The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 52

Rashid’s large, warm hands cupped her small face, lifting her gaze to meet his. His lips pressed gently against hers, landing on her parted lips before she could react.

His breath, hot and close, slipped into her, sending a shiver down her spine. Her hands, which she’d raised to push him away, trembled—then curled around the collar of his shirt instead.

“Close your eyes.”

When his lips finally pulled back for a brief moment, he whispered softly. His voice came from deep within—low, husky, and intense. And just like that, Tericia closed her eyes, as if drawn by some invisible pull.

She thought she heard him chuckle, but she couldn’t be sure.

His kiss deepened. It wasn’t gentle anymore—it was hungry, overwhelming. She felt herself leaning back instinctively.

Even when her body sank into the chair, leaving her nowhere else to retreat, Rashid didn’t stop. He leaned in closer, following her, relentless.

Tericia couldn’t think straight. The only thing she knew for sure was that he was kissing her—and that she was responding. That alone was enough to confuse her completely.

When he finally pulled away, she could only gasp for air. Her hair was tousled, her lips swollen. She was completely sunk into the chair, unable to move. Rashid had his arms braced on the armrests, boxing her in, making it impossible to look away.

The flickering firelight cast shadows across his face.

After a while, he slowly reached out and wrapped a long finger around a lock of her golden-brown hair.

It slipped through his hand like silk.

Watching it fall, Rashid let out a quiet, amused breath.

“That scent…”

He lifted his hand to his own lips, his golden eyes never leaving hers, and brushed a thumb across the corner of his mouth, now as flushed as hers.

His eyes glinted.

“I think it worked.”

Tericia’s face turned beet red. Her heart dropped in her chest like she had just seen something she shouldn’t have.

And the next second—she pushed him away and bolted out of the room.

Behind her, she heard him laugh quietly—but she didn’t look back. Something told her if she turned around now, there would be no undoing it.

With her heartbeat pounding in her ears, Tericia fled from him.

“…Ha.”

Left alone, Rashid sank into the chair she had just occupied.

Her scent still lingered in the air, curling around him again.

He hadn’t meant to scare her. But when he caught that fragrance—something that reminded him of her—he’d lost control. The urge had surged so suddenly, so powerfully, he couldn’t stop himself.

“So this wasn’t an aphrodisiac, huh…”

He let out a hollow laugh.

Tericia, you’re going to drive me insane.

Rashid covered his eyes with one hand, inhaling deeply as her fragrance wrapped around him again.

“……”

“……”

Why is it that you always run into someone exactly when you don’t want to?

That morning, Tericia found herself face-to-face with Rashid in front of the training grounds. She cursed herself for choosing this path for her walk.

Truthfully, she hadn’t meant to walk this way.

She’d been up all night, unable to sleep. When the sun finally rose, she got up and wandered outside without thinking. Her feet carried her aimlessly, and before she knew it—she was near the training grounds.

She had remembered Rashid trained here every morning and quickly turned to leave. But then, just her luck—he appeared, having just finished.

His hair was damp with sweat.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked with a light smile, as if nothing had happened. His face looked bright and refreshed—completely unlike her own, worn out from a sleepless night.

“…I slept fine.”

She replied sharply, suddenly irritated.

“Good to hear.”

“……”

The fact that he was acting so casually only made her more annoyed. She didn’t say another word, just turned and headed back toward the main building.

Rashid fell into step beside her.

The cool morning air drifted between them, but not unpleasantly. At first, his calm demeanor grated on her, but slowly, her tension began to melt.

“About the alchemist,” Rashid said suddenly.

It was something she’d asked him to look into.

“I found one. He’s known to be good with potions and skilled with his hands.”

“But?”

“He disappeared. Or rather, it seems he ran away.”

“Ran away?”

“Yes. The neighbors said he was being chased—by either debt collectors or mercenaries, they weren’t sure. So it might take a bit longer to find someone.”

“I see.”

Tericia nodded and fell into thought.

She had told Rashid vaguely that she needed an alchemist—but in truth, there was only one specific person she was hoping to find. She wasn’t interested in just anyone.

If she could find that person, it would be worth it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter.

“Take your time. There’s still some room to breathe.”

“I’ll do my best to find them quickly.”

She nodded again at his answer. Silence fell between them once more, but this time it was a comfortable one.

Her steps lightened as she relaxed, and Rashid subtly adjusted his pace to match hers.

Noticing this, Tericia raised an eyebrow.

He tilted his chin in a mock-gentlemanly gesture, as if to say, please, after you.

“Don’t follow me.”

“You misunderstand. I just happen to have business in this direction.”

“You’re impossible…”

“Hm?”

His innocent look made her speechless. He even shrugged slightly, as if completely unaware of her frustration—and somehow, that infuriatingly faint smile still tugged at the corners of his mouth.

What had happened last night felt like a dream. Her face flushed again, but the anger she’d built up—the scolding she had planned—had already faded.

Now she wasn’t even sure it should be something to get angry about.

“Rashid.”

“Yes?”

Their eyes met.

Those golden eyes, always so warm, were focused solely on her—intently and entirely.

Every time their eyes met; he was always looking at her. Only her.

Tericia could no longer deny it.

Rashid liked her.

And it wasn’t the affection a brother held for a sister.

It was the way a man looked at a woman.

Why do you love me?

When did it even start?

“In that forest… from the moment I held your hand. No, maybe even before that—when you first appeared before me…”

Which forest is he talking about?

She wanted to ask. There were so many things she wanted to say, so many questions left unspoken—but the words wouldn’t come.

“Is something wrong?”

Rashid tilted his head in confusion, his voice endlessly gentle and sweet as he looked at her.

“…It’s nothing.”

Tericia shook her head and began walking again. Her heart fluttered. She hadn’t meant to, but suddenly—she saw him not as a brother, but as a man.

Or maybe, deep down, she had already known that nothing could ever go back to the way it was, and had just been denying it all this time.

“Let’s go this way.”

As she walked, lost in thought, Rashid suddenly reached out and placed a hand on her waist, gently guiding her to turn.

She hadn’t been looking ahead, so she followed his lead without question—until she realized where they were heading.

That corridor.

The one that stretched like a descent into the abyss. The one where she had died.

Her body froze. She thought she’d grown used to it, that enough time had passed—but even now, her body still remembered. It refused to move closer.

She avoided that place without even thinking about it.

Ah…

Suddenly, she remembered—back when she had just returned. She’d been walking with Rashid, like this, and fainted near that very spot.

He had gone off to the Academy shortly after, and the memory had been buried.

She looked up at his face. His sharp jawline, his steady gaze fixed ahead.

He held her waist casually, as if nothing was wrong—but he remembered. Of course he did.

He remembered how she had collapsed here.

Maybe… he remembered far more than she did. Maybe he had carved all of it into himself and carried it, for her.

Realizing that, she could no longer walk. Her vision blurred, her chest tightened.

Tears began to well up in her eyes.

“Tericia?”

Rashid stopped when he noticed her sudden halt. But when he saw the tears beginning to fall, panic flickered across his face.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

He moved closer, alarmed by her silence and her tears. But they wouldn’t stop.

She wanted to stop crying. She wanted to hold it back. But the tears just kept coming.

What should I do with you? What am I supposed to do with myself?

She had only wanted to save him. And when everything was over—she’d meant to walk away.

Can I really leave you? Can I survive after letting go of your hand?

Every tiny act of kindness, every quiet consideration he’d shown—each one made it harder to walk away.

The tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked. And Tericia cried.

“Are you feeling better now?”

Rashid offered her a handkerchief, and she nodded, accepting it.

“I’m sorry… I made a scene.”

“No need to apologize.”

Summer was fading, and the greenery of the garden was beginning to shift toward autumn’s hue.

Rashid didn’t want anyone else to see the traces of tears on her face. So rather than going back inside, he led her to a quiet spot in the garden and sat with her until she calmed down.

“Even if I asked what’s wrong… you wouldn’t tell me, would you?”

She remained silent, head bowed. Rashid sighed softly.

It was always like this.

She would break down like the world was ending—and then she’d shut down, close herself off like she’d already accepted and surrendered to it all.

Even when she smiled, when it really mattered, she went quiet. Just like now.

His chest ached, but he waited. He had patience. Loving her meant there were a lot of things he had to endure.

“Rashid.”

After a long silence, Tericia finally spoke.

“Do you love me?”

“Why would you ask something so obvious?”

His answer came without hesitation. The steady certainty in his voice made her chest thump unevenly with emotion.

But… this wasn’t right.

Tericia folded her hands in her lap.

She needed to say it. Before it was too late.

There was still time. Still.

She took a deep breath.

“I’m your sister.”

“What are you trying to say?”

A faint crease appeared between Rashid’s brows. His eyes darkened—he didn’t like where this was going.

“You’ve called me ‘sister’ for so long—even though we share no blood. So maybe… you’re just confused. That’s all this is.”

“……”

“This isn’t right.”

Rashid didn’t interrupt. He just listened in silence.

She thought of the night before.

The way he had kissed her—fiercely, deeply. The way his arms held her as if he could never let her go.

And the truth was—she hadn’t hated it.

Even now, she still felt the heat of his embrace. As if she were still trapped inside it. As if his gaze was still on her, burning her skin.

The fact that he wanted her—it had shaken her. Left her breathless. Even the guilt of it had tasted like something sweet.

“You’re not in love with me, Rashid.”

“……”

“You think you are—but it’s not real.”

She had to put distance between them. Before it was too late. Before she left and he mourned her.

Before it hurt too much.

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