Chapter 240
“The campaign to subjugate the demons prevented proper farming, and winter arrived immediately afterward. It’s a time when food will be scarce. Because of that, quite a few children will suffer from malnutrition.”
Leaving the charred log behind, Rufus returned to Sarubia’s side.
“So that’s why you had Sir Roroel buy a large supply of the Cytiro herb. Malnutrition can be treated with Cytiro.”
“That’s right.”
“Hm, then let me try to guess the rest. His Majesty the King must have summoned you to question why the Cytiro you purchased was sent to Inferna territory instead of the kingdom’s capital.”
Sarubia’s golden eyes sparkled.
Indeed.
Sitting beside Sarubia on the sofa, Rufus inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration. Whether it should be called sharp intuition or something else, she truly had a quick mind when it came to things like this.
“Are you planning to move the Cytiro to the capital, as His Majesty the King wishes?”
“As if.”
The rumor had already spread across the entire nation. If you went to Inferna territory, you could obtain the medicinal herb Cytiro, which had become difficult to acquire after imports were cut off. And not only that, you could take as much as you wanted without paying anything.
Small groups of people were already traveling toward Inferna territory. By now, Baroness Inferna and that male witch were probably overwhelmed, greeting the endless stream of people pouring in like a burst dam.
If the herbs were suddenly moved to the capital in the middle of all this, what fault would it be of the people who had already set out toward Inferna territory?
“Why won’t you move them?”
“Because it’s amusing.”
“What is?”
Watching that foolish King stomp around in fury is quite entertaining. The way he flails about recklessly, unaware that his death is approaching, is so ridiculous that I could burst into tears. Just imagining that disgusting face soaked in despair as he howls like a beast fills me with delight.
That’s right, Sarubia. I live each day in hope while praying for the King’s death.
Once again swallowing those sharp words, Rufus lowered his gaze toward the table in front of the sofa.
At the center of the table was a mountain of cookies. A few days earlier, he had ordered the servants to bring a large supply of cookies to Sarubia’s room. Yet strangely, the cookies didn’t appear to have decreased at all.
“You didn’t eat the cookies?”
To casually change the topic, Rufus suddenly asked Sarubia.
“Ah, um… no. I’m sorry.”
Sarubia gave an awkward smile.
“What is there to apologize for? If you want them, you eat them. If you don’t, you simply leave them.”
“I’m not used to living like that.”
With a shy smile, Sarubia finally picked up one cookie. It had been cut into the shape of a puppy. After hearing that Sarubia liked cookies baked in animal shapes, Rufus had ordered the servants to prepare plenty of them.
“It reminds me of the past. I used to live for the cookies the head maid occasionally gave me…”
Sarubia turned the puppy-shaped cookie over and examined it. Unlike what Edel had said, she didn’t show any excitement or delight.
Why?
“…Even seeing cookies piled up like a mountain now, I don’t really feel like eating them.”
A soft sigh slipped from Sarubia’s lips as she said that.
“That’s strange, really.”
Yes. That is strange.
Murmuring that, Rufus gently kissed Sarubia on the forehead.
Sarubia, who had been smiling faintly, ultimately didn’t eat the cookie.
Seeing her set down the food she once loved without touching it made Rufus uneasy.
What could be the problem?
Was life in the royal palace uncomfortable for her? Or had one of the servants upset her? Was the room too cold? Was the bed uncomfortable, or…
“Ah.”
Sarubia, who seemed to have been lost in thought, suddenly snapped her fingers and lifted her head.
“Wait, could I be pregnant?”
“…What?”
Hearing Sarubia’s words, Rufus froze stiffly as if he had turned into a statue.
“Pregnant.”
“What do you mean…”
“Wait, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.”
Sarubia continued speaking as if it were nothing serious.
“Something does feel a little strange. I haven’t had much of an appetite lately, and my body has felt oddly heavy.”
But still…
“Rufus, think about your actions objectively.”
“…What actions.”
“Since a few months ago, you’ve been making quite the grand history on that bed. And quite frequently, too.”
“……”
At the teasing remark, Rufus couldn’t say a single word.
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