I Decided to Let You Go (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
The one person who would never seek out Natasha first was Zieghart.
He tilted his head sideways upon spotting her preparing to go out.
“I have something to take care of for a moment….”
She quickly trailed off mid-sentence. While she spoke, the sound of a door locking echoed through the room.
Frantically glancing toward the door, she saw him slip the key into his pocket. Zieghart had indeed locked it.
Shocked by his rudeness, Natasha glared at him as if asking what he thought he was doing. In response, as though justifying his impoliteness, the man pointed out her plans.
“It’s quite a long journey to the Duchy—do you really intend to go without even a map from me?”
“…What do you mean…!”
“No. Impossible. The money you’ll spend, the carriage you’ll take, the clothes you’re wearing, and the land you’ll stay on—all belong to me.”
Zieghart strode over and tossed a single sheet of paper onto the floor before her.
It was the very letter Grand Duke Kshant had never replied to.
“So you intended to betray me.”
His low murmur didn’t register in her ears right away. She was more puzzled as to why the letter, which should have remained on Grand Duke Kshant’s desk, was now lying useless on the floor.
Could this possibly be the Duchy’s reply? A message saying they wanted no cooperation and never wished to hear from her again?
Natasha’s mind went blank, her thoughts turning as white as snow.
In the meantime, the man stepped closer and gently grasped her slender shoulders. Despite his harsh expression, his grip was surprisingly soft—as if keenly aware of how his brute strength might cause her pain.
“You’ve decided to seek the Duchy’s cooperation.”
“…….”
“So you’ve chosen that place instead of this one? It seems you’ve made a mistake. You’re no longer a princess. Once you’ve given them what they want, they’ll treat you like a rag—cast out, not protected.”
His scolding tone made her laugh involuntarily.
Treated like a rag, cast out without protection—it all sounded absurd because he seemed to think he could lecture her. After all, even in the duke’s household, she’d always been an outsider and a loner.
Threatening her with even worse treatment there held no power over her.
“I simply chose a better hell to escape this one. Don’t treat me like a fool.”
Natasha barely suppressed her rising anger. Even if she screamed and thrashed, the man would merely frown slightly and that would be the end of it. If her struggle would only be seen as childish defiance, it was wiser not to start a fight at all.
“So this place has become hell for the princess.”
“Did you think it was paradise?”
A hint of confusion seeped into his whisper. Even that faint bewilderment was outright deceit.
She had been betrayed by the man she loved and scorned by her servants. Confined to her room with no freedom, she existed like a lifeless ornament.
Was there any word other than “hell” to describe such a life?
“It *was* a good place. Under a noble family that vowed to protect me, I never had to fear death. I had knights to guard me, servants to assist me, luxurious chambers, and fine meals. As a princess of a fallen kingdom, I received far more than I deserved. The only reason this place turned into hell is….”
“…….”
“Because of you, Zieghart.”
In the end, Natasha sighed in exasperation. His sheer obliviousness to how deeply he’d affected her life infuriated her.
“So if I change, will that fix things?”
“…What did you say?”
“I’m asking—if I become a loving, attentive husband to the princess, can this hell become paradise again?”
She might have changed things.
This time, she barely managed to swallow those words. Her pride still wouldn’t allow her to voice such sincerity aloud.
It was far too late to restore the world he’d ruined.
Back when she’d pleaded for help under the threat of the royal family—no, back when she’d desperately begged him to spare Kayena—
Zieghart should have changed then.
Yet now, only when she tried to flee, did he show belated concern and affection, as if that alone could win her heart back.
[This is the timeline separator]Another dull afternoon, no different from any other, unfolded. Someone arrived at Natasha’s rarely visited office.
“I’ll escort you to the dining hall.”
The maid bowed respectfully before leading her there.
As they passed through the corridor, other servants they encountered quickly bowed to Natasha with fearful expressions—uncharacteristically deferential, considering they’d never treated her as the duchess before.
Upon reaching the dining hall, Zieghart, seated at the head of the table, greeted her. He’d been waiting upright and turned his gaze at the sound of her approaching footsteps—a sequence of movements so elegantly fluid it bordered on excessive.
“…I already told you I no longer need your false kindness.”
Natasha muttered as she took her usual seat as duchess. This whole charade felt utterly hollow.
“I also said I was sick of it.”
Predictably, he shot back without missing a beat.
“You’ll grow accustomed to it with time.”
His reply carried the confidence of someone who believed he’d already succeeded once before.
Once the meal was served, Natasha began eating slowly. An awkward silence stretched on, devoid of conversation.
‘I might choke.’
The food—once praised enough to earn spontaneous admiration—now tasted like nothing at all. Her ruined sense of taste, coupled with a heavy feeling in her stomach, made eating difficult.
The cause was undoubtedly his persistent, unwavering stare.
“I can’t eat anymore. I’ll take my leave now.”
She rose from her seat and hurried back to her room. Despite her cumbersome dress hindering her movements, she ran without a care. Her racing heart, leaping wildly, she chose to believe was merely from exertion.
But the room she reached was terribly wrong. Though it had been perfectly fine that morning, all of Natasha’s belongings were gone.
Footsteps approached from behind her, clearly belonging to the person who’d trailed her all the way from the corridor. The maid, who had been silently catching her breath, finally spoke up.
“We’ve moved your quarters. From today onward, I’ll guide you to your new room.”
“You moved my belongings without saying a word to me?”
“We acted swiftly and regret not informing you in time. Please understand.”
Facing the maid’s polite bow, Natasha couldn’t bring herself to be angry any longer.
The maid led her down a familiar path and soon stopped before a familiar door. She stepped aside, signaling Natasha to enter.
“This seems like the wrong room.”
“No, my lady. His Grace commanded that your belongings be moved here and that I guide you accordingly. From now on, you’ll share this room with him.”
“You mean I’m to share a room with him?”
“Yes.”
Stunned, Natasha demanded clarification—but what followed was a crushing confirmation that it was all true.
Was *this* what he meant by wanting to be a devoted husband?
Natasha could only marvel at how abruptly and absurdly the man had changed his stance.
[This is the timeline separator]Naturally, Natasha wasn’t pleased by her husband’s sudden change.
His kindness, wrapped in falsehoods, only reminded her of their previous encounter and intensified her suffering. Like clothes slowly soaked by drizzle, the very presence of Zieghart Aschardt seeped into her daily life, doubling her pain.
‘I can’t understand it.’
Perhaps by Zieghart’s command, maids swarmed her room at dawn to assist the duchess. Watching the bustling scene, Natasha let out a quiet sigh.
She didn’t know what he’d gained by marrying a princess of a fallen kingdom, but for six long months he’d performed an exquisite act solely for the sake of their marriage—only to coldly discard her afterward, treating her as if she didn’t exist once his goal was achieved.
He’d briefly played the role of husband, yes—but only for a fleeting moment.
‘If you’d rather not attend banquets together or even exchange a word… then I’ll annul this marriage right now and return to where I was before. Please just let me go.’
A faded memory suddenly surfaced—how, right after she’d entered the ducal residence, he’d avoided meeting her under the excuse of being busy, only to suddenly act sweetly after some incident.
‘Certainly, even back then….’
It had been then too—when Natasha had asked for a divorce. Now, attempting to flee to the Duchy and abandon both him and the ducal house amounted to the same thing.
‘Normally, if someone you dislike wants to leave, you should be glad.’
Does he still have some purpose for me?
‘He’s waiting for my heart to soften, and once he thinks I’m alright again, he’ll turn cold just like before.’
Now was the time for Natasha to use his kindness to her advantage. He likely believed she’d been swayed by his gestures and abandoned thoughts of escape—making this the perfect moment. Her withered, dry romanticism gave way to practical resolve.
[This is the timeline separator]That day, Natasha obediently went to the dining hall. After finishing her meal—prepared exactly to her liking—she casually mentioned,
“I’d like to go out. Maybe take a walk around the nearby village—would that be alright?”
“I’ll assign a knight to escort you.”
“And if possible, I’d like to go disguised.”
Feeling his sharp gaze, she quickly added, as if making excuses,
“I’d feel uncomfortable under the villagers’ stares. Since it’s an informal outing, I’d prefer to relax and come back at ease.”
“I understand. I’ll summon a priest and have him alter your appearance.”
“Thank you, Zieghart.”
Natasha deliberately painted on a smile she didn’t feel. Seeing it, Zieghart mirrored her expression with a faint smile of his own. Perhaps because of that, he didn’t press further and let her go without resistance.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
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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