I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 92

A few days after receiving the letter, Natasha visited the imperial palace on the night of the full moon.

As instructed in the letter, she arrived in disguise, her appearance altered so no one could recognize her.

This was due to the Emperor’s concern. A fallen princess meeting repeatedly with the Emperor of the Galonde Empire would appear suspicious to others.

For the same reason, they met not in the audience chamber, but in the palace greenhouse.

Natasha removed her robe and spoke first.

“To arrange a secret meeting like this… I assume that means Your Majesty is seriously considering the proposal I gave you that day?”

Though her disguise covered her eyes, it couldn’t hide the red depths within them.

The Emperor caught a glimpse of her crimson irises and smiled faintly. Her serious expression reminded him of someone he used to know.

Bringing no guard or companion to such an important meeting likely meant there had been tension between her and her people. Yet her presence now carried the unmistakable strength of Duke Aschart.

“There is one condition.”

The Emperor’s answer was vague, but he soon clarified what he wanted.

“I want to see the feasibility of your plan.”

“By feasibility, do you mean…”

“I want to see that your rebellion has a real chance of success. The way you described your plan sounded convincing, but we have no proof it will actually work. If it fails, it could spiral into a conflict between nations. For our Empire, that would be a dangerous risk.”

“Even if our plan were to fail, I assured you there is no chance anyone would discover Galonde’s involvement.”

“And still, we cannot invest our resources into something with no guarantee of success.”

Before Natasha could even finish reinforcing the secrecy of their operation, the Emperor added another condition. His reasoning was valid. They could not risk wasting their most valuable assets, the Shadows, on an uncertain mission.

“So I want results. I want proof that you and your allies are capable of carrying this rebellion to success.”

He gently stroked his long beard as he concluded the discussion, his tone calm but confident, as if he believed the upper hand was his now.

Natasha answered without flinching.

“We have something to say on that as well. What if your Empire turns on us instead? How can we trust you enough to begin this plan? For all we know, you could ally with the Letius Empire and crush the Duchy of Kshant together.”

The Emperor’s brow arched with irritation. It wasn’t like Natasha to speak so bluntly.

“You’re acting bolder than usual. I understand your concerns, but let me be clear. We would never share the Duchy of Kshant’s resources with those Letius dogs. If we wanted it, we would take it ourselves, using the same cheap tricks they do.”

Not that he had any real intention of doing so, of course.

He placed a weathered hand gently on Natasha’s shoulder.

Since the stakes involved both honor and the risk of death, they agreed to write a formal contract. It was a pact sealed with sacred power that bound them to absolute secrecy.

No matter what the outcome, no one involved was allowed to reveal any part of the plan to outsiders.

If anyone broke the vow, the contract would activate and the offender would lose their life.

“Then I will return after proving that Your Majesty can trust us.”

With that, Natasha took her leave, confident she would return with results to satisfy the Emperor’s demand.

As she approached the rear gate the Emperor had directed her to use, someone suddenly stepped in front of her.

She noticed the anklet wrapped around the woman’s thin ankle. It bore the imperial seal.

The Emperor’s concubine?

Next, she saw the same familiar robe.

It was the woman she had seen before.

Before Natasha could ask what business she had here, the woman slowly pulled down her hood.

“…Miss Callete?”

The face was unmistakable.

She had only seen it once before, but it had left a strong impression. Natasha realized it was Ashy Callete, the woman she had encountered at a countryside party.

She had been told Ashy was from the Galonde Empire.

But not just a commoner? She was the Emperor’s concubine?

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Madam.”

Natasha remained silent, her expression unreadable.

“Or should I call you Princess?”

Ashy Callete’s voice was cold. Her eyes locked onto Natasha with an intensity that stirred something within her.

It wasn’t just in her head.

This was the same feeling Natasha had sensed at the party. The same sharp tone. The same piercing stare. Ashy Callete had looked at her this way before.

Just like Sieghart once had, distant and bitter, with emotions that seemed frozen.

“So, you know who I am.”

Natasha slowly removed her own robe in return.

Her dyed brown hair slipped free in the wind, revealing her identity once again.

Of course, as one of the Emperor’s concubines, Ashy would have access to more information than most. It wasn’t surprising she had learned the truth.

Natasha wasn’t shocked, but the atmosphere had shifted. Something unspoken passed between them.

“I heard you left House Aschart.”

They claimed to have a long-standing connection, yet she had discussed something so pointless with the Duke?

Natasha chose not to respond. She remained silent.

“Meeting the Emperor in secret like this makes it clear that you’re involved in something suspicious. I just hope your plan has nothing to do with House Aschart.”

“I don’t believe that’s any of your concern, Miss Callete.”

“If I were to find out that the gracious princess lacks any sense of honor, I would be truly disappointed. After all, I once served that kingdom too.”

“What did you say?”

“Don’t try to stir Duke Aschart’s sympathy to ask for his help. If you’ve left his house, then leave quietly. You were never needed there, so don’t cling to it.”

Ashy Callete spoke as if Natasha had been nothing but a stain in House Aschart. Even now, it felt like she was worried Natasha might pull the Duke into something dangerous.

No matter how long her connection with the Duke had been, this was blatant interference.

“As I said, it’s not your concern, Miss Callete.”

Natasha’s expression hardened slightly as she replied.

“Before I go, allow me to ask one thing. You seem to dislike me. May I ask why?”

For a moment, Ashy’s face twisted in anger. Natasha had only asked a fair question, yet she suddenly felt as though she had crossed a line.

“You really don’t know?”

A bitter sigh escaped Ashy’s lips.

“Didn’t Duke Aschart ever tell you?”

“What are you talking about?”

It was an odd thing to say. As if Sieghart had always known Ashy would hate Natasha.

Looking at Natasha’s puzzled expression, Ashy suddenly raised her voice.

“Damn Charlier.”

She spat out the name of a kingdom that had been erased from history, Natasha’s old home.

Ashy scoffed, then spoke again in a louder voice, her words overflowing with bitterness.

“You standing here in front of me like nothing’s wrong is offensive. It’s false. How can you look at me with those red eyes? How can you smile beside Sieghart like everything is fine?”

Natasha stayed quiet.

“You’re shameless.”

Shameless?

Ashy’s words were harsh, but the way she said them made it clear the insult wasn’t directed at Sieghart.

“Be careful what you say, Miss Callete.”

It sounded like Ashy was calling Natasha the one at fault in their relationship. Natasha’s voice sharpened as she responded.

“Whatever we are, it’s not for you to judge. There are things you don’t understand.”

“And yet you act like you were the only one hurt. As if you were the only one wronged.”

Ashy’s words didn’t anger Natasha. What stood out was the word “both.”

Natasha Charlier had done nothing wrong to Sieghart Aschart. And even if she had made mistakes, they had been reactions to his. Her actions had been justified. They weren’t something to be called a crime.

But for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to argue.

Suddenly, fragments of the past pushed their way into her thoughts.

“Should I tell him just how unworthy you are of the Duke?”

“You fools don’t even understand your own sins. Should I spell it out for you like a stranger would?”

Kail Letius had said something similar once.

He had called her impure, unworthy of Sieghart.

He had also said something strange about how they had both done wrong.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Her mind felt clouded.

“Sometimes, not knowing the truth is better. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Just like you can’t tell me everything, I can’t tell you everything either.”

“So, for now, just act like you didn’t hear anything.”

She remembered standing outside the door of the man with the blue beard, too afraid of the truth to open it.

The things she hadn’t confronted that day came rushing back now, like a blow to the head.

There really might be something she had forgotten, something awful.

A truth still locked away. A door she would one day have to open. And when she did, what lay beyond would bring nothing but ruin.

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