Chapter 2.10 - IWTDODBY VOL1-CH02-10 (1/2)
Rufus returned to the palace where he was staying with Sarubia.
“Brother!” Edel rushed out at the sound of his return.
The young man blushed as he saw Sarubia who stood next to Rufus. “Oh, hello, maid-sister!” 1
Sarubia laughed. “Hello, cute young master. I see you again today.”
“Ehh, cute young master…” Edel’s mouth twitched as if it was about to convulse. He wanted to vent his happiness right away, but he couldn’t do it in front of his brother and was desperately holding back.
“Put that silly grin away.” Rufus gave a half-baked look at him and held Sarubia’s hand tighter. He thought he was also cute when he was that age.
“What about Grandma?”
“I’m here.” A calm voice came from behind Ethel. Baroness Inferna, wearing a stole, stood there.
“Rufus, didn’t you went to meet Her Highness Princess Sordid?” Baron Inferna asked with a slight cough.
“I am already on my way back.”
“Really? You were alone when you went out, so where did you get this pretty lady from?”
“I’m called Sarubia, Baroness.” Sarubia, who had slipped out of Rufus’ hand, greeted her with courtesy.
“I came the other day, but I couldn’t greet you because the time wasn’t right.”
“I see, so you’re Rufus’ lover. If my grandson makes it hard for you, you can tell me right away.”
Lo-ver… a lover…
Upon hearing that, Rufus almost had a coughing fit. “No… not yet…”
“What is not yet? And from now on, you guys should close the windows.”
‘Huh?’
Rufus looked dazedly at his grandma’s words. At the same time, yesterdays events came to his mind—the time they were immersed in hugging and indulging in each other. Sarubia’s ears were red with the same thoughts.
Edel happily asked: “What are you talking about?”
“…”
“…Edel, you don’t have to know.”
Trying to change the topic, Rufus walked towards his grandmother.
“Grandma, let’s go back to Inferna now.”
She was about to die. Yesterday Sarubia prophesied that grandma would die in a week’s time and the prophecy of death could never be changed. There were only six days left. There was no more time to waste.
At Rufus’s words, Baron Inferna’s eyebrows curled into an arc.
“What do you mean by going back? The festival celebrating your return is not over yet.”
Then Baroness Inferna turned her head out of the window. She could see the streets of the capital, where large velvet flags were fluttering brilliantly. Every flag had a red flame symbol on it – the insignia of the house of Inferna.
“What’s the rush? It’s not an occasion that comes twice in a lifetime. Let’s have a good time and go back then.” Baron Inferna laughed and tapped Rufus on the shoulder.
“Yes, brother. You said there is a banquet tomorrow night, too. And there’s a fireworks festival a few days later.” Edel added. “There’s a lot of fun in the capital city. Let’s play a little more.”
“But…!” Rufus swallowed back the words that almost escaped. He couldn’t say anything. How could he ever say, “Grandmother will die soon?”
He just wanted to get his luggage and get out of the palace as planned. The Inferna estate was located in the countryside, where it took three full days by carriage. Although three days on the road would be a waste of precious time, Rufus certainly wanted to go back home.
He wanted to make sure that his grandmother was able to spend her remaining days at the Inferna estate where she devoted her life, blood and sweat.
Rufus tried to persuade his grandmother and brother for a long time. Still, the two people, who knew nothing of the imminent future, did not listen to Rufus.
“Why do you keep trying to go back home, Rufus?”
“You are not feeling well right now. It would be better to go home and rest.”
“These useless worries. I took a day off yesterday, and everything is fine. I am fine.”
“But…”
“Stop.” Baron Inferna solemnly cut off Rufus’ words. “You talk a lot, Rufus. I am still the head of the Inferna family. Are you going to disobey the words of the lord?”
Then she put her hand on the handle of the sword, which was tied to her waist.
“If you have objections, raise your sword.”
“…”