I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 49

The garden party, which had gone through many twists and turns before receiving the approval of the true host—the weather—was a great success. Every corner showed the careful touch of the Aschart family, and the guests couldn’t help but admire the results of such dedication.

The games and amusements that had been thoroughly enjoyed over the past few days were, of course, offered again in abundance. With the added charm of nature’s atmosphere, it felt like a piece of heaven. Although the nobles had already shown great enthusiasm, the unique setting doubled their enjoyment.

After a long period of rain, the sky finally cleared. A cool breeze brushed gently against their skin. Thanks to this refreshing wind, the lingering effects of alcohol faded quickly, and the wine went down easily like water.

As waiters began clearing the empty plates, it seemed the meal was coming to an end. Right on time, an orchestra entered and changed the mood with a cheerful tune.

The nobles, gently patting their slightly full stomachs, exchanged glances. Though they playfully protested that a short break would be nice, their jewel-studded shoes had already stepped out from under the tables.

The gentlemen stood on the outer circle, and the ladies on the inner circle. Each took elegant steps, forming a large ring.

Every time the lively sound of the violin played, they paused and clapped hands with the person across from them. When the trumpet blared, the women on the inner circle turned in the opposite direction and linked arms with the gentlemen, dancing with them.

The long stay had helped the guests become more familiar with one another. Surrounded by friendly faces, they moved much more freely and energetically than on the first day.

More people began asking Natasha for a dance. They confidently extended their hands, but once actually dancing with the Duchess, they quickly grew flustered and overwhelmed.

As the sun set and the air turned colder, the guests naturally returned to the ballroom. Their excitement hadn’t faded, so it felt like the obvious next step.

“To the great House of Aschart!”

“Cheers!”

The rims of the glasses touched lightly. The crisp clinking sound stirred an odd sense of excitement.

Natasha took a generous sip of her drink. The Aschart family usually imposed strict rules about alcohol, so she was rarely able to drink much. But at the ball, she didn’t have to worry about anyone’s judgment and could enjoy it freely.

“Cheers!”

This time, Natasha raised her glass first. In one hand was a glass of champagne, in the other, a small cupcake.

Just as she bit into the cupcake and lifted the glass to her lips, a hand suddenly appeared from above and snatched the drink away.

Her eyes, which had been waiting for the sweet and bitter taste of champagne, filled with disappointment. Her empty hand curled into a fist, grasping at nothing.

“Sieghart?”

Her searching eyes stopped as she looked up. The man with red eyes, so similar to her own, was the culprit.

Still tipsy, Natasha called his name without thinking. Her voice sounded casual, as if calling someone very familiar. Even Sieghart seemed caught off guard, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

Realizing how drunk she was, he let out a quiet sigh. He had let her enjoy herself because she looked so happy, so he had no one else to blame. Placing a firm arm around her waist, he gently pulled her toward him. The remains of the cupcake had already been handed off to a passing waiter.

“I was worried my wife might get too drunk.”

He spoke calmly to the people watching him. The ladies responded with warm laughter, saying they understood. Some added that it was touching to see a husband taking care of his wife and admitted they were a little envious.

In contrast, the young men were flustered and kept clearing their throats. It wasn’t because they felt guilty. Rather, Sieghart’s piercing gaze sent chills down their spines. It was the same intimidating presence they had felt earlier while dancing with the Duchess.

After Sieghart stepped in, Natasha, who had been fully immersed in enjoying the party, finally came to her senses.

She knew she couldn’t handle alcohol well. If she kept drinking just because the atmosphere was lively, she could end up completely drunk. As the hostess of such an important event, losing control would risk ruining everything she and her family had worked hard to build.

To sober up a little, she decided to take a walk. Along the way, she politely declined requests for toasts and dances, and stepped out into the hallway.

The corridor was quiet. Occasionally, soft whispers or faint moans could be heard from the curtained terraces, which made her feel awkward and quickly move away.

As she walked further in, she couldn’t sense anyone nearby. Being far from the ballroom, even the festive sounds had faded into the background. At last, silence wrapped around her completely.

“It feels a little eerie.”

Though she normally liked quiet, the contrast with the lively party left her feeling somewhat uneasy. On top of that, the candles had almost completely melted.

Just as she turned to go back, a familiar voice called out.

“My lady?”

It was one of the maids.

She had likely been tidying the chambers, as her arms were full of folded blankets. Approaching Natasha, the maid glanced at her with concern.

“Oh, your face is all red!”

“I think I drank more than usual. Is it still very noticeable?”

“No, not at all. You look fine. But would you like me to bring you a glass of cold water, just in case?”

“That would be very kind of you, thank you.”

The maid nodded and quickly turned back down the hallway.

During that time, Natasha stepped into a nearby terrace to wait. She leaned against the railing, but it felt loose, as if the support had been damaged.

“I’ll need to tell someone to check this later.”

Everything had surely been inspected beforehand. Could it have broken during the party? It wasn’t a major issue, but it seemed best to have it repaired before someone got hurt.

Just as she finished examining the railing, footsteps echoed from behind. It seemed the maid who had gone to fetch water had returned sooner than expected.

“She’s back already?”

Natasha turned to greet her, stepping out toward the terrace entrance. But the person approaching suddenly stopped in front of her, then slowly walked forward.

“A robe?”

It wasn’t the maid she had spoken with earlier. The figure was cloaked, face hidden beneath a large hood.

Sensing danger instinctively, Natasha raised her voice.

“Who are you—!”

She managed to speak, but the rest of her words were swallowed by the night sky.

The stranger had pushed her in the chest with full force.

Crack.

The weakened railing gave way under the impact, and the jolt shot straight through her body. She lost balance and tumbled over the edge.

“What… what is happening?”

Desperately, she grabbed the attacker’s wrist to save herself, but they shook her off with ease. The force of it only caused her to fall harder and faster.

Thud.

A heavy crash rang through the quiet night sky. Birds startled from their roosts scattered into the darkness.

Sieghart Aschart was starting to worry. His wife had been gone for far too long. Although she was still within the estate under the protection of his own people, the number of guests and the fact that she had been drinking made him uneasy.

“I should go find her.”

Natasha had firmly told him that both of them leaving the party at the same time would be improper, but that warning had long slipped from his mind. He convinced himself that standing around looking sullen would only make things worse. In truth, he wasn’t entirely wrong.

The guests were already wary of Sieghart’s intimidating expression.

Just then, Jenkins burst through the door, rushing in with urgency. Normally composed, the butler was breathless as he leaned in and whispered something to the duke.

“Jenkins… is that true?”

“Yes, sir.”

Jenkins nodded quietly.

The confirmation shattered the calm Sieghart had been trying to maintain. His eyes, deep in thought just moments ago, widened sharply. A fierce light surged through them, his brows furrowed tightly, and deep lines formed around his eyes.

The nobles who had been pretending not to notice quickly turned their eyes away. If they made direct eye contact with him now, they knew there would be consequences.

Since marrying the duchess, the brutal and savage side of Sieghart had remained hidden. But now, they feared it might resurface.

“Take me there.”

Jenkins bowed slightly to the surrounding guests in apology, then led the duke away.

Feeling the tension in the air, the staff quickly acted to restore the mood. Waiters and musicians exchanged glances, and the orchestra began playing a lively waltz. Slowly, the room began to regain its cheer.

Sieghart arrived at the infirmary. A bright light spilled through the crack beneath the door, confirming his worst fears.

When he entered, he saw a woman lying motionless on the large bed. Her body was covered in small wounds and dried blood, yet her face was still heartbreakingly beautiful. There was no doubt—it was his wife.

But how could the gentle woman who had been smiling beside him just moments ago now be lying here in such a terrible state? He couldn’t accept it.

“Why?”

The chilling tone of his voice silenced the entire room.

“Explain. Now.”

When no one responded, Sieghart’s voice turned sharper. He demanded an answer.

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