I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 91

After arriving in the Galonde Empire, the two stepped into a nearby alley and removed their disguises.

Ellis’s dark, coffee-colored hair faded away, revealing Natasha’s soft, golden strands. Her alluring red eyes, hidden behind glasses until now, also came into view.

“Shall we go?”

As they moved toward the next alley, a coachman who had been waiting welcomed them. The carriage he stood beside looked far too elegant for the narrow, shadowy alley.

They had rented an expensive carriage despite the cost. It wouldn’t be proper to arrive at the imperial palace in a shabby vehicle.

Of course, it was nothing compared to the lavish carriages handcrafted by noble families, but it was refined enough to fit the occasion.

The port wasn’t far from the Galonde Imperial Palace, so the two arrived at their destination quickly.

“May I have your name, please?”

“Natasha Aschart. I believe I’m scheduled to meet with His Majesty the Emperor of Galonde today.”

“Ah, yes. You are on the list.”

Since she had already sent a letter and received confirmation for the audience, getting through the gates was no trouble.

The guard checked the registry and opened the palace gate.

After stepping down from the carriage, the two followed a royal servant who guided them through the palace.

At the entrance to the audience chamber, Sir Dante was stopped. He seemed worried about letting Natasha enter alone and pleaded, even offering to cover his ears and eyes, if only he could stay by her side.

Standing between concerned guards, Natasha quietly assured them she would be fine and would go in alone. She turned to Dante, who sighed uneasily, and gave him a gentle smile to ease his worries.

She then entered the chamber and knelt on one knee before the throne.

“I greet the great and wondrous Sun of Galonde.”

“The second moon of House Aschart has come. You may rise.”

At the Emperor’s command, Natasha lifted her head and stood.

She glanced briefly at the concubines standing beside the Emperor. The women, all strikingly beautiful, watched her with curious eyes.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting me this audience. If I may, I would like to speak with you alone. Though I used the name Aschart to secure this meeting, I am here today as Natasha Charlier.”

The Emperor, recognizing the hidden meaning in her words, agreed without hesitation and dismissed the concubines. One by one, the women walked down the steps and exited the chamber, taking the same path Natasha had entered.

As the doors closed behind them, silence briefly settled over the room. Natasha, realizing the true meeting was about to begin, suddenly felt nervous.

“You said you came today as the Princess of Charlier?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And what could a princess of a fallen kingdom wish to discuss with me?”

His tone shifted, growing more arrogant. His thick eyebrows rose slightly as his voice took on a sharper edge.

It was a familiar kind of disdain. But Natasha didn’t waver. She continued calmly and clearly.

“I intend to rebuild the Kingdom of Charlier. For that, I seek support from the Galonde Imperial Knights.”

When she sent the letter requesting this audience, Natasha had included subtle clues written in the Empire’s ancient language.

“Kingdom, restore, knights, aid, reward.”

The ancient words sounded similar to their modern forms, which made it easier to send a hidden message. And because of that, the Emperor likely understood her intentions even before they met.

So, his decision to grant the audience meant he was willing to listen.

Even now, the Emperor didn’t seem surprised. He didn’t scold her for daring to speak boldly. He remained seated, calm and composed.

“Supporting a rebellion… If anyone finds out, it could become quite troublesome.”

At last, the Emperor expressed the concerns he had likely been weighing. Natasha, prepared for this moment, answered without hesitation.

“I’m aware of the Shadows. Please lend them to me. Even if something is discovered later, there won’t be any danger to the Empire. We can simply claim they were hidden agents of Charlier all along.”

As someone who had once belonged to the royal family, Natasha knew of the secret agents known as Shadows that each country maintained.

They operated in secrecy, taking care of underworld tasks. Even if the rebellion was exposed or failed, there would be no way to trace it back to the Galonde Empire.

“Of course, I will make sure the operation is designed so that the Empire takes no damage even if things go wrong. I only made this offer as a precaution. I hope Your Majesty won’t worry too much.”

“The Shadows, is it? I’ll admit, it’s better than sending knights as reinforcements, but that only benefits Charlier. For Galonde, it’s a troublesome favor. There’s no reason for us to help a rebellion, especially if it means exposing the identity of our Shadows. Honestly, starting a war would bring more gain than helping with treason.”

“A war would provoke strong opposition from the other great powers. You know how Emperor Kail Letius took over the Kingdom of Charlier.”

Though her words sounded like a rebuttal, Natasha understood the Emperor’s harsh tone held a deeper, more strategic intention.

She closed her eyes briefly, then looked up and met his gaze directly. Her hand, hidden beneath her dress, quietly clenched into a fist. She was steeling herself. Then, with a voice firm and composed, she spoke.

“If you choose to help us, the Kingdom of Charlier will never forget the Galonde Empire’s favor. We will repay your kindness, fairly and properly.”

“Repay it?”

Finally, the Emperor showed interest. Natasha realized she had led the conversation exactly where he wanted it to go.

“We will offer you the Orland Mine.”

“The Orland Mine?”

“Yes. One of the most valuable resources in Charlier. Right now, it’s under the domain of a duchy, so not even the Letius Empire dares to touch it.”

The Orland Mine was one of the main reasons why the relatively small Kingdom of Charlier had been considered a powerful nation.

Everyone had desired Charlier’s land for its wealth. The mine was one of its most prized assets.

It was known not only for its rare diamonds, but also for sacred energy stones, which were nearly impossible to find elsewhere. The Orland Mine was like a goose that laid golden eggs.

When Natasha saw the Emperor’s eyes light up with interest, she knew it was time to press her point.

“There’s no risk of exposure. Knights from the royal family, the duchy, and House Aschart will all be involved in the rebellion. Once it succeeds, we can provide a different reason for their actions. And most importantly…”

The Emperor stayed silent, waiting.

“This plan will also involve a contract with the royal family of Letius. It will be an agreement between empires. You won’t need to fear any future retaliation from them.”

As Natasha planned the rebellion, she knew she needed another key element—the involvement of the next ruler of Letius.

The moment Emperor Kail Letius was removed, the collapse of the current regime would follow. That could lead to a war between the empire and the duchies.

To prevent this, someone had to fill the power vacuum—a new emperor who could take Emperor Kail’s place. Her goal was to justify his removal and establish a replacement.

The claim might sound far-fetched, but once the current emperor was gone, the empire’s only remaining hope would lie with the next in line.

As long as the successor had even a drop of Letius blood, he would be accepted. There might be arguments, but no real obstacles.

The Emperor’s expression relaxed slightly. He didn’t seem ready to accept the proposal right away, but Natasha could tell he was seriously considering it.

Just then, the heavy doors creaked open. A small woman entered and quietly poured tea into a cup on the table beside the throne.

“I understand your proposal. The Galonde Empire will—”

The Emperor’s words were interrupted when Natasha gently raised her hand. She didn’t speak but gave a silent glance toward the woman standing beside him.

The woman wore a robe that concealed her face.

“Ah, don’t worry about her. There’s no need for concern.”

“I see…”

“She’s a commoner. She has no one to talk to, and I doubt she even understands what we’re saying.”

Around the woman’s ankle, just barely visible, was a bracelet bearing the royal emblem of the Galonde Imperial Family. It marked her as one of the Emperor’s concubines.

And yet, the way he dismissed her so coldly felt deeply unpleasant.

Natasha acted as if nothing was wrong but kept watching the woman. Although her face was hidden, something about her felt strangely familiar.

Their eyes met.

Natasha quickly looked away, pretending not to notice, and turned back to the Emperor.

“No, I believe this conversation has gone far enough for today. Let’s speak of something else now. This time, I would like to talk with the great Emperor of Galonde as Natasha Aschart, not Natasha Charlier.”

“Haha, you’re quite an interesting woman.”

The meeting ended on a surprisingly warm note.

A few days later, a letter arrived from the Galonde Imperial Palace.

“Approval, Reunion and Full Moon.”

The Emperor had responded using the same method Natasha had used in her first letter.

That message could only mean one thing, they would meet again on the night of the full moon.

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