I Decided to Let You Go (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
An utterly silent night was shattered by an unexpected blizzard. The wind howled sharply as it swept through the ducal domain, accompanied by a piercing chill that cut like a blade.
Anticipating a calamity that seemed likely to persist, the ducal household issued a warning to refrain from going outside for the time being. Additionally, they declared the forest of Duglos—located at the deepest heart of the ducal domain—strictly off-limits.
Footprints overlapped atop the snow-covered plain, so still that not even an ant dared cross it. Each step sank deeply into the snowfall that had accumulated overnight, until the cold reached even her slender ankles. Though even beasts had fled far away from the desolate cold, the woman wandered the snowy expanse wrapped only in a thin shawl that scarcely covered her body—defying the duke’s explicit order to enter the forbidden Duglos Forest.
‘…If it’s here.’
Her reason was simple enough.
She merely wished, just once, to disobey her master’s command.
She thought that here, where no one else existed, she might find eternal rest.
And at last, she arrived at her destination—the darkest, deepest recess of Duglos Forest. Here, she believed, no one would ever discover her body, not even in the distant future.
Kneeling, Natasha pulled a dagger from her bosom.
It was an utterly impulsive plan.
A series of shocking events. Lost will and purpose.
She hated this world that gave no response, no matter how desperately she cried out in endless confession. She resented the man who, from his lofty perch, orchestrated everything, stood by idly, and ruined it all.
That was why.
It was an exceedingly spontaneous plan, born from her bitterness toward a world that granted her not even the slightest room to breathe.
‘If only one person would worry for me.’
Though the duchess cared deeply for the safety of her people, no one restrained her from venturing out during a snowstorm at night. Long after she had left the ducal manor, not a single guard came searching for her.
If only someone had asked where she was going, or simply said, “It’s cold outside.” Just an ordinary word of concern…
No.
If only Zieghart Aschardt had apologized to her, even once. If only he hadn’t ensnared her with tender lies.
Then perhaps…
Drawing the blade from its sheath, its finely honed edge gleamed into view.
‘I despise you so much.’
Before Natasha appeared the familiar phantom—utterly indifferent even as she pointed the knife at her own heart: the cruelest man in the world.
‘Just as you hated me, now I loathe you… endlessly.’
She gripped the blade tighter. As her arm swung down, snow that had softly gathered on her shoulders scattered in every direction. Amidst the eerie howling winds—like clashing steel—a real metallic ring now mingled.
Moments later, crimson blood, identical in hue to her own eyes, splattered onto the ground.
‘It hurts…’
Excruciatingly so.
Her heart, stabbed and torn apart; her past, slashed beyond recognition.
Her fading consciousness foresaw the end. With great effort, she forced open her heavy eyelids. The illusion of Zieghart watched over her final moments.
The man who murdered her family and child, and now killed her without so much as blinking an eye.
The man Natasha had loved desperately.
Zieghart Aschardt.
Toward him, Natasha offered a faint smile—
as though proudly declaring she had finally let him go.
[This is the timeline separator]It was a peaceful day, no different from any other.
Natasha Charlier, the beloved youngest daughter of the Charlier royal family, had gone on an outing with her handmaiden, Kayena.
They were seated on a blanket beneath a zelkova tree, eating sandwiches, when Kayena spoke up.
“By the way, Your Highness—there’s a new jeweler in the village.”
Kayena narrowed her eyes slightly to catch the princess’s attention.
“A jeweler?”
“Yes. They’ve become quite famous for their brooches. Especially their men’s brooches—they’re elegant, and very popular among women. It’s become a trend to gift them to fiancés or husbands.”
Her companion subtly emphasized the latter part. Both women, thinking of the same person, burst into laughter at once.
“Kayena, you—”
“Oh, come now! I’m just giving you good advice! I heard you’ve been worrying over a birthday gift for the prince!”
Both had been thinking of Alex Ludrio.
Alex Ludrio—the prince of the Ludrio Kingdom and Natasha’s fiancé.
A year ago, during his visit to the Charlier Kingdom, he had fallen for Natasha at first sight and had courted her tirelessly ever since.
When her parents gently suggested it was time to consider marriage, Natasha logically thought of Alex. Though her feelings didn’t fully match his, she decided it was better to proceed with him than accept a marriage proposal from a complete stranger.
She had just intended to speak with him while giving his birthday gift, when the perceptive Kayena brought her this perfect present idea.
“That’s exactly why I was about to thank you.”
“Hehe, right? You should hurry and go to the village with Sir Dante. I’ll pretend I don’t know a thing—you were just having a picnic with me, after all?”
After a major quarrel between sisters, both had been grounded for three days, yet Kayena readily helped her escape.
“Kayena, you’re truly the best!”
“You know what to bring back, right?”
“Three scones, generously layered with strawberry jam?”
“That’ll be a fair reward!”
Afterward, Natasha slipped out of the palace with Sir Dante. She bought Alex’s gift from the jeweler, Kayena’s scones from the bakery, and was returning home when—
The palace, once a living masterpiece, now depicted sheer tragedy. All that greeted her was a ruined fortress.
“…The palace.”
The supposedly impenetrable walls had collapsed helplessly. Buildings were vanishing, consumed by flames.
Across the grass—once lovingly tended by the royal gardener—lay thick pools of blood and severed faces of knights.
A day that had begun in ordinary peace had swiftly descended into the most wretched misfortune.
“Your Highness, wait just a moment…!”
Someone urgently seized Natasha’s arm, jolting her from her daze. It was Sir Dante, the royal knight who had accompanied her to the village moments earlier.
Quickly assessing the situation, Sir Dante brought a horse, lifted the princess onto it, and began riding away without a sound—too afraid even to breathe, lest any survivors be discovered by the enemy.
“You must hide here.”
An unfamiliar knight’s cloak was draped over her. Only then, overwhelmed by the stench of blood, did Natasha truly grasp what had happened.
Her home and beloved people—
had vanished like a mirage.
After riding for a long while, the horse finally stopped.
Upon reaching an unfamiliar village, she followed Sir Dante’s suggestion and changed into plain clothes. With a hood and spectacles concealing even her fine features, her disguise was complete.
Soon after, Sir Dante spoke.
“Your Highness, please stay here quietly. If someone knocks on the door, open the back door and hide in the barn.”
He left—and returned the next day, bringing a newspaper that reported the previous day’s catastrophe.
‘The Fall of the Charlier Royal Family—Will the Kingdom Become a Vassal of the Empire?’
The assault on Charlier Kingdom had been carried out by the Imperial Knights of the Retiers Empire. Acting on the Emperor’s command, they stormed the palace and exterminated the Charlier royal bloodline.
Approximately two hundred years prior, the mighty Retiers Empire had failed in its attempt to turn the kingdom into a vassal state, leading both nations into enduring hostility.
Though small, the Charlier Kingdom was rich in resources—making it a prime target for the Empire, whose vast lands were comparatively barren.
However, outright war was no longer feasible. Other great powers would oppose the Empire’s consolidation of power, and smaller states would fear becoming the next prey.
Thus, the Empire chose extermination over war. With no royal heirs left to govern, maintaining the kingdom’s sovereignty would become impossible.
There was a real risk the former kingdom might not only become a vassal of the Retiers Empire but could even be divided among several great powers. To prevent this, Grand Duke Kshant—who had been granted full authority after the royal massacre—established the Duchy of Kshant by consolidating ten neighboring territories, while the rest were annexed by the Empire.
Having thus resolved the territorial dispute, the Empire and the new Duchy forged an alliance and pledged peace. Unlike the brutal manner in which they had seized the kingdom, the two states now appeared to maintain friendly relations.
The Empire supported the Duchy in establishing a new home for former Charlier citizens and implemented welfare policies to help them resettle swiftly.
With royal finances and imperial support, the Duchy of Kshant rose successfully, and the lives of former kingdom citizens improved—making it seem as though peace had been restored for all.
All except for one: Natasha Charlier, the lone survivor.
[This is the timeline separator]As long as Natasha lived, the royal bloodline was not truly extinct. Thus, in theory, she could reclaim her lost throne.
“In theory,” however, was the key phrase.
To avoid drawing the attention of other great powers, the Retiers Empire had to swallow the Charlier Kingdom covertly—hence their choice: royal extermination. They eliminated every potential heir, leaving only an empty shell of a nation to absorb.
By splitting the kingdom—half into a vassal state, half into a duchy—they avoided provoking major powers while still securing land and resources. It was undeniably a shrewd move worthy of the great Retiers Imperial House.
Therefore, the legacy of that illustrious house could admit no flaw. Any intervention by someone with legitimate royal claim would tarnish their glorious achievement.
Hence, if Natasha’s survival were ever revealed, her life would be in grave danger. The fragile Duchy, still reeling from the royal massacre, would prioritize its own peace over the kingdom’s restoration. Returning to the Duchy, then, was hardly a safe option either.
Sir Dante insisted it was better to remain hidden until circumstances improved, prioritizing the princess’s safety over immediate vengeance. Natasha, still barely more than a girl, was gripped more by fear than anger—and so refrained from rash action.
Instead, she vowed to someday reclaim her lost home. She would survive, bear an heir of Charlier, and ensure that heir would bear another—no matter what it took…
With that hope—to someday recover her home and family—she lived in a rural village under a concealed identity. One year passed.
On that day, she was returning home from the market after buying groceries when she noticed an unusual man near the marketplace exit.
Though his face was completely concealed beneath layers of cloth, his aura was unmistakably extraordinary—certainly not someone who belonged in a village of commoners.
Natasha glanced curiously at him—then, upon meeting his eyes moments later, her shoulders trembled faintly.
Though both shared red-toned eyes, his resembled the blood of a beast—utterly unlike hers, which had once been likened to a dewy apple.
Sensing her gaze, the man soon halted. Realizing who held his attention, he turned his head toward where Natasha stood.
A sudden gust of wind fluttered his cloak—revealing, ever so slightly, the sword hanging at his waist.
‘That’s…’
The blade bore the crest of the Aschardt ducal house.
Only then did Natasha recognize him. Though they’d never met, she’d seen his face countless times in newspapers.
Zieghart Aschardt—the emperor’s confidant and master of the Aschardt ducal house.
The man was of the ‘imperial’ court.
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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Chapter Comments (7)
Inline Comments (100)
“The imperial house is my enemy. If you believed I’d rejoice over love from some
Smart BUT… You don’t mean it 😒😒😒 10 lives? And still?! Fuck not
“I know why you reject me. But House Aschardt severed all ties with them long ag
Someone please tell me he’s not the male lead, he’s such an ass
“The imperial house is my enemy. If you believed I’d rejoice over love from some
Is this before or after she regressed? It’s confusing as hell
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Is the male lead at all redeeming cause he seems like that ass of an emperor
I don’t really care if she gets the kingdom back but does she at least get a safe town or something?
This man shouldn’t be an actor he can’t really hide his dislike for fl