The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 70

“At this rate, something terrible will happen to you.”

It wasn’t just the butler who insisted he needed rest. Even Adler had started nagging him. In the end, unable to hold back any longer, Rashid came to Tericia’s room.

At least here, in the chair she used to sit in, he could close his eyes for an hour or two. The nightmares still came, but even so—he could sleep, if only a little.

After realizing that, Adler no longer said anything. When Rashid truly couldn’t take it anymore, they simply forced him into this room.

It still wasn’t a place of comfort. When he closed his eyes, Tericia’s face came to him—pale, her wide, shocked eyes filled with sorrow as she looked at him.

That face kept coming and going, over and over. Just like now.

Then, a soft knock knock broke the silence.

“Your Grace, it’s Mandy.”

“…Come in.”

The door opened slightly, and Tericia’s personal maid stepped inside. Her usual bright, bubbly energy was completely gone.

With a worried look on her face, Mandy carefully stepped in and bowed to Rashid.

Rashid, who had always been gentle and patient with Tericia, had shown his true, fearsome nature after her disappearance. No one dared meet the young Duke’s eyes or even breathe too loudly in his presence. Mandy was no exception.

“What is it?”

Rashid asked without opening his eyes, as Mandy stood trembling in silence.

“I… The Lady left a gift for you.”

Mandy swallowed hard. She desperately hoped her voice wouldn’t fail her.

“A gift?”

At her words, Rashid slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.

“May I… take something from over there?”

She pointed toward a corner of the room, her hand slightly shaking. There was a chest of drawers where Tericia used to keep her belongings.

Rashid’s gaze followed her hand, stopping briefly on the chest before returning to Mandy.

“……”

He said nothing. Taking that as permission, Mandy moved quickly before he could change his mind.

Carefully, she opened the largest drawer and took out a box Tericia had stored there.

“Th-this… The Lady…”

Her hands trembled as she held the box tightly. She had to be extra careful—not even the smallest mistake could be risked.

If only she could tell him how happy the Lady had looked when preparing this gift. But right now, no words seemed possible.

“Leave it and go.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Mandy placed the box gently on the table, stepped back slowly, and left the room.

Silence returned.

Rashid didn’t move. He just stared at the box.

Time passed quietly before he finally reached out and opened it.

“…!”

Inside was a dagger, wrapped in fine silk—its black handle lined with gold accents, and a red-violet gem that matched her eyes perfectly.

It was a dagger that combined both his and her colors.

“Look forward to your birthday gift.”

So that playful smile she gave while hiding something—that’s what it had meant.

“Ha… Honestly. You always…”

Rashid let out a low, strained whisper.

He slumped back into the chair, tilting his head to rest against it. A quiet, bitter laugh escaped his lips, filling the empty room that had once belonged to her.

“You always make me move. Always, just like you always have.”

If she was reaching out, calling him to come find her—how could he not go?

Yes. He had to move. He had to find her. Again and again, until he could bring her back into his arms.

“Tericia… I knew it. I can’t live without you.”

Even if she hated him, even if she rejected him—he could never let her go.

It felt like she could still hear Rashid’s dry laugh echoing faintly in the distance.

Tericia took a sharp breath and opened her eyes.

Sunlight filled the room. The sound of birds, the cool breeze brushing her forehead, gently drying the sweat.

“Was it… just a dream?”

Exhaling slowly, she sat up in bed.

It had been a long time since Rashid appeared in her dreams. His eyes looked so dry, so hollow—as he sat alone in her room, slowly withering away.

Eyes that reminded her of those haunting nightmares from the past.

“Sister… Did my death bring you peace…”

Shaking her head, Tericia tried to push away the remnants of the dream and turned to look out the window.

The scent of flowers drifted from the well-tended garden. A gentle breeze blew in. The fresh morning air was clear and crisp.

It was a peaceful morning—so different from the dream. It almost felt like a lie.

“How many days has it been since I got here?”

It had already been more than ten days since she arrived at the Hespelt Duchy, at Pelos Castle, where the former Duke resided.

And judging by the fact that Rashid still hadn’t found her, the Crown Prince had been right—this was the safest place she could be.

“He’d never imagine I’m hiding here.”

Tericia murmured with a soft sigh, a faint smile touching her lips. Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice from outside.

“My lady, did you cough?”

“Ah, yes. I’m awake.”

Clearing her throat, Tericia raised her voice slightly in response.

“His Grace wishes to know if you’ll be joining him for breakfast.”

Though he had officially passed the ducal title to his successor and now held the title of Lord Pelos, after living so long as the Duke of Hespelt, the name “Your Grace” still felt more natural. Tericia herself still addressed him that way.

After a brief moment of thought, she decided to accept the invitation.

“I’ll get ready and come down soon.”

“Understood, my lady. I’ll send up a maid to assist you.”

After her reply, the butler paused briefly before leaving. As the sound of his footsteps faded, the room grew quiet again.

“That’s unexpected.”

Come to think of it, she hadn’t had a real conversation with him since arriving. Seeing him wasn’t exactly easy, but it wasn’t something she could avoid forever.

‘He gave me ten days… I suppose he’s waited long enough.’

Tericia stood and pulled on her robe. Soon, two maids entered the room.

“My lady, we’re here to help you get ready.”

She nodded gently.

Breakfast was quiet. Even the faint sound of cutlery touching plates was barely noticeable, and not a single word passed between them.

In the past, a meal in this kind of silence would have felt uncomfortable and hard to swallow. But this time, though she didn’t eat much, Tericia enjoyed her food.

Once she had eaten to her satisfaction and set down her utensils, he finally spoke.

“Was the food suit your taste?”

“Yes, it was very good. Thank you.”

She smiled politely in response.

Strangely, she felt she had spent more time with him during these past few days than during her entire stay at the capital estate.

“Let’s have dessert in the garden.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

She bowed her head slightly.

Apparently, he had made arrangements in advance. In the garden, a table had been set with warm tea, a teapot, and a small selection of cakes and pastries.

Naturally, Tericia poured the tea, gently filling his cup. She realized this was the first time she had ever served him tea herself.

“The tea has a lovely flavor.”

He commented after taking a slow sip.

“Thank you.”

Smiling, Tericia poured a cup for herself as well.

For a while, they sat in silence, drinking tea. It could’ve been awkward, but much like the meal earlier, the quiet felt surprisingly calm and natural.

“You haven’t had any trouble settling in, I hope?”

After a peaceful moment, as he refilled his cup, the Lord of Hespelt spoke.

“No. …I’m sorry for coming here so suddenly.”

“I’ve heard the general story.”

“……”

Tericia didn’t know what to say. She simply smiled faintly and ran her fingers along the rim of her teacup.

No doubt by now, what had happened that day had turned into gossip spreading through high society.

They would be saying Duke Rashid Hespelt had been bewitched by a woman and tried to kill his uncle. That a single woman had brought ruin to the House of Hespelt.

That must have been exactly what Count Clu had aimed for.

“Franz was always a greedy man. Even after gaining so much, he couldn’t stop wanting more. And in the end… he hurt you.”

Tericia slowly shook her head.

The Lord of Hespelt had realized that more than his son’s actions, it was his own brother’s foolishness that had started it all. He had crossed a line that should never have been touched, and it was only natural that his son reacted with fury.

Still, that didn’t make the tragedy of that night any easier to accept or understand.

After marrying Lady Boren, he had followed family tradition and personally visited the temple to have Tericia’s name added to the family registry.

Though her name wasn’t placed directly beneath his, from the moment she entered the ducal estate, she had been recognized as a daughter of House Hespelt—by his own hand.

And yet, now her name had vanished without a trace.

‘No matter the reason, by declaring that this girl never bore the Hespelt name, it made it seem like Franz had simply been helping Rashid.’

Knowing what his son had wished for… the Lord wasn’t sure whether to call that outcome fortunate or not.

“Your Grace.”

After a long silence, Tericia finally spoke.

“What’s going to happen to me?”

She asked carefully. Her expression was calm, but the slight tremble in her fingers revealed just how unsettled she truly was.

Seeing her like that, the Lord of Hespelt clicked his tongue quietly. She was trying to look composed, but her emotions were barely hidden. It was hard not to feel sympathy for her.

He looked at her for a moment, then asked quietly:

“What do you want to happen?”

“……”

Tericia did not avoid his gaze.

His eyes, similar to Rashid’s but softer, with a shade browner than gold, watched her gently, patiently waiting for her answer.

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