I Decided to Let You Go (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
Natasha briefly allowed herself to hope that Kail’s confession letter might prove Kayena’s innocence.
Double-checking the letter, she noticed the imperial seal that should have been stamped at the bottom was missing.
Without the seal, the letter wouldn’t be accepted as evidence, for fear of forgery—after all, paper and handwriting alone couldn’t definitively prove the Emperor himself had written it.
Kail had boldly confessed the truth precisely because this letter posed no threat to him whatsoever.
She pondered why the Emperor had sent her such a letter. Though Kail enjoyed childish pranks, she believed this time he harbored a different intention.
‘Nothing much, madam. Whenever I want to see you, come running to me—like a dog.’
The letter was a signal for her to seek him out herself. No doubt, he intended to negotiate Kayena’s fate there.
Natasha had no desire to answer his summons. She couldn’t yet gauge what threats or mockery awaited her there, nor what price she’d have to pay for Kayena’s release.
‘I can’t rely on Zieghart.’
Thus, if not this path, there was no other way to save Kayena. With their story being deliberately silenced, conventional methods could never prove her innocence.
‘I have to… save Kayena.’
She was the child who had once been willing to die for Natasha. The only one who’d reached out to save her when everyone else had turned away—her savior.
Now it was Natasha’s turn to repay that kindness.
After some deliberation, she finally tore a page from her notebook.
「As soon as I wake, I’ll head to the Imperial Palace. Please have the carriage ready.」
It concerned palace business—surely the servants couldn’t pretend ignorance any longer.
She left the note and a stone outside the room and turned back.
[This is the timeline separator]The guards, having verified the Duchess’s identity, began escorting her to the audience chamber. Though her visit was unscheduled, they seemed already aware Natasha was expected.
“His Imperial Majesty awaits inside. Please enter.”
The knight halted before the audience chamber door, knocked, and it swung open from within.
Walking across the carpet strewn with rose petals, she eventually stopped before a set of stairs. Atop them sat Kail Retiers upon the imperial throne.
He crossed his legs and lifted the heel of the raised foot. His polished chestnut shoes gleamed beneath the chandelier.
“I never expected the noble Duchess herself would willingly enter this beast’s den first.”
Though the Emperor had clearly anticipated her visit and prepared in advance, he feigned ignorance—as if savoring his satisfaction at seeing his prey walk straight into his trap.
“…I’ve read your letter thoroughly, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“I was worried it might not reach you—glad it found its way. Still, I didn’t expect you’d come alone. Knowing how much you despise the palace, I thought you’d cling to your husband’s trouser leg, refusing to come.”
“…”
“Oh—perhaps you’ve already tried that once? Wailing pitifully, ‘Please believe in the maidservant’s innocence!’?”
Days ago, Natasha had visited the prison to request an audience with Kayena—it seemed word had reached Kail’s ears.
He mocked her now, mimicking her words from that day, deliberately thinning his voice to imitate hers.
She had to endure it. Rebelling here would only make things worse for herself. She needed to finish this plan before everything spiraled further out of control.
“I apologize, but I truly don’t understand what you mean. I’ve come to confess. It was I who plotted to poison the Duke—Your Imperial Majesty, wise and great.”
Natasha had resolved to claim guilt herself.
That the Emperor was the true culprit lay beyond what powerless her could possibly expose—but neither could she abandon innocent Kayena.
If she took the blame herself, the punishment might be lighter. Desperate as Kail was to torment her, he’d likely spare her from execution, if only to ensure her continued suffering.
Imprisonment, flogging, disgrace, and public scorn—these were small prices to pay if they’d save Kayena.
“What?”
“Thus, please release the innocent maid at once. The punishment belongs to me, the one who committed the crime.”
Kail blinked for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Madam, you’ve used your wits, haven’t you? You surely didn’t think confessing would land you straight into the dungeon, did you—?”
He rose from the throne and descended the stairs.
“Did you really think that if you were the culprit, you’d be treated differently? That I wouldn’t drag you to the scaffold like that wench?”
He gradually closed the distance until he stood right before Natasha. Then the Emperor took a lock of her hair and pressed it to his lips.
The sensation of her own hair brushing against his lips made her skin crawl—she almost wanted to tear it off herself.
“You’re clever, madam. How could I possibly execute you? Even locking you away in some dreary cell would be too harsh.”
His oily voice slithered into her ear. The hot whisper forced against her ear made Natasha flinch—and Kail, pleased by even this subtle reaction, increased his unnecessary contact.
His long fingers roamed over her body, lingering pointlessly. Every place his hand touched sent chills through her, like ants crawling under her skin.
“I’ll release the girl, considering your… consideration. But remember—you now owe me. And I’ll collect that debt slowly… over a very long time.”
Debt.
With this day, yet another shackle had been fastened to her ankles.
Kail seemed intent on haunting her for life—branding her with his presence, tormenting her forever. It was truly dreadful, utterly despairing.
Desperate for even a breath of escape, Natasha recalled a document lying atop her vanity in her room.
At first, she’d hesitated for the sake of her own and others’ safety—but now, she no longer cared.
After all, the Duke’s household wouldn’t protect those close to her any more than it had today.
‘If I divorce him, all of this will be…’
On the day Zieghart had coldly ignored her, Natasha had again taken out the document she’d hidden deep within her desk.
She’d finally resolved it was hopeless. The Duke’s household had never protected its women or their loved ones. Since danger was inevitable either way, she might as well choose freedom.
Once Kayena was released, she planned to flee far away with her—to leave for the annex, bring Sir Dante along, and find a new place just for them.
Thus, the mistreatment from Kail and Zieghart would end today—this would be the last of it.
“Just in case you’re thinking about it—don’t even consider running away.”
“…”
“Because, madam, I hate nothing more than boredom.”
He stepped down from his seat and yanked Natasha’s hair as she knelt.
“…Ugh!”
Her head snapped back, facing the ceiling. The pain felt like her scalp was being ripped off—but worse still was the Emperor’s fingers crawling along her stiff neck.
“If you’re even considering divorcing the Duke, abandon that idea. Your divorce petition will be rejected—repeatedly, by imperial decree.”
“…What do you… mean…?”
“It means shut up and submit to me.”
He behaved as if he’d read her very thoughts—clearly aware she’d prepared divorce papers.
Seeing the shock on her face, Kail laughed aloud.
His mouth stretched wide, his blue eyes curving into half-moons, forehead creasing as his nostrils flared and shrank repeatedly.
He was a malicious demon who took pleasure in others’ misfortune.
“To me…”
Natasha opened her mouth, her voice trembling.
Why?
She’d already tasted enough misery. Hadn’t the torment of all those past days been punishment enough?
Just when I finally opened up to you—why must you do this to me again…?!
“…Why do you keep doing this to me? Why, why…!”
The man sneered in reply.
“Because the dog I keep for my amusement tried to run away—and that’s terribly inconvenient.”
“…”
“And besides, someone just happened to recommend you for that role.”
He claimed her downfall and tragedy were merely his entertainment.
There was no deeper reason. Once, it had been for the glory of the Empire; now, it was simply for his amusement—he kept dragging Natasha back into the abyss of misery.
“Since I’ve been entertained thanks to you, Princess, I’ll give you a little gift in return.”
A knock pierced through Natasha’s daze.
“You’ll finally get to see your husband’s face—something you rarely glimpse—thanks to me. Be grateful, understood?”
Soon the door opened, and footsteps filled the silence.
The weight of each step, the pace and length of stride—maddeningly familiar.
“I believe I said I wouldn’t summon you for such matters.”
The man’s deep voice left no room for doubt. She felt his gaze pierce into her back—cold and unnerving.
“This time, it’s Emperor versus Duke, interrogator versus victim—so don’t be so sensitive. I’ve found the culprit who tried to assassinate the Duke.”
“Oh? And who might that be?”
“Your wife.”
“…”
“The Duchess came and confessed herself. She claimed she poisoned you because she despises her husband so deeply.”
Natasha felt humiliated under his gaze. The way he looked at her kneeling figure, her tangled hair, her vacant, dazed expression—it filled her with unbearable shame.
“Nonsense. I’ll take the Princess with me. Since you claim another is the culprit, I’ll take the imprisoned maid as well.”
Zieghart stepped forward another pace, grabbed Natasha’s arm, and hauled her up roughly as if she were mere baggage before heading out.
Once outside, Zieghart walked ahead without looking back, clearly heading somewhere familiar—likely the dungeon.
After walking in silence for a while, he suddenly stopped and turned around.
“You went to the Imperial Palace and confessed yourself as the culprit.”
His voice brimmed with disbelief.
“The fact that you left the Princess unarrested—and even released the maidservant—means you’re trying to bury this matter.”
“…”
“It’s being said that because of the Princess, House Aschardt now owes the Imperial Palace a debt.”
He’d spoken coldly before—but never had she seen him this furious. Natasha shrank under his reproachful glare.
She knew it well: this man, who didn’t love her, wouldn’t worry over her because of today’s events.
Yet his utter indifference—and his eagerness to scold her instead—pained her deeply in the chest.
“If you’re not utterly stupid, never involve yourself with the Imperial Palace again. One entanglement with them because of the Princess is more than enough.”
He finished through gritted teeth, veins bulging on his wide-open eyes as if ready to burst.
“Because of you, one entanglement with the palace is enough,” he’d said—as though the entire prior relationship with the palace had begun solely because of Natasha.
Yet he’d been dealing with the Imperial Palace for nearly a decade…
She found it strange—but couldn’t bring herself to question him.
She simply chose to ignore her curiosity, assuming she’d heard wrong.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
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Chapter Comments (4)
Inline Comments (87)
She knew she ought to push away that dark hand. She mustn’t be seduced by his si
🙄 so angry. And she falls for him again?? 🙄 No will power. Such a weakling.
The following day, they headed into the village together. Kayena’s thoughtful re
Why after all the incidents i am suspicious of Kayena??
“The evidence you’ve gone out of your way to show me is far too abundant to chal
Why the fuck did he need to do that?! 😦 If I were Natasha…even living 100 livesi won’t forgive him 😡
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Limited return by death? I guess nice story mechanism
He broke her trust, and now want her to believe that he is in love. I thing he also have his memories of the past.
It’s a little lot too late ass why no do this earlier if you regressed before