The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 65

Soft music filled the air, blending with the quiet hum of conversation as the atmosphere of the banquet grew warmer and more vibrant.

Around Rashid and Crown Prince Ludwig, a group of ambitious young nobles had gathered. The Crown Prince listened to their passionate debates with an amused smile, while Rashid stood silently, his expression unreadable.

Lady Tericia, watching from a distance, gave a small smile that said, “Of course it’s like this.” Then she turned her attention back to the noblewomen and ladies around her, responding with her usual grace.

“What a splendid banquet.”

Just as Lady Tericia stepped away from the crowd for a moment’s breath, a familiar voice approached—Josephine.

Hearing her friend’s voice, Tericia felt the tension in her shoulders ease. Josephine offered a bright, refreshing smile.

“You seem tired.”

“I’ve been putting a lot of effort into this.”

“Well, it shows. Everything is beautiful. You’ve done wonderfully—now you can finally relax.”

Tericia smiled at the comforting words. It was natural to feel on edge when organizing an event of this scale.

Josephine assumed Tericia’s fatigue came from the pressure of hosting.

She was, after all, the only woman in House Hespelt. Handling all household affairs and coordinating an event like this alone couldn’t have been easy.

But Tericia knew the truth—her unease came from something else entirely.

It had been two years since Rashid’s birthday banquet—the night he was poisoned.

That night had changed everything.

She and Rashid had never spoken openly about it. And this banquet was the first major gathering since that incident.

She had never told anyone, but sometimes she still woke from nightmares she couldn’t even remember—dreams where her throat burned, and her heart ached as if being torn apart.

It wasn’t something she ever wanted to relive.

“I just hope tonight ends without any trouble.”

Lady Tericia murmured, eyes drifting over the ballroom.

Yes… if only the night could pass quietly, without anything going wrong. And yet—

Why do I feel so uneasy?

She placed a hand over her chest and took a deep breath, but the tightness wouldn’t go away.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Josephine noticed the tension immediately.

“I’m fine. Just a bit nervous, I think.”

Tericia smiled, gently lowering her hand and smoothly changing the subject.

“Where’s Lady Feder? I thought she arrived with you.”

“She stepped outside for some air… but it’s been a while.”

Josephine glanced toward the entrance. Lady Emily Feder hadn’t looked well from the moment they arrived, and the thought nagged at her. Please don’t let her have done something foolish.

“I’d better go check on her.”

Josephine gave Tericia a small nod and turned to go—then paused.

“Oh, there she is.”

Emily was just coming back into the ballroom. She looked unchanged, which brought some relief to Josephine’s face.

“If we keep this up, our brothers will say we’re not behaving like proper ladies.”

Josephine laughed and waved high over her head in greeting.

But Emily didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, she looked around nervously, clearly searching for someone.

“…Why is she acting like that?”

Josephine frowned slightly.

Something was off. Even from afar, she could tell Emily was fidgeting. Her hands moved restlessly—the same way she always did when she was hiding something.

“That’s exactly how she acts after making a mistake. I’d better go get her.”

Josephine asked Tericia for a moment and began walking away. But at that moment, Tericia’s eyes met Emily’s.

Emily’s face had gone pale.

A cold rush of dread struck Tericia’s heart.

She quickly looked around the ballroom.

And then she saw him—standing at the entrance.

Count Clu.

Wearing ornate clothes and walking with an arrogant stride, he looked around the hall as if surveying territory that belonged to him.

What is he doing here?!

Without realizing, Tericia took a step back. Her face drained of color.

But more than the shock of his presence… it was the question why that truly terrified her.

Is he planning something? Here?

Pushing aside her fear, she moved forward—her only thought: I have to do something.

Just then, the music swelled loudly and came to a sudden stop, sending a ripple of confusion through the hall.

Voices quieted, and attention turned to the ballroom’s center—where Crown Prince Ludwig and Rashid stood together.

“Rashid of House Hespelt, my trusted friend.”

The Crown Prince’s clear, dignified voice rang across the hall. After a short congratulatory speech, he raised his glass.

With a teasing smile, he glanced toward Rashid, who stood stiffly, a faint frown on his brow.

It was clear Ludwig enjoyed putting Rashid in the spotlight—especially knowing how much the Duke disliked it.

“To the continued glory of House Hespelt—with you at its heart.”

In response to the Crown Prince’s toast, Rashid waited a brief moment, then offered a composed yet cool expression as he replied.

“Thank you, Your Highness. May the Empire’s prosperity flourish under your leadership.”

He placed a hand over his chest in a formal gesture and lifted his head. Then his gaze turned—directly to Lady Tericia.

The moment their eyes met, the sharpness in his expression softened. A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Tericia.

His lips moved silently, calling to her without a sound.

Come closer. Don’t stand so far away. His silent plea told her that her place was by his side.

That quiet, wordless call made Tericia want to run to him.

“Lady Tericia, you shouldn’t stay over there—won’t you join us?”

Noticing Rashid’s gaze, the Crown Prince extended his hand toward her. Just then—

“Your Highness! I have something to reveal!”

A loud voice broke through the hall, and someone stepped forward.

“…!”

Lady Tericia’s face went pale.

Rashid’s expression hardened instantly, turning icy.

It was Count Clu.

Earlier, when the banquet had just begun to reach its peak, Emily Feder had left the hall, vowing never to set foot in the Hespelt estate again.

All the effort she’d put into her appearance—her carefully styled hair, the custom-ordered dress—felt utterly pointless now.

Her honey-blonde hair, praised as rich and luminous, and her apricot-colored gown that hugged her slim waist and petite figure perfectly… all of it had suited her well.

Even the maids had said she looked stunning—that no one would be able to take their eyes off her. And Emily had believed it, too. She felt prettier, cuter, and more radiant than anyone else.

She had even dared to imagine that tonight, the cold and famously stoic Duke of Hespelt might glance her way with surprise—maybe even ask her for a dance.

“Emily, you’re truly adorable today.”

When Josephine had said that, it felt like her fantasy might come true.

At least, until they had arrived and met Lady Tericia, who had come to greet them personally.

“Thank you for coming, Lady Feder.”

Lady Tericia had been beautiful—breathtakingly so.

Her usual golden-brown hair had been neatly tied with elegant ribbons, exposing the graceful line of her neck. The long ribbon trailed softly down, highlighting her figure.

Her soft celadon gown shimmered subtly between gray and sky-blue, depending on how the light hit it. It suited her perfectly.

“Please enjoy the banquet.”

She smiled warmly at Emily—and in that moment, looked even more beautiful than usual. So much so that Emily suddenly felt small and plain in comparison.

She couldn’t look away.

As Lady Tericia moved through the crowd, smiling and greeting guests, Emily couldn’t help but feel utterly alone.

Everyone else seemed happy—only she felt out of place. The soft music, the rising laughter… it only made her feel worse.

In the end, she couldn’t take it anymore and left the hall.

Outside, the garden was beautifully arranged—flawlessly elegant.

Did she plan all this, too?

Everything about Lady Tericia felt perfect. The bitterness inside Emily only grew.

“…I should just go home.”

She hadn’t come with Josephine tonight—her family’s carriage was still waiting. She could leave at any time.

Would anyone even notice I left?

Tears stung her eyes.

She clenched one hand tightly around the fabric of her dress and wiped at her eyes with the other, trying not to cry. Her lips trembled slightly, but she refused to let the tears fall.

“I’m going home.”

She regretted not seeing the Duke longer, but there was no point in staying just to feel humiliated. No matter how she dressed, it wouldn’t make her stand out here.

“I’m leaving. This stupid banquet… there’s no reason for me to be here.”

Muttering under her breath, Emily turned back toward the hall—but just as she did, a dark figure suddenly stepped out from between the garden hedges.

“…!”

Before she could scream, the man quickly covered her mouth.

“Shhh! We mean no harm.”

She’d thought it was just one person—but there were three.

One was dressed in plain clothes, like a servant. Another wore a large hood that obscured his face. And the third… was dressed in formal attire, fit for attending the banquet.

They looked suspicious—without a doubt.

“This gentleman is Franz Clu, uncle of the Duke of Hespelt. His carriage broke down, which is why he’s late.”

The man who looked like a servant spoke politely.

Emily nodded slowly, thinking that the moment they let go of her mouth, she’d scream for help.

But then something strange happened.

Her vision began to blur.

She could still see the man in front of her, but his face looked fuzzy—distant. Her mind began to cloud.

No… did they… drug me?

She thought she had to scream.

If she shouted loud enough, someone would hear her. Josephine might come. Maybe even Lady Tericia would remember her and come looking…

That was her last thought before everything faded.

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