I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 64

Kayeina’s soft voice seemed sweet, but the repeated words pushed her to the edge.

No, no…

Kayeina murmured softly.

The one who should be in trouble was that woman. Natasha Charlier, sitting upright and acting as if nothing was wrong while calmly cutting her food!

The one who deserved to be scorned was that woman. She should have been branded as the shameless Duchess who committed adultery.

“Why… Why are you saying that? Are you accusing me of fabricating the news of the Duchess’s pregnancy? Why would I do something like that? Why? What would I gain from it?”

Kayeina’s trembling hand clutched her dress, shaking like a leaf. Her chin quivered as she struggled to speak each word.

“You say there was no intimacy, so no pregnancy… I don’t know anything about that… But if the Duchess has had two pregnancy tests, it must be true. What if it’s someone else’s child? Are you trying to make me the culprit to clear your name? Why don’t you just beg for the Duke’s forgiveness?”

A moment later, the sound of a utensil hitting the floor echoed. It was the fork and knife Natasha had been holding just moments before.

The sound of a chair scraping the floor followed. To Kayeina’s surprise, Natasha didn’t bend down to pick up the dropped utensils. Instead, she stood, ignoring the fallen items, and walked away. As she passed, her heels clicked against the floor, almost as if deliberately making noise.

Click, click. Natasha, who normally walked in silence, now made a deliberate noise with each step.

“Alright, Kayeina. Keep talking then,” Natasha’s voice was cold as she stopped in front of Kayeina.

“Answer my question first.”

“…”

“You shouldn’t interrupt your host. Even if we’re friends, there’s a line.”

Kayeina lifted her chin and looked up at Natasha. The woman, who always responded with a kind smile, was now glaring at Kayeina with an icy, cold stare. Hatred simmered beneath the faded greenish eyes.

Finally, Natasha faced the friend who had truly betrayed her.

“Why did you bleed on my bed that day? Why did you claim that the marks on my body were made by the Duke? What was the reason for suddenly giving me that flowerpot and urging me to test for pregnancy? Why was it that only that flowerpot gave a different result?”

“…”

“And why did you hire a doctor to spread lies about pregnancy? Speak up!”

“…”

“Instead of believing my sudden, baseless affair, doesn’t it make more sense that you were trying to frame me?” Natasha’s voice was sharp as she presented her evidence, cornering Kayeina with a series of well-placed accusations.

Each argument was meticulous, leaving no room for rebuttal.

Kayeina’s lips trembled, and her breath became ragged, as if she couldn’t catch her breath. She gripped her throat in distress before finally collapsing to the floor.

“No, no… No… It’s all her fault…”

And then, she cried out in desperation. Her agonized voice echoed through the dining room.

After a short pause, the Duke gave a slight nod. The knights who had been standing guard moved in, surrounding Kayeina, and took hold of her arms, dragging her away.

“Until the sentence is decided, lock her in solitary confinement.”

“Understood.”

“No, no! It’s a lie! I’ve never lied! Your Excellency! It’s her affair! Please, please believe me…”

Her pleading voice grew faint as the knights silenced her, covering her mouth as they led her outside.

The sounds of her desperate cries eventually faded, leaving Natasha alone with her thoughts.

Two days had passed since the maid who had framed the Duchess was locked in solitary confinement. She refused to eat or drink and kept silent, her hardened resolve only drawing disapproving stares from everyone.

For ten years, the criminal had been with the Duchess.

It was said that she had been taken in by the imperial family as a child and had served as the youngest princess’s play maid. Later, she had become the Duchess’s personal maid, but no one had suspected the dark motives lurking behind her sweet demeanor.

Everyone worried about the Duchess.

So, when Natasha insisted on visiting the troublesome Kayeina Ten, they all tried to dissuade her.

In her stubbornness, Natasha ignored their pleas, seemingly deaf to their warnings.

Following the knight’s guidance, Natasha entered the solitary cell and sent the others away.

At first, the knights refused, but after repeated orders, they reluctantly stepped aside. This happened only after thoroughly searching the criminal’s body three times.

“Hello, Kayeina.”

Natasha, with an emotionless expression, stared ahead.

Kayeina, locked in the cage, reacted to Natasha’s voice and opened her eyes. The bloodshot veins in her eyes made them look like they were on the verge of bursting.

As soon as she saw Natasha, she pushed herself up from her hunched position and moved closer. Then, she stretched her hands out toward Natasha, reaching beyond the bars in a desperate attempt to grab her. If her hands hadn’t been shackled tightly, Natasha’s skin might have been torn.

Her expression was filled with venom, to the point where it was hard to believe this was the same person who had once been her friend.

Natasha scanned Kayeina with empty eyes before asking slowly, “Why did you do it?”

It was a question loaded with many unsaid things.

Kayeina’s eyes, with bloodshot veins glaring at Natasha, did not offer a response.

Her fingers moved restlessly, attempting to break free from the cuffs in a desperate bid to get closer to Natasha. The more force she exerted, the tighter the shackles became, causing her fingers to squirm as though writhing in pain.

Natasha turned her gaze away from the violent scene.

“Why did you do it?”

She spoke again, but this time, it was not a question, but a reproach.

Why did you hate me so much this time?

Why haven’t you changed like Sieghart did? Why haven’t you changed, and continue to torment me in both this life and the past?

From across the room, a bitter sneer echoed. Kayeina, giving up on reaching out through the bars, pressed her face up against the cold metal. Her face, unwashed and filthy, came so close to Natasha that their faces nearly touched.

“Why did I do it?”

Her lips, parched from lack of food and water, emitted a foul smell—hunger and anger mixed into a stench.

“Not knowing that is deceit in itself!” Kayeina hissed as she dragged her teeth across the bars. The awful sound of scraping echoed through the silence, a chilling noise like bones being gnawed at.

“You have no idea what kind of humiliation I’ve endured because of you!”

“…”

“Do you have any idea how terrified I was of death that day?”

Kayeina’s voice trembled as she recalled that tragic day.

The youngest princess of Charlier had gone to the village to buy a birthday gift for Prince Alex Ludrio when the horrific incident occurred.

The Letius Imperial Knights barged into the royal palace unannounced. As they drew their swords, dozens of heads rolled. Blood sprayed like a fountain, staining the luxurious palace walls, and the bodies of those who had fallen filled the floor.

“Bring all the royals!”

Among the knights, the most commanding figure, Kyle Letius, ordered his men to capture the royal family of Charlier.

“Yes!” came the resounding reply, followed by the sound of galloping hooves.

The princess had been scolded by the queen for sneaking out. Meanwhile, Kayeina, who had been staying in a room next to theirs, trembled in fear.

“Your Majesty… What should we do?”

“Damn those Letius bastards!” the queen cursed.

The sudden invasion caught even the queen off guard. She rushed to the window and saw the group waiting outside, and she collapsed in shock. Both the interior and the exterior of the palace were unsafe.

The queen’s face turned pale as she thought of her children. With the unexpected invasion, the knights would not be able to protect the royal family.

“What about Princess Natasha? She’ll be back soon… but those bastards will keep waiting until they find her!” the queen fretted.

If they wanted the kingdom, they would wipe out all the royals. The Letius knights were intent on hunting down every last pureblood, and they would continue to wait until Natasha returned to the palace.

Though accompanied by Sir Dante, they wouldn’t be caught right away, but once the knights tracked her down, they would eventually discover her position.

Kayeina was at a loss. Even though she was in immediate danger of being killed, she couldn’t stop worrying about Natasha, who was left alone.

Meanwhile, the queen, who had collapsed in a daze, suddenly looked up with a sharp glint in her eyes. She whispered Natasha’s pet name, “Tisha,” one last time before suddenly jumping to her feet.

“Kayeina, you’ll die in her place. That way, the knights won’t suspect anything when they realize Tisha’s missing.”

“What… Your Majesty?”

The queen muttered something unintelligible as she began to search frantically through the room. Amid the chaotic search, she found a fancy dress and jewelry.

With rough hands, the queen stripped Kayeina of her dress. In the confusion, Kayeina couldn’t even resist the queen’s forceful grasp.

“You must die! You’ve lived a luxurious life thanks to our daughter. You owe us. How could a common girl be the princess’s playmaid? Everything was thanks to Tisha! Now, die in her place!”

Kayeina Ten, a girl with no noble status, was doomed to be punished by the imperial family, with no right to protest.

The queen intended to disguise Kayeina as Natasha and offer her as a sacrifice.

Stunned by the shocking request, Kayeina stood frozen as various pieces of jewelry were placed before her. In the past, she had been accused of being a thief for possessing royal jewelry. But now, she bought them herself and wore them on her body.

Later, Kayeina was captured by the knights along with the queen. On her knees before the great Lord Letius, she awaited her fate.

She had to speak up and declare that she was not the princess. She had to confess that it was all a lie.

But what about the princess? My beloved Tisha Charlier?

In the end, Kayeina couldn’t speak. Betrayal welled up inside her, but that betrayal couldn’t bring her to kill the innocent princess.

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