I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 61
“Stop this, Prince Tarek.”
A voice interrupted Prince Tarek. The officers, who had been cautiously watching the Prince and keeping silent until now, all turned their heads.
It was a man seated at the far end of the table.
“At a time when we should be ready for battle, you’re holding a drinking party and harassing doctors who came to treat our soldiers. What disgraceful behavior is this?”
The speaker was from the Inferna Barony.
“You! How dare you speak out like that!”
The royal knights glared at Rufus, pointing fingers at him.
How presumptuous. Rufus smirked inwardly.
Right, he was being presumptuous. And he planned to be even more so than this from now on.
Rising from his seat, Rufus boldly faced Prince Tarek.
“Are you dishonoring the soldiers who came here to risk their lives, Prince Tarek? Did His Majesty the King command you to fight demons with wine and women?”
“You…!”
Prince Tarek’s face reddened with anger, the veins on the back of his hand on the table twitching.
He probably never expected to be reprimanded by a mere heir to a baron title. His frustration was boiling over.
Just as Rufus wanted.
He deliberately provoked the Prince further with his harsh words.
“I am greatly disappointed in your leadership, Prince Tarek. If this is your attitude towards the subjugation campaign, better to step down from your position and return to the palace…”
Crash!
A wine bottle shattered on the floor.
“How dare you! Who are you to discuss a position granted personally by His Majesty the King!”
Enraged, Prince Tarek ordered the knights to drag Rufus out.
“Teach that insolent wretch some manners!”
At the Prince’s command, the royal knights surrounded Rufus and brutally struck him with their sheathed weapons.
After a long beating, Rufus was finally released.
“Are you… alright?”
The female doctors, who had also been driven out, cautiously approached Rufus.
“I’m fine.”
Wiping the blood trickling down his forehead, Rufus spoke calmly.
“You doctors must have been quite startled being summoned like this, please return now.”
The doctors, who were visibly shaken, finally relaxed and began to sob.
“Come with us to the medical tent. We’ll treat you.”
Rufus’s injuries were severe. Not only was his forehead torn open, but there were also wounds all over his body. Vivid bruises and scratches were plainly visible.
“No, I can treat myself.”
“But…”
“These minor injuries don’t warrant the use of precious medicine you doctors have brought. I’m fine, really.”
Rufus firmly refused the doctors’ offer.
“Please return and make sure to tell the other doctors about what happened today. Everyone needs to be cautious.”
His kind suggestion melted the doctors’ hearts.
“We don’t know how to thank you for standing up for us and getting hurt in the process…”
“If it’s not too much trouble, may we know your name?”
“It’s Rufus.”
Rufus deliberately introduced himself without mentioning his noble title.
The doctors expressed their gratitude several times before hastily leaving.
After seeing off the doctors, Rufus trudged toward where his squad was gathered.
“Hey, Lieutenant! Your face looks like a masterpiece right now!”
Iruel, who was resting, jumped up to greet Rufus. The shocked expressions of the squad members were evident behind him.
“Lieutenant, what happened to you? Weren’t you at the meeting?”
“What does it look like happened?”
Rufus replied, forcing a bitter smile.
“Could it be… Prince Tarek did this…?”
“…”
“Lieutenant, what exactly happened?”
“It’s not a good story.”
Rufus pretended to ponder for a moment and sighed deeply, as if weighed down by heavy thoughts.
“When Prince Tarek and the officers started a drinking party, I advised against it, and then…”
“Drinking?”
The squad members were incredulous at Rufus’s words, finding them hard to believe.
“That can’t be! Even if Prince Tarek is known for being reckless, surely he wouldn’t drink in the middle of the camp!”
“Exactly! And in broad daylight!”
Even for a notorious Prince, he was still the overall commander of the demon subjugation army. Shouldn’t he bear some responsibility for his position?
Doubting Rufus’s words, the squad members rushed to the tent where the officers’ meeting was held. What greeted them was a scene of broken wine bottles and the lingering smell of alcohol.
“Damn…”
The squad members stood dumbfounded, staring at the officers’ meeting tent.
