I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 113

Natasha was not pleased to see Kayeina appear. For once, she was on guard. She took a step back and gently held onto Sir Dante’s sleeve.

However, Sir Dante was surprisingly calm. It was as if he had expected this meeting.

“Did you finish what I asked of you?”

He spoke in a cold voice. The tone was so harsh that it was hard to believe he had ever been friendly with Kayeina.

Although the subject of the question was unclear, Kayeina understood immediately. There had only ever been one task given to her.

“Yes. He should be deeply asleep by now.”

Sir Dante looked disgusted as she replied calmly. He seemed repulsed by her fake kindness.

He said nothing more, unwilling to exchange another word with her. At his command, he began to move forward.

Natasha followed a moment later.

Just then, someone grabbed her wrist.

She didn’t need to look to know who it was. That was why Natasha didn’t bother to lift her head or make eye contact.

“What do you want?”

She spoke in a cold tone, just like Sir Dante. Her voice was sharp and emotionless, so different from the one that had once called Kayeina a close friend.

She could feel the hand around her wrist trembling slightly. Still, Natasha remained steady and calm.

It took Kayeina Ten a long time to respond. The silence that formed between them was heavy and uncomfortable.

“I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I couldn’t say it the last time we met. But now I want to. No, I have to ask now. I feel like I won’t get another chance.”

Kayeina struggled to find her words and kept stumbling as she spoke.

Natasha frowned. It wasn’t because Kayeina’s rambling annoyed her. It was because her strange behavior reminded Natasha of the person she used to be. It was strange how Kayeina now seemed gentle, as if she had let go of her hatred.

She no longer spoke with rudeness or anger. Her tone was polite and careful. That alone proved something had changed.

“I’m busy. Say it quickly. If you keep hesitating, I won’t bother listening.”

As Natasha began to walk away, Kayeina hurriedly reached out to stop her again.

She looked at Natasha with desperate eyes and finally spoke with great difficulty.

“If this mission ends in success and the Kingdom of Charlier is rebuilt and if you can be happy again then can we…”

“……”

“Can we go back to how we used to be?”

It was a ridiculous question.

For a moment, Natasha doubted her own ears. But when she saw the look of anger on Sir Dante’s face, she knew she had heard correctly.

At last, she lifted her head and looked Kayeina in the eyes. The other woman seemed nervous, as if she were trying to prove her sincerity.

“You think we can go back to the way things were?”

“……”

“That’s a foolish question, Kayeina.”

Kayeina, clearly shaken by Natasha’s cold response, rushed to explain herself.

“You said it yourself. That you wanted me to be happy. And the more I think about it the more I realize the only place I can be happy is by your side. I know I’ve hurt you many times but the things that happened before weren’t all my fault. Even if I caused you pain this time, I still deserve forgiveness. Don’t you remember? I sacrificed myself to save you.”

Her voice trembled as she spoke, pleading with passion. But her words had little effect.

Kayeina Ten begged for their relationship to be restored while selfishly defending herself. She didn’t care how her words made Natasha feel. All she cared about was justifying her own actions.

Forgiveness. Sacrifice.

There were so many contradictions in what she said that Natasha didn’t even know where to begin.

What was clear was that Kayeina didn’t truly understand what she had done wrong.

There was no point in replying to such nonsense. Trying to reason with someone who refused to see the truth was a waste of time. And right now, there were far more important things to focus on.

Natasha forcefully removed Kayeina’s hand from her wrist and walked away without looking back.

As they continued down the hallway with Sir Dante leading the way, Natasha suddenly stopped. It was as if she had just remembered something she needed to say. She turned back toward Kayeina and opened her mouth.

“Your happiness doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’d sooner care about the happiness of a passing bug.”

Kayeina was already far away, nearly out of sight, but the silence of the corridor made it easy for her to hear the words.

“And Kayeina.”

“……”

“I’m not generous enough to take back a dog that bites its master.”

“……”

“Especially not one that kept biting me again and again.”

Natasha didn’t wait to see Kayeina’s reaction. She gave an order to the knight standing nearby to remove her from the area, then calmly returned to her duties.

Sir Dante looked at her with concern, but Natasha spoke firmly.

“Let’s carry out the plan.”

“Understood.”

She already felt guilty for delaying the plan. The last thing she wanted was to cause any more trouble.

Natasha moved quickly, making up for lost time. They continued without pause until they reached the ladder.

Sir Dante studied the door above with a worried expression. Noticing his unease, Natasha stepped forward.

She didn’t think the strange power she had was just a coincidence. For some reason, she believed it would help her again.

It had only happened twice, but somehow, she felt confident.

“I’ll open the door. I doubt anyone’s checked whether it opens from the inside.”

“Alright. Please go ahead.”

Sir Dante looked at her calm expression and seemed to believe things would work out. His pale face softened, and a faint smile of admiration appeared.

Natasha climbed the ladder and placed her hand on the door above.

With a gentle push, the lock gave way with a soft clatter.

“The door’s open!”

Sir Dante shouted joyfully, having recognized the sound. Cheers followed from the others behind him. Voices praised her leadership one after another.

But Natasha alone felt uneasy. She stood still, tense. Something wasn’t right. It felt like they had overlooked something important.

She slowly opened the hatch and peeked through the narrow beam of light coming from above.

The outside—the study of Kyle Letheaus, which connected to the corridor—was as quiet as ever, almost as if trying to reassure her that everything was fine.

“You can come down now. We’ll go up first to check, then we’ll bring the captain.”

Sir Dante didn’t want Natasha to stay above alone. Until they confirmed it was safe, they couldn’t let their leader enter the emperor’s quarters.

But Natasha didn’t climb back down, no matter how many times they asked.

“Captain?”

Sir Dante finally called out to her gently.

At last, Natasha lowered her head and stared at the hand he was holding out. But she still didn’t reach for it.

“Sir Dante, I have a favor to ask.”

For the first time in a while, she spoke. Her words came out slowly, and what she said next was completely unexpected.

“Yes?”

“Take the knights and go back. Go help Sieghart. I mean it. You have to leave this place right now.”

“…What?”

The request made no sense. It was so extreme that it almost didn’t sound real.

Sir Dante, confused, looked at her in disbelief.

But Natasha had already made up her mind. She grabbed the ladder and quickly climbed the rest of the way up.

Realizing too late that she was escaping, Sir Dante rushed to grab the ladder.

“W-Wait, Princess! What are you talking about…!”

But he was too late.

Natasha reached the top, pressed her hands against the floor, and pulled herself up.

Then, with one smooth motion, she closed the hatch behind her.

“My lady, please!”

She sealed the door tightly, blocking anyone from following her into the upper floor. Shouts from the knights echoed below, but Natasha didn’t stop. She held the door shut.

But she couldn’t just keep holding it. Time was running out, and there was no way she could win in a physical struggle against knights.

I have to seal it completely.

That was her only option now.

You have to do this, Natasha.

She focused, remembering what she had done before. A soft trail of smoke rose from her hand.

If I don’t… everyone will die.

Support