I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 118

He tightened his grip around the small-framed woman in his arms.

Sieghart Aschart savored the scent of the woman he held close for a long moment. With trembling hands, he gently brushed Natasha’s hair over and over. Finally, he pressed a quiet kiss to her forehead.

He didn’t ask anything like “Do you really mean it?” or any other typical question. The old Sieghart Aschart would have doubted Natasha’s love without hesitation, but this time, he said nothing.

Instead, he just held her tightly.

As if he had been waiting for this very moment.

After a while, Natasha slowly leaned back from his broad chest. As she quietly looked up at him, Sieghart happened to be looking down at her too.

They smiled at each other while locking eyes. One was covered in blood, the other bruised and wounded, yet they looked at each other as if the person before them was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Their gentle gazes moved across each other’s faces. Then, Natasha suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck. Even though the touch came without warning, Sieghart welcomed her without hesitation.

He lifted her effortlessly and pulled her closer. Their faces were now only inches apart.

Their noses touched. The corners of Sieghart’s eyes softened with a smile, and the bridge of his nose crinkled just a little. Natasha, finding even that charming, scrunched her own nose slightly in return.

A slow, tender moment of discovery began.

The red glow in his eyes, visible between his wide lids, gave off an intoxicating aura.

His sharp nose and full lips added intensity to his expression, while his chiseled jawline and smooth neck gave off a quietly seductive charm.

In short, the man before her was flawless in every way.

Natasha gently stroked Sieghart’s cheek. She carefully wiped away the blood smeared on his pale skin, then pressed her lips softly to the spot.

Was it her imagination, or did their eyes meet just then?

It wasn’t a mistake. The deep red in his eyes had grown even darker.

A moment later, Sieghart took her wrist and brought her fingertips to his lips. He licked off the blood and then pulled her even closer.

Natasha, understanding the heat in his gaze, held his neck more tightly. Sieghart supported her firmly from underneath.

With a gentle tilt of his chin, he created just enough space between them. Natasha turned her head slightly and leaned in to meet him.

Their breaths touched. At the same time, as if by instinct, both parted their lips and kissed.

Their upper and lower lips took turns pressing and pulling. As the kiss deepened, a hot tongue slipped into her mouth, sending sparks through her entire body.

It felt like her body was being jolted with electricity as his tongue teased along the roof of her mouth. Sieghart noticed her reaction and pressed in deeper, leaving her breathless.

“W-wait, Sieghart…!”

Natasha couldn’t handle the overwhelming kiss. Her body leaned back, and she reached out with one hand to find something to hold onto.

Her hand found a pillar, just in time to keep herself from falling.

“Hngh…”

Seeing that Natasha was ready to take all of him in, Sieghart gave her a reward.

He gently sucked on her lower lip, then slid his tongue through the opening, circling slowly and sweetly.

Their heated saliva mixed inside their mouths in a messy whirl. Natasha gasped for air, unable to find a moment to breathe.

Sieghart paused, letting her catch her breath. But the moment her breathing calmed, he returned to her with the same passion as before.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed.

Her ears rang, and the only sounds she could hear were the soft, wet noises between them. Somewhere in the haze, she vaguely remembered the grand sound of a clock chiming the hour.

When they finally pulled apart, their lips were swollen, like fingers wrinkled after a long soak in water.

Breathless, Natasha asked him to put her down.

It felt like she was walking again after a long time. Though she stumbled at first, she quickly found her balance.

Still holding Sieghart’s hand, she walked with him toward the exit.

When there was barely a step left to reach the passage, Sieghart stopped in place. Natasha, walking beside him, also came to a halt. A deep, still silence surrounded them both. In that quiet, she could almost hear the soft sound of her own heartbeat.

Realizing her feelings had been exposed without meaning to, Natasha suddenly felt embarrassed. She looked up at him, pretending not to notice anything, and then Sieghart spoke.

“I love you, Natasha Charlier.”

“…”

“I really love you, Tisha.”

Warm sunlight slipped through the open door beside them. A beam of light landed gently on him.

Whether it was his overly romantic words or the fact that he looked too perfect to be real, Natasha found herself completely spellbound.

Her eyes couldn’t look away from Sieghart Aschart. Around them were ruins covered in blood and scattered with lifeless bodies.

Yet for Sieghart and Natasha, that place had become more beautiful than any paradise.

Later, Sieghart and Natasha reunited with their team.

As soon as Sir Dante and the Charlier Knights saw Natasha, their eyes welled up. When they noticed her wounds, they broke down in tears.

One tear fell when they saw the gash on her forehead. Two more followed at the sight of bruises on her arms and legs. When she coughed and blood appeared on her lips, their sorrow became a flood.

“That bastard. That damned animal. That monster belongs in hell!”
Words filled with rage flew back and forth. It wasn’t enough that the man was already dead. They cursed him as if trying to kill him again with their anger.

Then someone suddenly blurted out, asking what Kail Letius had done to her for even her lips to be swollen.

“Alright, alright, let’s stop worrying about me. I came back alive, and you’re treating me like a ghost. It’s making me feel strange,” Natasha said, trying to lighten the mood.

“What about the contract I asked you to find?” Sieghart asked.

The two of them changed the subject so quickly that the knights were caught off guard.

But Sieghart’s question was too important for them to question anything else. Sir Dante stood tall and proudly reported their success.

“Yes, we found it and destroyed it without any problems. The contract between the Principality and the Empire has been completely nullified.”

“Then the plan worked perfectly. All of you did well. Thanks to your efforts, we will reclaim the Kingdom of Charlier starting tomorrow.”

His words marked the true end of the mission.

The knights, overwhelmed with emotion, erupted into cheers. Their hearts were full. The pain of battle was forgotten in the joy of victory and the pride of returning their kingdom to its people.

After offering final words of thanks and encouraging them to rest well at the Aschart estate, the team was officially dismissed.

But Natasha and Sieghart didn’t return home right away. They decided to enjoy the festival for a little while.

“Isn’t it strange? That we’re even thinking about celebrating…”

To others, today was a festive occasion. But to them, it had always been a day full of pain. The thought that they might actually enjoy it this time felt surreal.

“From now on, this day won’t be painful anymore. It will be remembered as a day of honor.”

“You’re right.”

They washed up quickly in a nearby lake and changed into the clean clothes they had brought along.

They were lucky enough to find a coachman nearby. With a ride secured, they headed for the village in the capital, where the festival was said to be at its most grand.

Since the sun had only just risen, the village hadn’t yet heard about the tragedy that had occurred in the royal palace. Unaware that the day’s celebrated hero had died, the people partied on.

Bright sights and delicious smells filled the streets. The festival lived up to its name as the largest celebration of the year.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Natasha dragged Sieghart with her as they explored every corner. Knowing this would be the last time Kail Letius’s name would be honored made her feel strangely rushed.

They were also hungry, so they tried every snack that looked appealing. Most of the food was too heavily seasoned for their tastes, but the point wasn’t the flavor. The fun was in trying new things.

They blew soap bubbles like children. They even shared fruit skewers, something usually only kids would eat.

With more time left than expected, they found a street artist and asked for a portrait of them as a couple.

“Miss, could you stand like this? And sir, maybe like this… Ah, can you move a bit closer? Yes, just like that.”

The artist gave them various directions for poses.

At first, it was awkward. The poses felt unfamiliar and stiff. They had never done anything like that before, and it made them self-conscious.

But when Natasha glanced around, she noticed that all the other couples being painted were doing the same kinds of poses. She realized that nothing about it was strange. It was normal.

They were just like any other lovers.

There was no reason to feel awkward anymore.

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