The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 94

If my death can bring you peace, sister…

She couldn’t believe it.

She had to have misheard. The servant must have misunderstood something. Maybe he was lying intentionally or not.

Tericia forced her lips to move.

“…What did you say?”

“The Duke, he fell during the final battle with the Kingdom…”

The servant couldn’t finish the sentence before breaking down in tears.

Still unable to accept what she’d heard, Tericia turned to Harris. But even he stood frozen, his face as pale as the servant’s.

“Where is Sir Adler right now?”

“He’s at the palace. Shall I send for him at once?”

“No… I’ll go to the palace myself.”

Perhaps the Crown Prince knew more. Maybe more information had reached the Imperial Court.

Driven by that one desperate hope, Tericia stood.

“My lady!”

Her legs gave out beneath her, and she stumbled. Harris caught her just in time.

“I’m fine.”

She was anything but. But the words sounded more like something she was repeating to herself—clinging to them to keep from falling apart.

Then a sudden thought struck her, and she turned to the servant.

“Who brought the news?”

“It was a knight, my lady.”

“Not one of Hespelt’s knights?”

“No… they said it was a messenger from the battlefield.”

I need to speak with him first.

Tericia forced her mind to organize the chaos.

Talk to the knight. Confirm the truth…

Her heart was pounding wildly. Cold sweat clung to her hands and back. But she couldn’t lose herself now.

“I’ll come back safely.”

That was what Rashid had promised her on the day he left.

He didn’t break promises.

“I’m waiting for you…”

Tericia clenched her fists tightly, jaw locked, forcing herself to stay upright. A part of her wanted to collapse where she stood, but she pushed those instincts down with every last ounce of strength.

This wasn’t the time to fall apart.

“The knight is still here, right?”

“Yes, my lady. He’s waiting in the main hall.”

Tericia nodded.

“Harris, have a carriage prepared immediately. And call the estate’s knights to gather in the central hall. I want them ready to move at a moment’s notice.”

“Yes, understood.”

“You,” she said, turning to the servant, “take me to the knight.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Both of them quickly scattered in opposite directions.

A strange chill had begun to settle over the manor. It wasn’t from the winter wind—it was the cold grip of fear spreading from Tericia’s heart.

As she descended the stairs, she focused on her steps—firm, slow, measured—trying to keep herself calm.

In her past life, Rashid hadn’t survived.

Not even his body had been found. In the end, Tericia had held a funeral with only an empty coffin.

The Empire had claimed victory in the war, but she had never seen that ending herself.

“Why would I care what happened after I died…? Especially if you’re not there anymore…”

Tears threatened to spill. She bit her lip hard and shook her head, trying to banish the thoughts.

The war didn’t matter to her.

Only one thing did: Rashid.

As the grand hall came into view, Tericia stopped at the final step. A stranger stood there, armored and waiting.

Is this really the man sent to deliver news of Rashid’s death? Or…

Lifting her chin, she descended the last step.

From this point on, this was her battlefield.

The knight, tense and restless, immediately knelt as the Hespelt heiress appeared.

Tericia looked down at him, her expression cold and composed. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had nearly collapsed minutes ago.

“You’re the one who brought the report?” she asked coolly.

“Yes, my lady. I just arrived from the battlefield.”

She studied him carefully. He wore the insignia of the Imperial Guard—but his face was unfamiliar.

“Repeat the message.”

Her voice was low, controlled, masking the storm beneath the surface.

Several servants had gathered around the hall by now, having heard the rumor. Their worried faces only confirmed what she feared: the news had already spread across the estate.

Stay calm. If I lose control, everything else will fall apart.

“Did we lose the battle?”

There hadn’t been any news of a defeat.

The knight, understanding what lay beneath her cold voice, quickly shook his head.

“N-No, my lady. The battle was won.”

“Won?” Tericia’s eyes narrowed. “Then how does it make sense that the Supreme Commander of the front—Duke Hespelt—is dead?”

“…War is full of uncertainty, my lady. Even the greatest knight can’t—”

“Are you trying,” Tericia cut in sharply, her voice icy, “to lecture me on the nature of war?”

The knight flinched.

He had expected the lady of House Hespelt to be delicate—refined, but soft. But Tericia’s presence pressed on him more heavily than most knights ever had.

“I’m asking for a proper explanation for this absurd situation.”

“……”

“A stranger shows up out of nowhere and declares the Duke is dead. And I’m just supposed to accept that?”

Sweat beaded down the back of the knight’s neck. Tericia’s presence was sharper, colder, and more commanding than he could have imagined.

“You clearly told me that the Duke has died.”

“Yes… I did.”

“Was his body recovered?”

The air thickened. The knight hesitated before speaking, his voice small.

“…No, my lady. I apologize. The Duke’s body has not been recovered.”

“Then no one has confirmed his death.”

“…Pardon?”

“Did you not just say you couldn’t recover Duke Hespelt’s body?”

“Y-Yes, that’s true. But…”

“Then House Hespelt will not recognize his death.”

“My lady!”

Tericia’s violet eyes darkened. The fury within them—so much like Rashid’s—flashed cold and sharp.

She glanced around briefly before turning her gaze back to the knight.

“I understand your grief, my lady, I do. But even if you cannot accept it, the current situation—”

“Your name, sir?”

“Ah—Gerald. Gerald of House Hayson.”

“Sir Gerald,” Tericia said evenly, “how exactly am I expected to believe something this serious… based solely on your word?”

“M-My lady…”

“Return Duke Hespelt’s body to this house, as he was in life. He gave his life for the Empire. To announce his death without even finding his remains is a disgrace. He deserves better. Show me the evidence of his death.”

“……”

“Otherwise,” she said coldly, “I—and House Hespelt—will not accept that he’s gone.”

With that, she turned away from him. Harris was already waiting behind her.

“Harris, I’ll be heading to the Imperial Palace. I’m leaving the rest in your hands.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Sir Gerald.”

Tericia turned back one last time. A cold, perfectly composed smile curled on her lips—the first smile she’d given him since their meeting. But it wasn’t one of kindness.

“Until the truth of your message is verified, you are to be held in custody.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Hespelt knights appeared and surrounded him.

“Treat him with courtesy.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Tericia didn’t wait to see them escort him away. She was already moving toward the carriage.

Mandy was waiting with a cloak in hand and quickly draped it over Tericia’s shoulders, hurrying after her.

Every moment mattered. She needed to reach the Imperial Palace. If the Crown Prince couldn’t confirm anything, she would go straight to Adler—and bring him back with her.

Things were spiraling quickly.

“I don’t believe it,” Tericia whispered.

She didn’t believe Rashid was dead. He had promised he’d return.
How could he die?

She refused to believe it.

Even if his lifeless body were delivered to her doorstep.  Even then, she would not believe he was gone.

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