I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 47

Time moved on without pause, and the one-month preparation period quickly passed. The day had arrived to mark House Aschart’s first official banquet.

Two weeks before the event, Duke and Duchess Aschart had moved to their countryside estate to personally oversee every detail. They inspected the ballroom, the guest rooms, and even the tableware and flowers that would be used for the celebration. Nothing was left unchecked.

Since they needed extra hands to serve the guests, they temporarily hired more staff.

At last, it was the day of the banquet.

Natasha woke earlier than usual and began getting ready with the help of the attendants.

Most of the people assisting her were unfamiliar, and they moved awkwardly. To support them, Kayeina stepped in, guiding them and giving instructions without hesitation.

Meliana and Vanessa were scheduled to attend the banquet later that day with their families. Although invitations had also been sent to Kayeina’s relatives, they had declined several times with polite gratitude, choosing not to attend.

Left alone, Kayeina threw herself into the preparations, saying she would work as hard as three people. Her energy and dedication never seemed to run out.

After her dressing was complete, Natasha stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself.

The sapphire earrings and the ornate diamond necklace caught the light and sparkled brightly. Her pale blue mermaid gown hugged her figure and suited her atmosphere perfectly.

“I did a good job choosing, didn’t I?”

Their eyes met through the mirror as Kayeina gave her a playful wink.

“Yes, I really like it.”

“See? I knew I had good taste. What else would you expect from someone who’s been with you since childhood?”

Kayeina had selected the dress after going through catalogs from popular salons, then requested alterations to make it suit Natasha even better. Seeing Natasha pleased made her proud, and her shoulders lifted as if she had won something.

“Tonight, you’ll be the center of attention. Enjoy it to the fullest, my dear Tisha.”

Kayeina carefully arranged Natasha’s loose golden strands, adjusted the necklace so the gemstone sat perfectly at the center of her chest, and smoothed the creases in her sleeves.

She placed a light kiss on Natasha’s hand and affectionately called her the nickname that was usually reserved for the palace. Tisha. That name held a special place in Natasha’s heart.

Her eyes shone with warmth. Her gentle voice carried sincerity. These small gestures made Natasha’s heart flutter softly.

Kayeina still cherished her.

Kayeina Ten had changed. That was undeniable. But so had Natasha.

It was only natural for someone to change when standing at the crossroads of life. Kayeina could not remain the same innocent person she once was.

Natasha had once asked Charlotte to quietly keep an eye on her. But she had never asked for any updates. That request had only been a precaution. At this point, there was no reason to open that box. Her trust in Kayeina remained firm.

Their friendship, built over more than ten years, would not be shattered by a few moments of doubt.

Many carriages had lined up in front of the estate. One by one, the nobles stepped out, presented their invitations and identified themselves to the guards, then entered the estate.

Most of the guests were tired from the long journey. Many of them were not properly prepared for socializing yet, so the first formal gathering was set for the evening banquet. Until then, the staff guided each guest to their assigned room, giving them time to rest and get ready comfortably.

By early evening, right on schedule, the guests gathered in the ballroom.

“Oh, how beautiful.”

“I heard His Holiness the Pope gave special permission to use temple imagery?”

The inspiration from the temple was clear. This banquet felt different from the usual extravagant parties. The atmosphere was more elegant, even solemn. It had none of the usual gaudy excess, but it was no less impressive.

Still, no one would call it modest.

Everyone knew the Duke hated falling behind others. The scale and cost of this banquet made that very clear. Just gathering over a hundred guests in a countryside estate was already impressive. But what truly left people speechless was the abundance of fresh northern flowers. They were rare and hard to find, yet here they were, everywhere, as if they were ordinary pebbles by the roadside.

After greetings were exchanged, the Duke and Duchess announced they would begin the evening with a prayer, fitting for the temple-inspired theme. They brought in His Holiness the Pope himself, which left the entire guest list stunned.

Meliana and Vanessa took full advantage of the moment. They proudly acted as if they were the hosts. With their parents looking on in awe, they seized the chance to boast that the family they worked for was one of the most prestigious in the entire empire.

Once the prayer ended, the banquet officially began.

The doors opened, and attendants entered one after another, each pushing a buffet cart. The male servers carried trays of wine glasses, while the female servers offered light finger foods as they moved gracefully around the hall.

The orchestra began to play. As the lively waltz filled the ballroom, men and women lined up opposite one another, facing their partners as they started to dance. Everyone was focused on the steps, aware that a single mistake could draw laughter or embarrassment. Still, along with keeping to the rhythm, they took every chance to show off their charm, beauty, and status.

When the first piece ended, the dancers stopped and exchanged polite handshakes with the partners across from them. With the next song, the front row shifted and greeted new partners, followed by the back row. The dance continued in this way, allowing everyone to mingle.

After the final note, the music faded and the room was given a short break. Meliana and Vanessa came rushing over to Natasha, clearly thrilled.

“Duchess, this is amazing!”

“It’s all thanks to you and Lady Reon’s hard work.”

“This will definitely be the best banquet of the year.”

“People are even saying it’s more cheerful and extravagant than the ones held by the Imperial Family!”

They showered her with praise, then soon moved on to another topic. They started talking about the new faces at the party. For unmarried young ladies, a handsome and kind gentleman was always a hot topic.

As they chatted about who they hoped would ask them to dance during the slow dance session, Natasha smiled, watching them with affection. But soon, more guests began gathering around her.

“Moon of the Empire, it is an honor. Thank you so much for inviting us to such a delightful evening.”

Natasha found herself surrounded from all sides. She glanced across the hall on her toes and saw that Sieghart was just as encircled as she was.

The crowd was a little dizzying and slightly overwhelming, but the lively atmosphere was enjoyable. Natasha responded kindly to everyone who approached her, without turning anyone away.

Then, when new food was brought out to the buffet table, the rich aroma drew several guests toward the dining area. As people began to shift seats, Natasha received several invitations to join different tables, but she politely declined them all.

There were still many people left for her to greet. While making her way around the ballroom, a lone figure caught her attention.

Leaning quietly against a pillar was a middle-aged woman who seemed to be trying to avoid everyone’s eyes.

Who is she?

Unlike others who were openly socializing, this woman looked tired, almost as if the event itself was exhausting to her.

As Natasha paused to observe, a young baroness beside her leaned in and whispered.

“No one seems to know who she is. She’s unfamiliar, and I heard no one could confirm her background.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The invitations and guest list were thoroughly checked. There’s no way someone got in under false pretenses.”

At that moment, a name flashed through Natasha’s mind.

It was a name she had never heard before, from someone she had never met. But the surname had left a strange impression on her when she saw it.

She gently excused herself and made her way to the woman.

“Miss Callete?”

The woman’s tired expression shifted the moment she realized who was speaking. Once she recognized the Duchess, she quickly straightened up and bowed politely.

“Oh… good evening. I am Ashy Callete. It’s an honor to meet the lady of the evening.”

Natasha mirrored her, taking hold of her skirt and gracefully lowering one knee. The elegant movement turned the greeting into a formal gesture.

“So, Miss Callete? Your invitation listed you as single.”

“Yes, that’s correct. Please feel free to call me that.”

After their introductions, the two exchanged a few light comments about the banquet. Ashy Callete, like many others, praised the event’s scale and thoughtfulness.

But despite her words, her face didn’t seem particularly pleased.

“I heard you traveled from the Galonde Empire. It must have been a long journey. I’m grateful you still chose to attend.”

“Not at all. It’s the first banquet held by House Aschart. Even from across the continent, attending felt like the proper thing to do.”

“I also heard you’ve visited the duke’s estate a few times before.”

“Yes. Not often, but I’ve always been thankful for the invitations whenever the Duke extended them.”

Ashy Callete’s answers were short and firm. Natasha found no gaps to explore further. She wanted to ask about her relationship with the Duke, but Ashy offered no opportunity for the conversation to move in that direction.

Was it because of the age difference? Or the difference in social status?

That didn’t quite explain it. The other noblewomen Natasha had just spoken with were around the same age as Ashy. And if status were an issue, Ashy likely would have avoided attending such a high-society gathering altogether.

Ashy seemed to be deliberately keeping her distance from Natasha. Although her behavior was polite, her tone had a sharp edge.

“I’m curious about your connection with House Aschart, Miss Callete. Would you mind sharing more?”

Natasha hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should continue the conversation or let it end. But in the end, she asked.

If there was no opening, she had to create one. She knew full well that even a polite question might feel like pressure to someone who did not want to answer. But she had no other way.

Callete.

Just a name, a coincidence perhaps. But it had stayed in her thoughts longer than it should have.

Among so many noble houses, especially from another country, the name Callete might mean nothing.

But to Natasha, it felt like something worth understanding.

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