The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 114

“Apologies for keeping you waiting.”

Rashid entered the white drawing room of the Hespelt estate and offered a formal apology. As he stepped in, the conversation between Crown Prince Ludwig and the High Priest came to a halt, both turning to face him.

“It’s fine. Sit down, we have things to discuss.”

Rashid bowed slightly to the prince and took a seat beside him. Ludwig sat at the head of the table, where Rashid normally would, with Rashid on his right and the High Priest on his left.

He looks more like himself again, Ludwig thought.

He quietly studied Rashid, relieved to see that there was finally a glimmer of reason in his eyes. The lifeless stare from the day Ludwig had arrived was gone.

“You look unwell,” the High Priest said softly the moment he saw Rashid’s face.

“How is Lady Tericia?”

Rashid didn’t reply. Instead, he lowered his eyes with a bitter smile. That was answer enough—both Ludwig and the High Priest sighed quietly.

“I was told there’s a way to save Tericia,” Rashid said, getting straight to the point.

The High Priest nodded. “Have you heard of the Sacred Grounds?”

“You mean the place mentioned in the founding myth—the land where the gods are said to have descended?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

The sudden mention of the Sacred Grounds made Rashid frown.

“What does that have to do with Tericia?”

“They say the Sacred Grounds are where the divine rests—and that anyone on the brink of death can be brought back there. Even those dying from poison.”

Rashid’s eyes trembled slightly.

“But that’s just a legend. It’s not real, is it…?”

“Legends exist for a reason, Your Grace. Stories don’t linger in empty places. Especially when even the faint remnants of divine power are known to carry healing properties.”

The High Priest glanced down at his own hands.

“The Sacred Grounds are real.”

His tone was calm, but Rashid’s gaze wavered.

He opened his mouth as if to speak but hesitated, then instead asked something else.

“Where is it?”

“There’s an old tale passed down among the High Priests…”

He glanced at Ludwig and Rashid in turn before continuing.

“It lies deep within the Membroux Mountains. A place said to touch a world not our own.”

“Where the manabeasts appear.”

There was a particular region in the Membroux range known for frequent manabeast sightings—a place the Hespelt knights had occasionally used for extreme training. The fact that it was somewhere so familiar was almost laughable.

“Will you go?”

Rashid didn’t answer. He just smiled faintly.

“What about your house—Hespelt?”

“To me, the family name exists only as a means to protect her. A world without Tericia means nothing to me.”

The cold detachment in his voice only made the words feel more sincere.

Upon hearing that, the High Priest retrieved a small silk pouch from his robes and placed it gently before Rashid.

“This is a sacred relic passed down by the Temple.”

He smiled softly.

Inside the pouch was a gemstone. It shimmered with a mix of colors—beautiful, but not particularly valuable by appearance.

“This stone was once embedded in the chest of the prayer statue. It’s said to be a sacred relic, though no one believed it, since it never displayed any divine power.”

He paused and looked directly at Rashid.

“But it’s said that this gem came from the Sacred Grounds. It will guide you there, Your Grace.”

“Thank you.”

Rashid carefully took the pouch and placed it close to his chest.

It was said to lead to the place that could save Tericia. Whether or not that was true didn’t matter. At this point, it was the only thing he could cling to.

“It’s still just a legend. There’s no guarantee it will work,” the High Priest warned gently.

“I understand. But there’s nothing else I can do.”

“……”

“If there’s even the smallest chance, I have to take it.”

Rashid placed a hand over his heart, over the gem wrapped in silk.

If I can save her… I’ll do anything. Even give up my life. Anything.

His face was calm. Resolved.

—

Preparations for Rashid and Tericia’s departure happened swiftly.

The day after the Crown Prince and the High Priest visited, Rashid’s father, Lord Pelos, arrived in the capital from the family estate. As soon as he arrived, he took over all of Rashid’s responsibilities.

“So the High Priest said that, did he?”

Upon hearing Rashid’s story, he reclaimed all the duties he had once left behind.

“Don’t worry about postwar matters or politics. I’ll handle them. You focus on saving her.”

“Thank you… Father.”

While Pelos managed state affairs, Rashid oversaw the design and construction of a special carriage to carry Tericia.

Because the Sacred Grounds might not reveal themselves unless she was present, the High Priest had insisted that Tericia be brought along.

To make sure she would be safe and comfortable, Rashid spared no effort. The finest materials. The best craftsmanship. It was less a carriage and more an extension of her bedchamber.

By the next day, everything was ready.

Lord Pelos, the entire estate staff, and many others gathered to see them off.

Rashid had said there was no need for a farewell—but when he descended the central staircase with Tericia in his arms, every servant in the house was already lined up in silent tribute. Not one had stayed in bed, despite the early hour.

Rashid offered them a brief glance, then gently laid Tericia in the carriage.

Inside, one side was a proper bed for her to rest on, with a space beside it for an attendant to care for her during the journey.

He leaned forward, his lips close to hers—so close it was almost a kiss.

Then stopped.

He could still feel her faint breath.

Only after confirming that did he rise again.

He lingered for a moment, gazing down at her still, sleeping form. Then he stepped out of the carriage.

“May your journey be safe,” Lord Pelos said first, stepping forward.

“If anything happens, send word immediately.”

“Yes, Father.”

“…My lady…”

Mandy couldn’t stop her tears. She wiped her eyes over and over, her voice thick with emotion.

She had begged to come along, insisting she should be the one to care for the lady. But Rashid had refused her plea.

The carriage was already packed with a large amount of Panarin, and to travel as quickly as possible, they had to reduce the weight—meaning as few people as possible could come.

Heinz, assigned as their escort, would ride separately on horseback. Aside from the coachman, it would just be them.

“Please return safely.”

At Adler’s farewell, Rashid gave no verbal response—he only gave a slight nod.

Without saying a word, he looked over the people gathered to see them off and stepped into the carriage. Moments later, it began to move.

And so began a journey with no clear end.

Tericia sat still, knees pulled up, her head resting on them. She didn’t know how long she’d been sitting like that.

[Tericia.]

The voice called to her.

But she didn’t respond.

[Tericia.]

The voice called again, more gently this time.

“…”

[Rashid is coming.]

“…Rashid?”

The moment she heard his name, Tericia jerked her head up.

The white shadow in front of her was crouched just like her, quietly watching her.

“Rashid is coming here?”

[Yes.]

“Why? Don’t tell me… Rashid’s dead too?”

[No. He’s alive.]

“…Ah…”

A trace of relief softened Tericia’s face. She had tried to block everything out—refusing to see, refusing to hear—but when it came to Rashid, she couldn’t help but react.

The voice smiled sadly.

“Why is Rashid coming?”

[To take you back.]

“…”

Something caught in her chest. She quickly turned her head, trying to hide the rising tide inside her.

[What do you want to do, Tericia? Should I let him meet you?]

“…No.”

[What?]

“I don’t want to see him.”

[Tericia.]

Her red-rimmed eyes turned to the voice again. Though her eyes were dry, the voice could hear the sorrow behind her silence.

“I don’t want to see him.”

Her eyes didn’t cry, but her voice trembled faintly, touched with the wetness of held-back tears.

[Why? You love Rashid, don’t you?]

“…”

[Tericia.]

“If I see him…”

Her voice wavered more.

“If I see Rashid, I’ll want to live. I’ll want to stay by his side. I’ll get greedy again. I’ll want to keep living with him.”

[…]

“My life was already traded for his. If I return, Rashid will die. I don’t want that. I can’t go back just to watch him die. And I don’t want to leave him behind again either. I’d rather do nothing at all.”

[Tericia…]

“So please… just let me rest. I just want to rest.”

Tears welled in her eyes again. She blinked to hold them back, but they still rose.

[Tericia.]

Watching her, the voice asked gently:

[Should I kill Rashid for you? Bring him here instead?]

“No!”

Her voice shot out like a scream.

Tericia lunged forward, reaching to stop the voice—but lost her balance, catching herself with her hands on the ground.

As she bent forward, her golden-brown hair fell over her shoulders. And finally, tears slid down her pale cheeks.

But she didn’t even notice.

She lifted her head, her voice trembling with urgency.

“Don’t do that. Please… I’m begging you. Leave Rashid alone. Let him live.”

[…]

“You promised me—you said you’d grant me one wish. Then don’t touch Rashid!”

[…Is that your wish?]

“What…?”

Tericia’s eyes widened at the voice’s question.

[Should I let you both die together? Or let Rashid live without you? What do you really want, Tericia?]

She stared at the voice, too stunned to speak.

It slowly smiled—faintly, curiously—watching her with interest.

[Tell me, Tericia. What is your wish?]

Now it was smiling openly.

Tericia’s lips parted, slowly.

“…My wish?”

[Yes, your wish. I’ll grant it—whatever it is.]

My wish…

She repeated the words to herself softly. Then, after a long pause— “Make Rashid forget me.”

[What?]

Now it was the voice’s turn to be shocked.

“Make Rashid forget me completely… so he won’t suffer anymore. Let him forget me.”

Unaware of how sorrow twisted her smile, Tericia whispered the words with a fragile kind of peace.

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