The Princess’s Final Wish Before Her Time Runs Out - Chapter 96

The carriage sped like mad toward the Hespelt estate.

Once they passed beyond the city and into the less-traveled roads, the coachman urged the horses even faster.

The ducal estate of House Hespelt was located on the outskirts of the capital—far enough that no matter how fast the carriage ran, it would still take time.

Please… let everything be all right.

Unease crawled through every inch of her body.

With the First Knight Order still at war, even if the knights left behind were competent, the estate’s defenses were inevitably weakened. That was what the enemy had counted on.

And that man—the knight who brought the false news—who was he?

Letting such a stranger into the manor… it had been a grave mistake.

Suddenly, the carriage jolted and came to a sharp stop. Outside, there was shouting—something urgent—and the coachman’s panicked voice rang out.

Tericia grabbed the edge of the window frame, steadying herself.

“What’s going on?”

“I-I’m sorry, my lady! A knight stepped into the road and ordered me to halt!”

“What knight dares to stop House Hespelt’s carriage?”

“He said he’s from the Black Knight Order, my lady! May I…?”

Before the coachman could continue, a voice from outside called out respectfully.

“My lady, I serve under the Black Knights of Hespelt. May I have a word?”

Black Knights?
That didn’t sound familiar.
Was there such a group?

Tericia hesitated.

In times like this, she couldn’t afford to trust easily. Friend and foe were hard to tell apart.

Still, she couldn’t sit here doing nothing either.

After a moment’s thought, she cracked the carriage window open.

A knight approached and bowed. His face was unfamiliar.

“I serve under Duke Rashid’s direct command as your personal guard. We operate discreetly, so most would not know of us.”

She said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

“Given the current circumstances, I’ll explain in detail later. For now, I must ask that we redirect the carriage back to the Imperial Palace.”

“You want me to return to the palace?”

“Should anything happen, the Duke instructed us to escort you to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Tericia’s brow furrowed.

She couldn’t take him at his word so easily. The last knight—who claimed to bring news from the front—had been a fraud. How could she be sure this one wasn’t?

“Why should I trust you?” she asked coldly. “The knight who brought me Rashid’s death was a liar. What proof do you have that you’re not the same?”

As if he’d expected the question, the knight calmly undid one of his buttons and revealed a crest sewn beneath his coat.

It bore the symbol of House Hespelt.

“If someone ever shows you this crest and speaks in my name, no matter what they say—trust them.”

Before Rashid left for war, he had shown her that very symbol, stitched into the inner lining of his coat.

“What is this?”
“They are the ones who’ll protect you. Please… follow them if anything happens.”

He had known. He had known she wouldn’t think of her own safety.

And the emblem the knight showed her now—it was identical.

“You’re the knights Rashid told me about?” she asked softly.

“Yes, my lady. We’ve been guarding you in secret since the Hunting Festival.”

“……”

Tericia paused, eyes narrowing in thought.

“So you say Rashid gave orders to take me to the Crown Prince if anything went wrong?”

“Yes. He said the two of you had already spoken.”

“Then you’re telling me… to abandon House Hespelt now? To leave everyone behind while I run?”

“…It was the Duke’s highest command.”

That was always how Rashid was.
To him, she was the only priority.
Everything else—his estate, his legacy—none of it mattered if she wasn’t safe.

Even if it meant telling her to flee.
Even if it meant letting House Hespelt fall.

“As if I’d ever run and leave you behind.”

Suddenly, everything felt clear. Her pulse slowed. Her heart steadied.

“I believe it,” she said. “That Rashid would give such an order. But…”

A smile touched her lips. The panic that had clung to her moments ago was already gone.

“But he’d also know I’d never follow it. That’s why he gave you the order separately. Not to test me, but because he knows me.”

“My lady…”

“Your duty is to protect me. Isn’t that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then do it. Protect me. And I’ll protect House Hespelt.”

“……”

The knight bowed deeply, defeated by her resolve.

He couldn’t argue anymore.

This woman—so steadfast, so composed—was clearly her Duke’s match.
The daughter of House Hespelt in every way.

“…By your command.”

“Go,” Tericia told the coachman.

The carriage began to move again, faster than before.

Her heart thundered in her chest.

Was this the right decision?

Should she have gone back to wait in safety?

But she already knew the answer.

“I won’t run. Not this time. I will never let go of your hand again. I’ll protect you.”

“My lady! The estate is on fire!”

The coachman’s panicked cry pierced the rain. Tericia sprang up, yanked open the window, and leaned out.

“Looks like it’s an enemy attack!”

Far ahead, dark smoke curled above the estate—thick, black clouds rising above the horizon.
And beneath them, red flames flickered violently where they should never be: at House Hespelt’s manor.

Her face drained of all color. As they grew closer, the burning estate came into full view—swallowed in fire.

“Can we reach the front entrance directly?”

“Y-Yes, I think so!”

“Then go. Now.”

The sky was heavy and dark, as if ready to unleash a storm.

A moment later, raindrops began to fall.
One. Then two.
Then a steady rhythm like war drums.

A sudden winter downpour poured over the estate.

By some stroke of luck, the carriage made it to the main manor without interference.
The fire had started not in the main building, but the outer annex near the forest.

“My lady!”

Mandy ran out to meet her, face streaked with tears.
Seeing her safe, Tericia offered a small, reassuring smile and stepped quickly inside.

“Where is the deputy captain of the Second Knight Order?”

Even before she finished speaking, a man in full armor stepped forward. He was one of the few Rashid had left behind specifically to protect her and the estate.

Harris arrived at his side, looking just as urgent.

“What’s the current situation?”

“The forest behind the annex is burning. The workshop near the greenhouse has already—”

“Were the craftsmen evacuated?”

“Yes, my lady. Some were injured during the delay, but everyone made it to the main building.”

“Good.”

Tericia exhaled deeply in relief. As long as no one was killed, everything else could be replaced.
The workshop could be rebuilt. People could not.

“Do we know who the attackers are?”

“We believe they’re mercenaries. They’re currently engaged with our knights near the annex. No sign of a commander yet.”

Tericia nodded and turned to Harris.

“Move them to…”
She paused, mentally combing through the layout.

She recalled something Rashid once told her:

“The main building of the estate was originally a fortress. Stronger than most castles. It can withstand both fire and siege.”

‘That’s why I feel safest knowing you’re here, sister.’

“The banquet hall,” she said at last. “Keep them away from the windows. The walls in that wing are original fortress stone—it’s the safest place.”

“Yes, my lady,” Harris replied and immediately set off.

Tericia turned to the deputy captain again.

“Send one of your fastest men to the Crown Prince. I hate asking the Imperial Court for aid, but we need support now. His Highness ordered the guards to deploy right after I left. They should be en route.”

The deputy hesitated.

“What if the Imperial family is behind this?”

“We don’t know what His Majesty is thinking,” she replied coldly. “But His Highness the Crown Prince needs House Hespelt. He won’t just watch us burn.”

“…Understood.”

He called over one of his knights and issued the order. The knight immediately dashed outside.

As things settled into motion, Tericia glanced around once more.

“What happened to the knight who brought the false report?”

“We imprisoned him in the dungeon, but…”

“But?”

Her brow furrowed.

“When we returned after the attack began… he was already dead.”

“Suicide?”

“It appears so.”

She opened her mouth to say something, then stopped.

Something felt off. A strange tension in the air. She couldn’t afford to lose focus now—not even for a second.

She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her thoughts.

“And,” the deputy continued, face grim,
“Count Clu has gone missing.”

“…Count Clu? He was here?”

“He’s been held in the dungeon. Since the birthday banquet.”

“…Since then?”

Tericia’s voice rose sharply in disbelief.

“Yes. Duke Rashid had him imprisoned that night.”

Tericia couldn’t speak.

What was happening?

Too many things were deviating from the past she remembered.

This timeline was spiraling into something unrecognizable.

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