The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 125 (END OF MAIN STORY)

[You wanted to see me?]

The voice spoke, surprised.

“Yes. I wanted to see you.”

[Why?]

“…To say thank you.”

After a brief hesitation, Tericia answered quietly.

Yes, she wanted to say thank you.

“Thank you. For saving Rashid. For saving me. For saving the both of us.”

At her words, the voice tilted its head slightly.

[It was just my whim.]

“I know. But still… Thank you for granting my wish.”

There was a pause.

Then, the voice laughed softly.

[You’re something else. Bold… maybe even shameless.]

It chuckled lightly, as if amused.

[You begged me so desperately. Said you’d die if he wasn’t saved.]

When the laughter faded, the voice leaned back against the carriage seat more comfortably.

[No, I should be the one thanking you.]

Tericia didn’t speak—just listened.

[Thank you for playing along with my amusement… and for granting my wish, Tericia.]

The reflection of the voice in her eyes was still smiling.

That smile brought back a memory.

That final moment.

＊＊＊

The moment Tericia’s lips touched Rashid’s, light bloomed around them.

A searing brightness, hot enough to burn. Tericia held onto Rashid even tighter.

How much time passed?

[It’s okay. You can open your eyes now.]

Tericia blinked slowly at the voice’s gentle suggestion.

The space was the same… but somehow different. Every time she had met this voice, it had been in a cold, empty void.

Now, though still blank, it no longer felt cold.

Instead, it felt peaceful. Comforting.

“Ah—”

Rashid!

Tericia looked down at the man she held close. The blood that had stained his chest—was gone.

Her heart pounded.

Carefully, she leaned close to his face. He was breathing, deeply and evenly—fast asleep.

“Thank goodness…”

He’s alive. He didn’t die. He’s alive.

They say you cry even when you’re happy.

Tears welled up, but she blinked them away. Gently, she laid Rashid’s head on her lap.

The voice, watching her, smiled softly.

[You’ve won.]

“…I won?”

[You may not think of it that way, but I do. I was curious—would you ever come to understand your feelings? Would the two of you continue to long for each other even while sacrificing everything?]

Tericia furrowed her brows slightly.

“…Who are you, really?”

At that, the voice smiled—genuinely, for the first time.

[I’m a forgotten god. A nameless deity. Stripped of eternity, and on the brink of disappearing.]

There was a serene kind of liberation in the god’s voice.

At first, it was just curiosity. A fleeting amusement at such ephemeral, emotional beings.

Without a name, the god could no longer share power with his priests. They had lost their divine gift—healing—and slowly faded from existence.

But he didn’t care.

He, too, was destined to vanish.

He watched the world from a distance, disillusioned.

Until—
[…If I can save you…]

The god had heard it when even apathy grew boring.

[If I can save you, I don’t care if I disappear.]

A plea, soaked in longing and regret.

Such intense emotions—ones he could never possess—sparked something in him.

He became intrigued. No—he rewound time.

How could such creatures, so misguided and full of misunderstanding, still cling to each other with unwavering hearts?

From childhood, a rift had grown between them—so wide, their hands could no longer reach.

And yet, their eyes never stopped searching for one another.

[For you, I would…]
[For your sake, I would…]

Foolish creatures.

He had scoffed.

How could two people, so lost and hurt, still love each other with such pure, stubborn hearts?

Still—he gave them a chance.

Why not?

He had little time left. A dying god’s final bit of amusement.

So he gave life back.

One life for another.
That was the only rule.

“What’s your name?” the god asked.

[Tericia.]

“What’s your wish?”

[…Save him. Save Rashid.]

“Not yourself?”

[Save Rashid.]

“One life for one, Tericia.”

[If saving him means giving my life, then take it.]

“…All right. Let’s see. Let’s see if your heart truly doesn’t change. If his heart doesn’t either.”

Just a dying god’s final game.

The god saved the woman.

And she… lived fiercely.

No longer for herself, but for him.

She defied her mother. She found the people Rashid needed.

At times, he nudged her path—sometimes hindering, sometimes playing tricks.

But she stayed true. She lived for him alone. So unwavering, it was almost boring.

“How boring.”

The voice murmured, watching it all unfold.

How could they stay so true to their promises?

“Truly, utterly boring.”

Why would they keep sacrificing themselves for each other like this?

He didn’t understand. Yet he couldn’t look away.

The woman threw herself into everything with fierce sincerity.

And the man, just as fiercely, met her halfway.

For each other. Only for each other.

“So boring…”

Who should he save?

The woman’s life could only be exchanged for the man’s. And his, only for hers.

Surely, they wouldn’t just keep going back and forth like fools?

Humans weren’t like that… were they?

[Save Rashid.]
[Save Tericia.]

They shattered even his expectations.

Left alone, maybe they really would keep offering up their lives for one another forever.

“These foolish creatures.”

What had started as a light amusement… was now heavy, far too heavy.

In the end, it was the god who gave up.

“Tell me your wish, Tericia.”

[…My wish?]

“Yes. Your true, honest wish.”

If you realize what’s in your heart, I’ll grant it.
There’s still one thing that can take the place of both your lives.

[I want…]
[To live with Rashid. To love him. To say those words while living beside him. That’s my wish.]

You win, my child.

Your wish shall be granted, Tericia.

And the forgotten god smiled, softly, for the last time.

His little game… was over.

＊＊＊

[You know… I meant to let you die again.]

“I know. I was ready.”

[At first, I just let your strength slowly fade. I didn’t heal you, but I didn’t hurt you either.]

Tericia flushed slightly, and the voice burst into laughter.

When the laughter faded, the voice continued quietly.

[I didn’t think you’d ever realize what you truly wanted.]

“I didn’t think I was allowed to want anything for myself.”

[Sometimes, you are. It’s okay to be selfish now and then.]

“I know that now.”

Tericia met the voice’s gaze—steady and calm.

And then she asked, “What about your wish?”

The question caught the voice off guard.

It blinked in silence… then smiled.

[You always ask the strangest things.]

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

[You even blush over silly things.]

The god—once merely bored—now felt something different.

The girl who had once begged for her lover’s life had become something more.

[My wish…]

It paused, then whispered.

[Tericia, remember me. Even if you forget most days… just think of me once in a while.]

[Then I won’t be a forgotten god anymore. I’ll be remembered.]

The carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.

It was time for Tericia to meet the one who had always waited for her.

“We’ve arrived.”

Heinz opened the door.

The voice still sat across from her, but no one else seemed to notice.

Heinz, oddly, did not offer his hand.

Instead, he stepped aside.

Because Rashid was already walking toward her.

[Honestly. So possessive. Can’t even let go of the smallest things.]

Tericia smiled at the voice’s words.

She liked that about Rashid—how he’d fuss over even the tiniest things, just because they involved her.

[You really are just alike.]

The voice chuckled softly.

[Go on now.]

Rashid’s face came into view.

It was glowing with happiness.

And then—

[Goodbye, Tericia.]
[Be happy, my child.]

Tericia turned to look back one last time.

The seat across from her was empty.

“Tericia.”

Rashid extended his hand into the carriage.

She turned to him with a soft smile, even under the veil.

She wanted to lift the veil and kiss him—badly.

But she resisted.

Because if she did, he’d kiss her right back, and then probably pull her into the carriage and refuse to let her go.

“Are we walking in together?”

“Is that a problem?”

“It’s… not exactly proper.”

She took his hand and stepped out carefully.

With each movement, her gown shimmered like a field of stars.

Rashid’s proud smile deepened.

“Shouldn’t I be walking in with my father… or the Marquis of Glen?”

At that, Rashid’s brow twitched.

“Why would I let another man hold your hand?”

“They’re our fathers.”

“Still men.”

He wrapped her arm around his.

“There’s no one else I’d ever trust with your hand. No one.”

She couldn’t help the soft laugh that escaped her lips.

It was ridiculous, but somehow… sweet.

Tericia looked up at the sky.

Petals were falling, catching the wind and swirling around her.

Church bells rang joyfully in the distance.

And as they stood before the flower-adorned hall—

Rashid looked at her and smiled.

So bright, it nearly took her breath away.

“Shall we go, Lady Tericia Hespelt?”

He gave her hand one last, gentle squeeze.

“Yes.”

And she smiled back, holding his hand tightly.

After all the heartbreak, all the battles and misunderstandings—

She had made it.

To his side.

She would live happily.
She would love him.
And she would say it out loud, every single day.

Her wish had come true.

A happy ending, without question.

The End.