I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 23

“Yes, to be exact, it’s the Grand Duchy of Kshant. Please take us to the Grand Duke’s estate.”

“T-The Grand Duke’s estate? You mean, all the way to the mansion?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Natasha responded clearly and firmly to the coachman, who blinked in confusion and asked again. But he still seemed hesitant, as if something didn’t sit right with him.

Standing by the gate, he finally voiced what was troubling him.

“I’ve heard that area is restricted without permission…”

“Even if we’re not allowed all the way to the mansion, I’ll still pay the full fare. So please, don’t worry and just go.”

She cut him off decisively and handed over a pouch of coins. With the fare paid in advance, the coachman said no more and hurried to set off.

Soon, the carriage was moving. The scenery of Vyle rolled past the window, but before long, unfamiliar sights took its place. Natasha, gazing out, felt a wave of nervousness creep over her.

Will this work?

She had tried to seek cooperation from the Grand Duchy of Kshant in her past life, too.

She hadn’t expected success, but she’d hoped to at least reach the negotiation table — to find a place to hide.

But what she received was complete silence. A perfect dismissal. The Grand Duke had even returned her letter via the Duke as a clear rejection. The last bit of courage she had gathered to choose the lesser evil was completely crushed.

Would approaching him a bit earlier this time change anything?

Would he still throw her out, a woman without a title? Or worse, strip her of the few cards she had left? Was this the worst-case scenario Sir Dante had once feared?

She was overwhelmed with worry.

Maybe she should turn back — give up before it was too late. What if meeting the Grand Duke only brought disaster closer?

“Let’s get married.”

But ever since Sieghart had come looking for her, it had been inevitable: she would have to face the storm. All she could do now was choose the lesser evil, again.

She believed — truly believed — that if she could explain her true intentions and the plan she never got to share that day, the Grand Duke might change his mind.

The Kshant estate wasn’t far from Vyle, so they arrived quickly.

The carriage stopped in front of the grand gate. The guards on duty approached, their expressions wary of the plain-looking carriage, which didn’t appear to belong to any noble house.

The anxious coachman gestured toward the back. Soon, armored knights came forward and knocked on the door.

“Pardon us. Could you please open the window?”

Natasha pulled back the curtain and looked out calmly.

“I’ve come to see the Grand Duke of Kshant.”

“We weren’t informed of any scheduled visit today. May I ask what house you’re from?”

“I’m a guest of the Grand Duke. You can simply give him this note.”

She spoke smoothly, handing them a small slip of paper. It contained her signature and a brief explanation of why she had come. If the Grand Duke had ever received her letters before, he would recognize the handwriting.

“We can’t deliver messages from someone we can’t identify.”

“It’s just a note. There’s no danger. And whether to meet me or not is for him to decide.”

“It’s against protocol…”

“Sometimes, protocol must be set aside. Please, deliver the note to His Grace.”

Natasha’s firm tone made the knights exchange uneasy glances.

Normally, they would’ve removed such a bold visitor by force. But strangely, they felt unable to act. Maybe it was the strange pressure in her smile — sweet on the surface, but commanding underneath.

In the end, in a rare exception, they agreed to her request.

“Very well. As you wish, we’ll deliver the note. But if the Grand Duke refuses to receive you, we won’t be able to treat you as a guest.”

“Of course. I’ll leave right away if that happens. Oh, and—could you add one more thing when you give him the note?”

“…What is it?”

“Please let him know that if he refuses to see me, the next destination for this carriage will be the Imperial Palace of Letius.”

The knights didn’t realize that her gentle smile concealed a warning meant for the Grand Duke.

Her boldness didn’t seem fitting for someone seeking help, but this was the best way she knew to protect herself. After all, the Grand Duke might reject her again — and perhaps even more harshly this time.

Soon, the knights returned and escorted the carriage inside.

“Welcome, Princess.”

“I greet the ruler of the Grand Duchy. Have you been well, Your Grace?”

Guided into the reception room, Natasha took a seat naturally beside the Grand Duke.

Though Natasha had entered the mansion with bold determination, the moment she sat down, the atmosphere turned stiff. She found herself simply brushing her fingers along the rim of the teacup, unable to drink. Thankfully, the Grand Duke of Kshant was the first to speak.

“I didn’t know the princess was still alive.”

“I happened to be away on an unexpected errand that day… I don’t know if I should say this, but I suppose I was lucky.”

“I’m just glad nothing bad happened to you.”

The Grand Duke offered a faint smile as he brought his teacup to his lips. As a quiet pause settled between them, Natasha took the hint and finally sipped her tea. It had been a long time since something so warm and sweet had touched her tongue.

“I heard you had something to discuss.”

That brief moment of small talk had clearly been a prelude. The Grand Duke was now steering the conversation toward its real purpose.

The room’s friendly air faded quickly, replaced by a calm tension. Facing the Grand Duke’s formal demeanor, Natasha unconsciously swallowed hard.

The start had gone smoothly.

To carry out her plan to the end, she needed the rest of this conversation to stay just as steady.

“Do you know why I didn’t come straight to you after surviving? Why I chose to hide instead?”

“I imagine… because the Grand Duchy is closely tied to the Empire. Since we strengthened our alliance with the ones who wiped out the royal bloodline, it makes sense you wouldn’t see this place as safe.”

“Yes, that’s close enough. I thought that my presence would only endanger the Duchy—one that had just begun to enjoy peace again. I didn’t believe either the Duchy or Your Grace would welcome me.”

Natasha ended her explanation softly and glanced at the Grand Duke. His clear expression tightened, as if her words weren’t entirely wrong.

“That’s why I stayed hidden—for as long as I could. Until the Empire’s watch over the royal family weakened… and until the Duchy’s power had grown strong enough. Truthfully, it might still be too soon, but certain circumstances forced me to flee—and this was the only place I could go.”

“I see. Then, are you saying you wish to remain here, in the Duchy?”

“Yes. I’d like a safe place to stay. At least… until Charlier’s heir is born.”

The Grand Duke slowly set his teacup down onto its saucer. Tucking his deep blue hair behind one ear, he pursed his lips, clearly thinking. As she had expected, it wasn’t something he could agree to right away.

But on the other hand, it wasn’t something he could dismiss outright either. It was already a different response from her previous life, when he hadn’t even answered her letters.

“Even if you manage to remain hidden for a time, the moment Charlier’s heir is born, the truth will come to light. And when it does, the Duchy will face inevitable conflict with the Empire.”

What the Duchy feared wasn’t the present—it was the future.

Sheltering a surviving royal from Charlier, despite being an ally of the Empire, would be an act of betrayal.

The Duchy had signed a peace treaty with the Empire by giving up part of Charlier’s land. If news spread that a member of the royal family survived, it would signal the possibility of reclaiming both the throne and lost territory.

So, for Natasha’s request to be granted, she needed to offer something that would protect the Duchy’s future in return.

“Just to be clear, this isn’t a one-sided favor.”

The Grand Duke’s expression shifted slightly at her added words.

“I believe Your Grace allowed me in for a reason. I don’t think you accepted me out of personal sentiment.”

Natasha was ready to give him what she sensed he was hoping for.

“The royal seal Your Grace has in your possession—it belonged to the late king, but on its own, it’s useless. Authority only comes when it’s recognized by a blood heir. And to transfer that right, you need royal blood. I can help you with that.”

“You’re offering your bloodline in exchange for your safety?”

“Yes.”

She answered with composure, not wanting to seem desperate, though inside, her nerves were fraying.

This was, after all, a proposal that had once been ignored. Just because she presented it differently this time didn’t mean the outcome would change.

“All right.”

“…What?”

“But how, exactly?”

“…Pardon?”

The moment the Grand Duke agreed, all the tension that had built up inside Natasha collapsed at once. Flustered, she could only echo his words with a foolish look on her face.

“I assume you understand the value of the seal. Yes, we want to reclaim the territory and people we lost during the disaster. But the seal alone can’t make that happen.”

“…You’re right. It’s going to be a long journey. But I believed that Your Grace wouldn’t shy away from that path.”

“Indeed. That’s what I hoped for. If I had known you were alive, I would’ve done everything in my power to place the seal under the Duchy’s rightful control.”

His answer rang with sincerity. It was clear that he, too, hoped to see the Duchy regain independence and lost lands.

“I’m not rejecting your offer, Princess. What I’m saying is that for our deal to succeed—for the future we hope for—we’ll need something more.”

“Then…”

“We’ll need an ally. Someone powerful enough to stand against the Empire. When word spreads that you’re alive, we’ll need someone strong enough to protect you from imperial threats.”

The Grand Duke’s voice carried confidence, and his eyes shone with conviction. It felt almost as if he had foreseen this meeting and planned for it.

“But… Your Grace. Is there really such a person? And even if there is, would they really help me?”

There was only one person who fit the Grand Duke’s conditions.

But Natasha, instinctively avoiding that answer, tried to search for a different solution—one that didn’t exist.

“There is.”

The Grand Duke replied without hesitation, almost as if mocking her attempt to avoid the obvious.

“Duke Sieghart Aschart.”

“…”

“He’s well known. I’m sure the princess knows exactly who he is.”

Sieghart Aschart.

The man Natasha had vowed never to see again—the truth she had tried so hard to deny—had now returned, standing firmly in front of her, drawn back by cold and unshakable reality.

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