The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 118

Tericia had started following Rashid again.

Before, she followed him simply to play. But now, she followed him to uncover the reason behind her younger brother’s strange behavior. Sometimes, she got caught and ended up playing with him anyway.

But whenever that happened, Rashid would grow even more distant.

He’d say he was sick, or that he had too much homework, and wouldn’t come out of his room. On the rare occasions he did come out, he walked with a slight limp.

Are you hurt? Did something happen?

It’s nothing.

He’d say he fell out of bed while sleeping, or bumped into his desk. But Tericia couldn’t believe those obvious lies. Even though Rashid tried to act like everything was fine, something was clearly wrong.

That day, Tericia made up her mind to secretly follow him again.

Since her recent attempts to tail him had all failed, she hid near his room from early morning.

The day before had been especially fun. Rashid had told her about something new he was learning, and they’d shared lots of snacks.

Seeing him smile so brightly had made her feel happy too. For the first time, she’d even felt a little grateful her mother had married the Duke.

Sister, I really like you. I wish it could just be the two of us forever. That’s why I’ll endure it. I’ll be a good boy.

If only he hadn’t said those words… Tericia might not have thought much of it. But the moment she heard them, memories she had started to forget began rising again.

Bad things.

Things that would happen to her… and to Rashid. But what kind of bad things?

Just when she was getting tired of waiting near his door, it finally creaked open.

Rashid stepped out, unaware that someone might be hiding nearby. His expression was dark.

Tericia carefully began to follow him.

She only realized something was off when she recognized where he was heading.

Wait, that direction is…

It was the corridor that led to her mother’s bedroom.

Why is he going there?

Frozen in shock, Tericia lost sight of him and immediately broke into a run. She no longer cared about getting caught.

Her heart pounded—she didn’t know if the thudding came from her chest or from her footsteps as she raced down the hall.

Her mother’s bedroom door, which was usually shut tight, was slightly ajar. As if drawn by some invisible force, Tericia stepped toward it.

Through the narrow opening, she could see Rashid and her mother.

“So, what did you do yesterday?”

Lady Boren’s voice was sweet as she asked Rashid the question.

He stood in front of her with his pant legs rolled up to his knees. On the small table next to her sat a thin, long switch.

Head bowed, Rashid answered in a trembling voice—small and quiet—as he recounted the day’s happy moments.

“I… I ate snacks and played… with Sister.”

With Sister. Everything he said was about Tericia. It was like his whole world revolved around her.

Lady Boren let out a sigh.

“Oh, Rashid. Didn’t I tell you not to do that?”

“……”

“I told you something bad would happen if you kept spending time together—both to you, and to Tericia.”

He didn’t respond. He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.

“There’s no helping it, then. I warned you, but you still wouldn’t listen…”

Lady Boren smiled, watching the boy tremble.

“You’ll have to be punished, Rashid.”

She rose to her feet. Her shadow stretched across the floor, falling over Rashid’s face.

“Come here.”

Her perfectly manicured fingers gestured gently toward him.

No… I don’t want to. But if I don’t go, something bad might happen to Sister.

With great effort, Rashid forced his feet to move forward. Lady Boren’s hand lifted slowly, switch in hand.

“……!”

Tericia nearly screamed but managed to cover her mouth just in time. Her whole body trembled.

Whip. A sharp crack rang out from within the room.

Without changing her expression, Lady Boren struck the back of Rashid’s small thighs with the thin switch. The motion was elegant, almost graceful—like she was fanning herself.

Rashid squeezed his eyes shut, clenched his teeth, and bit down hard on his lips to hold back any sound.

Something bad will happen.

Her voice echoed in Tericia’s mind.

Something bad… Something bad will happen to Rashid.

Because I played with him. Because I came to see him. Because I was with him—something bad is happening to my sweet little brother.

The whipping finally stopped. As a faint, stifled groan escaped from Rashid’s lips, Tericia stepped away from the wall and looked inside again.

Her vision blurred with tears, but she forced herself to keep her eyes wide open.

The punishment was over. Rashid stood with his back to her, facing Lady Boren.

“Rashid.”

Lady Boren spoke softly, reaching out with her long, thin fingers and grasping his cheek.

At that moment, their eyes met.

Lady Boren was staring directly at Tericia.

Ah… She knew. She knew I was here.

Her mother looked at Tericia’s pale, horrified face—and smiled. A slow, spine-chilling smile.

Then, in a voice like a whisper, she mouthed:

“It’s your fault.”

Tericia couldn’t stay there any longer.

Her feet, which had stumbled back in shock, quickly turned and carried her away in a full sprint.

“Rashid.”

Lady Boren looked away from her fleeing daughter and back down at the boy in front of her.

Sweat had gathered on Rashid’s small forehead. Hearing her voice, he finally opened his eyes—just barely.

“From tomorrow, you don’t need to come anymore.”

Rashid, who had been silently enduring the pain, looked up in confusion.

“She won’t come looking for you again.”

He couldn’t remember how he got back to his room.

Tericia had stumbled into bed and buried herself under the covers.

She was terrified.

More terrifying than the enormous, dark Grand Duke’s estate—was her mother.

Because of me. Because of me, Mother did that to Rashid. Rashid is going to hate me now…

Tears spilled from her eyes.

He’s going to hate me. Rashid is going to hate me…

“Tericia, don’t get close to Rashid. Something bad will happen. Because of you.”

Her mother’s voice rang endlessly in her mind.

“I won’t like him anymore. I won’t… I swear…”

Rashid. My little brother. My beautiful, sweet Rashid.

I won’t go to him anymore. So please—just leave him alone.

Her voice trembled, her whole body shaking.

“I won’t like him anymore…”

So please, just leave Rashid alone…

There was only one set of footsteps now.

The light, cheerful sound that used to follow behind him was gone. Only Rashid’s footsteps echoed against the stone walls, hollow and lonely.

He stopped walking and glanced back.

A shadow flickered—flutter—as if something had just disappeared.

“Sis—”

Rashid instinctively took a step forward, but froze.

The edge of a white dress behind the column had vanished like a ghost. There was nothing there now.

“…Tericia…”

He could say her name properly now. He wasn’t afraid anymore.

Rashid stood there, staring blankly down the long, dark corridor of the estate.

No one appeared.

Just as Lady Boren had said—after that final punishment, Tericia never came again.

Was it because she disobeyed Lady Boren’s warning not to get close to him?

He had taken the punishment. He had endured it, thinking that if he didn’t, she wouldn’t come back.

He had hurt, and he had stayed silent—because he believed she would come.

But she never did.

Even when he waited with snacks, even when he waited with cake—Tericia never came.

As if she had completely forgotten about him.

“…Are you abandoning me, Sister?”

He whispered the words, but no one answered. His voice echoed through the empty corridor.

“Are you… throwing me away?”

If that was the case—he wished she had never hugged him. Then maybe he wouldn’t have known how cold it felt when her warmth disappeared.

“…I have to go find her.”

Rashid murmured after standing still for a long time.

Maybe she was lost. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t come.

If he found her—maybe she’d smile for him again.

Without knowing where to go, Rashid began walking.

Toward the dark woods that stretched beyond the estate.

“So you say you’re sick, but for what reason?”

Lady Boren clicked her tongue in displeasure, watching Tericia take her medicine.

Her daughter had been struggling with a high fever for several days. Hearing she’d finally improved, Lady Boren had come to visit her bedroom—for the first time ever.

Tericia said nothing and quietly set the medicine bowl on the nightstand.

Lady Boren looked down at her daughter sitting silently on the bed, then smiled.

“Do you want to see Rashid, Tericia?”

In an instant, Tericia’s head snapped up, eyes wide with hope. Seeing that, Lady Boren’s smile deepened.

“Then you should start studying. Perhaps… the third curriculum of the Grand Duke’s household would suit you. What do you think?”

“…If I study that, can I really see Rashid?”

“Perhaps.”

“Can I really… be with him again?”

“If you study.”

Lady Boren gave a calm, gentle nod.

“I’ll do it. I’ll study.”

“You’ll have to work very hard, Tericia. If you want to keep seeing him.”

“I’ll try my best!”

“Good. You must work harder than even the Duke’s heir.”

“Yes. I will.”

Her voice shook with joy. Her once-dark face lit up with hope.

The only thought in her head was this: If I study, I can be with Rashid again. I won’t have to worry about punishments or hiding anymore.

“Can I go tell Rashid? That I can see him again now, once I start studying?”

Lady Boren looked out the window. The sky had already begun to darken. Far off, the garden by the annex was slowly being swallowed by shadows.

“Go on. I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear it.”

“Okay!”

Tericia leapt from the bed. Her fever hadn’t fully subsided, but she didn’t care.

As long as she could see him again.

Beaming, she ran toward Rashid’s room.

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