The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 85

“Rashid…”

Her voice drifted down like a whisper, soft and warm.

Rashid looked up, startled. He blinked in disbelief as his eyes landed on the silhouette leaning over the balcony.

Tericia?

What was she doing out here this late at night? More importantly had she really just called his name? In that voice? That sweet, honeyed voice that felt like it could melt his bones?

Before he even realized it, he had taken a step forward—as if answering her call.

“Tericia?”

She seemed startled by his voice. Her figure shifted, quickly straightening up to look down over the edge. Even from where he stood, he could see the surprised look on her face.

“Rashid?”

“You’re still awake?”

Rashid smiled up at her, warm and bright.

“I woke up.”

“It’s very late. You should be sleeping.”

“And you?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s not a real answer. You need rest too, you’re always working yourself hard.”

He smiled wider. The way she worried about him—it made his chest ache in the best way.

She just felt… far too far away, standing up there above him.

“Should I come up?”

The question left his mouth before he’d even fully thought it through.

“Come up here?”

“Yes.”

“This is the third floor, Rashid.”

“I’ll be up in no time.”

“Don’t be ridiculous—Rashid!”

Before she could even finish, he was moving.

Taking a few quick steps back, he dashed forward, launched himself upward, and grabbed hold of the second-floor balcony railing with ease. Using that as a springboard, he propelled himself up once more—landing lightly on the edge of the third-floor balcony.

It all happened in an instant.

“Rashid!”

As if it was nothing, he stepped off the railing into the terrace, calm and composed.

Unlike Tericia—who stood clutching the front of her nightgown, clearly trying to collect herself—Rashid looked positively delighted.

“That was dangerous!”

“It’s nothing. We scale rougher terrain than this during training.”

“What kind of training is that?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes stayed fixed on her face. A subtle frown tugged at his brow.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Huh?”

“Your face is pale.”

“You just climbed up the side of the building. I think I’m allowed to be a little shaken.”

“…Sister.”

“…Maybe it was the nightmare.”

Looking embarrassed, Tericia turned her head and tried to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

She didn’t get the chance.

Before her hand could reach her hair, Rashid’s hand was already there, gently brushing the locks aside.

“You should get proper sleep,” he said softly.

His hand lingered for a moment, his voice lowering slightly, threading through her like velvet.

“I’m going back to bed.”

“Should I help you fall asleep?”

“…What?”

Tericia looked at him, stunned.

Her wide eyes were filled with disbelief, like she was checking if she’d heard correctly. The sight made Rashid laugh again.

He’s crazy.

The phrase drifted through her mind again—habitual at this point—but this time, she didn’t really mind.

Why would she? She knew better than anyone that Rashid was hopelessly crazy about her.

“A-ah, no!” she said quickly, waving her hands in flustered denial. Her gaze darted around, avoiding his.

Rashid watched her calmly, affection glimmering in his eyes.

In the moonlight, her hair shimmered like gold. Her fair skin glowed like porcelain, and her lips looked even redder by contrast.

She took a step toward the balcony rail again, deliberately avoiding his eyes.

She glanced down, gauging the height he had just scaled, then shook her head in disbelief. She looked adorably flustered, and somehow, even more irresistible tonight.

“Would you like to go back down?”

Rashid asked on impulse—words he normally wouldn’t dare offer her.

“Back down?”

“Yes.”

“From here?”

She blinked at him, eyes wide. He laughed again.

“I can carry you.”

“Are you—?”

She shook her head furiously. Clearly not amused.

Seeing her so adamantly refuse only sparked something stubborn in him.

“Shall we take a walk under the moonlight?”

Without waiting for a reply, Rashid stepped into her room and picked up the shawl she’d left folded at the foot of the bed. He came back and gently wrapped it around her shoulders.

“It’s a little chilly. You should be bundled up.”

He murmured something to himself about how a coat would’ve been better—then, without warning, slipped one arm under her knees and the other around her back.

Tericia let out a startled squeak as he lifted her.

But he just smiled and brushed it off.

“Hold on tight.”

“Rashid!”

Her sharp cry echoed through the air just as Rashid stepped onto the edge of the balcony railing—and leapt.

As the wind swept around them and her body dropped with the weightlessness of a fall, Tericia instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, clinging to him.

“You can open your eyes now.”

A moment later, a low voice laced with a quiet laugh echoed from above.

Tericia slowly opened her eyes—and found golden irises looking down at her, glowing like warm sunlight.

Though his expression was partly hidden in the shadow cast by the bright moonlight overhead, she could tell—he was smiling.

“Should I keep carrying you? I really don’t mind walking like this.”

“Ah—n-no! Put me down!”

Realizing he might actually mean it, Tericia hurriedly loosened her arms and slid down from his hold. Still, Rashid’s hands lingered slightly, reluctant to let go.

“What do you say—shall we walk through the annex garden?”

He extended his hand to her.

Tericia hesitated, glancing at his hand. After a pause, she placed her hand in his—and he gently clasped it.

His palm was warm, steady. It made her heart flutter, and she lowered her gaze shyly. But the smile blooming at her lips couldn’t be hidden.

The two of them walked side by side, hand in hand, as the sound of crickets quietly filled the night. It wasn’t like a formal escort—no, this was more intimate. So much so that Tericia found it oddly embarrassing.

Soon they arrived at the garden behind the annex—a place that was more like a small forest than a neatly kept garden.

Winter was near, and yet the trees were still lush with green leaves. Rashid’s small lantern gently lit the path ahead of them.

“…It’s been a long time.”

Seeing the dark woods before her, Tericia unconsciously drew closer to Rashid. He stiffened at the sudden warmth beside him, though she didn’t seem to notice.

“Shall we go in a little deeper?”

He leaned in closer and asked in a low voice.

“…Mm.”

Like an adventurer setting out on a secret mission, Tericia nodded with a serious expression. Rashid laughed and tightened his grip on her hand.

With a mix of eerie quiet and peaceful calm, the forest surrounded them. Tericia held his hand tightly, clearly trying to act brave—but just as clearly, a little frightened.

“You seem to know your way around.”

She finally spoke after a long silence, watching him walk ahead with confidence.

“I come here sometimes.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t mention that he could find his way just by looking at the trees. He didn’t say how often he’d come.

Right now, the only thing that mattered was this—that she was the one following behind him, hand in hand. That it was the opposite of that day.

“…This feels strange.”

Tericia suddenly stopped.

Rashid looked back at her with curious eyes.

She was frowning slightly, as if trying to recall something buried deep in her memory.

“I feel like… this has happened before.”

“Pardon?”

“I feel like we walked through a place like this before. Somewhere dark… like this forest.”

She turned and looked around.

Though the night still cast shadows around them, it didn’t feel as frightening as it had before. In fact, it felt… nostalgic. Longing, even.

“Have we… been here before?”

Her eyes turned to Rashid, looking for confirmation. There was a quiet certainty in her tone.

But instead of answering, Rashid’s expression shifted.

His eyes held too many thoughts, and his smile turned faint—hesitant. Like there were words he wanted to say, but couldn’t.

“You really don’t remember,” he finally murmured with a sigh.

He’d wondered. Maybe it had just been a distant childhood memory that had faded with time.

But to think… she didn’t remember any of it.

“Yes, we’ve been here before.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But back then, it was the other way around. You were the one holding my hand—like this.”

He drew her gently toward him.

The sudden strength caught her off guard, and she stumbled slightly—right into his arms.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, refusing to let go.

“You were walking ahead of me.”

A bittersweet smile tugged at his lips.

“Rashid, where are you going?”

That day, she had stood in front of him just like this—her pink nightgown fluttering, her cheeks flushed, her breath short, her eyes locked on his.

“Let’s go together.”

He hadn’t been able to tell her he was looking for her. He’d just stood there, hesitating.

Until she reached out her hand.

Told him not to go alone. Told him she would stay by his side.

“Just like this,” he whispered.

He laced their fingers together, gently but firmly.

“Your hand in mine, telling me we’d walk together.”

Her small fingers slipped between his, threading tightly with his larger ones. He gripped her hand as if never wanting to let go.

“You told me those words.”

‘Rashid. My little brother. My precious little brother.’

The dark woods. The flickering lantern light. The tiny hand holding his.

Memories long forgotten began to stir.

Tericia suddenly wondered—what if these feelings weren’t new? What if they were pieces of something she’d forgotten?

“…Back then.”

Her voice trembled.

“When I had just come to the duke’s estate.”

She could almost see it—a little girl walking down a dark hallway alone. And behind her, a boy following quietly.

A small library, filled with quiet joy.

And then…

‘It’s your fault, Tericia. Because of you, Rashid—’

Her mother’s red lips whispering blame. His painful figure, silently enduring.

And then—nothing. Her memory turned to black. She had fallen ill, and with that fever… she had lost something.

But now, just looking into those golden eyes—she felt like she might remember.

“I was really sick, wasn’t I?”

“You were.”

“Do you… know why? You know, don’t you?”

Rashid didn’t answer. He simply pressed his lips together and looked at her with quiet intensity.

She could feel it—the tension in his grip, the unspoken words in his gaze.

“My illness… does it have something to do with you? With this place? Did I come here… before I got sick?”

She didn’t wait for an answer. The questions kept spilling out.

Rashid simply held her hand tighter, his eyes dark and unreadable.

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