I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 56
Rufus’s heart started to pound heavily.
“Every day…?”
“I’m sorry, I won’t do it again. It was my fault.”
“Truly? You prayed every day to see me?”
“Yes… I didn’t mean to turn you into a crow, I’m sorry.”
“……”
Rufus gazed down at Sarubia, who was covering her face with both hands.
His lips twitched as if tickled by a tiny seed had stuck to them. No matter how much he tried to brush it off with the back of his hand, the sensation wouldn’t go away.
“Sarubia.”
“Ugh, I was wrong. I won’t pray anymore. I’m sorry.”
“If you’re sorry, then show me your face.”
“No. I’m making such a weird face right now, I must look ugly.”
“Could you ever look ugly?”
Rufus stroked Sarubia’s hair. Holding a strand of her beautiful hair, he gently kissed it.
Startled, Sarubia pulled back.
“What are you doing?”
“If you won’t show your face, I must at least kiss your hair.”
At his words, Sarubia revealed her face.
“You lowered your hands quickly.”
Rufus caught her hands.
They were warm.
These small hands, calloused from various chores, the same hands that prayed for him every night, felt warmer than anything else.
“Did you miss me?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“More than cookies.”
“Cookies…”
“My favorite thing in the world is cookies.”
“That’s nice.”
Rufus pulled Sarubia, sitting on his lap, into an embrace. The mark of a saint was visible on her fair shoulder.
“Ah, I’m actually a saintess.”
Noticing Rufus’s gaze, Sarubia smiled awkwardly.
“Weren’t you keeping that a secret from others?”
“Yes, but it’s okay for you to know.”
“Why?”
“That’s a secret.”
Rufus felt like he knew the secret already, but he didn’t press further. Sarubia must have known since the day they met that she would be the one to witness his demise.
But now, what should he do?
His transformation spell had broken the moment he touched Sarubia. How could he return to Witch Odr in this human form? And before dawn, how would he return to the demon subjugation army?
However, here and now, he didn’t want to think about anything else.
‘I’ve really messed up.’
Even though he thought of himself as a man without a plan, Rufus couldn’t tear himself away from Sarubia.
He could feel her scent enveloping him, melting his body into a state of bliss.
“Sarubia.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry to ask this, especially after trespassing into your room so late at night, but… I want to be close to you right now.”
“Close?”
“May I?”
Rufus exhaled a short breath.
“Well, since the gods answered my prayers and I’m feeling great, I guess it’s not impossible.”
Sarubia lifted a playful smile.
That was the cue for Rufus’s lips to move.
First to her forehead, then to her eyebrows, the bridge of her nose, her cheeks, her neck. Then slowly moving downwards.
“W, wait.”
Sarubia breathed heavily as his kisses descended.
“Don’t pull away.”
He murmured in a low voice, lifting his gaze to meet Sarubia’s clouded eyes. Her hands were trembling slightly.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling shy?”
“I, um… I think I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
“……”
“How about we save the rest for another time?”
Instead of replying, Rufus released her with a soft sigh.
“Hmm, you’re quite a gentleman, Lord Rufus. I commend you.”
Sarubia smiled broadly, stroking Rufus’s hair. Despite her playful demeanor, she too was still too tense.
“……”
Looking at Sarubia’s face, blushing like a ripe cherry, he felt an indescribable emotion.
He didn’t know how to express this feeling, but there was one thing he was sure of and wanted to say.
I, you…
“Sarubia.”
“Yes?”
“I’m embarrassed to say this now, but you… I…”
Chirp chirp!
The sound of a bird chirping interrupted him, coming from outside the window.
“Oh, it’s a sparrow!”
Sarubia peered over Rufus’s shoulder, beaming.
A plump sparrow was frolicking at the window.
Chirp chirp chirp!
The sparrow, upon seeing Rufus, started to let out a sharp cry.
“……”
With Sarubia’s attention stolen by the sparrow, Rufus swallowed his unfinished confession.
—Damn that male witch.
Picking up Sarubia, Rufus walked towards the window. Sarubia’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the sparrow.
“Maybe it came for cookies too, how cute.”
Cute, my arse.
Inside that sparrow is nothing but a filthy drunkard.
