I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 87

It didn’t take long to reach Viscount Myrrhen’s estate in the Vyle region. While Natasha was gathering her thoughts and going over her plan, the carriage had already arrived at the destination.

Perhaps because of her plain, worn clothing, her request to meet the viscount was declined at first. But once her identity as the Duchess of Aschart was confirmed, her audience was approved without delay.

“Ah, Duchess Aschart. It’s an honor to meet the Empire’s second moon. May I ask what brings you here? Is there anything I can assist you with?”

The viscount had rushed into the parlor just minutes after she sat down to enjoy the tea offered by one of the maids. His voice trembled slightly with surprise.

Natasha and the viscount were acquaintances who had occasionally exchanged letters and greetings at formal events. The sudden and unannounced visit clearly caught him off guard.

“I’d like to speak with Sir Dante for a moment, if that’s alright.”

“Of course, I’ll call for him right away.”

Relieved by her simple request, the viscount quickly left and soon returned with Sir Dante at his side.

“Thank you. Once I’ve spoken with him, I’d like to have a word with you as well, if your schedule allows.”

“Of course. Please don’t hesitate to call for me.”

With that, the viscount left them alone, cheerfully giving them space.

As soon as the door closed, Natasha turned to face the man before her. Sir Dante looked more mature than the last time she saw him, but his wide eyes showed he was still trying to process her sudden appearance.

Natasha offered a gentle greeting.

“It’s been a while, Sir Dante.”

“My lady, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“Why do you look so surprised? Am I not supposed to be here?”

“N-no, not at all!”

When Natasha tilted her head and gave him a playful, exaggerated pout, Sir Dante, who had been frozen in place, finally reacted. Embarrassed, he scratched his cheek and looked away with an awkward smile.

Maybe it was because it was him.

Even though this wasn’t a time to be smiling, she found herself letting out a soft laugh. Maybe it was his calm, reliable presence that finally helped her relax, even just a little.

“I came because I need the only person I can truly rely on.”

“…”

“Will you help me, Sir Dante?”

She reached out her hand.

Only then did his expression completely change.

He removed the helmet fastened to his belt and gently placed it on the nearby couch. Then, with quiet dignity, he took her hand, bowed his head, and kissed the back of it with care.

“If I can be of any help, I will gladly give you everything I have, Your Highness. You are the sun of our kingdom.”

Because there were still attendants in the parlor, it wasn’t the best place for a private conversation. The two stepped outside to the garden to speak more freely.

Though it was already nearing the end of winter, the weather was still cold. Thankfully, Sir Dante had brought an extra coat, just in case.

He gently draped it over her shoulders, saying she should wear it so she wouldn’t catch a cold.

With a shy voice, he added that the coat was his, so it might be too large or carry a bit of a man’s scent. It was clear he felt awkward.

“If you’re that embarrassed, maybe you should’ve just acted like it wasn’t yours. It’s not that cold anyway.”

“I’d rather be embarrassed than have you get sick. Even if it doesn’t feel that cold, the chill can be dangerous for you.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“Yes. Don’t you remember? When you were fourteen, you made a snowman and ended up in bed for two whole weeks. And when you got better, you were upset because the snowman had already melted. The next winter, you lit a campfire outside and fell asleep near it. That fever lasted nearly ten days…”

Natasha let out a quiet laugh and raised her hand to stop him. She got the point.

“Yes, I get it. I’ve always been weak.”

Even if those stories were true, it felt like he was being a little too careful.

Still, something about the way he spoke, so firm and unwavering, reminded her of someone.

She smiled, just for a second.

Then she realized who it reminded her of.

Her smile faded almost instantly, and she quickly wiped her expression away. She gently touched the corner of her mouth, as if trying to erase the memory altogether.

That was weakness.

To even think of that man after knowing the truth about him—she couldn’t allow it.

She gently bit her lip, then turned to Sir Dante and began to speak. She needed to stop the useless thoughts swirling in her mind.

“Have you been well here, Sir Dante? It’s almost been three years, hasn’t it?”

“I’ve been doing well. That’s all thanks to you, Your Highness.”

It was her support that had helped him rise to his current position. From a knight escorting carriages to serving as Viscount Myrrhen’s personal guard, it had been a major step forward in his career.

Neither of them could deny how much the recommendation from House Aschart had helped during that promotion.

“You’ve earned it. It’s all because of your own talent.”

Still, Dante had once been a royal knight. Based on skill alone, he deserved far more recognition.

Though he had once failed to protect royalty, which had left a blemish on his record, his capabilities as a knight had never changed. In a way, the recommendation had only helped him return to where he belonged.

“Since you’re working as the viscount’s personal knight now, I imagine you’ve built some good relationships with other knights too.”

“Yes. Back when I was an escort, I got along well with those I shared shifts with. After becoming a personal guard, I started working alone more often, so I became closer to knights from other houses. And actually, since last year, I’ve even reconnected with a few knights from the royal guard.”

“Even with the royal guard?”

“Yes, I helped a few of them find work.”

Dante smiled, clearly a little embarrassed.

Because Vyle was close to the principality, many royal knights were stationed there. Like Dante and Reon, some had taken on hard labor to earn a living. Dante said it pained him to see such talented people wasting away, so he helped introduce them to positions under Viscount Myrrhen.

The viscount had been thrilled to hire capable knights at modest wages, and gladly took them in.

At first, other nobles mocked him, asking why he was collecting castoffs like sausages on a string. But once they saw how skilled those knights were, they began eyeing them with interest, even trying to recruit them away.

In the end, Viscount Myrrhen started making money through referral fees. If he had organized them into a formal knight order, it might have become a revolutionary force. But he was a man who valued profit over honor.

“So, I’ve been able to rebuild strong bonds with them again.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It may sound childish, but it makes me happy. It means something to have comrades who’ve been through the same hardships.”

“I’m glad. I’m glad you’ve found happiness, Sir Dante.”

“Glad that I did? Does that mean you haven’t, my lady?”

She flinched.

In the middle of such a peaceful conversation, she hadn’t expected Dante to catch such a subtle hint. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and when she glanced at him, she saw his expression had grown serious.

“You’re too sharp, Sir Dante. I was going to tell you, but now you’ve made me start with something heavy.”

She had planned to tell him the truth anyway. There was no hesitation about that. She just hadn’t wanted to lead with it. She wanted to begin with something light, cheerful even. Not like this.

Because when someone truly wished for her happiness, like Dante did, she wanted to appear happy in front of them.

So, she began to explain. She kept it brief and clear.

She told him about the contract she had signed two years ago with Duke Kshant. About her relationship with Sieghart. About the trap she had fallen into, one she couldn’t escape.

When Dante asked about Kayeina, she even told him that part of the story. By the time she finished, the sky had already grown dim.

“Haa…”

Dante had kept his face still throughout her story. But when it ended, he let out a deep sigh filled with frustration.

What would he say now?

Would he ask why she hadn’t run sooner? Would he quietly resent her for not trusting him? Would he, like the Duke, blame her for abandoning her homeland?

Natasha waited. Part of her hoped for something. Another part feared what would come.

“What can I do to help?”

“…What?”

“What do I need to give? What must I sacrifice to help you? Should I offer you the emperor’s heart, Your Highness?”

His answer was so direct, so sincere, that it startled her. It was exactly what she had hoped to hear, but it felt almost too perfect, and that left her feeling strangely hollow.

“Help me gain power. I have nothing. That’s why I keep getting dragged into his trap. He’s the only one who can give me what I need.”

She had made her decision.

Even if she lost herself one day, even if she fell completely into Sieghart’s world, she wanted it to be her choice. Not something forced on her, not because she had no other way out.

When Sieghart stormed into the parlor, he froze the moment he saw the letter and dagger lying on the table. Armed knights followed, groaning in pain as they stumbled inside.

They had failed to stop the intruder, and now they had led him all the way to the ruler of the principality.

They approached, clearly unsure and ashamed. But when Duke Kshant waved them off, they finally relaxed.

The duke was seated on the couch, calm and silent. He didn’t bother greeting Sieghart. Sieghart didn’t greet him either.

Sieghart picked up the letter and read it slowly, line by line. When he finished, he picked up the dagger, still crusted with dried blood.

The sharp metallic scent hit him at once. He gave a small, hollow laugh.

The smell of the blade, the blood, matched the one memory he could never forget.

“So that’s it.”

His voice, low and full of restrained anger, broke the silence.

“So, in the end, she really left me.”

Support