Chapter 259: The Moon Over The Night

The moon was full and bright above the Grand Duke’s palace.

Its soft light covered the palace roofs and gardens, making everything look peaceful. The trees moved gently whenever the night breeze passed through them. The palace looked almost too peaceful for the thoughts running through Lydia’s mind.

The air was filled with the delicious smell of food coming from the kitchen.

Dinner had been prepared carefully.

The dining room had been cleaned and decorated.

The table had been set for two.

Lydia stood in front of the mirror while Xena made the final adjustments to her hair.

She remained quiet as she stared at her reflection.

Her dress was beautiful.

Her hair was neatly arranged.

She looked calm.

She looked like a woman who had nothing to worry about.

But Lydia knew that was far from the truth.

Tonight was different.

She was going to have dinner with Ivan.

Just the thought of it made her heart feel strangely heavy.

She had not expected to be sitting at the same table with him again.

Not after everything that had happened.

Not after he had abandoned her.

Not after she had spent so much time trying to convince herself that she no longer cared about him.

And yet here she was.

Preparing herself to have dinner with him.

Lydia lowered her eyes.

She could not help remembering what had happened earlier.

Ivan’s frightened expression.

His trembling hands.

The way he had looked at her when he thought she was hurt.

The way he had rushed toward her after realizing the red substance around her mouth was only syrup.

She still did not understand it.

Why had he been so afraid?

Why had he looked as though his heart had almost stopped?

And why had the fear in his eyes reminded her so much of the man she had once known?

Lydia quickly pushed the thought away.

She did not want to think about it.

Not now.

She had already spent most of the day thinking about him.

She did not need to spend the evening doing the same thing.

A soft knock came from the door.

Lydia turned her head.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Anna entered the room and bowed politely.

"Your Highness, dinner is ready."

Lydia nodded.

"Thank you."

Anna smiled gently.

"Katherine has gone to fetch His Highness."

Lydia’s fingers moved slightly against the fabric of her dress.

She tried not to show any reaction.

But the words still affected her.

His Highness.

Ivan.

He was coming.

She took a slow breath.

"Let’s go."

Xena gave her one last look in the mirror to make sure everything was in place.

Then she followed Lydia.

Anna walked beside them as they left the room.

The three women walked quietly through the corridor.

For once, Lydia did not feel uncomfortable.

The silence between them was peaceful.

There was no pressure.

No awkward conversation.

No one was asking her questions.

There was only the quiet sound of their footsteps as they made their way toward the dining room.

Lydia almost enjoyed the silence.

Almost.

But her mind refused to remain quiet.

She found herself thinking about Ivan again.

She remembered his face from earlier.

The fear in his eyes.

His trembling hands.

The way he had quickly thrown his sword away when he realized she was standing in front of him.

She remembered how he had rushed toward her.

She remembered the way he had asked if she was hurt.

And then she remembered the way he had looked relieved when she told him she was fine.

It was not the reaction of a man who did not care.

But Lydia did not want to think about that.

She had spent too much time trying to forget him.

She had spent too many nights crying because of him.

She had spent too much time reminding herself that she had to protect herself.

She could not allow herself to become weak again.

Her hand slowly moved toward her stomach.

She stopped herself before touching it.

No.

She would not think about that either.

She continued walking.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost forgot where she was.

Until they met someone in the corridor.

Lydia’s eyes moved forward.

Tatiana.

Yelena was standing beside her.

The moment Tatiana saw Lydia, her expression changed slightly.

For the smallest moment, the smile on her face disappeared.

Then she quickly lowered her head.

"Your Highness."

Lydia stopped.

Tatiana lifted her head again.

She forced a smile onto her face.

"You look beautiful as always, Your Highness."

Lydia simply looked at her.

She could clearly see that Tatiana’s smile was fake.

There was something bitter hiding behind it.

But Lydia did not care enough to respond.

She had no desire to speak with Tatiana.

She only wanted to get to the dining room and finish dinner.

Tatiana glanced toward the dining room.

"I see you are headed for dinner."

Lydia gave a small nod.

"Yes."

Tatiana’s eyes moved over Lydia’s dress before she slowly placed one hand over her stomach.

She made sure to do it slowly.

Almost as if she wanted everyone to notice.

"I wish I could join you."

Her voice sounded sweet.

"But with my pregnancy, it has become difficult for me to move around too much."

She gave a small sigh.

"I have been feeling sick so often lately."

Yelena nodded beside her.

"Lady Tatiana has barely been able to leave her room."

Tatiana gave her a grateful look before turning back to Lydia.

"I really would have loved to have dinner with you."

She smiled.

"But I have to be careful."

"My baby comes first."

Lydia stared at her.

Tatiana continued.

"It would be terrible if I did anything that could endanger my child."

Her hand remained on her stomach.

She spoke about the baby with such care.

Such sweetness.

Almost as if she wanted Lydia to feel the weight of every word.

She wanted Lydia to remember.

She wanted her to remember that everyone believed Tatiana was carrying Ivan’s child.

The child that could give her a place in the palace.

The child that could make people forgive her for everything.

The child that made her feel safe.

Tatiana watched Lydia closely.

She was waiting for a reaction.

She wanted to see jealousy.

She wanted to see anger.

She wanted to see pain.

But Lydia only chuckled softly.

Tatiana’s smile became slightly stiff.

Lydia looked at her calmly.

"You are right."

Tatiana blinked.

"You should take good care of that child."

Lydia’s voice was calm.

Almost too calm.

She looked directly into Tatiana’s eyes.

"After all, that is the only reason you are still here."

Tatiana’s expression froze.

Yelena’s eyes widened.

Lydia gave a small smile.

There was no warmth in it.

She continued quietly.

"I wonder what will happen if you lose that child."

Tatiana’s face went pale.

For a moment, she could not speak.

Her hand remained over her stomach.

But the confidence she had been showing only moments ago was gone.

Lydia did not wait for a response.

She simply turned around.

"Good night."

She walked away.

Xena and Anna followed her.

For several seconds, Tatiana remained completely still.

Her eyes stayed fixed on Lydia’s back as she watched her disappear farther down the corridor.

Her hands slowly curled into fists.

Her nails dug into her palms.

"How dare she..."

Her voice trembled with anger.

Yelena looked at her carefully.

"My Lady..."

Tatiana’s eyes remained fixed in the direction Lydia had gone.

Her breathing became heavier.

"I need to get rid of her."

She clenched her teeth.

"I have to."

There was no longer any sweetness in her voice.

Only anger.

Only hatred.

Lydia was already far away.

She did not turn around.

She had no idea how angry Tatiana had become behind her.

She simply continued walking toward the dining room.

Xena, however, was still furious.

"That woman is so annoying."

Anna glanced at her.

Xena continued.

"She is so brazen."

She shook her head.

"Always talking about her pregnancy as if she has nothing else to talk about."

Her voice became more irritated.

"Imagine if everyone found out that she was lying."

"She would be thrown out of the palace."

Xena lowered her voice.

"That brazen wench..."

Anna gently touched her arm.

"Xena."

"But she is!"

Xena looked frustrated.

"She keeps using that fake pregnancy to make herself important."

Anna looked at Lydia.

She immediately noticed that Lydia was no longer listening.

Lydia’s attention had gone somewhere else.

Her steps had slowed.

Her eyes were fixed somewhere ahead.

Anna followed her gaze.

Then she understood.

"Xena."

"Hmm?"

"Enough."

Xena looked at her.

Anna quietly motioned toward the corridor ahead.

Xena followed her gaze.

Her expression changed.

Lydia was staring at Ivan.

He was walking toward them.

Katherine was beside him.

He had just come from the corridor leading to the Grand Duke’s chamber.

For Lydia, the world seemed to fade away.

Everything around her became quiet.

She could no longer hear Xena.

She could not hear Anna.

She could barely hear the sound of their footsteps anymore.

Her thoughts disappeared.

The words she had been thinking only moments ago disappeared.

Tatiana disappeared.

Dinner disappeared.

Everything disappeared.

There was only one person left in her sight.

Ivan.

Her eyes remained fixed on him.

And for a moment, Lydia simply stood there and stared.