Chapter 201
“How have you been?”
“Thanks to you, Captain—no, Hero—I’ve been well.”
“Just call me Rufus.”
“Yes, Rufus… Oh, I nearly said that too casually, Lord Rufus.”
Nad straightened his back, looking embarrassed as he faced Rufus. His face was flushed, perhaps from the shame of dropping a half-chewed potato in front of him.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Nad.”
Rufus spoke quietly as the old woman blew on a cup of hot tea she had prepared. Nad laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
“I didn’t think I’d end up working in the royal cemetery either.”
“Life sure has a way of making things come full circle, doesn’t it?”
Rufus, feigning a casual tone, pushed the cooled tea toward Sarubia.
Of course, life didn’t truly work that way.
The world is vast, and people are countless. Running into someone you once knew is rare enough to be extraordinary.
Naturally, meeting Nad here was no coincidence.
Rufus made it a point to keep basic information about all his squad members, and he knew Nad worked in a small office in the palace. So, he discreetly arranged for Nad to be reassigned to the cemetery, without Nad’s knowledge.
A reunion under the guise of coincidence—what could be more dramatic?
“But, Rufus, sir, why would you and the Saintess come to such a humble place as this—oh, apologies, I mean, how did Your Lordship end up visiting our modest hut?”
It wasn’t just Nad who was curious.
The servants, who had been eating potatoes in the hut, quickly pushed their bowls aside and sat up straight, casting intrigued glances at Rufus and Sarubia.
“The Saintess wished to offer a prayer of mourning for Prince Camus and Prince Tarek.”
“Ah, I see. But why come so late, and without any escort?”
Nad asked with an innocent look, prompting Rufus to adopt a contemplative expression.
He’d expected this question and prepared an answer.
“You may not have heard, but… His Majesty the King has accused Saintess Sarubia of causing Prince Camus’s death.”
Nad’s eyes widened.
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
To suggest that the prince died because of the Saintess? Unbelievable!
“Sarubia had foretold Prince Camus’s death that night at the banquet. His Majesty claims that her prophecy brought about his demise,” Rufus explained.
“That’s correct,” Sarubia added, quietly continuing Rufus’s words. “I simply foretold the truth about Prince Camus’s death, yet His Majesty became furious, insisting that I was responsible.”
“But how could that be…”
The servants, shocked by Sarubia’s words, hadn’t expected the King to make such harsh accusations. To claim that the Saintess was responsible for the prince’s death? It seemed like severe slander.
Tears glistened in Sarubia’s eyes.
“I can understand His Majesty’s feelings, but a saint’s unique magic is not all-powerful,” she sighed, like smoke rising from a chimney. “Even I cannot change an already foreseen death. You all understand this, don’t you?”
“Of course, my lady.”
“Yes, predicting death is within the realm of the gods; it’s not something a saint could influence,” the servants quickly agreed with her words.
Some were silently skeptical, wondering if that was really how her powers worked, but with the saddened Saintess before them, they kept their thoughts to themselves.
“Thank you for understanding,” Sarubia whispered, sniffling as she dabbed her tears with her large robe sleeve. She then buried her face in the sleeve, as if overcome by emotion.
Watching her small, frail figure sink into grief, the servants felt their hearts ache. To feel nothing at such a sight would be truly heartless.
“It’s clear that His Majesty has misunderstood the nature of Sarubia’s magic,” Rufus continued in a low voice. “His Majesty interpreted her magic according to his own desires, and when things went awry, he blamed Sarubia and pointed fingers at her.”
The servants fell silent, digesting Rufus’s words.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.