I’ve Decided to Let You Go - Chapter 99

Natasha continued explaining everything Kayeina Ten had done to her in a past life.

“You accused me of sleeping with the duke, even though we never shared a single night together. Then you faked a pregnancy. You used test plants and paid off a doctor to make it seem real.”

“Oh, and now you’re bringing that up? What do you want me to say? That you were right to punish me? Or that I shouldn’t feel guilty for almost dying in your place?”

“No. I’m telling you why I went easy on you.”

Natasha picked up another book. This time, behind it, she saw a handle.

She had found it.

This was the passage she had been searching for.

She memorized the bookshelf’s location and the titles of the books near it, then turned toward Kayeina.

Now, only one thing remained—dealing with the woman in front of her.

Kayeina Ten, who would almost certainly report Natasha to Kail Letius the moment she left.

“You tried to ruin the duchess, but your punishment was only exile. Sure, your reputation was damaged when the truth came out, but that was it. You just went back to your hometown. It wasn’t even really a punishment for someone like you.”

Natasha took a step forward. Kayeina, startled, stepped back.

“I let you go because I loved you. Even after everything, I couldn’t bring myself to ignore what you once meant to me.”

When Natasha stepped forward again, Kayeina backed away once more—until she reached the door and had nowhere left to go.

Natasha moved closer and whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

“There’s one more thing.”

Kayeina didn’t speak.

“Your whole life is a prison.”

Just as Kayeina had once known Natasha inside and out, Natasha now understood Kayeina just as well.

Even in this moment, through all the pain and rage, Natasha found the perfect punishment.

Maybe part of her still wanted to forgive her old friend.

But part of her also wanted her to suffer.

Going back home might have seemed like an escape, but it was a nightmare of its own.

Maybe Kayeina even wished someone else would end her misery.

She loved her family, but also resented them.

She couldn’t leave, couldn’t end her life, couldn’t even dream of starting over somewhere else.

She had gone back to a place that drained her spirit every single day.

She probably spent her days doing hard labor, bringing in what little money she could, only to have her family take everything from her.

She had nothing.

Not even love.

She lived like livestock.

And it didn’t end there.

Kayeina had failed her assignment.

Now Kail Letius was tormenting her.

She had no value left in the palace, yet she was still being called to the emperor’s chambers.

“What has that monster done to you?”

Kayeina said nothing.

“Did he threaten your family? Say he’d skin them and hang their remains on the palace walls?”

“Stop…”

Her face turned pale. Her breathing grew heavy and uneven. She looked like she was trying not to remember something she had fought to forget.

Natasha saw her crack.

And she didn’t stop.

“Did he tell you to be his loyal pet? That you had to crawl to him whenever he snapped his fingers? Did he mock you while you begged on your knees like a dog?”

“I said stop!”

“That monster…”

Natasha finally looked down.

That’s when she saw the bruises on Kayeina’s arms and legs.

Faint red welts peeked out from under her dress—marks like those left by a whip.

No parent would beat someone in such hidden places.

Natasha now understood exactly who was hurting her.

She stepped in again and lowered her voice.

“Don’t you want to kill him?”

“What…?”

“That monster.”

Her words struck something deep.

Kayeina Ten’s body trembled.

She looked like a leaf shaking in the wind.

Natasha took a step back.

Kayeina kept her head down, hiding her face.

When she finally looked up again, her voice was quiet but steady.

“Yes.”

Natasha knew then.

She had won.

“Kill him, rip out Kail Letius’s heart. Please, Get me out of this hell.”

After that, Natasha wrote down the location of the secret passage on a piece of paper, then rushed back to the powder room.

There, she quickly changed out of the maid’s uniform and slipped back into her evening gown, which she had hidden earlier.

Natasha cleaned up the loose ends quickly by asking a nearby maid to help. The woman handled everything neatly and without question.

When Natasha returned to the banquet hall, she was greeted by an enthusiastic Dorothea who had clearly been waiting for her.

“There you are! Finally! What did the physician say?”

Dorothea leaned in, full of concern, and Natasha could only offer a sheepish smile in response.

Her eyes met Sieghart’s across the room, and she gave him a small nod.

Not long after, the evening banquet began.

The nobles gathered at the long table were soon completely taken by the flow of beautiful dishes being served one after another. Everyone praised the imperial chef’s unmatched skill, eager to express how nothing had changed over the years.

Natasha, trying to hide her injured hand, ate awkwardly with her other one. As she struggled to keep up, a note was discreetly slipped to her.

“The secret room?”

It was from Sieghart.

She gave a small nod to signal that she had found it.

In response, Sieghart twirled his finger slightly, drawing a small circle in the air. It looked like a quiet signal to turn the note over.

Following his suggestion, Natasha flipped the note and found another message written in his familiar handwriting.

“Are you alright?”

Just like Dorothea earlier, he was checking on her condition. But this time, the concern felt heavier, layered with something deeper.

Rather than write a reply, Natasha simply looked at him and held his gaze. She left the meaning for him to interpret.

Even after the banquet ended, many guests remained, enjoying wine and conversation.

At some point, Sieghart rose from his seat and stepped outside. It was clear he was heading to the terrace, perhaps to clear his head or shake off the drink.

Natasha felt the silent signal. She stood naturally and followed him without drawing attention.

Once they were both outside, they began speaking quietly about what had happened earlier that day.

“I found the room,” she said. “When the Imperial Knights host the hunting tournament in two days, our knights should be able to inspect it thoroughly.”

“That’s good to hear. The Charlier knights also just reported they’ve found where the contracts are being stored.”

Natasha’s eyes widened with surprise and relief. Both missions had been completed in a single day.

Seeing her excitement, Sieghart smiled faintly. After a short pause, he reached out carefully and lifted her hand to look at it.

“You don’t need to push yourself this much. Like you said, the follow-up investigation is for the knights. I don’t want you overdoing it.”

He sighed deeply as he studied her hand. Clearly, he had figured it out during the banquet.

“…Alright.”

Afraid he would start lecturing her and insist she return to the Aschart estate, Natasha replied quickly.

The next day, Natasha attended the banquet as usual.

She continued acting sick in preparation for the following day’s mission. Every time she winced or swayed, Dorothea was the first to rush over in alarm, asking if she was still unwell.

Thanks to her performance, everyone now believed Natasha’s health was unstable.

Throughout the banquet, she coughed from time to time and drew worried glances. By the end, she looked pale enough that Sieghart practically had to carry her back to her quarters.

“Please don’t push yourself tomorrow. If you’re still feeling sick, you have to rest.”

With everyone concerned for her health, her alibi was fully in place. Even if she missed the next two banquets, no one would question her absence.

Then, the following day, Natasha headed to the emperor’s bedchamber along with Sir Dante and another knight. To avoid suspicion, the knights had gone ahead while she followed separately.

“You’re here,” Dante greeted her.

“Yes. Let’s go inside the study.”

They were already dressed in palace servant uniforms, though Natasha had no idea how they had gotten them.

She pulled out the note from the day before and pointed to the bookshelf hiding the secret room.

Dante and the other knight each took a side and moved the large shelf. Though it was taller than Natasha herself, the two men lifted it with ease. As expected, they were former knights.

Once the hidden door was revealed, Dante opened it and peered inside. The other knight stepped in to check what lay beyond.

“There’s a staircase here. It looks like a tunnel leading underground.”

“That confirms it. It must be the escape passage. We’ll go find out where it leads on the outside.”

Dante saluted before heading down the passage.

“Be careful, Dante.”

After sending them off, Natasha stepped out of the study.

While the knights explored the tunnel, she decided to search the emperor’s chamber a little more. The banquet was still in full swing, but under normal conditions, the room could be rigged with traps. She needed to be careful.

She was approaching the entrance when she suddenly heard something from outside.

“I said I’ll come back! Stop nagging me!”

She froze in place.

The voice was unmistakable. It was Kail Letius.

Is he coming in?

Panic surged through her as she rushed to check the study door. If he found out they had discovered the secret room, they would all be executed. Not just the knights, she would be punished as well.

And then she heard it.

The sound of the door opening.

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