Natasha mentioned the contract between the two people that was concluded two years ago. It was to subtly point out the mistake of the Grand Duke of Kshant who had given up the seal of Charliee.

“My choice must have felt like a betrayal to you, Princess. I know. I can only say that I’m sorry.”

However, the Grand Duke remained firm.

“But the duchy had no choice.”

“…Do you intend to defend your wrongdoing with such excuses?”

“If you think it’s an excuse, it will sound like one, but please consider it an explanation if you put your mind to it a little more. I believe you will understand, as you are the sole person responsible for the Charliee royal family.”

Natasha glared at her silently. It was an attitude urging her to continue speaking.

“I didn’t need the seal. I thought it would be more beneficial to have the intact territory of Charliee rather than pretending to be a kingdom with half a territory.”

“By intact territory, you mean…”

“The ducal family offered to help the duchy. More precisely, they volunteered to aid in rebellion.”

“…”

“Rebellion. A promise to fully restore the territory of Charliee.”

She emphasized the word rebellion with particular force. As if describing how great and desperate a helping hand it was.

“The military power of the ducal family goes without saying. Although it’s still difficult to compare with the ancient Letius Imperial Knights, if they grow and the Imperial Knights decline, the situation will be reversed. We will invade the imperial palace when the time is right.”

Despite merely hypothesizing the situation, the Grand Duke was arrogantly assuring the future.

“You speak as if you’ve already gained the upper hand.”

“I’ve occasionally heard news that the influence of the Imperial Knights has been waning since the ducal family was selected for the honorary knight coronation. It’s only natural. The moment the weakness of the lord they respected so much is revealed, the motivation of the knights who served them also weakens.”

“…”

“We will infiltrate the imperial palace after gradually probing the cracked knighthood to weaken the imperial security.”

“But if that happens, you’ll have to consider wars with surrounding great powers as well. The closest Galonde Empire, of course, and other empires might start a war aiming for Letius. Surely, you don’t wish for the collapse of the Letius Empire itself?”

The Letius Empire was able to grow into a great power all thanks to the Letius Imperial Knights.

Their bravery and greatness brought victory after victory in wars, and subsequently, neighboring small countries became vassals of Letius, serving as fertilizer for territory and resources.

“Not that far. It would be too big a war. We might even lose the reclaimed Charliee Kingdom if we’re not careful. The duke’s and my plan is to receive cooperation from neighboring countries.”

“…Cooperation?”

“To prohibit war against the Letius Empire.”

The Grand Duke added that this plan might need a bit more research. However, she still seemed confident, thinking that the plan she had just announced was not inadequate.

It wasn’t an entirely groundless plan as the Grand Duke thought. However, it was confusing to hear such significant matters all at once without any prior notice. It felt like becoming a fool.

“Please cooperate. You, the last ruler of Charliee. I know it’s a life you didn’t want. However, if you can reclaim your homeland through a life with the duke, wouldn’t it be a noble sacrifice?”

The cruel demand of the Grand Duke of Kshant was all the more cruel for being so realistic.

“Princess, be cunning. The duke is willing to commit treason for you, so use him to your heart’s content. Order him to pierce the emperor’s heart and tear up the territorial contract of Charliee. Ask him to bring the Kingdom of Charliee back to you.”

It wasn’t wrong.

If she uses the man, Natasha will succeed in her revenge. Since he’s desperately clinging to her now, he might at least pretend to rebel out of guilt.

She knew it.

But…

‘Don’t you have a future you desire, Princess? To safely reach that future, you must join hands with Duke Asthart.’

‘Two years, I’ll stay with the duke for two years. Will that be enough time?’

The woman simply couldn’t accept that the end of this choice would again, round and round, lead to Sieghart.

The same flowing current. Natasha was frustrated by the repeating situation. It seemed as if there was nothing she could do on her own.

It felt as if she was forever trapped in the swamp that was Sieghart, unable to escape.

The woman was the last seed of Charliee before being Natasha Asthart. If she were truly noblesse oblige, she should willingly sacrifice herself for the greater cause, as the Grand Duke said.

Natasha knew the rational decision she had to make.

Quietly falling into Sieghart’s scheme, and once again standing by his side. Living as a living corpse beside the man who had betrayed her repeatedly, chasing her even after death.

Since he’s a man who would help with rebellion if she stays by his side, she could easily fulfill her wish of reclaiming Charliee.

But.

It would be a meaningless and empty life.

Reason was shouting at her to take the hand of the man who would reclaim Charliee for her, even if it was a pit. That Natasha’s despair wasn’t prioritized in this cruel world.

However, instinct told a selfish story.

It reminded her of what she truly wanted in this eleventh life after dying ten times.

It was the freedom that Tisha Winter enjoyed that made her cling to this cruel life, even if she would die and disappear without regret. Natasha clearly wanted to be free. To create Charliee’s future generation and raise the royal family in a free place.

If she stays with the man, she might be able to create Charliee’s future generation and rebuild the royal family, but she would lose the most important freedom. Of course. How could a life promised to a man she can’t love be free?

If what she desperately needs right now is excluded, is it worth considering the rest?

Wouldn’t it be the right thing to do for the past ten Natasha Charlies to choose an option that would make her happy, even if it takes time?

It’s just taking longer due to a detour, not abandoning the destination.

‘Your Highness is right. So I will become cunning, as the wise Grand Duke said.’

‘…Princess? What are you saying now!’

‘Choose, Grand Duke. Whether you’ll kill me and waste the duke’s salvation. Or keep me alive and deal with the variables.’

In the reception room, Natasha pulled out a dagger and held it to her throat. She threatened the Grand Duke, saying she would stab her neck if he didn’t help her.

Leaving him with the choice of either losing her and turning the duke’s proposal into nothing, or leaving a thread of hope.

It was truly a last resort.

When the surprised Grand Duke moved to stop her, she deliberately pushed the knife further in. The blade dug deeper into the soft flesh, pressing in harder.

‘Are you really going to give up on the country, Princess?’

‘Don’t give me such a grand name!’

Natasha shouted at the Grand Duke who was trying to hold her responsible.

‘The fall of the royal family that day wasn’t my responsibility. I just went to the village to buy a birthday gift for Prince Ludrio, and luckily survived without being caught by the Imperial Knights. I was only nineteen then, and I’m only twenty-two now. How much more do you expect from me?’

She vented her frustrations at the Grand Duke who was only viewing and wielding her as a political tool.

As her Adam’s apple moved, the cold blade pricked her skin, but she continued speaking firmly without showing any sign of pain.

‘Two years ago, I was forced into an unwanted marriage at your suggestion. I willingly accepted the sacrifice when you said it was for the Kingdom of Charliee. And now you change your words and tell me to live by his side for the rest of my life, and I’m a traitor turning my back on my homeland for refusing the proposal? How far are you trying to push me?’

In the end, the Grand Duke helped Natasha escape as she demanded.

The Grand Duke prepared clothes for disguise and a new carriage. He also handed over forged identification that Natasha could use elsewhere.

To protect the duchy that would suffer disadvantages due to her choice, she left a letter for Sieghart.

「Don’t blame me. I hope you blame yourself for making me like this.」

She also emphasized that if he truly apologized to her, he should not cut ties with the duchy. Oh, and in the postscript, she added that he should never punish Meliana and the three guards who helped her move.

Next to the letter, she left the dagger with her blood on it intact.

She then slipped out through the back door of the mansion and boarded the carriage that the Grand Duke of Kshant had prepared separately.

“Where shall we go?”

“Please, to the Mürhen viscounty in Baile.”

“Yes, I’ll take you there swiftly!”

With her robe pulled low, she lifted the curtain to check the situation outside. Soon after, the carriage she was riding in encountered the carriage she had just arrived in.

The knights seemed to be watching an ordinary carriage, then started whispering among themselves.

What would normally be an ordinary sight now felt quite different. The tense Natasha pressed her eyes close to the window.

‘No, they won’t realize I’m here.’

Please just pass by.

‘They must.’

Please let nothing happen.

‘If I’m caught, everything will be in vain…’

Please!

“…”

It was such a pressing situation that she dared not even breathe. Fortunately, the knights who had been viciously tracing the carriage’s tracks soon lost interest.

They seemed to be wondering among themselves when the duchess would return, looking at their watches.

Fortunately, they didn’t notice that Natasha was riding in this carriage. Relieved, she covered the window again and took off her robe.

It was done. Now she could really leave.

‘That’s why he wants to keep me by his side. Natasha Asthart, you’ll be happy only when you’re by my side.’

From the deceiver and oppressor who had been binding her.