I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 61

“Kayeina!”

Natasha called out warmly as she hurried over to Kayeina.

“I was just remembering I left this back in the dining room. Thank you for bringing it. Lady Dorothea gave me that fan as a gift—she made it herself. It would’ve been terrible if I lost it.”

“It’s no trouble. Would you like me to accompany you to your room while I’m here?”

Kayeina offered politely as she handed the fan over. She assumed it would be more convenient for the couple if she showed them the way.

“That would be nice. We can talk a bit on the way too.”

Natasha had secretly hoped for that and readily accepted the offer.

Letting Kayeina lead the way, Natasha and Sieghart followed slowly behind.

True to her earlier request, Sieghart stayed close. Every time Kayeina turned back to glance at them, he gently touched Natasha, acting affectionate. By the time they reached the bedroom door, he even leaned into the role, heating up the mood.

“You can return now,” he said.

“Shall I bring you some warm tea before bed? It might help with the alcohol.”

“Thank you for the thought, but I think I’ll be fine.”

Sieghart pulled Natasha closer by the waist, pressing her firmly to his side.

“I imagine my wife would be embarrassed if the staff overheard our private affairs.”

With those words, he stepped inside with her and closed the door. The click of the lock echoed behind them.

Now they were truly alone. Natasha stood in the center of the room, staring at him with a puzzled expression.

Sieghart’s eyes curved upward in a knowing smile, as if to say, “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

He wasn’t wrong. He had followed her lead exactly, almost as if he had read her mind. Thanks to how perfectly he played his part, Natasha felt sure Kayeina wouldn’t be a problem anymore.

“What are you thinking about?”

Now, only one concern remained.

Sieghart Aschart himself.

Her suspicion toward Kayeina was one matter. Sieghart’s innocence or guilt was another entirely.

To uncover the truth, she needed to test him too.

“Stay here, with me. Always. Because what I want most… is to erase the princess from this place.”

Natasha slowly ran her hand across his chest.

“I have a request, Your Grace.”

Their eyes met softly.

“This isn’t personal. I just need to be sure of something.”

She whispered quietly.

“Will you kiss me, Sieghart?”

A shadow crossed his once-clear face. He rubbed his eyes with his hand, as if to clear away his thoughts. The frown on his brow faded.

“Tisha, you brought this on yourself. I’m just doing what you asked. Like a well-trained dog.”

His shadow fell across her face. With the light behind him, he looked like a man swallowed by darkness. He stepped toward her slowly.

“You may have started this… but I decide how it ends.”

Expecting resistance, Natasha closed her eyes.

Their lips met, leaving no space for air between them. The kiss was firm, tightly pressed, with no room for hesitation. His lips locked onto hers as though trying to bind her completely.

Their mouths parted briefly. For someone like him, always so controlled, the kiss was surprisingly gentle.

At first.

But the moment their eyes met, Natasha’s instincts screamed for her to look away. She didn’t. And neither did he. Their reflections shimmered in each other’s eyes like rippling glass.

He stepped in again and brushed her lips with his once more. Before she could say that was enough, his lips closed over her upper lip.

She inhaled sharply. That was all the invitation he needed. He claimed her lower lip next, hungrily. Her lips trembled under his, but Sieghart didn’t stop. Instead, he deepened the kiss, parting her mouth with his and slipping inside.

A warm, wet tongue swept through her mouth. Their breaths mingled as saliva swirled between them. It was messy, intense. Sieghart sucked on her lower lip, as if commanding her to accept it all.

“Mm…”

She felt like a fish gasping for air. Natasha opened and closed her mouth in sync with his rhythm. Even when she wanted to stop, she had no chance—he was too overwhelming, too quick.

Every time she tried to resist, he blocked her. Gripping the back of her neck firmly, Sieghart kept going, following only his own instinct.

So, this was what he meant when he said he would decide the end. He wasn’t listening to her anymore.

She kept backing away, pushed by the weight of his body. She didn’t even realize where she was stepping. Her heel caught on something, and she dropped down.

A dazzling chandelier filled her vision. The blinding light made her squint, but then broad shoulders blocked it out.

That was when Natasha realized she had landed on the bed.

“I’m not done yet,” he murmured.

“What do you think? Should I keep going?”

“…”

“Go on. Give the obedient dog a command.”

She had to reject the Black Hand. Wasn’t this already more than enough?

…Was it really enough?

Natasha couldn’t be sure. This alone would never uncover the truth of that night. Even her mind had to be completely shaken.

Eventually, she wrapped her arms around his thick neck. With a smile filled with pleasure, Sieghart lowered himself. His rough hand gripped the bedsheet tightly as he climbed onto the bed.

Soon, their bodies were aligned and pressed together.

She felt a dark, intrusive hand tracing her body. Strong movements continued, as if trying to dig into her soft skin.

Much later, faint footsteps approached. The owner of the steps carefully reached toward Natasha with a cautious hand.

“…”

Natasha slowly opened her eyes and looked around. The person who should have been lying next to her was, unsurprisingly, gone.

When she turned her head the other way, a familiar face came into view. Kayeina, calmly going about her business, looked up and smiled the moment their eyes met.

“You’re awake, Madam? Oh no, did I wake you? I’m sorry! I was just changing the bedsheets.”

“The sheets?”

Natasha feigned ignorance.

“Yes. I didn’t want the bloodstains to soak in too long. I was going to quietly take them out to the maids while you slept.”

When she lowered her head, she saw the blood clearly marked on the white sheet.

“Oh my…!”

Kayeina covered her mouth as if shocked.

“Looks like your cycle caught you off guard. You didn’t have time to prepare, did you?”

“My cycle?”

Kayeina stared at Natasha, as if amazed that she still believed it was just that.

“Not your cycle. It’s the mark of love.”

“The mark… of love?”

“Yes! Isn’t that proof of the passionate love you and His Grace shared last night?”

Natasha looked as if she still didn’t quite understand. Seeing that, Kayeina continued with a helpful tone.

“Don’t you remember when we parted last night? His Grace was so affectionate with you.”

“Maybe it’s the alcohol. I don’t remember much.”

She used dizziness as an excuse to avoid giving a definite answer. Kayeina handed her a glass of water, saying the alcohol must have been stronger than expected. Natasha drank it in one gulp. The coolness spread through her body and cleared her head.

Seeing the Duchess more refreshed, Kayeina eagerly continued.

“While passing by the corridor last night, I heard some very suggestive sounds.”

“Kayeina, what exactly did you hear?”

“Oh, come now, Madam. You of all people should know. Clearly, it was the sounds of a couple… enjoying each other.”

“I don’t remember anything like that.”

Natasha responded firmly, rejecting the suggestion outright.

“You were drunk, so of course you wouldn’t remember everything. But just because you don’t remember it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Look at the sheets. The proof is right there.”

Kayeina pointed at the bloodstains with emphasis.

In this life, Natasha and Sieghart had never consummated their marriage. If Kayeina was right, and they had truly gone through with it last night, then the blood could make sense.

“And…”

“…”

“There’s too much evidence. Honestly, it’s almost embarrassing to list it all.”

Kayeina’s eyes swept across Natasha’s body with a knowing gaze. When Natasha finally followed her own line of sight, she saw them—small red marks scattered across her skin.

Almost in a daze, she got out of bed and walked toward the mirror.

The closer she looked, the clearer it became.

Her neck, collarbone, and chest were covered in flushed red spots, even without counting her arms and legs. Her nightgown was crumpled, clearly taken off and put back on.

“Ha…”

It was too perfect.

All the signs pointed to a night spent together. Even if she claimed memory loss, denying what happened was becoming impossible.

Yes, it would be believable… if Natasha’s memory had truly disappeared.

“I only have one request. Stop there. That’s enough.”

“Is that truly your request?”

“Yes. That’s the end. A hazy state, a few embarrassing touches, but not a full night. That’s all I wanted.”

“A grim little play, isn’t it?”

“Yes. A grim little play… to deceive someone completely.”

They had not shared a sinful night in the eyes of the gods. After a deep kiss, Sieghart had honored her request and left the room before dawn.

“Kayeina, is that really what you heard?”

“Pardon?”

“When you walked past the corridor. Did you really hear me moaning? Did our private sounds echo that far?”

She glared at Kayeina through the mirror, her eyes intense and unwavering.

Support