The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 107

As Tericia appeared near the annex, Harris spotted her and immediately rushed over.

“What brings you here, my lady?”

“I figured everyone must be tired, so I brought some snacks.”

At her words, a cheerful smile spread across Harris’s face.

“Well, I suppose it is time for a break. Bring them over here.”

He directed his words to the attendant who had followed behind Tericia, carrying a basket filled with food. The foreman overseeing the annex repairs came over as well and helped take the basket.

“Thank you, my lady.”

With a warm smile, he thanked Tericia and headed toward the workers, calling out that it was time for a break. Watching him with a soft expression, Tericia turned back to Harris.

“But what about you? Why are you here?”

“Oh, I came to adjust the schedule with the foreman. We need to make sure everything is finished before your engagement ceremony.”

“Is that so? Nothing too difficult, I hope?”

“No, not really. We’ve had to pick up the pace to stay on track, but according to the foreman, there shouldn’t be any serious problems.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Harris noticed a faint trace of embarrassment on Tericia’s face. She was probably shy because they were talking about her own engagement. Seeing that, a smile tugged at his lips as well.

“I came out for a walk. Mind if I stay here a little while?”

“Of course not, my lady. Please, take your time and relax.”

With a respectful bow, Harris walked back toward the group of workers.

Mandy quickly laid out a mat under a tree so Tericia could sit in the shade. It turned into a surprisingly lovely little picnic spot.

“My lady, please rest here for a bit.”

Tericia sat down on the mat Mandy had prepared. The breeze had grown warmer—just enough to feel that spring had truly arrived. Even though the forest around them was still scarred by fire, it had its own quiet beauty.

“Yes, let’s rest a bit. You sit too.”

“Yes, my lady.”

With a soft smile, Mandy sat beside her. At first, she used to hesitate, unsure if it was proper to sit with her lady. But she had learned quickly that Tericia wasn’t the type to insist on such formalities. Eventually, she stopped resisting and just followed her lead.

“It was freezing just last week… and now look at this.”

“I know. It really feels like spring now.”

“You’d make such a beautiful May bride. Though… I guess that would be a bit rushed, huh?”

“You mean the wedding?”

“Yes. A wedding in a season full of flowers would suit you so well.”

“You really say whatever comes to mind. How could I get married in May? We’re only just having the engagement ceremony.”

“Still, why not? If you want it, you can make it happen.”

Suddenly, a man’s voice chimed in with a laugh, and Tericia jumped in surprise. Mandy, startled too, quickly got to her feet.

“Rashid.”

As Tericia looked up at Rashid, a bright smile spread across her face—warm and soft, just like a spring day.

“Out for a walk, my lady?”

“Mm. Did you just get back?”

“Yes. I heard you were here and came right away.”

Rashid sat down in the spot Mandy had left. With no one else around, he stretched out his long legs and leaned back beside Tericia, looking completely at ease.

“Work’s all done?”

“Yes, I’m finished for the day.”

So… that means he’s staying nearby today.

The thought came to her out of nowhere, and her cheeks grew warm with a blush.

Staying by my side…? When did I start thinking like this?

Whether he noticed her thoughts or not, Rashid gave her a playful smile.

In truth, his work wasn’t really done. As the person in charge of post-war negotiations, his responsibilities had only grown. They never seemed to decrease.

Even today, he had just finished one task and was about to head home when the Crown Prince called him in with yet another job.

“Going to see the lady, are you? Do this first.”

There was no doubt it was out of jealousy. Rashid, unable to hide his irritation, had simply tossed the work aside and left. It could wait until tomorrow anyway.

The two of them sat in silence, watching the annex slowly shed its old, damaged form. The workers were gathered nearby, laughing as they enjoyed the snacks Tericia had brought.

Between Rashid and Tericia, a peaceful, quiet stillness settled.

How long had they been sitting like that?

Rashid turned his gaze to Tericia’s side profile.

She was watching the workers with a soft smile on her lips, as if quietly satisfied.

What are you seeing with those eyes of yours?

If only I could be the only one reflected in your gaze. But sometimes… it feels like you’re looking at something far away.

The wind caught a strand of her hair, and it stole his focus. Her fair skin sparked a thirst in him, her red lips stirred longing, and her delicate neck awakened darker desires.

If it weren’t for the fear that showing his desire might drive her away, Rashid Hespelt might have already pulled her into his arms and made her his—again and again.

But instead…

He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them, trying to suppress the heat stirring within him.

Looking at Tericia, sitting calmly beside him—unchanged, unaware of the storm of desire inside him—Rashid couldn’t help the slow smile that crept onto his lips.

Unlike her gentle one, his smile was filled with want.

Then, as if remembering something, he said casually,

“After the engagement ceremony, you should move into your new bedroom.”

“…What?”

“You’ll be using the Duchess’s chambers after the wedding anyway. Might as well move in early.”

“R-Rashid!”

Tericia’s face turned bright red, as if it might burst. The shock of his words made her freeze for a moment before her cheeks flushed all the way to her ears.

“W-What are you even saying…?”

“I already moved into my chambers a while ago.”

“That’s different. You and I aren’t in the same situation.”

Rashid, who had been lounging with his long legs stretched out, sat up and gave her an exaggeratedly puzzled look.

“Wait—don’t tell me you actually planned on keeping your current room?”

“Well, not really, but…”

Tericia’s face was filled with hesitation.

“When we’re married, you’ll be the Duchess. You’re not forgetting that, are you?”

“I know… I know that…”

Trying to cool her face, Tericia fanned herself with her hand and looked away. Watching her flustered reaction, Rashid’s smile grew even deeper.

“Once the annex is finished, your new bedroom will be fully renovated. Same with the couple’s room. And mine too.”

“…The couple’s room.”

Tericia’s face was now redder than ever.

It was a natural conversation, something that should have been obvious—but it had completely caught her off guard. She didn’t know how to respond.

She had prepared herself for the engagement when Rashid returned from the war. She had steeled herself for that moment. But that was as far as she had thought.

She had never dared to imagine what life would be like after he came back.

All she ever did was pray—pray that he wouldn’t go, or that if he did, he would return safely.

As she looked away and tried to calm her racing heart, Rashid narrowed his eyes slightly, as if something had just occurred to him.

“…Don’t tell me you were thinking of using your current room after the wedding?”

“No, that’s not it. I just… hadn’t thought that far.”

“Then were you thinking of using your mother’s old chambers?”

His tone darkened, clearly displeased.

That was something he would never allow. After the death of Lady Boren, the Duchess’s chambers had been left cold and empty—untouched, like a forgotten space. There was no way he’d let Tericia live there.

In truth, he would have preferred to move her somewhere completely new, but that room had the best sunlight in the house. He wanted to give her that warmth.

So instead, he’d decided to renovate it entirely—to erase every trace of the past. It was also the room closest to his own, which was something he couldn’t ignore.

Not that it mattered where she stayed. He never planned to let her sleep alone anyway.

“…Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it at all,” Tericia admitted softly.

“You wound me, my lady,” Rashid said dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “Here I’ve been counting down the days, dreaming of finally being by your side… and you haven’t given it a single thought.”

“Stop being ridiculous.”

“Clearly I’ve been too passive. Starting tomorrow, I’ll bring you engagement gifts every single day.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“First, I’ll have a dress delivered—”

“Rashid!”

She reached out to stop him, trying to cover his mouth, but Rashid dodged with a laugh.

That playful grin only made her more embarrassed. Tericia tried a few more times to shut him up but gave up with a huff and stood from her seat.

“I’m going back inside. You can stay here and talk to yourself.”

She turned and began walking toward the main building.

Rashid stood up slowly and strolled after her at a relaxed pace.

“Don’t follow me.”

“I’m not. You’re just walking ahead of me, my lady.”

“…”

“Oh? We’re headed in the same direction? What an honor, my lady.”

His voice was still filled with amusement.

Once the two of them disappeared, everyone around the annex finally let out the breath they’d been holding.

It wasn’t Rashid Hespelt or Tericia who felt embarrassed—it was the workers taking a break nearby.

The butler and Tericia’s maid simply looked on with satisfied smiles, but the workers had gone completely still, their snacks forgotten, their backs stiff.

None of them had ever imagined that the feared Duke and the young lady—now his fiancée and future Duchess—would behave like that.

And of all places, why here of all places?

“I see nothing. I hear nothing.”

That became the silent chant echoing through everyone’s minds as they prayed for the couple to disappear from view.

Only after the two entered the main building did everyone exhale again.

They hadn’t even done anything that outrageous, but somehow, the secondhand embarrassment was overwhelming.

“…Let’s just get back to work.”

No one could tell who muttered it, but it was enough to snap everyone out of their trance. The workers returned to their tasks.

All except one.

Standing perfectly still in the middle of the movement, glaring at the direction the couple had gone, was a man filled with rage.

It was Sheffer Verus, the one who had gone into hiding after evading the Duke’s knights.

“Rashid Hespelt.”

His fists clenched tightly. His jaw ground with fury.

He had lost everything—fallen to rock bottom. And yet that man stood there, acting like he had the entire world in his hands.

“I’ll make you pay.”

Sheffer whispered with venom in his voice, his eyes locked on the place where Rashid and Tericia had disappeared.

When he heard that workers were being recruited to help repair the Duke’s estate, he used up everything he had left just to blend in.

All his remaining money was gone—but he didn’t care. He had long given up on survival.

Whether it was Rashid Hespelt or the Eastern Kingdom, someone would come for him eventually.

So, if he couldn’t survive… then at the very least, he would take Rashid Hespelt down with him.

“I will kill you.”

And I’ll make sure that in your happiest moment, you taste the worst kind of despair, Rashid Hespelt.

Support The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out