I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 96

At last, the day of the imperial banquet had arrived.

Natasha and Sieghart attended as representatives of House Aschart. The official banquet would last four days, though guests were free to stay longer if they wished.

As expected from the mighty Letius Empire, the ballroom was as large as a noble family’s entire estate.

And tonight, it was filled to the brim with nobles.

“Oh my, Duchess Aschart!”

Just as Natasha and Sieghart were exchanging a glance to confirm their plans, a cheerful voice called out from behind.

When Natasha turned toward the voice, a young noblewoman stepped through the crowd.

It was Dorothea Park.

As usual, she was accompanied by her chaperone, and perhaps trying to catch the attention of her crush, she had dressed more beautifully than usual.

She took Natasha’s hand warmly.

“It’s been so long, Your Grace!”

“It really has, Lady Park. Have you been well?”

“How could I be well? You didn’t write at all! For a while, I thought my crush had turned into a love triangle. You haven’t replied to any of my letters—not mine, not anyone’s!”

“Ah… well… that’s…”

Dorothea looked genuinely upset as she brought up Natasha’s lack of replies. And just like that, Natasha found herself in an awkward spot less than an hour into the banquet.

From the reclusive life of Natasha Aschart, who had withdrawn due to supposed marital issues, to her secret life as Ellis Ripher, who had fled the duchy and gone to Vyle to plot rebellion…

Caught in everything that had happened, Natasha had neglected her responsibilities as duchess. That included keeping in touch with the noble ladies she had once grown close to.

She suddenly remembered the drawer in her office, stuffed full of unopened letters. Many of them must have been from her friends.

She hadn’t counted them, but she recalled seeing Dorothea Park’s name on more than a few envelopes. The fact that they had stood out in her mind probably meant there were quite a lot.

While she struggled to think of a proper excuse, another question caught her off guard.

“Honestly… I was worried sick! Do you know how shocked I was when His Grace said you had fallen ill? But since you’re here tonight, does that mean you’ve recovered?”

Despite having been ignored so many times, Dorothea’s words were filled with warmth and concern.

Natasha, faced with genuine care instead of criticism, blinked in surprise. She couldn’t hide her awkwardness.

As she slowly absorbed Dorothea’s kindness, the truth of the situation clicked into place.

Apparently, her sudden disappearance had been explained as a medical leave—a time away to rest and recover.

She glanced sideways at Sieghart, who stood calmly by her side, then turned back to Dorothea with a soft smile.

“Yes, I’m alright now. I’m sorry I didn’t write. I’ll make sure to send you letters more often.”

“You’re really, okay? You look so thin…”

“I’ve recovered quite a bit. I really am doing better.”

“Alright, I’ll believe you. But tonight, you have to stay with us. I have so much to talk to you about. Come on, Lady Helen is waiting too!”

Everyone Natasha met at the banquet asked the same thing. They wanted to know how her health was, if she had recovered, if she was truly alright.

Though it had been publicly stated that she had gone away to recover from an illness, not a single person seemed to doubt the story.

Maybe it was because she looked so noticeably thinner than before.

In any case, it was a relief that no one was suspicious about her sudden disappearance.

“You know, I think His Majesty put extra effort into this banquet.”

“I agree! It’s even more glamorous than the last one!”

The noble ladies, mesmerized by the grand venue, were all busy sharing their admiration.

Natasha quietly nodded along. It was hard not to be impressed.

Antiques placed throughout the hall told the long, rich history of the Letius Empire.

On the wall behind the platform hung a large portrait of Emperor Kail Letius, painted by a master known as one of the greatest artists of the age.

The bold brushstrokes captured the emperor’s commanding aura perfectly.

When she looked up, an enormous chandelier caught her eye.

It was as large as a room on its own, sparkling with countless embedded crystals and diamonds.

No noble could look at such a lavish banquet and not feel moved.

Soon, the deep sound of a cello echoed through the hall. As the crowd quieted down, more instruments joined in one by one, building a rich harmony.

When the opening piece came to a close, the person who stepped onto the platform was not the emperor, as most had expected.

“What a beautiful night.”

It was the Pope, not Emperor Kail Letius, but the divine representative of God and the voice of peace in the world.

With a light greeting, the Pope began to speak, introducing the night’s grand and honorable celebration.

As he raised his hand, the orchestra began playing again, their performance both precise and graceful.

Marching in step with the music, a group of knights approached the platform. In perfect rhythm, they turned to the right, then to the left, their movements almost like a dance. Then they faced forward and bowed.

The Pope proudly explained how strong and exceptional the Letius Imperial Knights were.

Behind him, the knights stood tall and motionless, heads bowed. The imperial anthem played gently in the background, honoring their legacy.

The magnificent display left a deep impression on everyone in the room, regardless of status or gender.

“A speech from the Pope… Isn’t this the first time he’s ever spoken at a royal banquet? Only in the Letius Empire could something like this happen.”

“And those Imperial Knights, didn’t they just get new uniforms? I heard they were custom-made at the best salon in the empire, so elegant.”

“I think I heard they’re opening recruitment soon. I wonder which noble sons and daughters will become the stars of the next generation.”

“People say the second son of the Marquis of Swen is a top contender… but it’s hard to say for sure. The competition’s especially fierce this time.”

“Well, who wouldn’t fall in love after seeing this? Family name or not, there’s nothing more desirable than serving the Letius Imperial Court.”

The nobles, dazzled by the splendor, quickly turned their praise toward the empire.

The young ladies, excited for tomorrow’s hunting tournament, were already chatting about which knight they would give their handkerchiefs to.

While Natasha quietly nodded along, something cold touched her hand.

She didn’t even need to look, the feeling was too familiar.

Sieghart had slipped something into her palm without a word and was already walking away.

Once his footsteps had faded, Natasha opened her hand to see what he’d given her.

A brooch.

It shimmered with soft, shifting colors. As Natasha stared at the gemstone in the center, she could sense the holy energy inside it.

It was clear what it was for. A device meant to send a signal, prepared for her mission to find the emperor’s private chambers alone.

She glanced toward the direction Sieghart had gone. After a brief pause, she shoved the brooch into a hidden pocket inside her dress.

Wearing it openly, as he likely intended, felt like giving in. But throwing it away completely felt reckless. In case something happened, she might need it.

Once the Pope’s speech ended, the banquet truly began.

Waiters moved between the guests, offering trays of champagne and finger foods. Like the others enjoying small bites, Natasha reached out and picked up a dessert.

A quiet warning followed, one of the treats contained peanut butter and should be avoided by anyone with allergies.

Peanuts were something Natasha couldn’t handle well. They weren’t deadly to her, but every time she ate them, she broke out in hives and suffered intense stomach pain.

Still, she popped the dessert into her mouth without hesitation.

In just a few minutes, red welts began appearing across her skin. Her breathing grew heavy, and she let out a strained gasp.

People nearby gasped in shock.

“Oh, my goodness!”

“Duchess Aschart! Are you alright?”

“Someone, get her to the infirmary!”

Realizing she wasn’t just unwell but truly struggling, several guests rushed to help. A few even offered to escort her themselves.

“N-no, I’m alright. I can still walk. Please, don’t worry. Enjoy the banquet and I’ll be fine on my own.”

Despite everyone’s concern, Natasha insisted on leaving by herself.

She limped slightly as she walked out of the hall, then stopped once she reached the doors.

If I want to find the emperor’s chambers from here…

She closed her eyes for a moment, and the map of the imperial palace that she had studied came clearly into focus in her mind.

Support