Chapter 20
As Rashid and Tericia descended together into the banquet hall, the eyes of the crowd were drawn to them. The long-rumored prince and princess of House Hespelt entered like a picture-perfect pair, drawing murmurs of awe from all directions.
They looked less like siblings and more like lovers—causing some to exchange ambiguous glances. But the moment Rashid noticed, he sent a chilling gaze in their direction, and those whispers were swiftly silenced.
“I might actually die from all these stares.”
Tericia muttered under her breath, hiding her nervousness. Rashid smiled gently at her.
A quiet gasp echoed here and there in response to that smile, but he remained unbothered, his gaze solely fixed on her.
“Shall I shield you from them?”
“…You do realize most of these looks are because of you, right?”
“They’re looking more at you, Sister.”
He replied as though mildly offended, and Tericia gave a clear, lovely laugh. From elsewhere in the room came faint sighs of envy.
Rashid’s gaze grew sharper. As if to block others’ view, he subtly shifted closer and escorted her toward the center of the hall, where the Duke and Lady Boren were receiving greetings.
“Father.”
The two greeted them with proper decorum. The Duke gave a silent nod, while Lady Boren, regardless of her true feelings, wore a flawlessly composed smile.
“You must feel so reassured.”
“The future of House Hespelt shines brightly.”
“What a beautiful pair—none better in the empire.”
Nobles eager to win the Duke’s favor laid on flattery without restraint. The Duke listened with a calm, impassive face.
Then, cutting through the crowd—
“To think these children have grown up so well. You must be proud, Brother.”
A man praised them heartily with a loud laugh.
“……!”
The color drained from Tericia’s face. Her hand, looped around Rashid’s arm, clenched tightly. Gritting her teeth, she looked toward the voice’s source.
Franz Count Clu.
The Duke’s younger brother.
The man who had once ended her life stood before her now, smiling as though nothing had happened.
“Sister?”
Rashid felt her grip tighten against his arm and turned to look at her. Her smile had vanished, and her face had gone completely pale.
“Sister, are you all right?”
“…Ah, yes.”
He tilted his head slightly and asked gently. Though she responded, the tension radiating from her was undeniable.
At the end of her gaze stood Franz Count Clu, laughing warmly with the Duke.
Rashid had always known she disliked the Count. But fear? That, he hadn’t expected.
Was it fear?
He couldn’t make sense of it. Had Franz Count Clu done something to Tericia while he was away? Had he harmed her?
From what Rashid had been told, there had never been any direct interaction between the two—no stories of visits or incidents while Rashid had been away at the academy.
Then what was this?
Perhaps sensing their attention, Franz Count Clu turned his gaze toward them.
And in that brief eye contact, Rashid caught it—a flicker of rage that passed quickly through the Count’s eyes, directed at both Rashid and Tericia.
“Rashid.”
But Franz Count Clu quickly covered his emotions, approaching with a friendly smile as though nothing had happened.
The moment he stepped forward, Tericia instinctively flinched and took a step back, shrinking behind Rashid. His brow twitched upward.
It was such a small movement that others likely missed it—but to Rashid, who stood beside her, it felt immense.
“Sister…”
“Rashid, how many years has it been?”
Just as Rashid opened his mouth to speak to Tericia, Franz Count Clu cut in with a greeting.
His interruption caused Rashid’s brow to furrow subtly. Even so, he didn’t look at the Count. His attention remained fully on Tericia.
“…Rashid.”
She called his name softly.
There was something in that whisper. Something she was asking of him.
Rashid let out a quiet breath. Then, reluctantly, he turned his gaze toward the Count.
“…Uncle.”
“…My nephew has grown so much.”
Franz Count Clu’s lips trembled slightly as he forced a smile.
“I envy you, Brother. With a grown son like this, you must have no more worries.”
Rashid listened in complete silence, his expression blank. His lack of reaction, his quiet disdain, and the unspoken rejection in his gaze made Count Clu feel utterly humiliated.
‘How dare this child!’
Did he even understand the weight of the position he stood in?
Clenching his trembling fists behind his back, Count Clu barely held back his fury.
“Congratulations on being formally recognized as heir. What a joyous day this is. As your uncle, I’m truly proud. Now, at last, our bloodline will be properly preserved.”
Everyone knew that his comment about “preserving the bloodline” was aimed at Tericia.
“Sister, your complexion looks pale.”
Rashid let Count Clu’s words wash past him and whispered to Tericia instead. Being ignored again, Count Clu’s face slowly twisted with anger.
‘This is a mess. If this keeps going, he’s going to cause a scene.’
Tericia sighed inwardly.
“…I’m feeling a little unwell. I’ll go get some air.”
She gently pulled her hand from Rashid’s arm. The warmth that had lingered there left him feeling cold the moment it was gone.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No. Father’s announcement is coming soon. I’ll be back shortly—don’t worry.”
Reassuring him with a smile, Tericia quietly slipped out of the hall.
She headed for the garden, simply wanting to get as far away from the banquet as possible. Only when the music and voices faded behind her did she finally stop walking.
“My Lady, are you all right? Should I fetch you some water?”
“…Yes, please.”
“I’ll be quick.”
As Mandy disappeared back inside, Tericia finally exhaled deeply.
She had been prepared—but the moment she heard that voice again, it felt like all the blood in her body had drained from her heart.
‘But Tericia—’
It had been the same back then.
He had approached her with that same casual, composed expression.
“You can’t change your blood.”
And with those words, he had driven a blade into her heart.
“─!”
As the memory resurfaced, sharp pain surged through her chest. Her heart pounded violently. Tericia instinctively curled in on herself, clutching her chest.
She couldn’t breathe. The chill that spread from where he had once stabbed her seemed to crawl out again, all the way to her fingertips and toes.
That day until her breath stopped, until the blood stopped flowing— No one had come.
Until she lost consciousness, Tericia had been alone.
“Tericia!”
Before the world could fade to black again, someone caught her in a firm embrace. A sudden burst of light shattered the dark, and in it, she saw his face.
Golden eyes. My Rashid.
“Sister, are you all, right?”
His worried face filled her vision.
How can you be here?
You died in that war.
“Rashid…?”
“Yes, Sister.”
“…Rashid.”
“Yes. It’s me.”
He answered her. No matter how many times she called, he continued to answer.
Tericia gripped his hand. It was warm.
The hand of someone alive.
‘This is real. This is reality.’
She clenched her jaw.
That was an unreachable past. A time that could never return—not the past, and not the future.
This here is the present.
“Are you all, right?”
“…I’m fine.”
Tericia straightened up, putting strength into her limbs. Her senses were slowly returning to her body.
This was the banquet hall of House Hespelt.
Today was Rashid’s coming-of-age ceremony, the day he would be officially declared the heir.
She couldn’t ruin a day like this.
“But why are you here?”
“I was worried about you, so I came.”
“What about the banquet?”
“……”
Rashid didn’t answer, and Tericia let out a small sigh.
“Let’s go back in.”
“Your complexion still looks pale.”
“I probably overworked myself preparing everything.”
“Please take some time to rest once today is over.”
When Rashid offered his hand, she shook her head.
“Go in first.”
“But Sister…”
“I’m really fine now. It was just a little dizziness.”
Her face clearly showed she didn’t want to argue, and though Rashid still seemed uneasy, Tericia remained firm.
“…Understood. I’ll go ahead—please don’t take too long.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll come in with Mandy.”
In the end, Rashid was the first to turn away. He looked back at her once more before heading inside.
There was a trace of reluctance in his steps, but Tericia only gave a quiet shake of her head as if to say she had no choice.
“Mandy.”
As she walked slowly and called out, Mandy—who had been standing just out of sight—hurried toward her.
“I don’t know what orders Rashid gave you, but don’t report everything to him. I’m the one you serve.”
“…I’m sorry, My Lady.”
Mandy’s voice lowered, and her shoulders sank as she bowed her head. Seeing her like that softened Tericia’s expression slightly.
“I know you told him because you care about me.”
But Rashid was someone who belonged to a different world. In the end, it would be this side—the one relying on him—that would be left hurt.
“But please… know your limits.”
“…Yes, My Lady.”
Mandy answered, bowing once again.
“Let’s go in. He’ll be waiting.”
The two began walking toward the hall in silence. Perhaps to ease the tension, Mandy cautiously opened her mouth.
“Um… My Lady, may I ask something?”
“What is it?”
“Is it… okay for anyone to go into the room where the ceremonial cup is kept?”
“…What?”
Tericia turned toward her with surprise at the sudden question.
The ceremonial cup was a treasured artifact—bestowed upon the first Duke of Hespelt by the Emperor. It was used at every heir proclamation ceremony.
Drinking from the cup marked the formal announcement to the family and vassals that the person was now the official successor. Typically, the heir drank from it themselves, though on rare occasions, a loyal retainer would drink first in a show of allegiance.
But today, there was no such ceremony planned. Only Rashid was to drink from it.
“It’s just that…”
Mandy hesitated for a moment, then spoke clearly.
“I think I saw Leah earlier.”
“What?”
“When I went upstairs earlier to help you get dressed…”
“……”
“I saw Leah going into the inner hall on the second floor. I wasn’t sure at first, but now I’m certain.”
That room—was where the ceremonial cup was stored.
No one was supposed to enter it without strict permission.
“There’s no reason for Leah to be in there. So why would she go?”
“……!”
A terrible chill shot through Tericia’s chest like a bolt.
‘No… it can’t be!’
Of course. Lady Boren had been far too quiet.
While preparations for the banquet and Rashid’s coming-of-age ceremony were going on, Lady Boren hadn’t lifted a finger. Tericia had assumed it meant she wasn’t interested—but what if her silence was only meant to cover something up?
“My Lady?”
Mandy called to her in alarm, but Tericia didn’t respond.
No. If anything happens to you… I—
‘Rashid!’
Clutching the hem of her dress, Tericia quickly broke into a run.
