I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 3

By threatening Kayeina, Sieghart learned where the princess was hiding. Apparently, she’d been secretly exchanging letters with a knight from the fallen kingdom and those letters occasionally mentioned Natasha’s whereabouts.

Sieghart tracked down every village and region mentioned in the correspondence.

And finally, he found her.

“I have no intention of marrying you.”

Instead of fear or hesitation, her answer was a firm rejection.

Maybe he should’ve used force instead. He felt a growing weariness from how drawn out this had become. He should’ve just dragged her off and sat her down in front of a priest the moment he found her.

But no if she escaped, it would be a hassle to chase her again. And Sieghart had no time to waste. The longer he stayed under Kail’s watch, the worse it became. If she ran, finding her again would be more trouble than it was worth.

“How did things go with the princess?”

Back at his estate, Kayeina, who had been waiting quietly in the office, finally asked. Her voice was soft, cautious.

And just like that, the unwanted memory returned to his mind.

He hadn’t expected rejection. At worst, he thought she’d hesitate. But instead, she didn’t even stop to consider it was a cold, immediate refusal.

“Maid. What does the princess like?”

“…Pardon?”

“I asked what might persuade her. Tell me what she enjoys.”

Pressed by his firm tone, the maid gave in.

Flowers. Jewelry. Books and dresses. Sweets. The sound of birds. Fragrant oils with sweet scents. Candles that made her feel warm and safe.

Sieghart brought all of it on his next visit.

At first, the house seemed empty. He thought she had run away. But after two days of waiting, she finally returned.

Startled by his presence, Natasha looked around nervously. But there were no knights. No horses. He wasn’t even carrying a sword.

Only then did her shoulders relax slightly. But when her gaze landed on the pile of gifts stacked by the door, her brows furrowed deeply.

Letting out a quiet sigh, she spoke again.

“…I still have no intention of marrying you, Your Grace. I’m thankful you’ve spared my life. But please… go.”

Another outright refusal. As if none of his efforts mattered.

Back at the duchy, Sieghart turned to Kayeina with a sharp edge in his voice.

“Something else. Tell me something other than material gifts.”

“…The princess… dreams of love. A future built with someone she truly loves.”

Love. That was her answer now.

Another tactic, then.

“Love, huh?” Sieghart let out a dry laugh.

To fall in love with the princess of Charlier?

The idea almost made him sick. But if that’s what it would take to gain his freedom, then fine. He could lie. He’d do whatever it took.

The next day, Sieghart visited her again.

Natasha looked exhausted too tired to even speak. When she raised her hand in what was probably another refusal, he gently took it in his.

“Your hands are rough. Cracked and cut.”

He held her hand as gently as his strength allowed, softening his voice like a warm blanket.

Then, without warning, he guided her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it.

“As I said, I can protect you. I want you to live safely and peacefully… within the walls I’ve built.”

“…”

“So come with me, Princess.”

Her fingers trembled. Her wide, confused eyes shifted, unsure of what to believe.

“…Why are you doing this?”

“Good question. Why do you think?”

“…”

“Why would a man push so hard for a marriage that offers him nothing in return?”

And then, he gave her the answer she couldn’t ignore.

“Most people would call it… desire.”

“…”

“A man’s longing. Isn’t that what love is?”

He whispered the very thing she once dreamed of: love.

“…Love…”

Her voice cracked like a leaf caught in the wind. By the end, it crumbled into a sigh.

Had it worked?

Sieghart quietly observed her expression.

But then, their eyes met.

And Natasha’s entire demeanor changed.

She pulled her hand back, her gaze sharp and her voice cutting.

“The Empire is my enemy. And you, you were once close to them. If you thought I’d accept your love, you were wrong.”

“I don’t believe your love is real. And even if it is… I can’t accept it. Not now. Not ever.”

Only then did Sieghart realize the flaw in his plan.

Of course. A woman who knew he was once tied to the Empire would never believe in his love.

“I understand how you feel. I know what my words must sound like. But the tragedy you suffered that was the Empire’s decision. House Aschart had nothing to do with it.”

“…Are you saying you had no part in that day’s massacre?”

“Yes. I swear, I had nothing to do with it.”

He didn’t get angry.

Instead, he gently reassured her.

His kind voice wrapped around her like velvet slowly, carefully devouring her hesitation one soft word at a time.

“…”

“I know why you keep rejecting me, Princess. But House Aschart severed ties with the Empire a long time ago. Even if they come after you again someday… I’ll protect you with everything I have.”

For a brief moment, her red eyes wavered.

That flicker of emotion held his fading patience in place. It even gave him hope like maybe, just maybe, her guarded expression might finally soften. And oddly enough, he found himself wanting to see it.

“Please… believe I’m sincere.”

As he gently tightened his hold on her hand, her free hand clenched, then slowly relaxed, trembling with uncertainty.

Sieghart made up his mind to take that hand, too.

He reached out, took it, and carefully pulled it toward him, then interlaced their fingers together. One by one, he wrapped her into his grasp, firm but not forceful.

“As painful as it is to be misunderstood… I want you to know I mean every word.”

From that day on, Sieghart began showing up at her door like it was part of his daily routine.
If Natasha didn’t open the door, he’d wait outside until she did.

“…I’ve told you before, I’m not interested.”

Her answer never changed. She rejected him every single time.

Once, she even threatened to move if he kept coming. But maybe she knew the truth, that if Sieghart really wanted to find her again, he would. No matter where she ran.

Half a year passed like that her refusals, his persistence. And somehow, his daily visits became part of her mornings. Little by little, his presence left traces, both in the village and in her home.

The more effort Sieghart poured into their relationship, the more Natasha started to change.

“It’s cold today…”

Eventually, the woman who once met him with cold silence now showed concern.

She pulled him inside quickly, worried he might freeze in the snow.

Her words remained calm, but her actions were restless boiling water, fetching dry towels, bringing out a warm blanket. Every movement came from genuine care.

As Sieghart looked down at the teacup in front of him, he asked suddenly,

“You’re not going to ask today?”

“…Ask what?”

“What I brought for you. Lately, you’ve always asked first.”

Natasha glanced around.

Now that he mentioned it, he usually brought something books, flowers, gifts of all kinds. Sometimes large and flashy, sometimes simple but thoughtful.

But today, he really had come with nothing.

“…Looks like you came empty-handed.”

“No gifts. Just me.”

“…It seems that way.”

“So, I walked through a snowstorm… just to see you.”

The way he phrased it made something stir in her chest. Hearing it out loud made it sound so real like he truly had braved the weather just for her.

“…That’s not exactly untrue.”

She didn’t reply, so Sieghart answered for her, his voice soft and casual yet sincere.

“I missed you today, Princess. More than usual.”

Then he stood up.

And slowly knelt in front of her.

“That’s why I came. Through the snow, just to see you.”

His large hand rested gently over hers.

She flinched slightly, feeling something beneath his glove.

A small bump something unfamiliar pressed against her pinky.

“Come with me, Princess.”

He slipped off his glove. Beneath it, a ring sat on his little finger.

He took it and placed it on her ring finger quietly, without hesitation.

“…Your Grace?”

“This time, I truly mean it. I want you to marry me.”

The ruby on the ring shimmered brightly just like her eyes. Just like his.

Was this real?

His first proposal had been ridiculous.

The second had felt just as hollow. His sudden confession of love didn’t feel genuine back then either.

But now, after six months just when she had started to forget it, he asked again.

Could he really mean it this time?

Natasha thought back.

Their first meeting. That absurd proposal. She’d been certain no man that arrogant would stick around. Surely, after a few days or weeks, he’d lose interest and leave.

But Sieghart had returned. Every day.

He never brought up the proposal again. He didn’t push. He just stayed by her side.

He cheered for her happiness like it was his own. He helped her recover from grief.
And whenever she needed someone most, he appeared just in time, like a hero.

Looking back now, it was hard to believe all of it meant nothing.

Those weren’t the actions of a man without feelings.

“…Do you really love me?”

The question slipped out before she could stop it. Deep down, she knew that once she heard the answer, there would be no going back.

“Of course.”

“…”

“I love you so much, I’d hand the entire Empire over, if it meant keeping you safe.”

And just like that Natasha surrendered.

Exactly the way Sieghart had hoped.

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