I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 24

“You’re not saying I have to work with that man, are you?”

“That is exactly what I’m saying.”

“Why him?”

Her voice had grown sharper. Sensing the tension, the Grand Duke appeared slightly taken aback.

“As you likely understand, transferring the royal seal to us isn’t something we can do right away. If we act too soon, the entire plan could fall apart. We have to move slowly, making everything look like a natural coincidence.”

The Grand Duke spoke gently, as if calming a startled child.

“To make that possible, your presence must become known to the world. It would pose a threat to the Empire, and at the same time, bring hope to the people of Charlier. If a royal still lives, then the restoration of the kingdom is no longer just a dream.”

“…”

“And to ensure your safety during that time, we will need the Duke’s power. Marrying him would make you a formal member of the Empire’s nobility, and his influence would protect you from any threat posed by the imperial family.”

For someone usually cautious, the Grand Duke was speaking with rare certainty.

“But isn’t Duke Aschart deeply connected to the imperial family? Choosing him as an ally sounds dangerous.”

“That was in the past. From what I’ve heard, the Aschart family is on the verge of severing ties with the Empire. A house that rose under imperial favor now turning away from it can only mean one thing. They are preparing to challenge the throne.”

It was clear the Grand Duke had considered the Aschart family as an ally from the beginning. She was strongly pushing for cooperation with them.

At that moment, Natasha recalled the past.

After their marriage, Duke Aschart had cut off all contact with the imperial court. It hadn’t been for her, of course. But looking at it from the Grand Duke’s perspective, it seemed Sieghart had planned to break with the Empire from the start.

A powerful man who could stand against the Empire. And someone who might be willing to help her. Sieghart really was the most suitable person.

It wasn’t wrong. When Natasha had been under his protection, even the Empire had dared not touch her.

At least in theory, it all made sense. If she hadn’t known what the future held, she might have agreed without hesitation.

Seeing her hesitation, the Grand Duke added one more push.

“Princess, Duke Aschart is the best person to bring this plan to life. There is no need to settle for someone else. I don’t know what is causing you to hesitate, but in our current situation, no one else comes close.”

She was right.

Sieghart Aschart had the power to guide a fallen princess and would one day become the Empire’s enemy.

“You want a future, don’t you, Princess?”

“…”

“To reach that future safely, you have to take his hand.”

The Grand Duke’s steady voice stirred Natasha’s heart. Because it was true. There was something she desperately wished for.

The child.

That child still lived in her heart as her one pure hope.

Their time together had been short, but it had been radiant and precious beyond words.

She needed a safe place for the child.

Only after losing her baby in the torment of the Aschart estate had, she realized the truth. Creating life wasn’t enough. What truly mattered was the ability to protect it.

She had thought she had finally let go of him. But in the end, it still came back to him.

Even when faced with a future filled with pain, she had no choice but to walk into it once again.

She had already grown tired of meaningless sacrifice.

But this time, at least the sacrifice would have a purpose. If she could give her child a safe home and a strong shield, this was something she could endure.

“I will stay with the Duke for two years. Will that be enough?”

Natasha spoke clearly, choosing her words with care. Two years. That was how long she had once been married to Sieghart in her previous life.

“I will do my best.”

The Grand Duke replied with a confident smile.

The Grand Duke quietly stared at the spot where her guest had just been.

The presence of the calm and dignified woman still lingered.

He never imagined the last princess of Charlier was truly alive.

And as she replayed the meeting in her mind, her thoughts naturally drifted to her next unavoidable encounter.

Sieghart Aschart.

“The Princess of Charlier will come to see the Grand Duke. Capture her when she arrives.”

“Pardon me, could you repeat that?”

“No matter what the princess says, there’s only one thing the Grand Duke needs to do. Find any reason you can and arrange for her to marry me.”

The man who proposed an alliance with the Duchy made a very unexpected demand.

He claimed that the surviving princess of the Charlier royal family would visit soon, and when she did, she was to become the next Duchess of Aschart.

In exchange, the House of Aschart promised to support the Duchy financially and stand against the Empire alongside them.

It was an offer too good to refuse. With both Natasha’s proposal and the Duke’s support in hand, the Grand Duke saw no reason to say no.

Even if the princess had no choice but to seek protection, the Grand Duke couldn’t understand the Duke’s motives.

He didn’t raise any objections—he wasn’t in a position to—but in truth, the Duke’s behavior had puzzled him from the beginning.

Among all the noblewomen tied to the Empire, with their royal bloodlines and wealth, why choose a ruined princess? A woman stripped of her title, who now had nothing to offer?

Had he gone mad?

Marrying her was, of course, a strong statement against the Empire. But something about the Duke’s actions didn’t sit right. The Grand Duke couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than politics.

Was it love?

The thought made the Grand Duke chuckle and shake his head. That cold-hearted man would never act out of something as romantic as love.

After a long journey, Natasha finally returned home. She had always planned to come back someday—at least for Sir Dante, who was surely waiting. She just didn’t expect it to be so soon after she had left.

By the time she reached the village, it was night. Darkness and thick fog covered the streets.

When she stepped inside and lit a candle, the house looked cleaner than expected. It had been nearly a month since she left. Dust should have been everywhere, but it wasn’t. And instead of a musty smell, the house smelled faintly of flowers.

Confused, Natasha looked around. She moved quietly, using the candlelight to peek into each corner of the house. That’s when she noticed a figure sitting at the table and gasped in shock.

As the candlelight slowly lit up the room, the outline of a large figure appeared. It was far too big to be an animal.

The figure stood up and walked toward her. As he stepped into the light, she recognized the familiar face.

“You’re…”

He was the very person she had been meaning to find next.

He gently took the candleholder from her hand and held it up himself, bringing his face fully into the light.

“You said you’d give me an answer in ten days. It’s been twenty.”

“…I…”

“I was worried something had happened to you. I thought you might have collapsed alone in here. That’s why I came in. I hope you understand.”

Natasha opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. After a moment, she finally spoke.

“There were things I needed to sort out.”

It was a simple excuse. Short, vague, and not very convincing. For someone who had broken a promise, it was an underwhelming explanation.

But the man didn’t seem angry. He let it pass with surprising calm.

“For someone who made me worry, you seem perfectly fine. I suppose we can leave your answer for another time?”

After a short pause, Natasha answered in a quiet voice.

“I’ve thought about your proposal.”

She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, so she stared into the air between them, speaking slowly and carefully.

It might have been a little early to say this, but she didn’t want to wait. If she hesitated, the resolve she had worked so hard to build might start to break apart.

“If you agree to my conditions, I’ll accept your proposal.”

“Conditions, of course. If I’m to welcome someone as important as you, I should meet every one of them.”

His voice had softened. Sieghart then gently guided her to the table and helped her sit down, treating her with quiet care.

Natasha brought over a single sheet of paper and a pen, then immediately began writing down the terms of their marriage. She knew that trying to negotiate with this man using words would only leave her overwhelmed. Putting it in writing was the most reliable option.

A long silence filled the room. The only sound was the soft, steady scratch of the pen moving across the paper.

Sieghart, who had been sitting with a graceful posture, now had one leg crossed and his eyes closed. It was his quiet way of saying he was bored by the slow progress.

Natasha ignored him completely, staying focused on writing out each condition carefully. After some time, she finally finished. But instead of handing it over right away, she began reading through the text again, slowly and thoroughly, making sure every word was in place. Only after multiple reviews did she draw the final line and put down her pen.

“It’s done.”

At last, the paper passed to him.

Sieghart hadn’t shown a shred of interest during the entire process. It was as if he believed that no condition she wrote down could possibly affect him.

That attitude didn’t change—at least, not until he began reading the opening lines of the agreement.

“These are some very troublesome conditions.”

With a low scoff, he let out a dry laugh and then placed the paper down on the table, this time with a bit more force.

Support I’ve Decided to Let You Go