Chapter 115
What was she up to this time?
Rufus sighed.
“Come on.”
Sarubia, standing by the door, urged Rufus to hurry.
Outside, the soldiers’ cheers continued into the night. Everyone was inflated with hope that they would find Prince Tarek quickly and return home.
The noise of laughter and chatter completely drowned out the footsteps of Rufus and Sarubia.
“Where are we going?”
“To the forest.”
At Sarubia’s words, Rufus abruptly stopped.
“The forest… you mean?”
“Yes. According to the map, there’s a forest nearby.”
This place was the western border of the Hevania Kingdom. A vast forest connected it to the neighboring Bonastrika Empire.
The forest, which marked the boundary between the kingdom and the empire, was far from any human settlements. Therefore, at night, monsters roamed freely there. Rufus, aware of this, tried to deter Sarubia.
“It’s dangerous. We should return to the tent now.”
“It’s fine. You are here, aren’t you?”
Sarubia smiled slyly and pulled Rufus’s hand.
“Let’s go to the forest together, Lord Rufus.”
It was futile to argue further. Sarubia was just as stubborn.
Half-resigned, Rufus walked with Sarubia towards the forest.
Crunch, crunch.
With every step Sarubia took, dry leaves rustled underfoot.
“Winter is approaching soon.”
Holding Rufus’s hand, Sarubia kicked at the leaves.
“Leaves are really kind, aren’t they? They cover the roots to keep the trees from getting cold.”
“That’s true.”
Rufus held Sarubia’s hand tightly. Something was rustling beneath the ground. It was low-level monsters lazily prowling around in the forest, where human traffic was minimal.
Rufus clicked his tongue.
When he ignited a small fire with his magic, the dark creatures, startled by the intense light, screamed and quickly disappeared.
After driving the monsters away, Rufus sighed.
“Look, there are so many monsters. Let’s head back now.”
“Lord Rufus, have you ever been to the Bonastrika Empire?”
Sarubia asked an unexpected question.
“I’m talking about the dangers of too many monsters here, but why are you asking about the Bonastrika Empire instead?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling. Just answer me.”
After a moment of observing Sarubia’s face, Rufus slowly replied.
“…I was born in the Inferna territory and have hardly traveled to other regions, let alone another country.”
“Hmm, I’ve never been to the empire either.”
Sarubia seemed lost in thought for a moment before continuing.
“But I guess I would adapt well if I went?”
“Excuse me?”
Rufus blinked in confusion.
What was Sarubia talking about all of a sudden? Was she planning to go to the Bonastrika Empire out of nowhere?
“I’m resilient, so I’ll take care of you, Lord Rufus. Just trust me. I’ll make sure you can eat meat at least once a week.”
“…I don’t understand what you are saying.”
Rufus had to ponder again the words that had just come out of Sarubia’s mouth.
It was an unexpected statement. He wasn’t sure if he had heard her correctly.
“Lord Rufus, let’s go to the Bonastrika Empire together.”
Sarubia’s words left Rufus stunned.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“Let’s elope.”
“What?”
“Let’s go live in the empire together.”
Sarubia pulled Rufus’s arm. Her voice, as she spoke, carried none of her usual playfulness.
“I saw it on the map. If we keep walking this way, we’ll reach the Bonastrika Empire.”
“Wait, Sarubia.”
Rufus, being dragged by Sarubia, urgently stopped her.
“Explain a little. Why do you suddenly want to go to the empire?”
“It’s for you.”
“For me?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Everything I do is for you.”
“I don’t understand.”
Rufus was confused.
He still couldn’t understand why Sarubia had suddenly revealed that she was a saintess. Nor why she had followed him all the way to the frontier. And now, she was suddenly planning to leave the Hevania Kingdom and go to a neighboring country?
“Sarubia, why are you doing this?”
“What do you think I am doing?”
Sarubia suddenly stopped walking. Rufus, who had been reluctantly following her steps, also stopped.
Where Sarubia stopped, there was a large tree. Compared to the other trees that had grown low, consuming the gloomy air of the forest, this tree had grown tall. Its branches spread densely, swallowing the moon.
“Lord Rufus.”
Sarubia’s voice came from the darkness.
“To be honest, I heard everything. You would be executed if Prince Tarek couldn’t be found, right?”
It seemed the king’s decree had somehow reached Sarubia’s ears. If Prince Tarek wasn’t brought back, Rufus would be executed. That was the king’s command.
“If you stay in the kingdom, you will die. I don’t want you to die.”
Sarubia’s voice trembled as she held Rufus’s hands.
Rufus was even more confused.
“But didn’t you clearly say today that Prince Tarek is alive?”
“I’m sorry, that was a lie.”
“A lie…?”
“Yes. Prince Tarek… is already dead.”
Sarubia’s head drooped like a severed flower.
Rufus’s heart sank.
Prince Tarek was dead.
Of course, it was true. He had killed him.
But how did Sarubia find out?
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