The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 95

“Your Highness, Lady Tericia of House Hespelt has requested an audience.”

“Lady Tericia?”

Crown Prince Ludwig paused what he was doing and turned toward the attendant. Why is she at the palace now?

…She must’ve heard.

He clicked his tongue quietly.

Not long after the Eastern Kingdom’s prince was slain in a duel with Rashid, the Kingdom had surrendered.

It was a complete and decisive victory for the Empire—and at the center of it all stood Rashid Carlo Hespelt.

But the prince’s remaining advisors and magicians had refused to accept their king’s decision. They launched a surprise attack in defiance.
Their magic had triggered a devastating avalanche in the winter-clad mountains.

Fortunately, the Imperial army had suffered minimal losses. But afterward, Duke Hespelt had vanished.

Just before the snow came crashing down, a flash of swordlight had torn through the air, shielding the soldiers. It was unmistakably Rashid’s—proof he had been alive in that moment.

Ludwig didn’t believe for a second that Rashid had died.

But Tericia… She had been waiting at the ducal estate.

To keep her from falling into worry, he had ordered that no one inform House Hespelt of anything until the truth was confirmed.

So who told her?

His brow furrowed—and didn’t smooth for a while.

“Your Highness?”

The attendant called again, and Ludwig sighed as he rose from his seat.

“Escort her to the audience chamber.”

Wearing the same poised smile he always did, Ludwig headed toward the room to meet her.

“Tericia,” he greeted as he entered.

Lady Tericia rose from her seat and offered a formal bow.

“It’s been a while,” he said warmly.

But unlike his friendly tone, Tericia’s face was tense—controlled.

“Your Highness.”

“I’ll have them bring tea.”

“No, thank you. I didn’t come here to drink tea.”

Her voice was firm. Ludwig immediately understood this was not a social visit.

He waved the attendants away. Once they exited, only the two of them remained in the chamber.

“…Then to what do I owe the honor of your visit?”

“I came to verify something.”

Straight to the point. Tericia didn’t hesitate.

Ludwig’s expression twisted slightly. It was clear he disliked that the truth had reached her before he was ready.

“I assumed Your Highness had already received a detailed report. Since I was informed, it must’ve been reported to the Imperial Court as well.”

“…So, the news has reached House Hespelt.”

Tericia took a breath.

“Is it true?”

She clasped her hands together, holding them tightly, as if praying her voice wouldn’t shake.

Ludwig looked at her silently.

She had come in a rush, he could tell—her appearance more modest than usual. Still, she was striking. Her golden-brown hair was neatly braided over one shoulder, and her outfit, plain and unadorned, only made her deep violet eyes shine brighter—like cut gemstones.

As always, Tericia surprised him in ways he didn’t expect. But this?
He hadn’t thought she’d come to the palace herself.

Her resolve really is unmatched.

As the commanding figure of this campaign, Ludwig had received every report firsthand. And now, she’d come straight to the source.

He couldn’t help but admire her decisiveness—even if he wished she hadn’t come.

“How much were you told?” he asked softly.

“…That he was killed in the final battle.”

“Killed?”

Ludwig frowned, repeating the word back to her.

“Yes. In the last confrontation…”

“Killed in battle? There was no such report.”
Ludwig’s voice was firm. “When the Kingdom launched its final assault, it was Rashid who stepped forward to protect the troops. It’s true that he hasn’t been seen since, but…”

“He’s… missing?”
Tericia’s voice cracked faintly.

Ludwig glanced away, realizing he’d misspoken. But she waited, unmoving, silent—demanding the full truth. He gave in with a sigh.

“There was an avalanche. One of the Kingdom’s mages struck the mountain’s midpoint during the battle—set it off deliberately.”

Tericia gasped, the sound sharp and pained.
No… not Rashid…

It felt like her lungs had collapsed. She fought to breathe, resisting the urge to claw at her own chest.

“You know how capable Rashid is,” Ludwig continued gently. “It’s true that most of the soldiers were caught in the avalanche, but almost none were seriously harmed. Just before the snow came down, something cut through it—a flash, like a blade. It split the collapse in two. They say it saved them all.”

“…Ah.”

Tericia finally drew a breath, though her face remained pale. Her lips trembled, her hands pressed tightly in her lap.

Watching her, Ludwig let out a long sigh.
This is exactly why I wanted to keep it from her…

Trying to lighten the mood, he added with a faint smile, “Judging by the last reports, it’s safe to say Rashid was the one who saved them. The best guess is that he was thrown somewhere distant by the blast. It all happened so fast.”

For a moment, relief flickered across her face—until it darkened again.

“Your Highness,” she said, her tone sharp now, “you’re saying he’s not dead, correct?”

“Of course not. And think about it—if something had happened to him, do you really think Heinz would’ve returned with the knights so calmly? No. As of this morning, the Hespelt knights are the first to begin returning from the front.”

Tericia’s breath caught. The version of the story she had been told… didn’t match.

Someone had lied.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes, Lady Tericia?”

Ludwig’s face turned serious as her tone shifted.

“Do you know a man named Sir Gerald of House Hayson? He claimed to be a knight of the Imperial Guard. He brought the news of the Duke’s supposed death.”

“…Gerald of Hayson?” Ludwig frowned, trying to recall. “I know every knight in the Imperial Guard. And House Hayson… they haven’t produced a knight in this generation. No, there’s no such man among our ranks.”

Tericia shot to her feet, startling him.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness. I must return to the Hespelt estate at once.”

“Lady Tericia!” Ludwig called after her and quickly grabbed her wrist. “Please don’t go. If someone fed you false information, it could mean the estate is in danger right now.”

“I have to go.”

“I gave Rashid my word that you would remain safe.”

Rashid… had asked him that?

But Tericia didn’t have time to dwell on what it meant. Right now, there was only one thing she had to do.

“No, Your Highness. I belong at Hespelt. That’s where I need to be. That’s where I must wait for Rashid.”

She pulled her hand free from his grasp and rushed from the room, not even pausing to offer a formal farewell.

“Dispatch the Imperial Guard to House Hespelt—immediately!”
Ludwig followed her to the corridor and barked his command. He couldn’t stop her, but he could try to protect her.

Tericia, already in a full run, didn’t turn back. She darted down the hallways, out of the palace, straight to her waiting carriage.

This was someone’s doing. A carefully timed plot.

An enemy—unseen and calculating—had used the delay in post-war communications to strike from within. They had aimed for House Hespelt when it was most vulnerable.

“As fast as possible. To the estate!” she ordered the coachman the moment she climbed aboard.

Hearing her urgent tone, the coachman didn’t ask questions. The moment the door closed, he cracked the reins.

The carriage rumbled out of the Imperial Palace gates at breakneck speed, wheels slicing across the stone like thunder.

House Hespelt was under threat.

And Tericia was done waiting.

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