The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 105
“A deep purple amethyst…”
Rashid murmured like a sigh, his eyes fixed on the gem.
It was a rare shade, more red than a typical amethyst just like Tericia’s eyes. Because of its rarity, it was often more expensive than diamonds or other common gemstones.
That’s why he’d gifted her a necklace with this very stone once before.
Rashid frowned unconsciously as the memory surfaced far too vividly. Tericia, collapsed and bleeding… the crimson stains drying on the gem he’d once chosen for her.
“It’s the same color as the one you gave me before,” she said suddenly.
To his surprise, she spoke with no hesitation at all, as if recalling a fond memory, not a near-death experience. Her voice was light, even cheerful.
“…Are you okay?”
“Huh? With what?”
Tericia turned at the sound of his oddly tight voice, confused.
The look in her eyes—so calm and bright—left Rashid feeling strangely hollow. Of course… it was just him, carrying the weight of that memory. To her, it was nothing more than a passing moment.
He let out a quiet sigh.
As long as you’re truly okay with it… After all, he’d chosen that color because he thought it suited her perfectly in the first place.
“It looks beautiful on you.”
“Really?”
Tericia beamed and turned her eyes back to the necklace.
Thinking about it another way—this might be one of the rare times she genuinely liked a piece of jewelry. That alone was reason enough to buy it.
“Let’s go with this one.”
“Hmm…”
Still, Tericia hesitated. Maybe because just minutes ago, she’d insisted she didn’t want anything.
Noticing her reluctance, Rashid turned to the jeweler.
“We’ll take it. Have it ready to go now.”
The jeweler lit up at once and began preparing the box.
“Right away, Your Grace.”
“Also…”
Rashid glanced casually at the displays surrounding them.
“Send everything in this room to the Hespelt estate.”
At that, the jeweler’s smile grew even brighter.
“Rashid!”
“Would you like to take a look outside as well?” the jeweler offered politely. “The quality isn’t quite the same, but we do have some lovely selections out front.”
“……”
There was sincerity in his voice, which made it harder to say no. Tericia clamped her mouth shut. She had a feeling that if she said even one more word, Rashid really would buy the entire store.
“…I’ll choose something myself,” she said finally, her voice quiet.
Please, just stop here… Her eyes pleaded as she looked at him, but Rashid only gave her a serene smile.
“Too late. We’re taking it all.”
“What?”
“Next time, just pick something when I ask. That way, I’ll stop sooner.”
Because otherwise—I won’t. The smile tugging at Rashid’s lips deepened.
Watching Tericia’s shocked expression, he laughed—genuinely, warmly.
“I heard you bought out another jewelry store?”
Leaning over a mountain of paperwork, Ludwig rested his elbows on his desk and looked up at Rashid with obvious amusement.
Though his tone was casual, his eyes sparkled with curiosity.
After returning to the palace for post-war negotiations, Rashid had stopped by the Crown Prince’s palace. But Ludwig, as always, greeted him with teasing rather than ceremony—scanning for something to poke fun at.
Rashid sighed deeply.
“Who’s been feeding you nonsense like that?”
“So, it’s not true?”
“I didn’t buy the store. I just… bought a few pieces.”
“They say you bought everything in the shop.”
“I left a few things behind. Tericia didn’t like it.”
“…Hah.”
The Crown Prince let out an incredulous chuckle.
It was no wonder the jewelers in the capital were all desperate to attract the Duke’s favor. If he swept through their inventory like that, who wouldn’t want him as a customer?
“Be careful. She doesn’t like excess.”
A rare, genuine piece of advice slipped out—though Ludwig still wore a smirk. Unsurprisingly, Rashid brushed it off with a nonchalant expression.
“Then I just have to give her so much, she won’t have the time to dislike it.”
“She will anyway. You know her better than that.”
At that, Rashid finally fell silent. He couldn’t argue—Ludwig was right. He did know her. That wasn’t the problem.
The problem is… I still can’t help myself.
How much more do I have to give you, Tericia… for you to finally stop thinking, stop acting, and just stay by my side… without hesitation?
He knew it was impossible.
But Rashid couldn’t give up hope.
In truth, if he could, he would lock her away—keep her from ever stepping beyond the threshold again.
Just so she’d never be in danger. Never disappear. Never leave.
“I don’t want to give her a reason to hate me.”
Rashid sighed again.
No matter how much he told himself everything was fine, a creeping unease stirred inside him as the engagement ceremony drew near.
Is this truly the right decision?
What if something happens again during the celebration?
What if, just once more—even by some terrible chance—something goes wrong?
Would I still be able to keep my sanity?
“Something troubling you?”
The chain of dark thoughts snapped at the sound of the Crown Prince’s voice.
“…No, it’s nothing.”
They both knew that wasn’t true.
“Well, I suppose that’s not surprising, considering how every single banquet has ended in chaos.”
Ludwig exhaled quietly as memories of the hunting festival and the recent birthday banquet came to mind. That woman… the way she seemed to attract trouble was something else.
“Who’s handling the preparations?”
“Adler is.”
“Your aide?” Ludwig raised a brow.
“Doesn’t seem like a job for your chief advisor.”
“If I’m at peace, then the duchy is at peace. And it’s a steward’s job to make sure his master can be at peace. So yes, he’s doing his job just fine.”
“…I should’ve known better than to ask,” Ludwig muttered, shaking his head.
He lowered his voice, just enough for Rashid to hear.
“Poor Tericia.”
Rashid didn’t even bother responding to the jab.
“So. Have you found him yet?”
‘Him’—there was only one person Ludwig could mean: Sheffer Verus.
Rashid’s silence was answer enough.
Ludwig leaned back in his chair, a little more serious now.
“Still nothing?”
“We tracked him as far as the border, into Latran territory. But once he crossed the mountains, he disappeared.”
That matched what Ludwig had heard from his own sources.
“The Verus family…”
The name tasted bitter on his tongue.
A ducal house once erased from existence—he never expected to hear of them again.
When the Emperor had received the same report, he’d simply chuckled like it was an amusing anecdote.
“Hespelt must be quite troubled.”
That one comment had left Ludwig chilled.
Yes, the civil war may have been incited to strengthen the Emperor’s grip—but the scars it left were deep. After that, Hespelt had pledged unwavering loyalty, standing firmly against the aristocratic faction in favor of the crown. The Emperor’s indifference was, frankly, insulting.
Ludwig’s mouth tasted dry just thinking about it.
“He needs to be found. Whatever he’s planning, it won’t be good.”
Rashid remained silent.
The deeper they followed Sheffer Verus’s trail, the clearer it became—his schemes had evolved. The once-clumsy manipulations had turned into careful, calculated moves. As if the man himself had changed.
Around the same time… he’d been cast out, after trying to harm Tericia.
I should have killed him then.
If I had, none of this would be happening. And if anything happens to Tericia now…
Just the thought made him sick.
Rashid let out a slow breath.
“We’re doing everything we can to track him. Until then, all I can do is reinforce the estate’s defenses.”
“Ah—right,” Ludwig said, as if suddenly remembering something.
“Is the manor being restored well? I heard it was completely destroyed.”
“And who, exactly, is feeding Your Highness all these ridiculous rumors?”
Rashid’s irritation slipped into his tone. Ludwig just laughed.
Now there’s the Rashid I know. We’re not made for serious talk, are we?
“Only the forest burned. One of the outer buildings took some damage. The Imperial Guard saw it themselves.”
“I wasn’t there. I’m just going by what I hear.”
Ludwig spun his chair lazily and looked at Rashid with a grin.
“I’ll have to pay the estate a visit soon. I’ve got something to say to your sister.”
“Don’t come.”
“What, I can’t bring a gift and offer my congratulations?”
There was a slight bitterness at the edge of his words. Ludwig tightened his smile, trying not to let it show.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Duke Hespelt.”
He pushed the words out—barely suppressing the regret that had begun to rise again in his chest.
Late that night, a lone man arrived at an inn on the outskirts of Latran’s capital.
His footsteps were heavy, exhausted. The innkeeper, who had been dozing near the hearth, jolted awake—visibly startled. It wasn’t often someone arrived at this hour.
“One room. No dinner.”
“There’s a vacancy at the end of the hall on the second floor,” the innkeeper replied quickly.
The man glanced briefly up the stairs.
The innkeeper, trying to gauge his intentions, watched for any sign of expression—but the man’s face was hidden beneath a low-drawn hood.
Without another word, the man climbed the stairs.
Only after reaching the room did he remove his hood—and the face beneath it was gaunt, pale, and worn.
Sheffer Verus.
Once known as Sheffer Boren.
He tossed the hood aside and collapsed onto the bed—boots still on, body sinking into the mattress like a man who hadn’t rested in days. A groan slipped from his lips.
He opened his eyes slowly. Above him, the ceiling was old, cracked, and bare.
Not long ago, the ceilings above him had been carved with gold trim and decorated with chandeliers.
How did it come to this?
His teeth ground together as rage surged up from within.
“…Hespelt.”
Hespelt. Hespelt. Hespelt!
Unable to contain the fury, he shot upright.
Crash!
He struck the table beside the bed. Everything on it fell to the floor in a mess of clatter. His own heavy breaths filled the room, ragged and uneven.
All of this—every bit of it—was because of them.
Rashid Hespelt.
Tericia Hespelt.
“Just wait… I won’t let it end like this.”
His voice was a rasp of hatred, low and venomous.
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