The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 127

Rashid was gone.

Tericia stood in the middle of his empty room, staring blankly. His room was neat and tidy—just like it had been that morning.

She had checked the study first, the place where they always played together. He wasn’t there. So she thought surely he’d be in his room.

“Rashid, where did you go?”

She stopped a passing maid and asked, but no answer came.

“Rashid!”

Tericia began checking every place Rashid might have gone. But he was nowhere to be found.

“Have you seen Rashid?”

When she spotted the maid who usually looked after Rashid, she felt hopeful for the first time.

“I saw him… after his lessons, walking down the hallway outside the study…”

The maid’s voice trailed off uncertainly, as if her memory wasn’t very clear either.

“Oh, someone mentioned seeing him heading toward the annex garden.”

The offhand comment sparked something in Tericia’s expression.

“Thank you.”

Smiling with relief, Tericia ran out toward the annex garden.

The sun had already set, and the outdoors had grown dark. The garden by the annex was cloaked in shadow.

He came here? Alone?

She stopped without thinking, staring into the dark woods ahead. It was a little scary.

“Rashid, are you there?”

Her voice was quieter than it had been while searching inside the mansion.

“I’m not scared.”

She whispered to herself.

Rashid is in there. That’s why I’m not scared.

She repeated the words under her breath and took a deep breath. Then, she stepped into the forest.

Rashid!

A voice rang out like an echo.

Rashid turned around instinctively.

But all he saw were the same tall trees surrounding him—nothing had changed.

“…Did I imagine that?”

He tilted his head, then straightened up and began walking again. He had long since forgotten why he’d even come into the forest.

Why did I come here again?

He clearly remembered walking back toward the study after finishing his lessons…

“Oh, I came to look for Sister.”

He hadn’t seen her, the sister who always smiled when she greeted him—and suddenly, he ran outside without thinking.

Rashid.

When she smiled and called his name, her voice always made something deep inside him melt. Sweeter than any fruit.

As long as she was with him, he didn’t need anyone else. Not the father who never looked his way, not the cold stepmother with her icy stares.

If Tericia was by his side, he could endure anything.

So please—

“Sister.”

Please don’t leave me. Please hold me again. Please, I…

“Rashid?”

A voice, soft and clear, rang out like another hallucination. Rashid turned toward the sound.

Tericia.

There she was, like a dream. Dressed in a pale pink nightgown with frilly trim.

Her hair was messy, her cheeks flushed. She must’ve been running around looking for him—her small lips were parted as she caught her breath.

As soon as their eyes met, Tericia rushed toward him and grabbed his hand.

Her hand was warm. Maybe because his hands had grown cold in the night air, her warmth felt especially strong.

“Your hands are freezing! And you’re barely dressed! How long have you been out here?”

Only then did Rashid realize he hadn’t even put on a coat.

“You’re in your nightgown too,” he said quietly.

“Oh, that’s because…”

Her voice faltered. Her violet eyes wavered as she looked at him.

“I was in such a hurry to find you that I forgot my coat, that’s all.”

You came looking for me?

“…Why?”

The question escaped him before he could stop it.

“What do you mean, why? Of course I came to find you. You weren’t anywhere.”

That’s strange.
So she hadn’t left him? He thought she didn’t need him anymore.

Rashid stared at her, confused, his face blank. Tericia, frustrated, tapped her chest with both hands.

“Isn’t it obvious? You were gone, so I went out to find you. Do you know how worried I was?”

“You were… worried about me?”

Why?

He couldn’t understand.

She hadn’t come to find him before. She’d left him behind—so why would she be worried now? Her words didn’t make sense.

“You’re my little brother. Of course, I worry about you.”

Then… she didn’t abandon me?

The thought struck him, and his heart began to flutter.

“…Sister.”

“What?”

“……”

Now that he’d called her, he didn’t know what to say.

He had wanted to ask so many things, to hear so many answers—but after hearing that she’d worried for him, none of it seemed to matter anymore.

“Rashid.”

As his older sister, Tericia felt she needed to scold him—just a little.

“When it gets dark, don’t go outside alone.”

“……”

“Okay?”

“…Yeah.”

His reply was soft, a bit dejected, but sincere.

Tericia smiled warmly at him.

“Let’s go back now.”

“Okay.”

His voice was a little brighter.

Looking at her little brother smiling up at her made her heart feel full. Without thinking, she reached out her hand to him.

Rashid stared at the hand held out to him, as if surprised.

“…Your hand.”

“Huh?”

“Hold my hand.”

“Oh…”

Tericia gently extended her hand again, as if urging him. Rashid hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and took her small, pale hand.

It felt especially warm. He couldn’t tell whether it was because he felt shy… or because her hands, still childlike, carried a comforting warmth.

The forest, which had felt so frightening just moments ago, suddenly didn’t seem scary at all.

“Sister.”

“Hmm?”

“I really like you.”

The words came out impulsively, and Tericia’s eyes widened in surprise.

Even that… looks beautiful.

“I only need you, Sister. So…”

So, please—

“Always stay with me. Don’t ever leave me.”

Tericia paused at Rashid’s words, then smiled brightly.

“What are you talking about? I would never leave you.”

How can someone be this beautiful?

He couldn’t take his eyes off her sparkling violet gaze. Her every smile, her every soft laugh—it all etched itself into him.

It passed through his eyes and settled in his heart, not even reaching his mind before it was already engraved there.

While Rashid stared at her, completely captivated, Tericia smiled even more brightly.

“I’ll always be with you.”

Her smile bloomed like a flower.

The ducal estate was in chaos.

It was already deep into the night, but neither the young lady nor the young master were anywhere to be found.

“Rashid! That boy must have taken Tericia out!”

Madam Boren’s shrill voice rang through the central hall.

When a maid mentioned seeing the two of them heading toward the annex garden, Madam Boren stumbled in shock, and Leah quickly rushed to support her.

Duke Hespelt stood by, expression unreadable as he watched it all unfold.

But the faint furrow between his brows showed he was not pleased with the situation.

“The forest near the annex is dangerous! How could he take Tericia there? I know she’s not my blood, but how could he do such a thing?”

Unable to contain her distress any longer, Madam Boren collapsed to the floor and began to weep.

Her sobs grew louder—laced with the worry only a mother could feel for her missing daughter.

“Heinz.”

The duke let out a sigh and called the name of the newly appointed commander.

Heinz stepped forward.

“Take a few knights familiar with the terrain and search the annex woods.”

“At once, sir.”

Heinz gave a deep bow and quickly left with the knights in tow.

As the sound of rushing footsteps faded, the duke turned and started up the stairs.

“My lord.”

Madam Boren’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

He turned back to look at her.

Her face was still streaked with tears, but now… there was no grief in her eyes. Not like before.

“If something happens to Tericia, Rashid must take responsibility.”

The duke’s brow tightened, but Madam Boren continued without hesitation.

“She wouldn’t have gone near those woods if not for Rashid. Her body hasn’t even fully recovered yet. If anything happens to my daughter…”

A strange smile played at the edge of her lips.

“Your son will have to take responsibility.”

“……”

Still frowning, the duke said nothing. He turned silently and continued up the stairs.

Madam Boren didn’t move from where she sat. She watched him until he disappeared from view.

Only after he was gone did she raise her hand. Leah, standing nearby, hurried over to help her up.

Her face was completely dry—as if she had never cried at all.

Staring in the direction the duke had gone, Madam Boren slowly turned her gaze toward the doors of the hall… and out into the night.

It was far too late for children to be wandering outside. Especially in a garden so deep and overgrown that people called it a forest.

She stared out into the darkness for a long moment.

“Sometimes,” she murmured with a cold, subtle smile, “those children do turn out to be useful.”

They were lost.

Tericia didn’t want to admit it, but she couldn’t deny it either. This wasn’t a place she recognized.

Not just the annex garden—the entire estate felt unfamiliar to her.

Biting her lip, she glanced over at Rashid. After a moment, she confessed quietly:

“I think… we’re lost.”

Her voice trembled just slightly, as if she were delivering a tragic announcement.

“…Yeah. I think we are.”

Rashid sounded much calmer than she expected. Or maybe… he was just pretending to be.

Tericia looked at her little brother more closely. Compared to when they first met in this forest, he looked far more relaxed now.

He’s not scared?

If he was fine, then so was she. It was still part of the estate—just the annex garden. If they kept walking, they’d eventually find their way out.

“It’s okay. I’m with you, remember? Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

Her voice sounded like she was trying to reassure herself more than him. But Rashid smiled gently.

“Yeah, I’m okay too. Because I’m with you, Sister.”

“You’re seriously too cute.”

She said it without thinking, her eyes caught by his sweet smile and crinkled eyes.

How could anyone have a little brother this adorable?

He must be scared, but he didn’t say a single word about it—just kept smiling. That made her love him even more.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

Tericia squeezed Rashid’s hand tighter.

“If it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t be lost…”

I made things harder for you, just by following you out here.

Her voice dipped with a hint of guilt, but Rashid just gave a light laugh.

“I’m the one who came out here first, remember?”

“But still…”

“Let’s just find our way out. It’s kind of scary at night.”

Rashid cut her off before she could keep blaming herself. Her eyes snapped back into focus.

“Just trust me. I’ll get us out of here.”

She wasn’t naïve enough to fully believe him—but she loved how confident he sounded, even though he was just a kid too.

She loved that he held her hand and promised to protect her.

They kept walking.

I feel… a little dizzy.

Tericia quietly exhaled, hoping Rashid wouldn’t notice. Her breath came out warm in the cold air.

I don’t feel well.

But she couldn’t say anything. Rashid would worry. They’d be out soon—and once they were, she could rest.

I want to stay with Rashid tonight. I should ask Mother… maybe she’ll let me, if I promise to study hard tomorrow.

She tightened her grip on her brother’s hand. Rashid tightened his hold in return.

And they kept walking.

“Lord Rashid! Lady Tericia!”

Knights’ voices rang out from the edge of the annex woods, their shouts cutting through the trees. Flickering torches lit up the paths around them.

Was the garden always this deep?

Heinz furrowed his brow instinctively, scanning the darkness.

The annex garden was so dense and shadowed that even adults hesitated to enter. And yet… two children had gone in alone.

He didn’t agree with Madam Boren’s methods—but at least she was right about one thing: this place was dangerous.

Whatever her intentions had been in front of everyone, it was clear who she had been targeting—Rashid.

At first, he had only rushed because of her pressure. But now that he stood at the forest’s edge, things felt different.

For children, this place alone was dangerous. They had to find them—fast.

“If we delay any longer, it’ll be even more dangerous. Move quickly,” he ordered, leading the way inside.

“Sister… are you okay?”

Something was wrong with her. Rashid looked down at her hand, still clasping his.

It was hot. Too hot.

“Sister…”

He stopped walking. When he did, Tericia came to a halt too.

“…What is it?”

Her response came half a beat late. Definitely strange.

Rashid stepped in close and reached up with his free hand, pressing it gently to her forehead.

“You’re burning up!”

“Ah…”

Her violet eyes looked dazed.

“Come to think of it… I caught a cold today. I was going to take some medicine and go to bed early…”

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?!”

“Well, if I hadn’t come with you, you would’ve gone out alone…”

“……!”

His heart dropped.

Tericia’s face, flushed with fever, and her hazy eyes turned to Rashid.

“…Rashid,” she whispered, her voice thin and trembling. “Don’t go alone. Take me with you. I’ll always stay by your side…”

“Don’t leave me, Rashid.”

“Who’s leaving who?” His voice shook too.

“You’re the one who tried to leave me. You didn’t even come looking for me!”

The resentment he’d held back came pouring out. But there was no time to dwell on it.

“Was it because you didn’t like me?”

“No… I—”

Tericia hesitated, then bit her lip as if making a decision.

“You got hit by Mother… because of me.”

“……!”

Rashid’s face went pale. If she hadn’t been holding his hand so tightly, he might’ve let go and run away.

“You knew?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Since when?”

“……”

“Answer me, Sister! Since when did you know?!”

“I’m sorry, Rashid… I just…”

Looking helplessly at him, Tericia gave a weak smile.

And then, her body swayed violently.

That slender body—just moments ago holding his hand and leading the way—collapsed into him.

“Sister!”

His body moved before his mind. Rashid caught her as she fell, but he was still young—too small to properly hold her up.

“Sister! Wake up!”

Her body burned with heat. It wasn’t just a fever—it was a fire.

“Tericia!”

He shook her, calling her name desperately, but her eyes remained tightly shut.

“Is anyone there?!”

He screamed.

“Someone! Please help! She’s sick—my sister is sick! Is no one out there?!”

He didn’t care if he screamed until his throat tore. Rashid yelled with all his strength.

Please—someone help. She might die. Please save her. Please…

Then, voices began to rise in the distance.

“Young master!”

A familiar voice cut through the dark, and Rashid shouted even louder.

“Over here!”

Torchlight flickered through the trees, drawing closer.

Armor clinked. Footsteps rushed. And then—

“Young Master Rashid!”

A large knight with curly brown hair—someone Rashid had seen before—suddenly emerged from the thicket.

“Help her!”

Rashid cried out as soon as he saw the knight’s face.

The man strode quickly over, eyes scanning Rashid before turning to the unconscious girl in his arms.

Then he turned and shouted,

“I found them! The young master and the lady are here!”

The sounds and torchlights grew louder, closer.

“She’s sick! Help her!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take her,” said Heinz calmly, soothing Rashid as he gently tried to take Tericia from his arms.

She was burning up.

The little master’s terrified cry—saying she might die—was no exaggeration. Her body radiated dangerous heat.

“Get the physician ready at the main house.”

At Heinz’s command, a knight quickly turned back and ran toward the estate.

“I’ll carry the young master too,” he added, handing Tericia to another knight nearby.

“Why are you taking her?!”

“I’ll take you myself. She’ll get medical attention right away—don’t worry.”

“I want to stay with her!”

Despite Rashid’s cries, the knight holding Tericia took off at a run, following Heinz’s signal.

The young commander lifted Rashid into his arms and began hurrying out of the forest.

“Sister!”

Rashid’s voice echoed through the dark woods, but no one answered.

“Sister!”

Only his desperate voice lingered, stretching out into the darkness until it faded away.

From that day, Tericia was bedridden with a high fever for a week. She never regained consciousness—the fever only got worse.

Madam Boren cried loudly, accusing Rashid of being the reason her daughter was at death’s door.

She wailed that her poor daughter had nearly died because the Duke’s son had harmed her.

Rashid didn’t know all the details. He only understood that Tericia’s mother blamed him.

And because he believed it was his fault—he stayed quiet.

There was only one person he cared about.

Tericia. My sister.

“Is she okay?”

Rashid couldn’t meet her, so he began asking the attendants. But no one gave him a clear answer.

He had heard whispers that, during her fevered state, she sometimes called out for someone.

Was it me she was calling for?

I hope so…

With that small hope, Rashid waited—for her to recover, for her to come find him again.

But she didn’t.

After days of waiting, all he received was a cold order:

“Move to the annex.”

An emotionless command from his father.

“Please… let me see her.”

He begged anyone who would listen. But no one helped him.

No matter how hard he pleaded—nothing changed.

“Sister… are you abandoning me? Have you forgotten about me?”

As the days passed, Rashid’s hope faded. He became more and more tired.

On the day he left the main residence and moved into the annex…

Only Harris came to see him off.

“We’ve made sure you’ll be comfortable, young master.”

“……”

Rashid said nothing, eyes downcast.

“Lady Tericia…”

He reacted when Harris mentioned her name—the one person he’d been waiting to hear about.

“She’s very sick.”

“…Ah…”

Rashid’s golden eyes quivered.

Harris didn’t tell him that Tericia had been delirious, calling his name through her fever.

He didn’t tell him that even when she briefly regained consciousness, she had forgotten she ever entered the forest with him.

Because he knew how badly it would hurt the young boy to hear it.

“When she gets better, I’m sure she’ll spend time with you again. She’s looking forward to it too.”

So Harris lied.

“Really?”

Rashid’s smile lit up—so bright and full of hope that Harris felt his small lie was worth it.

Rashid believed him.

“Stay with me. I’ll protect you.”

She had said that, and reached for his hand. Promised to stay by his side.

But Tericia never came.

He waited… but his young sister never returned.

“Sister… are you leaving me behind?”

When loneliness turned into resignation—then into despair…

Rashid accepted it.

His sister—his beautiful sister—had left him again.

“Then I’ll forget you too.”

And so, he accepted it.

One early morning…

Her hair unbrushed, still in her nightgown, barefoot—Tericia appeared in his room.

“Rashid!”

She was late… but she came. She had kept her promise. She had come to find him.

She had reached out her hand to him once more.

In that moment, Rashid realized he had been waiting for her all along. He had never once forgotten her—not for a second.

Then I’ll hold on. This time, I won’t let go.

When her violet eyes sparkled and turned toward him—he felt a thrill down his spine.

And so, he waited—quietly.

Waited for the moment when Tericia would realize there was no longer anywhere for her to run.

Rashid took her hand in his.

And he made a vow: This time, I won’t let go.

And so, their story began again.

A long, fairy tale-like story, Finally, it began anew.