The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 83

“You’ve been through a lot.”

Heinz, covered in dust, dismounted and looked at his close friend with a complicated expression.

But compared to the others, he was still in decent shape. The knights who followed behind him looked absolutely battered as they dismounted.

The more experienced ones managed to keep their posture, but some were so exhausted they practically fell off their horses.

“Looks like it was rough,” Adler said after glancing over the knights, offering a wry smile.

At his words, Heinz let out a heavy sigh full of unspoken thoughts.

“Where’s the Duke?”

“He’s inside. He’s been waiting for you.”

Heinz handed off his horse to a junior knight and entered the estate with Adler by his side. The servants paused in their work to give a small bow—quiet recognition of a long-awaited return. The two men walked past without stopping.

“Everything alright while I was gone?”

“More or less. Things stayed quiet.”

“And Lady Tericia?”

“She came back safely. She’s been doing well.”

Heinz’s voice carried a touch of relief.

“As long as she’s unhurt and safe, that’s all that matters.”

Adler gave a small laugh. He knew better than anyone that this loyal friend would never blame her. He understood Tericia’s worry had been unnecessary.

But for Tericia herself… it probably didn’t feel that way.

“Make sure you tell her that. She feels really guilty about you.”

“She shouldn’t. Honestly, it was a good excuse. It was time for training anyway—got to test myself in a real mess for once.”

The edge from combat and drills still lingered in Heinz’s voice, making Adler chuckle quietly.

“Still, tell her.”

“I will. What about you? I heard you were injured.”

Heinz looked over Adler, surprised he was walking around so normally. On the way back, word had reached him that Adler had been seriously wounded during the negotiation mission.

Given the timing, there was no way someone like Adler—a scholar more than a soldier—should’ve recovered so quickly. At best, he should’ve just gotten out of bed.

“I was injured, but… Dr. Carlson is more skilled than I thought. Once I was treated at the estate, I recovered quickly. I think Rashid even used a sacred potion from the temple.”

He added the last part with a slight grimace—it had felt wasteful.

Sure, it had saved his life and helped him recover quickly. But it wasn’t the kind of thing you used casually, especially not on someone who wasn’t even on the battlefield.

“Well, I nearly died… but I didn’t. And that’s why I get to complain about it now.”

“True. You’re not dead, so that’s something.”

Adler laughed under his breath at his friend’s dry, guarded response. He gave Heinz a light pat on the shoulder.

“Wait—this isn’t a sacred potion?”

Heinz stared at the pale pink liquid in front of him, his expression full of disbelief.

It wasn’t just that the potion worked like one from the temple—that alone was shocking—

“But Lady Tericia made this?”

What truly stunned him was the fact that Tericia had created it.

“With that Orzo guy? That—no offense—nervous wreck of an alchemist?”

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“It works like the temple’s potion?”

“She showed me herself.”

Rashid frowned slightly as he remembered the moment she’d cut her own arm right in front of him.

No hesitation, no flinch. Just a clean slice across her pale, delicate skin. The sight of that red line, blood spilling down—it had made his heart drop. He never wanted to see it again.

“She cut her arm, and the wound healed almost immediately. Honestly… it might even work better than the temple’s version.”

“I… I can’t believe it.”

Heinz sounded dazed.

Of course, the best thing would be not getting injured at all. But on the battlefield, wounds were unavoidable.

“And she has enough supply. She secured a full stock of the flower she needs.”

“The Sedamen flower.”

That muttered name came from Adler.

He had only heard in passing that Tericia had made something incredible, but until now, he hadn’t known exactly what it was. Judging by how fast he’d healed, he’d just assumed they’d used temple medicine.

“You used me as a test subject?”

His recovery had been suspiciously fast. He’d thought they’d used a sacred potion without telling him.

But it hadn’t been from the temple—it had been something Tericia made.

He’d always assumed her land acquisitions and flower gardens were just for her perfume business. But clearly, that hadn’t been the full story.

She had completely fooled him.

And the worst part? Adler had helped her—supported the building of her workshop and the garden. Knowing that made it even harder to laugh off.

“It works. Really well.”

And he couldn’t deny it—he had experienced it himself.

Even though he’d been used as a guinea pig without warning, he couldn’t help but feel a strange kind of admiration for the Duke.

“Isn’t she incredible? Managed to fool the great Adler Reissfeld himself.”

Rashid grinned.

Adler let out a long sigh—but this time, even he couldn’t help smiling.

“She used to be so cute when she was little…”

When exactly did she grow up to be so sharp and cunning?

“We don’t have to stay in the temple’s or the imperial family’s good graces anymore, do we?”

At Heinz’s comment, Rashid gave a cold smile.

“Well, I’ll pretend just enough to keep up appearances.”

That, more than anything, seemed to be what pleased Rashid the most.

“Really, she’s the treasure of House Hespelt. We’ll have to make sure no one else even dares look at her.”

Heinz was grinning ear to ear, as if all the exhaustion from training had been wiped away.

“You’ve done well. Take a break. Make sure the knights who joined the training are given good food, drink, and proper rest.”

“Understood, thank you for your command.”

Heinz bowed formally and turned to leave. Or at least, he tried to.

“Oh, right—”
As if something had just occurred to him, Heinz stopped and asked,

“Have you won the lady’s heart yet?”

Instantly, the atmosphere in the office turned ice cold.

Adler shook his head slowly.

The sharp and precise commander who had returned with fire in his eyes from training had vanished—replaced by a completely oblivious man with no sense of timing.

Just the thick-headed, strong-armed version of Heinz.

“Her heart, huh…”

Rashid muttered quietly, his voice colder than ice—chilling, almost ominous.

Of course I’ve won her heart. The problem is she keeps trying to run from it.

Then he smiled.

It was a breathtakingly dazzling smile—one that could captivate anyone at a glance.

But his eyes held no warmth.

“Get out.”

Heinz was probably going to be banished back to the mountains again.

Adler watched Rashid’s murderous smile and sighed deeply.

Then, silently, he mourned his friend’s future.

“Should we get married?”

He’s lost it.

“Or an engagement would be fine, too.”

I must’ve misheard.

“What should I do to make you completely mine?”

Completely insane.

Tericia’s face was blazing red. The hand that had been turning the page of her book had stopped long ago.

It had been like this for days.

Whether she was working, eating, or walking—if Rashid’s words suddenly popped into her mind, everything would stop. Her heart would race, her face would burn, and she’d feel like she was about to explode.

“My lady, are you alright?”

Mandy looked genuinely worried as she saw Tericia, mid-walk, suddenly fan herself despite the cool, late-season breeze.

“Ah—no, I’m fine. I’m fine.”

She kept insisting she was fine, though her face was as red as a ripe apple. Mandy could only tilt her head in confusion.

And the symptoms worsened at night.

Whenever darkness and silence settled in, Rashid’s face would rise in her mind.

The way he’d speak so plainly. The way he’d kiss her hand with unshakable intensity, never once breaking eye contact.

He had been so warm… so hot, she felt she might burn just thinking of him.

Every time she tossed and turned with those thoughts, dawn would come before she even noticed.

Eventually, she shut her book and stood from her seat.

“Going to bed now, my lady?”

Mandy, who had been tidying up a corner of the room, sensed her movement and came over to take her shawl.

“Ah… yes. It’s gotten late.”

“I’ll prepare everything right away.”

Mandy’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if she suspected something, but she quickly resumed her duties without saying a word.

Once Tericia was tucked into bed, Mandy untied the curtain cords and let them fall.

“Mandy, leave the window open just a little.”

“Yes, my lady. Would you like me to light some incense?”

“No, that’s alright.”

The cool night air felt good, so Tericia shook her head.

“Did Sir Heinz return safely?”

“Yes, he came by while you were napping earlier.”

“I see…”

She had worried he might resent her for what happened. But it seemed he didn’t. Then again, his unwavering loyalty had always been one of his best qualities.

“Please rest well, my lady.”

Mandy quietly opened the window slightly and slipped out of the room.

The air that drifted in was cool, even chilly—but to Tericia, it felt refreshingly crisp.

“Should we get married?”

There it was again—Rashid’s voice in her head.

He’s absolutely insane.

She pressed her hands to her burning cheeks to cool them. Her cold fingers warmed almost instantly.

“Or maybe an engagement…”

Crazy.

She couldn’t stop imagining his gentle, sly smile.

She really must be losing her mind.

She tossed and turned for what felt like the hundredth time, and just as dawn approached… she finally dozed off.

Or at least, she thought she did.

[Tericia.]

Until she heard that voice.

[This way.]

A blindingly white space. Vast and empty.

Before she knew it, she stood there—in a place so vivid, it was hard to tell if it was a dream or reality.

“…Where is this?”

[It’s been a while, Tericia.]

She turned toward the voice.

A figure faint and glowing white was smiling at her.

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