Chapter 249: The Ray If Darkness

Earlier

Tatiana sat motionless on her bed, staring at nothing. Her hair was uncombed, falling loosely around her face. Dried tears had left faint marks on her pale cheeks. Her eyes were swollen and red, as if she had been crying for hours. The room smelled faintly of lavender water and old perfume, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside her.

The door opened softly. Yelena entered, holding a small tray. Steam rose from the bowl — her favorite meal, warm and rich — something Yelena had prepared hoping it might comfort her. She placed it gently on the bedside table.

"My lady," Yelena said softly, her voice careful, almost pleading. "Please, have a bite. You haven’t eaten all day."

Tatiana didn’t move. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling, blank and distant. She looked like a person who had lost everything — her pride, her hope, her strength.

Yelena stepped closer. "My lady," she whispered again, "you can’t do this to yourself. You have to eat. You have to live on. His Highness will eventually find out about her pregnancy. There’s nothing you can do now."

At those words, something flickered in Tatiana’s eyes. A small, sharp light — like the spark before a fire. Her lips trembled as she whispered, almost to herself, "There’s still hope."

Yelena froze. "My lady?"

Tatiana turned to her slowly. "Yes," she said, her voice trembling but filled with sudden energy. "There’s still hope. He doesn’t know about the baby. She’s keeping it hidden. Which means I still have a chance."

Yelena’s face turned pale. "My lady, please don’t—"

But Tatiana kept speaking, almost to herself. "All I have to do is get rid of her. Before he finds out. Then everything will go back to how it was before. He will look at me again. He will remember me. He will love me again."

She stood up suddenly, grabbing Yelena’s arms and hugging her tightly. Her voice was shaking, her breath quick and shallow. "There’s still hope, Yelena. Don’t you see? He’s still mine."

Yelena hugged her back, though her heart was pounding. There was something frightening in Tatiana’s tone — something dark and desperate.

Tatiana pulled away, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Prepare me a bath," she said quietly, almost cheerfully. "And a bowl of ice."

Yelena hesitated. "A bowl of ice, my lady?"

Tatiana nodded, picking up the meal. "Yes. I want to feel awake again." She took a bite of her food, slow and calm, a small smile creeping onto her face. "I just have to get rid of her," she whispered, more to herself than to Yelena. "Then he will be mine again."

Yelena turned away, afraid to speak. She had served Tatiana for years, but she had never seen her like this — never seen her eyes so wild, her smile so forced, her voice so filled with quiet madness.

---

The Present

In Lydia’s chambers, the air was still and quiet. The soft scent of rose and jasmine still lingered from her bath. Lydia quickly hid the necklace beneath her clothing, tucking it close to her heart so Tatiana would not see it. She straightened herself, forcing calm into her trembling hands and her tear-swollen face.

"Your Highness," Tatiana repeated with a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I wish to talk to you."

Lydia’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her face remained calm. Inside, however, her heart raced. She could see the flicker of something strange in Tatiana’s eyes — a mix of desperation and hate. And for a brief second, Lydia thought Tatiana might have seen the necklace.

But Tatiana didn’t mention it. She simply stood there, smiling in that polite, chilling way. Inside, she was trembling. She had seen the small glimmer of silver near Lydia’s chest and knew it must be something important — something meant for Ivan. If Lydia was going to him, Tatiana had to stop her. He must never know.

Lydia’s voice was cool, though soft. "I have nothing to talk about with you," she said. "So state your business and leave."

Tatiana’s lips curved slightly, pretending calm. Her eyes moved slowly over Lydia, studying her. She really means to hide it, she thought bitterly. She truly plans to hide her pregnancy from him.

Out loud, Tatiana said, "I heard you weren’t feeling well. That you even collapsed yesterday. So I came to check if you were alright."

Lydia kept her face straight, though she could feel her pulse racing. "I’m fine," she said coldly.

Tatiana nodded with a soft sigh, pretending sympathy. "I apologise for not coming sooner," she said. "As you know, I am carrying His Highness’s child, and pregnancy makes the body weak. I’m sure you understand how that feels." Her words were honeyed but sharp, meant to sting.

Lydia’s body stiffened, but she didn’t speak. Tatiana continued, her voice soft and taunting. "I have to be careful. I’m not just carrying any child, but His Highness’s heir. You understand that, don’t you? His heir."

She smiled faintly, her eyes cold and watchful. "His Highness cares for me. He trusts me. He would never abandon me or his child." She leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice until it was almost a whisper. "He won’t abandon me... unlike you."

Lydia’s face went pale. Her fingers clenched tightly at her sides. Her lips parted, but no sound came.

Tatiana smiled again, as if she had done nothing wrong. "I just hope Your Highness will accept me," she said sweetly. "It would mean a lot to me." And with that, she turned and walked toward the door. Her gown rustled softly behind her as she left the room, her back straight, her steps light.

The moment the door closed, her expression changed. The fake smile vanished, and a cold satisfaction settled on her face. That should keep her quiet for now, she thought. But soon, I’ll have to find a way to remove her completely.

---

Inside the room, Lydia stood still, unable to move. Her entire body trembled. Tatiana’s words echoed in her head again and again, twisting her heart.

He won’t abandon me... unlike you.

Each word hit her like a stone. She wanted to ignore it, to throw those words away, but she couldn’t. Because deep inside, she knew part of it was true.

Ivan had abandoned her once. He had left her once before. He had let her suffer alone. What if he did it again?

Her throat tightened, and a tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it. She lifted her hand and wiped it away quickly, but more followed. She pressed her palm to her lips to stop the sob that was trying to escape.

Her mind screamed don’t cry, don’t cry, but her heart didn’t listen. The pain inside her chest was too heavy, too deep. She sank slowly to her knees, her hand clutching the hidden necklace against her chest.

Maybe Tatiana is right, she thought weakly. Maybe I am a fool to believe he won’t leave me again.

She closed her eyes tightly, letting the tears fall freely now. Every memory came back — the night he walked away from her, the days she spent crying alone, the pain of losing their first child. And now, the fear of losing this one.

She whispered softly to herself, almost praying, "Please... not again. Please don’t let it happen again."

Her voice broke into a sob. She cried quietly, her body trembling. The necklace pressed against her chest, a small, cold reminder of what she still held on to — hope.

But Tatiana’s voice kept echoing in her mind. He won’t abandon me... unlike you.

Lydia couldn’t breathe. She covered her mouth with both hands and bent forward, crying until her tears wet the floor beneath her. Her heart hurt so much it felt like it would stop beating.

Outside her door, the wind blew softly through the hallway. The palace was silent, peaceful, and unaware of the two broken hearts it held — one filled with delusional love, and the other with quiet pain.

Lydia stayed like that for a long time, alone with her tears, her fears, and the small flicker of love she refused to let go of — even if it was slowly breaking her apart.