I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 97

Natasha focused, carefully recalling the map of the imperial palace that Sieghart had given her.

She visualized the path from the ballroom to the emperor’s private chambers.

The Letius Empire had designed the palace corridors to be as confusing and secure as possible, especially to guard against assassinations. The route to the emperor’s bedchamber was known only to a very small number of people.

Even those who had seen the map found it nearly impossible to memorize.

Natasha had felt the same way at first.

When Sieghart handed her the map, she thought he was playing a joke. The emperor’s chamber was located so deep within the palace that it felt unreal. The path leading to it was just as complex.

She reminded herself that she had to remember everything.

Carrying a map during the mission was out of the question. She had to store all the details in her memory.

The palace itself was unfamiliar and overwhelming. Memorizing its winding hallways and hidden turns required more than a few hours of study.

So, she dedicated herself completely.

Over the ten days of the imperial banquet, Natasha worked on memorizing the map and refining the plan. She skipped meals and sleep, pouring all her energy into committing every detail to memory.

Eventually, she succeeded.

She reached the point where she could recreate the map in her mind without looking at the original.

Now she was ready. She knew where Kail Letius slept.

Of course, knowing the path and walking it were two different things.

Natasha walked through the ballroom as if heading to the infirmary, then suddenly changed direction and slipped into a nearby powder room.

Since the banquet had just begun, the room was empty.

She breathed a quiet sigh of relief and walked toward the cabinet Sieghart had described.

The second drawer in the third cabinet.

Opening it, she found a neatly folded dress. It was the official uniform worn only by royal maids of the Letius household.

Only palace maids and imperial knights were allowed into the private quarters of the royal family. A duchess wandering those halls would draw immediate attention.

To help her blend in, Sieghart had arranged for her to disguise herself as one of the royal maids.

These uniforms were custom-made by the palace’s own tailor, matched precisely to the number of staff. There should not have been any extras.

She wondered how Sieghart had managed to obtain one.

Most likely, it was the work of his mysterious ally.

Natasha quickly changed into the uniform and tied her hair into a neat bun, just like the palace maids did.

Once the footsteps outside had faded, she stepped out of the powder room and walked calmly through the hallway.

She kept her pace steady and focused on the directions she had memorized.

Straight ahead.

At the third hallway, she turned right.

Then she continued forward, turned left at the next corridor, and took another right at the next split.

The path was long and winding, unlike any other part of the palace. Eventually, she reached a new hallway she had never seen before.

She spotted flags hanging outside several doors.

Each flag bore an embroidered dragon, and the size of the dragon varied slightly from room to room.

These marked the living quarters of the royal family.

Not the emperor’s room, but rooms reserved for relatives who had remained loyal to Kail Letius.

It was a good sign. She was getting close.

She stopped briefly and looked around.

Because the banquet was in full swing, there were no guards or servants in sight.

That was fortunate. Even in uniform, her face would be unfamiliar. Anyone who knew the palace staff by name could recognize that she was an outsider.

Making sure she was alone, Natasha moved quickly. She had to find the emperor’s room before anyone saw her.

At the next intersection, she studied the hallway and chose the second path.

As she stepped into the dim corridor, the air felt colder. A few moments later, she came to a large door.

On its surface, the royal crest of the Letius Empire was carved in bold detail. Unlike the others marked by flags, this one showed its importance through the grand emblem etched into the wood.

The largest door. The largest dragon.

She tilted her head back to look at it fully. Sweat dripped down her chin. She hadn’t realized how tense she had become.

Carefully, she wiped the sweat from her face. Her stiff expression relaxed slightly, and a faint smile touched her lips.

She had found it.

This was Kail Letius’s bedchamber.

She reached out and turned the handle with confidence.

But it didn’t move.

The knob stopped halfway, stuck against something inside and it was locked.

It’s locked.

She had clearly heard that the door was usually left open.

Did they lock it because the emperor is away?

The plan had become more complicated, but that didn’t change what needed to be done. It was just a door. If she could unlock it, the rest would go smoothly.

Natasha pulled a long needle from where she had hidden it in her dress sleeve and slipped it into the narrow gap beside the handle. She twisted it carefully.

Click. Clack. Click.

Nothing happened. The door stayed tightly shut.

There’s some kind of magic on it.

The moment she felt it resisting her efforts, Natasha realized the door had been sealed with divine power. In the Letius Empire, it was common for the Pope to bless the emperor’s chambers with holy protection. Every emperor enjoyed that privilege.

She had been so focused on reaching the room that she completely forgot the most important part.

Finding the door meant nothing if she couldn’t open it.

Natasha pressed her forehead lightly against the door and looked down at her trembling hand.

Would it open if I used force?

If the door was sealed by a blessing, then maybe brute strength could break through. She could try smashing the handle.

Though I doubt I have the strength to actually break it.

She stepped into the hallway and checked both sides. No one was there.

Faint music echoed in the distance. The orchestra was performing, which meant even if she made noise, no one would hear it or suspect anything.

Natasha swallowed her nerves, grabbed her right wrist with her left hand, and struck the door handle hard with her fist.

A heavy thud echoed. The force rattled through her bones.

The door didn’t move.

I have to open it.

Each day of the banquet had a purpose.

Tonight, she had to find the chamber and complete her search. Tomorrow, she would attend the banquet as planned to avoid suspicion. On the third day, the final stage would begin.

If she delayed even one day, the rest of the plan would unravel. Although the banquet lasted four days, the final day ended with a closing luncheon. Time was running out.

There was no time to return to the guest quarters and speak to Sieghart. The search had to happen now.

She clenched her injured hand into a fist again and brought it to the handle.

No matter what, I have to do this.

She struck it again.

The door didn’t budge.

Still, she didn’t stop. Over and over, she slammed her fist down with everything she had. At some point, she lost feeling in her hand, but she continued. She didn’t stop until the handle gave way or her body did.

The seal must have extended to the handle itself. Despite her efforts, it held strong.

Her hand, however, didn’t.

A sharp pain shot through her palm. Her bones ached as if something had cracked. She could no longer close her fingers.

Natasha looked down at her hand, limp and twitching slightly.

I had a few more hits left in me. I could still take the pain.

But would it make a difference? The door hadn’t budged once. Would one or two more tries change anything?

Maybe she should return to the ballroom and ask Sieghart what to do next.

She paused.

Then she shook her head.

Her uncertainty faded. Her expression hardened. Determination filled her face like a fortress rising behind her eyes.

Her injured fingers curled once again into a fist. She raised it to the handle.

Natasha took a deep breath. Her gaze sharpened.

The door in front of her stood tall and untouched, almost as if mocking her.

Unlike her bruised and shaking hand, the door looked completely unharmed. It was as if it was waiting for her to give up.

One. Two. Three.

With all her strength, she threw her fist forward, letting out a sharp breath.

A loud thud rang out.

Even with everything she had poured into it, the result was the same. The door didn’t move.

She squeezed her eyes shut as pain surged through her again. Her hand, torn and raw, finally cried out in agony.

Then, something strange happened.

From the handle, a thin trail of smoke began to rise.

Soft, silvery mist took shape, curling around the handle like a gentle breeze. The haze shimmered faintly, wrapping itself around the seal.

Then came the sound of a soft rattle.

The door slowly creaked open.

What just happened?

Natasha stared in disbelief.

She hadn’t broken the seal. The divine power that protected the door had simply disappeared.

But only divine power can cancel a divine seal.

She stared down at her battered hand. It trembled weakly, completely worn out.

Whatever it was, maybe a higher power helped me.

She didn’t know exactly how the seal had lifted, but she didn’t need to understand it. What mattered was that the door was now open.

Without wasting another second, Natasha stepped into the emperor’s chamber.

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