casually invaded his heart with her warmth… He truly missed it.
“……Your name.”
Rufus barely managed to utter in a heavy voice.
“Name?”
“What is your name?”
He wanted to hear it again. To hear her sweet voice say that cherished name.
Surprised by his sudden question, her eyes widened. But only for a moment.
“I am Sarubia.”
She responded with a tender smile.
It was like a fuse had been lit. Overwhelmed by emotions he could no longer contain, Rufus pulled her into his embrace. He buried his breath in the nape of her neck, heedlessly.
Her small, delicate body pressed against his skin.
It was warm.
So warm that it seemed almost unreal… He couldn’t hold back any longer.
Thud.
The broom Sarubia was holding fell onto the grass.
“U-Ummm…?”
Sarubia was startled by the sudden actions of the man. After all, a man she had never seen before kept glancing at her, then abruptly asked her name, and now, he had suddenly embraced her.
“Excuse me, my lord! Save your embraces for your future wife!”
Sarubia struggled to free herself from the man’s embrace. However, the man’s arms tightened around her. At the same time, a faint sound reached her ears from beside her head.
At first, she couldn’t tell what it was. But listening closely, she realized it unmistakably.
“My, my lord?”
The man was crying.
“Why are you crying all of a sudden? Are you hurt? Did something get in your eye? Let me see, I can blow it away for you!”
Panicked, Sarubia tried to look at the man’s face. However, he clung to her, burying himself deeper into her embrace. His hot breath tickled her neck.
“Just a moment.”
The man murmured in a voice heavy as if laden with lead.
“Just for a moment, let me stay like this.”
