I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 94
Savoring that simple and obvious fact, Rufus tightly closed his eyes.
Everything about her that touched him felt so warm.
It’s a relief. Truly a relief. That you’re still alive, unharmed and well, it’s truly fortunate…
“Ahem!”
Iruel, who had been alternately looking at Rufus and Sarubia, cleared his throat.
“Enjoy your happy time together. I shall take my leave now.”
“Yeah, hurry on.”
“Goodness, the lieutenant is really harsh.”
Teasingly, Iruel transformed into a sparrow and hopped onto Rufus’s shoulder.
“I’ll come to pick you up in three hours, so be properly dressed.”
Iruel whispered into Rufus’s ear.
“What are you talking about?”
“Playing dumb, huh? Well then, off I go.”
With a chirp of laughter, the sparrow moved to the windowsill. Sarubia waved at him.
“Take care, Sir Roroel! Thank you for bringing Lord Rufus!”
“Haha! Don’t mention it!”
Winking, the sparrow flapped its wings and vanished.
Now, only Rufus and Sarubia remained in the room.
“He’s gone.”
“Yeah.”
Rufus turned his gaze towards Sarubia.
She looked just like he had seen in his dreams. Her ivory hair fell long, and her amber eyes sparkled.
Just looking at her… for some reason, made him feel his body heat up.
Rufus swallowed dryly.
“Do you mind if I take off my outer garment?”
To which came this audacious response.
“You can take everything off if you want.”
“……”
“Just kidding. Smile.”
“……Alright.”
Rufus, trying his best to hide his expression, took off the black robe he was wearing around his body. Honestly, if he said he wasn’t inwardly hopeful when she mentioned taking everything off, that would be a blatant lie.
“You brought your sword with you.”
Sarubia pointed at the sword Rufus had hanging at his waist.
“I always carry it around.”
“It looks fascinating. May I see it?”
“Sure.”
Rufus unbuckled the sword from his belt and handed it to Sarubia.
“……”
Sarubia silently observed the sword handed to her. Her face turned pale as she held it and looked it over from various angles.
“What’s wrong?”
“Where did this come from?”
“It’s an heirloom of the Inferna family. It’s the sword bestowed upon me by my grandmother, the Baroness Inferna.”
Rufus, who had hung his robe on a chair, replied nonchalantly.
“……”
Sarubia stared intently at the sword in her hand. She looked confused, alternating her gaze between Rufus and the silver sword.
“What’s the matter?”
“It seems familiar…”
“Does it now? This sword is quite uniquely made.”
“Is it?”
Sarubia swallowed dryly and looked down at the sword in her hand.
It was a sword she had seen somewhere. Definitely seen.
She had seen it in that unforgettable dream.
Living in the royal palace, she had witnessed the death of many. And in those deaths, she saw this sword.
If Sarubia’s memory serves right, this sword is precisely…
“……I must have seen it wrong.”
Sarubia closed off her own thoughts.
No. It can’t be.
“……”
Rufus, who had been observing Sarubia for a moment, placed his sword beside the chair.
“Here.”
Rufus extended a box he had brought within his robe.
“Wow, what’s this?”
Sarubia’s face lit up with a smile, her eyes sparkling.
“Open it.”
Upon opening the box, a rich aroma wafted out. It was filled with various cookies.
“I saved these because I had some left over. You like cookies, don’t you?”
Rufus spoke nonchalantly.
“Are you sure it’s leftovers? It doesn’t look like you’ve eaten any.”
“You must have seen it wrong.”
Rufus gruffly replied to Sarubia, who was looking at him with touched eyes.
“Lord Rufus, you’re not cute at all.”
Contrary to her words, Sarubia smiled warmly.
That radiant smile made his eyes warm up. His heart seemed to beat twice as fast as usual.
Something was strange. Rufus’s original heart was already cut out and gone, and the heart of the Demon King that filled the emptiness was reacting on its own.
‘I am human.’
Gazing dumbly at Sarubia’s smile, Rufus thought to himself.
He is human. Definitely human. Otherwise, he couldn’t enjoy such happiness just from capturing a woman’s smile in his eyes.
Sarubia hugged the box of cookies Rufus had given her tightly.
“Thank you. I’ll keep it preserved for a lifetime.”
“Just eat it.”
Sarubia just let out a playful laugh.
“I’m glad the war is over.”
Sarubia, sitting on the bed, spoke.
“I knew you wouldn’t die on the battlefield, but I was still really worried.”
“You worried about me more than I did about myself.”
Rufus murmured, sitting beside Sarubia.
“Wow, really? Weren’t you scared, Lord Rufus?”
“Not really.”
Rufus gazed intently at Sarubia.
Her face, illuminated by the soft light, looked exquisitely beautiful. The innocent look of her kept tickling Rufus’s heart.
It still didn’t feel real.
That Sarubia was alive in front of him.
That he could reach out and touch her right now.
That she loved him as much as he loved her.
It was all so dreamlike, every moment felt like a miracle, so he couldn’t afford to take this reality for granted.
With every breath he took, he could only be thankful for her presence.
Thank you.
For being by my side, thank you.
“Why are you staring?”
Sarubia smiled sweetly, looking back at Rufus.
“Just because.”
Rufus replied somewhat awkwardly.
He immediately regretted that terse reply.
That wasn’t right.
He should have said it was because she was lovely. That he kept looking because her eyes were too beautiful.
Something—something more convincing should have been said…
