I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 50

A short while later, a man and a woman entered the infirmary. Though they felt as if the Duke were interrogating them like criminals, they held their composure and explained what they had seen.

“The Duchess asked me to bring her some water. I was carrying blankets at the time, so I quickly set them down and went to fetch the water. But when I returned, I couldn’t find her anywhere. I walked toward the terrace nearby and saw that the railing had collapsed.”

The maid had been the last person to see Natasha before the injury occurred.

The knight beside her also reported what he had witnessed.

“I was patrolling the garden with another guard. He covered the front, and I took the rear, keeping an eye out for anything unusual. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise. I rushed over, and I saw the Duchess lying on the ground.”

It became clear that the incident had taken place at the corridor terrace, where the railing had given way, causing Natasha to fall.

Jenkins, who had been silently listening, began to explain what they discovered afterward.

“You’re saying there was something wrong with the terrace?”

“Yes. Besides the broken section, we tested other parts. They were in terrible condition. Just a small amount of pressure could make them collapse.”

The terrace had been thoroughly inspected in advance. Because railings were potential hazards, they had received extra attention. And yet, the damage had occurred.

“If it takes real force to break them, then my wife didn’t fall just by standing there.”

“Exactly. If she had leaned against it, she would have noticed something wrong. It wouldn’t have given way so easily.”

“Then that means…”

Sieghart spoke quietly. He seemed to be piecing things together.

Jenkins met his gaze and nodded solemnly, confirming that the Duke’s suspicion was likely correct.

The physician, who entered with medicine and supplies, stopped in surprise when he saw Sieghart. Though the Duchess’s condition wasn’t his fault, he feared he would be blamed. For a moment, he imagined receiving a dismissal letter instead of his salary the next day.

Fortunately, Sieghart’s expression was much calmer than expected. He asked about the diagnosis in a composed tone. The physician was relieved to have good news to share.

“Her injuries aren’t as severe as you may have feared. The visible wounds should heal within a week, and the broken ankle will mend quickly. I believe she will regain consciousness soon as well.”

The physician added, in a steady voice, that Natasha’s fall had been somewhat softened. Her clothes had caught on branches and objects on the way down, reducing the impact when she hit the ground.

Sieghart’s eyes, which had been sharp and fierce, slowly relaxed. The tense expression on his face settled into something calmer. Instead of cursing, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

“Your Grace, what about the banquet? Should we end it here?”

“We’ll wait until she wakes. If she doesn’t recover by morning, despite the doctor’s words, we will stop the banquet immediately and start searching for the one responsible.”

Normally, Sieghart would have already ordered the area locked down and demanded a full search. But this time, he stayed quiet. It seemed he understood that others had also worked hard to prepare for this event, not just himself.

And so, the five of them waited for Natasha to wake.

A faint voice broke the stillness of the room.

A quiet groan escaped the woman on the bed. The moment they heard it, everyone rushed to her side and gathered around in a circle, watching closely.

“Where am I?”

Her long lashes trembled before she slowly opened her eyes.

“Natasha.”

“My lady, can you hear me?”

“She’s awake. Thank goodness.”

“Do you feel pain anywhere?”

Their relief poured out all at once. The people who had anxiously waited now spoke with warmth and joy in their voices.

Natasha gently shook her head, asking them to wait. A maid brought her a cup of warm water. After taking a sip, she began to speak again.

“So this is… right, the infirmary.”

“A knight found you after you fell from the terrace and brought you here. How do you feel? Are you in pain?”

Sieghart asked as he looked her over. Natasha shifted slightly in the bed. The moment she moved, a wave of pain rushed through her. She immediately realized where her injuries were.

“Natasha, do you remember anything about what happened?”

Sieghart’s voice was gentle but serious. Jenkins, standing nearby, gave a slight nod, encouraging her to think carefully.

“What I remember…”

She tried to recall the final moments before the fall.

While waiting for the maid to return, someone had approached her. Two hands appeared from beneath a cloak.

“Someone pushed me on the terrace.”

Sieghart and Jenkins exchanged a brief nod, as if this confirmed what they had suspected all along.

Rather than overwhelm her with questions, they gave her time and approached the truth slowly.

“Do you remember their face?”

“No. I didn’t see it clearly. The person was wearing a robe. A large one, with a hood that covered everything, even the face.”

“Do you remember anything about the person’s build?”

“They weren’t very tall or big. Around my height, maybe a little smaller.”

“Then it was a woman.”

Sieghart muttered the words through clenched teeth, his jaw tightening with anger.

Since that night, Natasha had only just begun to recover. Even a slight twist of the ankle while walking could make your heart race. To think she had been injured so seriously in the time he had taken his eyes off her—he couldn’t accept it.

“Stop the banquet. Lock the doors and find the person responsible.”

The patience he had been holding onto disappeared in a second. Even though he had promised himself not to act rashly, he gave in to instinct and issued the command to Jenkins.

“No, don’t stop it. Please let it continue.”

“We’re ending it, Jenkins.”

“Sieghart!”

“Yes, Natasha?”

The two voices clashed, firm and unyielding. Their eyes met, the tension between them sharp and electric.

Then they both turned to Jenkins, silently demanding whose order he would follow. Faced with pressure from both sides, the butler hesitated.

“Please, the two of you should come to an agreement before I take any action.”

Jenkins was experienced and tactful. He knew how to handle tense situations like this with grace.

“I don’t think it was one of the guests. Please don’t jump to conclusions. It’s not right to accuse people who came here with good intentions.”

“Can you be completely sure of that? Letting emotions cloud your judgment could let the real culprit escape.”

“I’m not just saying this without reason.”

Natasha closed her eyes and tried to recall everything clearly. The incident happened in an instant, but she had noticed a few important details.

“The person wasn’t wearing a dress. The powder room is near the ballroom, so if they had changed clothes, someone would have seen them. Walking around in a cloak like that would definitely draw attention. If no one stopped them, it means they were either someone from outside or someone who works here.”

Her explanation was logical and convincing. Even Sieghart seemed to consider her reasoning seriously.

He turned to one of the guards. The young man, tense under the Duke’s intense stare, spoke up quickly.

“W-we’ve been watching both the front and back gates carefully. No one from outside got in.”

“Then it must be one of the estate staff.”

“That’s what I’m thinking too.”

With that, the possible suspects narrowed down to those working in the estate.

“Focus the search on the staff, then. I don’t want the banquet ruined because of this injury. I’ve put too much effort into preparing it.”

“You really are impossible when you’re being stubborn. Fine. I understand. But stop worrying for now and just rest.”

They decided to let the banquet continue as scheduled. To prevent rumors from spreading, they agreed to tell the guests that Natasha’s fall was due to a misstep.

“If you remember anything else, make sure to—”

“I’ll tell you. So please stop worrying about things that don’t matter right now.”

Natasha cut him off gently but firmly. It was her way of showing that she understood and appreciated his concern.

Still, there was something she didn’t mention out loud.

The woman she saw on the terrace. The one who had whispered something under her breath and glared at Natasha with a chilling stare.

She had rushed forward and shoved Natasha hard in the chest. The railing snapped with a sharp crack, and Natasha fell.

In that split second, as she was falling, she caught a glimpse of the woman’s eyes beneath the hood of the cloak.

They gleamed under the soft blue moonlight. A vivid, striking green—like fresh spring grass.

Her eyes were beautiful. They looked like wild grass in early summer.

“Your eyes are even prettier, Princess. Like the pink roses you love so much.”

“Really? When I was younger, people said my eyes were strange. It used to hurt my feelings.”

“I used to get teased too. They said my eyes looked like grass. But now, people say they’re beautiful. I guess that means we’ve won, right?”

Those green eyes—bright, alive, and unforgettable.

Last night, on the terrace, Natasha had seen those very eyes again.

The same eyes she used to look into with trust and affection. The eyes of the dear friend she once loved in this world.

Support