I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 116

The sharp clatter of metal hitting the floor rang out and pierced the silence. Both Natasha and Kail looked toward the sound at the same time. Kail quickly kicked the sword across the floor, sending it far out of reach.

He had removed the last weapon that could be used against him.

When he saw the shock and disbelief on Natasha’s face, Kail let out a cold laugh.

He glanced around the room and listened closely. Not a single sound could be heard. The stillness was absolute.

That was when Kail realized it for sure. This foolish woman had come into the room completely alone.

“Smart girl,” he muttered under his breath, then suddenly slammed his foot into Natasha’s stomach.

The blow knocked her backward, and she couldn’t even cry out. The next moment, he grabbed her by the hair. The sting in her stomach was sharp but brief. The pain from her scalp being pulled was far worse.

“You must have figured it out. You knew this was a trap, didn’t you?”

“Ugh…”

“I heard you’re working with the Charlier Royal Knights. So what, you came alone because you didn’t want your loyal knights to die?”

“…”

“Impressive, Natasha Charlier. A truly noble leader.”

He mocked her, sneering at her bravery. If he hadn’t been using one hand to pull her hair, he might have clapped for her.

Natasha, who had been silent until now, finally looked up at him. Her face, which should have been filled with fear or defeat, instead showed a strange kind of pride.

“That’s right. I’m nothing like you.”

“What?”

“I’m not the kind of person who betrays her parents just to climb to the top. I didn’t destroy my siblings to seize the throne. And after all that, you call yourself a ruler while hiding your corruption behind power and status.”

“…”

“I’m nothing like you.”

Even if she was trapped in his hands, Natasha would never kneel to the man who had taken everything from her.

She had learned in her past life that surrender never led to freedom. Kail Letius was the kind of monster who would only torment her further if she gave in.

When she finished speaking, she spit at him.

Kail wiped the spit from his face slowly. His eyes opened and closed as if trying to process what just happened. For a moment, he looked stunned.

Then he let out a low sigh. Forcing a crooked smile, he tightened his grip on her hair.

“Fine. If this is how you want to act, then I have no choice. I’ll be cruel too.”

He yanked her forward, then suddenly threw her backward.

Natasha’s body slammed into a bookshelf. A groan escaped her lips as she slid down to the floor. Kail walked toward her and crouched down. His shadow covered her pale face, and he smiled with satisfaction.

“You came in here on your own. You must have known there was no way out. You didn’t actually think I’d go easy on you just because you showed up, did you?”

His eyes moved slowly over her as he continued.

“I thought I might let you off easy if you behaved, but you pushed too far. You’re far too arrogant for that now.”

He shrugged, looking at her smugly. He was convinced her silence meant she was finally afraid.

“Are you scared?”

“…”

“There’s no duke here to save you. If there’s a god in this room, it’s one who came to watch me break you.”

Her throat was too tight to speak. She couldn’t even swallow anymore.

“You selfish woman. If you had just chosen to let everyone die, Sieghart could have come later and finished his revenge.”

The sound of Kail clicking his tongue echoed through the quiet room.

“But instead, you chose to sacrifice yourself. And because of that, you ruined everything.”

“…”

“Do you get it now? Because of a few knights, both you and Sieghart have lost. I’m going to use you to rip that man’s heart out.”

Kail smiled, showing his teeth. His grin was wide and twisted.

“Thanks to you, I’ll have Sieghart’s head displayed in the palace. And while I’m at it, I’ll decorate the halls with the heads of those arrogant Aschart knights. Yours too, along with the rest of the Charlier knights. It’ll be beautiful.”

Natasha’s breath caught in her throat. She let out a dry cough, her face turning pale. Watching her struggle, Kail laughed loudly.

“You’ve always been a burden, Natasha Aschart. So now, just watch. You won’t be able to help the man you love. You’ll only bring him more pain.”

As he hurled those words at her, Kail suddenly paused. His eyes widened as if he had just remembered something amusing. His pupils gleamed with cruel delight.

“Actually, it doesn’t matter, does it? You’ve always been in his way. Just a parasite that clung to him and slowed him down.”

“…”

“And even now. Even now, when Sieghart is desperate to kill me, he won’t be able to do it.”

That was when Natasha finally understood the terrifying truth.

Kail was right.

The moment Sieghart had fallen in love with her, revenge had become his second priority.

If he were forced to choose between her life and finishing his revenge, Sieghart would choose her. Without hesitation.

“Because my sword will reach your neck before his can reach me. He won’t risk it. He won’t kill me because he knows I’ll kill you first.”

“…”

“So, in the end, you’ll always be the one holding him back.”

Kail loosened the hand that had been wrapped around her neck. Natasha collapsed to the floor, gasping and choking, barely conscious after the prolonged assault.

“So, stay there and watch.”

“…”

“Watch how Enoch Callete and Sieghart Aschart fall apart in the most miserable way.”

Her vision, shaped like an almond, started to narrow. Her eyes remained fixed on Kail Letius, but her gaze was growing faint.

“Watch how the perfect plan falls apart by your own hand.”

As the light of divinity faded, Sieghart’s vision slowly returned to focus.

He opened his eyes with a faint wince and let out a small breath of relief at the familiar sight around him.

White mist gently wrapped around his body and guided him toward the statue.

When he reached it, his eyes were naturally drawn upward. A solemn voice soon came down to greet him.

“So, how has this life been treating you?”

It was the voice of his long-time divine guardian.

Before Sieghart could answer, the voice continued again, warm and slightly amused.

“Well, since you’re still alive and not making desperate bargains for your life, I suppose you’ve been doing well enough.”

“I suppose… that’s true.”

There was a faint smile on Sieghart’s face as he responded to the voice, which was both kind and sharp.

A thoughtful hum followed as if the god was observing him carefully.

“You’re heading into your final battle now, aren’t you? To face Kail Letius, your other great enemy?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“You made it all the way here, didn’t you? My proud warrior.”

There was a soft chuckle in the god’s voice, like he was genuinely fond of Sieghart.

“A lot has changed, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. It has.”

“Have you ever regretted it? Not even once?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Everything you’ve chosen, everything that brought you to this moment.”

The question was vague, almost too abstract to understand. After a thoughtful pause, Sieghart answered carefully.

“If you’re asking whether I regret anything involving her… then no. Not even once.”

“A powerful love, it seems. Even after all the pain that woman has caused you, you say you have no regrets?”

“Just as you love me.”

“Oh?”

“You’ve always looked after me. Even when my requests were reckless or bold, you granted them.”

“So, you know.”

The god laughed lightly, pleased with his answer.

“I’m glad. I’m glad the one I chose isn’t a fool clinging to the past. I hope you continue to make choices you won’t regret. May fortune follows you.”

“Thank you, always. My gracious god.”

“May luck be with you, my son.”

The voice faded gently, bringing their encounter to a close.

The thick fog that had separated him from the real world slowly lifted. His blurred vision cleared, and the chaos of the emperor’s study came into view.

Sieghart gripped his sword tightly and looked around.

Despite the wreckage around him, the study itself was eerily still.

He felt a strange sense of disconnect. The quiet space clashed with the tension building in his chest. It made him feel even more on edge, as if the silence itself was caused by something terrible.

Crossing the study, he stepped into the next room.

Even inside Kail Letius’s bedchamber, it was silent. It made Sieghart question if he had come to the wrong place.

The emptiness only deepened his unease. It felt like time had stopped. That the stillness itself was hiding the truth of Natasha’s disappearance.

Crossing into the hallway, Sieghart began cutting down every enemy soldier he encountered without hesitation. He found some small comfort in it, foolishly thinking at least these ones wouldn’t reach Natasha.

Then he started moving faster.

Outside, fireworks had begun to burst in the morning sky. While the palace was on the edge of disaster, the people outside celebrated the day with laughter, unaware of the chaos within.

How had so much time passed, and yet he still hadn’t found her? The fear he had kept buried suddenly rose to the surface. Even though he clung to hope, every vision of the future that came to mind was filled with dread.

His steps grew quicker. He ran now, like something was chasing him.

Then he heard it.

Footsteps.

Someone was charging straight toward him.

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