The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 101

“You were asleep for so long, I was starting to get worried.”

“Sorry. I guess I let my guard down.”

Her cheeks flushed as she replied, as if even staying conscious had taken effort. But Rashid still frowned, clearly dissatisfied. From the way he glanced at her slender waist resting easily in one hand, he didn’t seem pleased with how fragile she looked either.

“You’ve lost weight.”

“I was out for days…”

Tericia muttered, her face reddening further. Rashid’s gaze slowly traveled from the top of her head down to her toes, making her feel as though even her skin was burning up.

“Couldn’t we just sit normally for once?”

Since entering the office, Rashid hadn’t let her sit anywhere except his lap.

As she squirmed uncomfortably on his knee, Rashid let out a quiet laugh and pulled her closer. Caught off guard, Tericia lost her balance and ended up pressed tightly against his chest.

“…!”

A soft, sweet scent surrounded him. It was her scent—one that always left him lightheaded. How much had he missed this fragrance?

“Rashid!”

When he buried his face into her neck to inhale more deeply, her voice shot up into a shrill yelp.

Rashid chuckled, clearly enjoying the reaction. The vibration of his laughter passed through her skin and into her chest, making her flush even deeper.

“Put me down.”

Realizing how she must look, Tericia suddenly panicked. She twisted in his arms, trying to free herself, but the more she moved, the tighter his grip became.

If he keeps holding me like this, I’m the one who’s in danger.

Was it just her imagination, or did the air suddenly grow cold? A strange chill crept over her, and she tilted her head, puzzled. Rashid gave a small, knowing smile.

She has no idea… which makes her all the more dangerous.

Trying to suppress the tension, he smiled down at her.

His low laughter made her heart flutter unexpectedly, and she blushed even harder. She had meant to say something sharp, but completely forgot and turned her gaze away.

“Just let me stay like this a little longer. It still doesn’t feel real.”

Rashid’s quiet words made Tericia open her mouth to respond—but she closed it again.

“I almost didn’t make it back in time. I could’ve lost you.”

His voice trembled faintly, like even imagining it was unbearable. His arms tightened around her, and his hand gently stroked her back, though it quivered slightly.

Even hearing a false report of his death had thrown her into despair. But he—he had seen her nearly die with his own eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? The ones who couldn’t protect you or the estate are the ones to blame.”

His voice dropped, low and cold. It chilled her to the bone.

“No, they all did their best. No one expected it to happen all at once. Besides, I wasn’t even here at the time…”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

Rashid looked her in the eyes.

“Why didn’t you return to the capital? Didn’t the guards tell you to leave?”

She averted her gaze under his frown, then let out a small sigh and leaned her head against his chest.

He stiffened slightly—but she didn’t notice.

“You were coming back.”

“…What?”

“Hespelt is your home. If you were coming back, then I had to be here. I had to be where you’d return to.”

“…”

It felt like she’d punched him in the heart. Rashid didn’t know what to say. He looked at her with a swirl of emotions—guilt, relief, joy, fear.

“When you returned—when it was all over—I wanted to be the one who welcomed you. I wanted to tell you I was glad… that I was thankful.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, but it struck him like thunder. Emotion welled up in his chest.

“Tericia…”

“Rashid. There’s something I’ve wanted to say to you.”

She pulled back to face him. Her deep, amethyst eyes, like polished gemstones, met his without wavering.

“Thank you for coming back safely. I’m glad you returned to me. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Rashid just stared, blank for a moment. Too many words swirled in his mind—too many to pick just one. In the end, what came out was a soft laugh, full of warmth and relief.

“Tericia… because of you, I…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he exhaled with a helpless smile.

“Really, I don’t think I’ll ever win against you.”

At that, Tericia gave a pure, bright laugh. And as if drawn by her smile, Rashid leaned forward and kissed her.

“How’s Sir Heinz? He must’ve been through a lot.”

At her question, Rashid frowned again, clearly displeased.

“You saw for yourself. Heinz is fine. Some were lost, but the Hespelt knights came back alive. And I’ve said it before—worrying about someone as tough as Heinz is just…”

Tericia laughed at his rare grumbling tone.

“What about you? You’re not hurt?”

“No.”

“Thank goodness.”

She let out a soft sigh of relief and nodded.

“Panarin helped a great deal. Thanks to the supplies and rations she arranged, we had the upper hand.”

“I’m glad. That’s a relief.”

A smile blossomed across her face—bright, full of peace. Rashid couldn’t look away.

“There wasn’t much for you to worry about.”

Trying to resist the rising desire her smile stirred in him, Rashid shifted the topic.

“Normally, a one-on-one duel on the battlefield is a desperate move—a way for the losing side to flip the war. There’s no reason for the stronger side to accept.”

He said it casually, but Tericia’s expression still carried a trace of worry.

“It must have been dangerous.”

At Tericia’s words, Rashid offered a soft smile. Heinz and Adler would probably grumble something like, “Worrying about the Duke is pointless…”, but he didn’t mind. Her concern was welcome—precious, even.

If acting a little weaker meant earning her worried glances and gentle voice, then it was well worth it.

After the final attack, as she had heard, he had fallen into the valley and lost consciousness for a time. And during that brief unconsciousness… the dream he saw…

Rashid slowly raised a hand to Tericia’s face. His fingers brushed lightly against the tip of her nose and her lips—close enough to feel her breath. The breath that reminded him she was alive.

His hand hovered near her face before drifting lower. Down along her jawline and slender neck. Until it reached the center of her chest—

And there it paused.

Right here…
Where the blade had pierced her.
Where her life had almost slipped away.

“Rashid?”

Her voice snapped him out of it.

Tericia was looking at him with clear, pale eyes, concern flickering in her gaze. Feeling her eyes on him, Rashid’s senses returned.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Her voice was full of worry. Rashid quickly masked his thoughts, forcing a faint smile to his lips. He didn’t want to worry her.

After all, it hadn’t been real. Not exactly. It felt far too vivid to be just a dream—but looking at her now, alive and breathing, as she had been before the war… that dream no longer mattered.

“I’m fine. Just… looking at you makes it all feel real again.”

Almost by instinct, he brushed her hair back and pressed a soft kiss to it. Her cheeks turned pink—but the feeling had changed.

Where once his gestures were purely habitual, for comfort and reassurance, now his touch carried something more. A subtle intensity. A lingering desire.

Tericia seemed to feel it too. Her face flushed deeper, and she hesitated—debating whether to pull her hair back from his hand.

That hesitation made Rashid smile again.

“Don’t worry. I won’t devour you.”
A pause.
“Not yet, anyway.”

Devour me?!

Flames practically shot up from Tericia’s face. Rashid, amused, pulled his hand away and put a bit of distance between them.

He could wait… a little longer.

“The forest near the guest house… it’s all burned down.”

He had passed through there earlier. The place was in terrible shape. Thankfully, a sudden rainstorm had prevented the fire from spreading further. A servant mentioned it had helped put out the blaze quickly.

That forest had held meaning for both Rashid and Tericia. Even if some memories were hazy due to her fever, it was still a place full of shared moments—its loss weighed on her.

“Did you find out who was behind the attack?”

Tericia straightened her voice, finally voicing the real reason she came. Rashid gave her a sheepish smile instead of answering.

“So you did.”

His expression was answer enough. Tericia opened her lips, then closed them again.

“I should’ve done more to protect everyone…”

“You did more than enough. Because you returned quickly and took command, everyone was able to evacuate and respond in time.”

“Still…”

It wasn’t just the attackers she was thinking of.

What she really wanted to ask about… was Count Clu.

Why had he been here all this time? Who had let him out?

“Was Count Clu imprisoned here since the banquet?”

“…Yes.”

“I thought he’d been exiled to his estate. But he was kept in the underground prison this whole time?”

“….”

“Rashid.”

She called his name, waiting. He looked away, visibly reluctant—but she didn’t move an inch.

Usually, when he tried to avoid the question, she let it go. But not this time. Her steady gaze held firm—she wasn’t backing down.

In the end, Rashid surrendered first.

“Yes. I locked him up after that banquet. After you left.”

“And he stayed there all this time?”

“…Yes.”

Tericia sighed.

Nearly a whole season had passed. He had been hidden away, rotting in the dark, without anyone knowing. She didn’t feel pity—but she couldn’t help wondering how she had missed it. It made her feel careless.

“It might not matter anymore, but…”

“No—it doesn’t matter at all.”

Rashid’s quick agreement earned a side-eye from Tericia.

“There’s no way he could’ve escaped unless someone let him out.”

He said nothing.

“So how did he get out? And…”

Her voice dropped.

“How did he know I’d be in the banquet hall?”

According to the servants, his behavior in the end had been far from normal. He had muttered constantly, moving toward her like he was possessed. Everyone was too terrified to stop him.

Honestly, I’d like to fire every last one of them.
But Tericia, outwardly calm, had already decided to let it go. They were the ones who now treated her like the Duchess.

“That’s not what matters.”

Rashid’s voice was firm.

“What matters is that you faced him alone. In that dangerous moment.”

“No, I—”

“Tericia.”

His tone left no room for argument.

“Do you realize you nearly died?”

His voice trembled barely perceptible, but unmistakable.

“You almost died, right in front of me.”

The fear, the helplessness he felt in that moment, it still hadn’t left him.

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