The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 79

The negotiations with the Eastern Kingdom were held near the foot of the Membroux Mountains, specifically on the outskirts of Alpen, where the mountains loomed closest.

“To think I’d be back here again.”

Adler Reissfeld stood still, glancing around with a strangely nostalgic expression. This place wasn’t far from where he had once visited with Tericia.

The scenery hadn’t changed much—but the circumstances had shifted drastically. That alone gave him pause.

“Lord Reissfeld.”

A voice called to him. It was the Crown Prince’s aide—one of the few younger officials accompanying the delegation. Among the older, stiff ministers, he stood out with his sharpness and quiet confidence.

“The Eastern Kingdom’s delegation has arrived.”

Adler turned his eyes toward the distant horizon.

Crimson banners fluttered in the wind. The sound of armored horses and shouted orders grew louder. For a peace delegation, their arrival was anything but subdued.

Something about it unsettled him. His brow furrowed, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

“It appears the prince himself has come.”

“As expected,” Adler replied calmly.

The leader of this delegation was the younger brother of the Eastern Kingdom’s king—a man who had played a key role in the coup that overthrew the previous monarch.

In the Eastern Kingdom, where monsters once frequently emerged from the mountains, peace had brought unexpected instability. With public unrest growing, a coup had broken out, and the crown was seized in blood.

To redirect the people’s anger away from the throne, the new king desired war. The Empire, for its part, had no intention of tolerating rebellion from a kingdom that had long existed under its shadow.

“Do you think the war can be avoided?”

Adler let out a dry chuckle.

“It would be better not to hope for that.”

This negotiation was little more than a formality.

A collision between the Eastern Kingdom and the Empire was inevitable.

“Please… stop the war.”

The image of Tericia’s pale, pleading face surfaced in his mind. Everyone feared war, but she feared it differently—more deeply, more personally.

He wished he could grant that wish.

But…

Adler quietly shook his head.

It was unlikely.

“Still, let’s do what we can.”

He turned back with quiet resolve and headed toward the meeting tent.

“The Eastern delegation has arrived.”

Rashid fastened the final strap of his gauntlet at the news.

He was not dressed in his signature black armor but a plain silver suit—meant to hide his identity.

“What’s the situation?”

“As expected, there’s minor movement from their troops. Some knights who crossed the mountains with the delegation have vanished from view, but it doesn’t seem like the Eastern side has noticed.”

“So this grand entrance is to distract us, then.”

“It’s true—the new king is definitely more aggressive than the last.”

“He stole the throne through blood. Naturally, he wants to validate it with war.”

Rashid listened carefully. Every word mattered. In delicate moments like this, even the smallest detail could become critical.

He glanced up, gauging the wind. There was no scent of gunpowder or blood—yet.

His forces remained hidden nearby, ready to storm the negotiation site if needed. Hopefully, they wouldn’t have to.

“Let’s move out.”

He stood.

The plates of his armor clinked together with a cold metallic sound.

“Keep your identities hidden.”

“Yes, sir!”

His knights scattered in formation without hesitation.

The negotiations were going poorly.

The Eastern Kingdom’s prince reclined in his chair, one leg crossed arrogantly, lazily dismissing all proposal the Empire’s envoys put forward.

The more sincerely the imperial diplomats tried to reason with him, the more indifferent he seemed.

“That issue requires internal discussion.”

“Not my decision to make.”

“I’ll have to check with my brother.”

“Yaaawn.”

The ministers were visibly flustered. This wasn’t the behavior of a man eager for diplomacy.

Sitting at the edge of the room, quietly observing, Adler let out a sigh.

‘He’s not the man we were told about.’

They had been led to believe the prince was straightforward—blunt and eager for battle. But this? This was calculation, arrogance, and showmanship.

He was far more cunning than they had prepared for.

And that… was troubling.

“If they’re already this shaken just because things didn’t go as expected, how lightly must they be treating the Empire?”

Now I understand why the Crown Prince asked Lord Rashid for help.

Adler’s mouth tasted bitter.

When he glanced toward the Crown Prince’s aide, the man was looking at him with a faint, bitter smile, as if sharing the same thought.

Let’s take a short break.

Agreed.

Adler gave a silent message, and the other nodded slightly in response.

“So, Your Highness, this matter should be handled within the kingdom—”

“I’ll discuss it with my ministers and decide,” the prince cut in, picking at his ear lazily.

His behavior was incredibly rude, almost vulgar. The Latran diplomats pressed their lips tightly together in silence. Behind the prince, members of the kingdom’s delegation were barely holding back their snickers.

“A leader who refuses to make decisions, huh…”

One voice stood out sharply in the silence of the room. All eyes turned toward Adler Reissfeld.

“Hm?”

Adler looked around, acting as if he had no idea why everyone was staring. Then his eyes widened slightly in mock surprise.

His nonchalant expression closely resembled that of his lord, Duke Rashid Hespelth.

“Oh dear. It seems I accidentally spoke my thoughts out loud.”

At those words, the prince’s expression changed for the first time. A deep crease formed between his brows, and his body flinched, as if ready to leap from his seat.

“Your Highness, Nero Ohellian.”

Just as the prince looked ready to flip the table, the Crown Prince’s aide stood up and bowed deeply.

“It seems continuing this negotiation is pointless. Let’s take a break and resume afterward.”

With a displeased scowl, the prince rose from his seat with a rough motion. The chair behind him fell to the ground with a loud crash.

“I wonder if this isn’t all just a waste of time,” Nero Ohellian muttered in irritation.

He was the type to act before speaking. If it were truly up to him, he probably would’ve flipped the negotiation table a dozen times already.

“Just stall as much as you can, with as little effort as possible.”

He was doing exactly what he’d been told before arriving. He ignored nearly everything the other side said and responded vaguely with things like, “We’ll discuss it and decide,” “That’s not my decision,” and “I’ll have to ask my brother about that.”

“Why are we even doing this? Why waste time like this? I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish, but you know this goes against everything I am, right?”

“And for that, I’m truly grateful, Your Highness.”

The brown-haired man bowed deeply as the prince’s gaze landed on him, then straightened up. His dull gray eyes glinted faintly.

“What’s the point of all this, Sheffer Boren?”

He was none other than Sheffer Boren, whose whereabouts had been unknown ever since he parted ways with Count Clu. No—now, he was Sheffer Verus. A man who had reclaimed his rightful surname.

Unlike before, he now wore the formal attire of the Eastern Kingdom, made from high-quality fabric.

“As you ordered, we’ve stalled for time.”

“They’ll likely send Adler Reissfeld forward soon. If he steps in, even Your Highness may find it harder to keep delaying. But…”

Sheffer smirked.

“…we might be able to render the entire negotiation meaningless.”

“Hmph… But can a single noble house really hold that much power?”

“It’s not just any noble house. It’s the only ducal family in Latran, and the center of its military strength. It’s worth shaking. If we can destabilize that house, the kingdom will have an easier time striking the Empire.”

“Hespelth…”

The name came out laced with hatred. There was no loyalty in Sheffer’s tone—only vengeance. Every move he made was to settle an old score.

Whatever his reasons, it was his plan that put the twin brothers on the throne. Even if his loyalty was fake, it didn’t matter. Once his usefulness ran out, they could discard him.

“The Empire has grown too comfortable with peace. They won’t suspect a thing. And even if someone does notice…”

Sheffer paused, then grinned coldly.

“…they won’t live to tell anyone.”

The prince laughed loudly, clearly delighted.

“Then I can let loose without worry. I like it. I like it a lot.”

He clapped Sheffer hard on the back. Sheffer staggered slightly under the weight of the blow, but kept his smile. Only a slight twitch of pain showed on his face.

Brainless brute.

Sheffer cursed inwardly.

He had worked so hard to win this man’s trust. He nearly failed more than once, but he played the long game and came this far to fulfill his lifelong revenge.

“Well then, let’s bring this to an end, Sheffer Verus.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Sheffer Boren—no, Sheffer Verus—replied respectfully.

As an image of those crimson-purple eyes suddenly flashed through his mind, a crooked smile formed on his lips.

Hespelth. The enemies of his bloodline. The time had finally come to repay a grudge that had lasted fifteen years.

And that woman’s daughter—Tericia. The wretched girl who nearly ruined everything.

Very soon, he would finish her off with his own hands.

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