The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 128.1

As the ceremony music began, the grand doors of the banquet hall opened.

All conversation came to a stop, and every gaze turned toward the aisle.

The bride didn’t walk in with her father. Instead, she entered holding the hand of her groom—Duke Rashid Carlo Hespelt.
It wasn’t a traditional escort. It was a shared entrance.

Faced with such an unconventional sight, Josephine wasn’t sure what kind of expression she should be making.

It was clear the Duke’s feelings for Tericia ran deep, and that was good—but to break every rule of etiquette and tradition for her? Josephine didn’t know what to think.

“He probably just couldn’t stand the idea of her holding any other man’s hand,” Crown Prince Ludwig said, like he could read her mind.

“Even her father’s?”

“Why else would they walk in together? I heard Rashid insisted.”

Standing beside him among the bridesmaids and groomsmen, Josephine looked at him skeptically, eyes full of doubt.

Ludwig simply shrugged.

“Believe it or don’t.”

“You’re not seriously suggesting… the Duke is…”

She trailed off.

Now that she thought about it, she did remember the sharp looks Rashid used to give her every time she visited Tericia. Sure, she’d teased her a little—but was that really enough to warrant such hostility?

Could it really be…?

Her gaze, which had been focused on the couple, shifted to Ludwig. He let out a quiet chuckle.

“You’ll see. I’m right.”

He raised his chin slightly in acknowledgment as the couple drew closer.

Josephine frowned again but composed herself as the bride and groom stepped up to the altar. Time would tell.

“Groom, lift the bride’s veil and seal your vow with a kiss.”

At the officiant’s words, a slow, wide smile crept across Rashid’s face.

He reached up and touched Tericia’s veil.

“Tericia,” he whispered.

His voice trembled with joy.

He had waited so long for this.

Tericia smiled back softly, meeting his eyes filled with happiness.

She had waited too—for this moment, to stand beside him.

As Rashid lifted her veil, the beautiful bride stood before him.

Her face, even more radiant than in his memories, turned toward him, aglow with light.

“Rashid…”

At the sound of her gentle voice, something swelled in his chest.

The memories of everything they had been through flashed before his eyes. None of it had been easy—not a single part.

But now, none of that mattered. What mattered was that they were finally here. Together.

His golden eyes shimmered with emotion as he looked at her.

“At last… you’re mine.”

His voice, choked with feeling, made Tericia laugh softly. That clear, lovely laugh was full of joy.

As he looked at her, smiling like that, Rashid leaned forward and kissed her.

She was his. Now and forever.

He barely managed to hold back the urge to shout it to the world.

So instead, he kissed her again—longer, deeper.

Her lips were warm and sweet and everything he had waited for.

As night fell, Tericia was escorted to the bath by the head maid of the royal palace.

The waiting maids bowed deeply to greet her. With their help, she stepped into the bath.

They had originally planned to return to the ducal estate for their wedding night.

But somehow, Tericia found herself here—in the secluded Steora Pavilion, deep within the Imperial Palace.

How did this even happen?

Sinking into warm water filled with floating rose petals, Tericia stared at the ceiling, reflecting.

“Our wedding night will be somewhere you’d never expect.”

She should’ve known from that sly smile on Rashid’s face.
But this? Of all places, the Steora Pavilion?

This hidden residence, known for its privacy and beauty, had long been associated with the emperor’s mistresses.
When the emperor had none, it became a retreat for the royal family—where they held their most intimate moments in secrecy.

Only the emperor or direct royals could even request to use it.

So how on earth did Rashid get permission?

No matter how she looked at it, it had to be him. Probably some deal with the Crown Prince.

Well… whatever. Who cares?

No matter where they were—it was still their first night.

Their first night as husband and wife.

Trying to calm her racing heart, Tericia stepped into the bridal chamber.

Rose petals were scattered across the bed. Their sweet fragrance hung in the air—but underneath it, a familiar scent lingered.

“…Ardor.”

The soft, subtle perfume she had created herself… it floated gently through the room.

She couldn’t help but smile.

Was this Mandy’s doing? Or Josephine’s?
Maybe both.

While staying at the Marquis of Glen’s estate, Mandy and Josephine discovered they had remarkably similar tastes.

With Emily joining their efforts, the three of them worked tirelessly to prepare everything for Tericia on her special day.

Especially the piece she was wearing under her robe right now—it was so embarrassing she wanted to take it off immediately.

But the three of them had begged her, eyes sparkling, telling her again and again that she had to wear it tonight.

“The Duke is going to love it.”

And she had given in to their confidence.

Tericia gently brushed aside some rose petals and sat on the edge of the bed.

“…When is he coming?”

She didn’t know what kind of face to show him… but she wanted to see him. As soon as possible.

After the ceremony, they’d spent the entire reception receiving congratulations. Even though they’d stayed near each other, they hadn’t had a single private moment.

“Rashid…”

She whispered his name softly, and the sound of her own voice made her cheeks burn.

Rashid arrived at the Steora Pavilion later in the night than he had wanted.

All he had wanted was to go straight to the room where Tericia was waiting. But strangely, everyone seemed to want to stop him to offer their advice or parting words.

It began with Marquis Glen, followed by Duke Pelos, then Adler, and Heinz, who each gave him long, meaningful looks.

And finally, the last one to appear was Crown Prince Ludwig.

“Thanks for the gift,” Rashid said tightly.

He didn’t particularly like the prince, but he had no choice but to accept it—since Ludwig was the one who granted them the Steora Pavilion.

“I’ve given orders to keep everyone away for a full week—only your attendants may enter. Do as you please.”

“…You’re being awfully generous tonight.”

“What? I’ve always been generous with you.”

“Have you now?”

Rashid’s tone was skeptical, but Ludwig didn’t seem to care.

“After everything you’ve been through, you deserve at least this.”

“…Then I’ll take it. Thank you.”

“You’re not even going to pretend to be modest, huh?”

Rashid chuckled, and Ludwig—watching him—laughed as well.

“Well then, enjoy yourself, Duke Hespelt.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

And with that, Rashid finally left the reception behind and returned to the Steora Pavilion’s bridal suite.

The doors were closed.

For a moment, his heart sank, but when he saw the attendants standing by, waiting to open them, he was able to breathe again.

Tericia was inside.

At his nod, the attendants silently opened the large double doors. They swung wide without a sound, revealing the softly lit interior.

The doors closed behind him as he stepped in.

His eyes immediately found the bed.

Tericia was there.

She must have fallen asleep waiting for him—lying atop the scattered rose petals in her white robe.

Rashid walked toward her, quietly.

He stood beside her for a moment… then slowly leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

Her sweet, familiar scent filled his chest.

“Tericia.”

At the sound of his whisper, she stirred and slowly opened her eyes.

Her violet gaze met his. He was all she saw—her reflection filling her eyes.

After blinking a few times, her eyes curved into a smile—soft and full of warmth.

As if she had been waiting just for him, she whispered,

“Rashid.”

Her voice was sweeter than the scent of roses.

“Did you fall asleep?” he asked gently.

“Mm… I think I dozed off.”

When she tried to sit up, Rashid gently stopped her, lying down beside her instead.

Now side by side on the rose-covered bed, they faced each other.

“…It feels like this is the first time we’ve really been alone like this.”

As Rashid moved a little closer, Tericia gave a quiet, breathy laugh, as if someone might overhear.

“We did sleep next to each other last night,” Rashid teased.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Her playful eyes shimmered. All signs of sleep had left her completely.

“It just feels like… we’re back to when we were kids. Like when it was just the two of us in the old study.”

Warm. Just the two of them in their own little world.

Rashid seemed to be remembering the same thing—his expression relaxed into a soft smile.

Back when she called me her little brother… how could I not fall in love with her?

“But I like now better,” he said quietly.

He took her hand and brought it to his lips. Tericia smiled and leaned closer to him.

“Back then… I couldn’t do things like this.”

He kissed the back of her hand.

“Or this.”

Then he met her gaze and kissed the inside of her wrist. Tericia flinched slightly.

“Or this…”

Still watching her, Rashid kissed up the inside of her arm.

Was it the warmth? The sensation? She wasn’t sure what it was that made her curl away from him slightly. But when she pulled back, he gently tugged her wrist—and her body easily came to him.

“…Now I get to do all of this.”

And with those words, he kissed her again.

What began as a light touch deepened quickly, slipping between her parted lips.

The kiss grew heated, messy. Rose petals scattered to the floor around them.

The man who had been lying beside her now hovered above, devouring her lips like he couldn’t get enough.

When he pulled away, both of them were breathless. Their lungs filled with hot, trembling air.

His eyes drifted to her chest—her robe had come undone, revealing soft, pale skin.

“…Don’t tell me… you’re not wearing anything underneath?”

Seeing no fabric, Rashid’s voice dropped low.

“I—I am! I am wearing something…”

She turned red as a flame. Rashid placed a hand on the ribbon tied at her waist. Tericia quickly placed her hand over his, trying to stop him.

He frowned slightly, then straightened, leaning over her—filling her entire vision.

“This is our wedding night, Tericia. You know how long I’ve waited…”

“But…”

“Please. Let me.”

“…I’m just… embarrassed.”

She turned her face slightly, revealing the slender line of her neck.

Does she even realize how tempting she looks right now?

Rashid barely managed to swallow back a groan as he placed a hand on the ribbon of her robe.

Ignoring the tension building in his body, he slowly pulled the ribbon loose.

Then he paused.

“…Who made this?”

His voice was low, rough like it scraped at the air.

The heat in it made Tericia’s face flush even deeper.

Rashid’s gaze followed the design of the lingerie beneath her robe… then met her eyes again.

His golden eyes flickered with something intense, smoldering.

“…Mandy and Josephine. Emily designed it.”

Mandy and Sarah remained standing, long after everyone else had left.

“…Why do you look like that? Something on your mind?” Sarah asked, noticing Mandy’s conflicted expression as she stared toward the path the duke and duchess had taken.

“…It’s not exactly worry,” Mandy said slowly, hesitating, “but I think we’re going to need to order more dresses. Ones with high collars. Maybe a lot of scarves, too.”

“…What?”

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