The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 120

Rashid, once sent to the battlefield, was unable to return for three full years.

He left before even having his coming-of-age ceremony, and it was on that very battlefield that he finally became an adult and rose to command the army.

When one war ended, he was immediately sent into another. At times, he was dispatched as a knight-for-hire to foreign lands.

In the midst of it all, he managed to inherit the title of Duke but not in full. Without the Emperor’s official approval, he was only a half-acknowledged Duke.

The promise from the Imperial Court—that he would be formally recognized upon his return from war—was broken.

“This shipment made it on time, right?”

“Yes, my lady. We’ve received confirmation of its safe arrival.”

At Harris’s reply, Tericia let out a long breath of relief and leaned back in her chair.

“My lady, perhaps you should rest for a bit?”

The butler, Harris, spoke with concern in his voice.

To ensure the warfront was properly supplied, Tericia had worked tirelessly without proper rest. And Harris, more than anyone, knew this.

In the Duke’s estate that was now empty of its rightful master, Harris was her only ally.

“You’re the only one who ever worries about me, Harris.”

Smiling softly for the first time in a long while, she tried to ease the butler’s concern.

“It’s alright. This will be the last time. I’ve waited so long for this.”

Her words brought a small, quiet smile to Harris’s face as well.

Many nobles—especially the side branches who claimed some Hespelt blood—accused Tericia.

They said she sent the heir to war just to secure her place at the head of the house. That she intended to devour House Hespelt from within.

“Let them say what they want.”

When she heard such things, Tericia only scoffed.

It was so out of character for her usual calm and reserved self that even Harris had been stunned—because in that moment, she had resembled Rashid.

“The Empire won’t be able to ignore Rashid’s achievements anymore.”

There was even a hint of excitement in her voice.

In three years, Rashid had accomplished the extraordinary. Not only had he led victories in hopeless battles, he had pushed the borders outward. Upon his return, he would finally become the undisputed Duke of Hespelt.

It was what Tericia had hoped and prayed for all along.

But there was one thing she couldn’t stop thinking about.

“If my death could bring you peace…”

Those had been Rashid’s words the day he left the estate—as if he knew it was the end.

“The last time,” he said…

Yes. It was the last.

Because after this, he would never be sent to war again.

Tericia sighed softly and looked toward Harris.

“You’ve done well, too. From now on, take good care of Rashid.”

“If I may say so, my lady… I believe it would be better if you looked after him.”

To that, Tericia gave a faint, bitter smile.

“He wouldn’t want that.”

“But still…”

“If there’s something I can do, I’ll do it. But I’ll do it from the shadows. The house will only be peaceful if I’m not there.”

She said it with a light laugh, as if joking—but Harris quietly clicked his tongue to himself.

May the young master come to understand the truth of her heart…

Just then, the door burst open with a loud noise. A servant ran in, out of breath.

“My lady, something terrible has happened!”

“What’s with the ruckus?”

Despite Harris’s stern scolding, the servant looked anxiously at Tericia, flustered.

“What is it?”

A dreadful feeling struck Tericia’s chest.

She instinctively leaned forward.

“The Duke… the Duke has—!”

The servant trembled, unable to finish the sentence.

“They say he was killed in battle! At Membrox…”

“……!”

Tericia’s chair crashed to the ground as she collapsed in shock.

Harris, having heard the same news, also turned deathly pale.

“…What?”

She must have misheard.

This was supposed to be the last battle. She had heard clearly—this was the final mission before he could return home.

“They couldn’t recover his body. Only his helmet was found… They say Sir Heinz’s body and the Duke’s helmet are all that will be returned.”

CRACK— Thunder rumbled. Tericia instinctively looked out the window.

A lightning bolt streaked across the sky.

As if the heavens themselves were mourning his death, the skies began to weep.

Rashid…

Wearing mourning black, Tericia stood silently. Black flags rippled along the corridor.

“Tericia.”

She turned at the sound of someone calling her name.

A man approached, his face painted with sorrow—but behind the mask, unmistakable greed gleamed in his eyes.

A sword gleamed faintly at his back, hidden beneath his cloak. He came close and whispered:

“I laced it with poison. It won’t take long. Now, follow that boy you waited so desperately for.”

He plunged the blade into her chest, smiled coldly, and walked away.

Rashid…

Tears welled up. Breathing grew harder. She couldn’t tell if it was the pain of dying—or something deeper, something worse. The pain of the soul.

“If my death could bring you peace…”

Rashid.

Your death was my despair—my descent into darkness.

If only I could see you again…

Ah…

Rashid. If I could just see you one more time…

This time, I won’t let go of your hand. I’ll tell you everything—how I truly feel.

I have to tell you.

“…shid…”

The truth is… I love you.

The moment her tear met her blood—light exploded.

“Tericia!”

A voice echoed.

It was Rashid’s voice.

＊＊＊

“Tericia!”

At the desperate cry of her name, Tericia’s eyes flew open.

The breath that had been trapped in her chest burst free, and air rushed into her lungs like someone breaking the surface of deep water. Gasping, she clutched at her chest, struggling to breathe.

“Haa… haa…”

She curled in on herself. Pain pierced through her chest, making it impossible to stretch her body out.

Only after several breaths did she finally manage to move again.

Her hands trembled violently. Her eyes trailed from her shaking hands up to her chest.

There had definitely been a sword there…

“Tericia.”

A gentle voice made her look up.

Golden eyes—like sunlight—were looking back at her. She could feel Rashid’s arm supporting her from behind.

“Rashid…”

A smile spread across her lips.

Ah… it was a dream. Of course. You dying… that couldn’t have been real.

She exhaled deeply, as if she hadn’t breathed in ages.

“Are you hurt anywhere, Sister?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

But… something felt wrong.

There was something strange in Rashid’s kindness. His smile seemed almost too gentle, as if he were hiding something.

“Rashid?”

When Tericia tried to rise from his arms, his body stiffened. But he helped her sit up, meeting her gaze.

“I’m just glad you woke up, Sister.”

Sister?

Tericia finally understood the source of her unease—Rashid was calling her “Sister.”

Ever since he’d revealed his true feelings, he only used that title when there was some purpose, some distance. It was a wall he put up.

Just like in another life, he was holding himself away from her again.

“Rashid… why…”

“…Please, don’t be too sad, Sister.”

His hand gently cupped her cheek. The touch was cold—chilling. Her heart sank.

No… no, it couldn’t be.

As her face turned pale, Rashid’s smile deepened—a bittersweet one, tinged with sorrow.

“I’m alright. If it brings you peace, then I…”

He didn’t get to finish.

His body collapsed forward.

“Rashid!”

Tericia caught him, but she couldn’t support his full weight. They both tumbled to the floor together.

Something warm, sticky, and awful spread across her hands.

Blood.

“……!”

No… no, it couldn’t be.

Her whole body trembled as she forced herself to sit up.

No… this couldn’t be happening.

She gathered all her strength, trying to lift the body of the one she loved.

“Rashid!”

Her scream pierced the room.

“No! Rashid, why you?”

Her trembling hands reached for him. His chest was soaked in red—completely stained with blood.

Her eyes darted around the room. A short distance away, something caught the light.

A gleaming dagger with a purple gemstone—it was familiar.

It was the dagger she had gifted him on his birthday.

Once a beautiful silver blade, it was now stained red. There was no doubt whose blood it carried.

Did he… stab himself?

Tericia looked at Rashid in horror. His pale, lifeless face felt like a stranger’s.

“Rashid, please don’t do this. I tried… I did everything to keep you safe. I…”

The words tumbled out, jumbled and broken.

She shook uncontrollably, not knowing what to do, how to stop the life from slipping away.

Her hands pressed down on the wound, desperate, frantic, trying to stop the bleeding.

“Please, Rashid. Don’t do this to me. You said you loved me. If you meant that—then don’t do this. Don’t leave me behind. Not again. Please… open your eyes.”

Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, her voice cracking.

Her hands, her dress—everything was soaked in his blood.

And then—something stirred in her memory.

Tericia raised her head and shouted into the air.

“You’re here, aren’t you?! Watching me? You can hear me, right?!”

There was no reply.

“Save him! I gave my life for his! You said you’d save him! That was the deal! Bring Rashid back!”

She collapsed to the floor, broken.

Tears poured down her cheeks, but she didn’t even feel them.

“…Please. Save Rashid. I can’t live without him. I don’t care about my life. If he can live… if Rashid can be saved, then take mine.”

Her desperate voice filled the silence.

“Please, save him… don’t take him from me. Not Rashid. Anyone but Rashid…”

You were the one who gave him that despair, Tericia.

A voice.

Tericia looked up.

A vague figure stood before her, calmly watching her.

When you were stabbed, he felt the same.
When you exchanged your life to save his… he was just as broken.

“Save him,” Tericia whispered, her voice trembling with tears.

The figure remained silent.

“Please… save Rashid.”

She had never begged for anything before.

Not in the past. Not now. She had only ever wanted one thing.

“Don’t take Rashid from me. Please… I’m begging you. Let him live.”

The figure knelt down, face-to-face with her.

Only then could she see its expression.

Tericia.

“……”

Tell me your wish.

“…My wish?”

Yes. Your true, honest wish.

“My… wish…”

Tericia turned to look at Rashid.

If not for the blood staining his chest, he would have looked like he was peacefully asleep.

Golden eyes that once smiled so warmly.

Tericia.

That soft, low voice whispering her name.

I love you, Tericia.

His warm embrace.

All of it—he—was what made her feel alive.

“I…”

A soft smile returned to her lips.

“I want to live… with Rashid. I don’t want to die and leave him behind. I don’t want him to go before me.”

How could I live without you? It’s only with you that I can truly live.

“I want to stay by his side, to love him, and to live our life together. That…”

She leaned forward, slowly pressing her lips to Rashid’s.

A soft light began to spread around them.

“That’s my wish.”