The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 78

Rashid’s first act after returning from the Imperial Palace was to summon Adler.

“The departure date has been set.”

“I had a feeling it would come to this,” Adler replied with a nod, though his voice carried a familiar edge of sarcasm.

“Really now, is there no one in the palace who can actually do their job? They’re always so good at sneering and mocking others.”

Rashid gave a wry smile. It wasn’t anything new.

Men full of words, empty of action. What was there to expect?

“The negotiation is scheduled for next month.”

“The outcome is practically set in stone,” Adler muttered, “But I’ll make sure preparations go smoothly.”

Rashid paused, then spoke again—this time, almost to himself.

“How can I reassure her?”

Adler turned toward him. “Is Lady Tericia opposed to it?”

“Not opposed. She’s afraid.”

“…Afraid? Lady Tericia?”

That caught Adler off guard.

She had always been composed—soft and gracious to others, but firm when needed. She knew when to draw lines and act with resolve.

She had shown it countless times: when she sent Adler as Rashid’s tutor, when she stood against her mother, and even when Count Clu tried to blackmail her. She never wavered.

Yet she treated those around her with warmth and generosity. Even the newly hired alchemist had been singing her praises ever since she decisively resolved his concerns and brought him on board.

Adler, too, held deep respect for her.

“No one likes war,” he said eventually. “It’s natural to fear it.”

“No… it’s more than that.”

What Rashid had seen in her eyes wasn’t just fear. It was a deeper, more haunting terror. Stronger than what she’d shown in front of Count Clu.

It was the fear of someone who had experienced war firsthand.

Rashid thought back to a conversation from his youth—something he’d once asked Heinz.

‘Are you ever afraid of anything?’

‘I fear war,’ the famed knight had answered, laughing bitterly. ‘Strange, right? Me, of all people. But no matter how many times you survive it, fear never goes away. You just bury it deeper.’

True fear didn’t stem from the unknown. It came from experience—from the things you knew too well.

So why did Tericia, who had never seen the battlefield, bear that same terror in her eyes?

Rashid’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, lost in thought.

‘What is she hiding from me?’

There was something he was missing. Something important.

And deep down, he knew—whatever it was, she wouldn’t tell him.

‘She resents me for not sharing everything… but she doesn’t tell me anything either.’

That realization tasted bitter on his tongue.

“Lady Tericia!”

The moment Tericia stepped into the alchemy workshop, Orzo dropped everything and rushed to her side.

It was the first time he’d seen her in person since the banquet, since her return to the estate.

“Have you been well?”

Tericia smiled gently.

“Yes. And you?”

“I’ve been working hard, even while you were gone,” Orzo said, his voice quivering with emotion, eyes glistening.

“Those jerks… hurting our lady like that…”

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

“What are you talking about?! You’ve always been our lady! I haven’t been here that long, but I know how the people in this estate feel about you. No one ever doubted that you belonged to the Hespelt family!”

Orzo was as animated as ever. Everything he felt, he expressed loudly and without filter. He cried easily, laughed even more easily. After their first meeting, Sarah had described him as “exhausting.”

And yet, that very energy comforted Tericia now.

“Thank you.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

She smiled warmly.

“But that flattery won’t get you out of this. What about the elixir?”

At that, Orzo froze. Tericia narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

“…Don’t tell me.”

“N-no! I’ve been working on it, I swear!” he said hastily, eyes darting around. “I made it… it’s just…”

His voice dropped.

“Are we really going to war?”

Despite his usual absentmindedness, Orzo could be sharp in unexpected ways. Tericia was surprised, but hid it behind a composed smile.

“You think so? Just being cautious. It’s always good to be prepared.”

“That’s true.”

He scratched his head and gave a sheepish grin.

“Well, if it’s for you, I won’t ask questions. Besides, it’s fun messing with the temple folks while we’re at it.”

“Since we’re on the topic… can I ask you one more favor?”

“A favor?”

Orzo tilted his head, and Tericia responded with a gentle smile.

A strange chill crept down his spine. A sense of unease prickled along his shoulders, and he instinctively shivered.

“I’d like you to teach me a little bit about herbalism.”

“Herbalism…?”

“You don’t need to teach me everything you know. I probably wouldn’t understand it all anyway.”

Orzo blinked rapidly, as if trying to determine whether he’d heard her correctly. Watching him process her request, Tericia continued calmly.

“It’s hard for you to handle all of this alone… or maybe that’s just an excuse.”

“…….”

“I just… feel like I can’t do anything.”

She was growing increasingly frustrated by her own helplessness—by how little help she could offer Rashid. Tericia wanted to change that.

“I want to study. Even just a little. So I can be useful.”

“Ah! Please wait right here. I’ve got a book that will be perfect for you! Oh—and something I finished just yesterday. Still needs some work, but I’d love your opinion.”

Without waiting for a reply, Orzo dashed back into the workshop, leaving a slightly bewildered Tericia behind.

She let out a helpless chuckle.

“It’s not that urgent…”

But even she didn’t fully believe her own words.

Was it really not urgent?

Could they afford to take their time?

That war began before the end of the year. The final war—one that started just before winter—dragged on into the following year, lasting until winter came again.

“Will that change too…?”

Tericia shook her head.

This life was different, yet somehow flowing along the same path. Even if it seemed like things had changed, they were all still edging toward the same ending—just by another route.

Maybe, deep in her heart, she’d already accepted it:

That changing fate might be beyond her strength.

“What will it take to save you?”

Maybe the cost… would have to be her.

A price to exchange for his life.

As the sky outside the window turned dark, Tericia stared into the dimming glass, her eyes filled with silent weight.

After Rashid clashed with the Crown Prince, the prince demanded a concession in return—specifically, Adler’s inclusion in the diplomatic envoy.

Rashid ignored the request, but those around him could not.

Tensions escalated until Adler himself volunteered to join the delegation, at which point Rashid reluctantly approved. And so, it was settled.

The day of departure arrived at last.

“You must succeed,” Tericia said quietly as she came to see Adler off.

There was an unfamiliar earnestness in her voice. That unfamiliarity left Adler momentarily unsure of how to respond.

“I’d like to say not to worry…”

He glanced toward Rashid, who stood silently behind her.

‘Even if it turns into a skirmish, do what needs to be done and return.’

‘If it’s dangerous… will His Grace come himself?’

‘…We’ll see.’

That alone was enough of an answer.

No one truly believed the Eastern Kingdom would sit still during the talks. Its newly crowned monarch was famously militant, and sending his even more belligerent younger brother to lead the delegation made their intentions clear.

Diplomacy would be the pretense—but conflict was inevitable.

“I wish I could give you a more hopeful answer,” Adler thought, looking at her anxious expression.

He could usually lie his way through any tense moment, yet with Tericia, he found himself speaking only the truth.

“I’ll do my best to bring back good news.”

Tericia nodded solemnly.

“Please, Adler Reisfeld. Live up to your name.”

He smiled at the two of them, then turned toward the royal knights waiting to escort him on his way.

Now it was Rashid’s turn.

“Tericia.”

She turned slowly at the sound of her name.

Their eyes met. His gaze, calm and unwavering, held a storm of unspoken emotions.

“There’s something I need to say.”

She smiled softly, a breath of calm in the tension. The same smile Rashid always said was the most beautiful to him.

“You’re leaving too, aren’t you?”

Rashid, who had opened his mouth to speak, fell silent.

Should he lie? Make excuses?

Instead, he decided to be honest—because in her eyes, he saw the quiet resolve of someone who already knew the truth.

“It won’t take long.”

“……”

“I won’t lie and say there won’t be fighting. But…”

He continued, giving her only what he could promise.

Nothing more, nothing less.

“I’ll return safely. I won’t let anything happen to me. I’ll come back to you.”

“You have to,” she whispered.

The very fact that they could stand here, share this moment, and make such a promise was already a small miracle.

“Promise me. You’ll come back unharmed.”

Tericia smiled through the tears she refused to shed.

She only wished this would all be over soon.

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