Chapter 262: The Raging Storm

About an hour had passed since dinner.

The palace had become quiet.

Most of the servants had already returned to their rooms, and the halls were almost empty. Only a few lamps remained lit, casting a soft golden glow across the walls.

Inside Lydia’s room, Xena stood behind her, gently brushing her long blonde hair.

Lydia sat silently in front of the mirror.

She wore a simple nightdress, and her face looked tired.

Very tired.

Xena had noticed it the moment she entered the room.

Xena wanted to ask if she was all right, but she knew better than to push Lydia when she was in such a mood.

So she remained quiet and continued brushing her hair.

The soft sound of the brush moving through Lydia’s hair was the only sound in the room.

After a while, Xena finished.

She placed the brush down and stepped back.

"Your Highness, you should get some rest."

Lydia gave a small nod.

"Thank you, Xena."

Xena bowed.

"Good night, Your Highness."

"Good night."

Xena quietly left the room.

The door closed.

Lydia remained seated for a moment.

She stared at her reflection.

Her face looked calm.

Almost too calm.

But she knew what was happening inside her.

Her thoughts had been a mess ever since dinner.

Everything that had happened during the day kept coming back to her.

Ivan.

His eyes.

His words.

The way he had looked at her.

The things Katherine had told her.

And then the conversation at dinner.

She didn’t want to think about any of it.

She didn’t want to think about him.

Lydia slowly stood from her chair.

She walked toward the balcony and opened the doors.

A cool breeze immediately touched her face.

She stepped outside.

The night air was rather windy, but instead of making her uncomfortable, it felt soothing.

She rested her hands against the balcony railing and looked into the darkness.

For a few moments, she simply stood there.

She wanted her mind to become quiet.

She wanted one peaceful night.

But peace never seemed to last around her anymore.

A soft knock came from behind her.

Lydia turned.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Anna stepped inside.

She bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness."

Lydia looked at her.

"Anna?"

Anna closed the door behind her.

"I don’t mean to disturb you, Your Highness."

She hesitated before continuing.

"I just wanted to talk to you."

Lydia looked back toward the balcony.

"You can talk."

Anna slowly walked closer.

"I’ve been thinking about you."

Lydia remained silent.

Anna took a deep breath.

"First, I want to say that I will always be grateful to you."

Lydia turned slightly.

"For what?"

"For helping me leave Constantin."

Anna’s voice became emotional.

"If you hadn’t helped me, I don’t know where I would be now."

Lydia’s expression softened slightly.

Anna continued.

"You gave me a chance to start over."

"I will never forget that."

She lowered her head.

"And because of that, all I want now is for you to be happy too."

Lydia immediately understood where the conversation was going.

Her expression became cold again.

"If this is about telling His Highness about my pregnancy..."

She paused.

"I’m not interested."

Anna looked at her.

"I’ve already told you. I have a plan."

"I know, Your Highness."

"I don’t intend to change it."

"I understand."

Lydia looked at her carefully.

"Then what exactly do you want to talk about?"

Anna took a slow breath.

"About His Highness."

Lydia’s expression hardened.

"Anna."

"Please, just listen to me."

Lydia said nothing.

Anna stepped closer.

"I understand how you feel."

"You loved him."

"And then you were cast aside by the man you loved."

Lydia’s fingers tightened against the balcony railing.

Anna continued gently.

"But there is something you should consider."

Lydia looked at her.

"What?"

"His Highness may never have seen your letters."

Lydia froze.

Anna watched her carefully.

"He may not have known about your pregnancy."

"He may not have known what happened to you."

Lydia’s eyes narrowed.

"What are you even saying?"

"I’m saying that perhaps you should consider another possibility."

Lydia turned fully toward her.

"Another possibility?"

Her voice became colder.

"He’s the one who suddenly broke our marriage."

"He’s the one who abandoned me as if I meant nothing."

"He’s the one who walked away."

"Why would you think he didn’t know what he was doing?"

Anna remained calm.

"Because I have seen the way he looks at you."

Lydia said nothing.

Anna continued.

"Your Highness, His Highness is still in love with you."

Lydia’s heart skipped.

She quickly looked away.

Anna’s voice became softer.

"In fact, I don’t think he has stopped loving you for even a moment."

Lydia swallowed.

"That’s ridiculous."

"Is it?"

Anna looked at her sadly.

"Then why does he look at you that way?"

Lydia couldn’t answer.

Anna continued.

"He is not acting like a man who has forgotten the woman he once loved."

"He looks like a man who is punishing himself."

Lydia’s breathing became slower.

She did not want to hear this.

She really did not.

But Anna continued.

"Your Highness..."

"Is revenge really what you want?"

Lydia finally looked at her.

Anna’s eyes were filled with sadness.

"Because it doesn’t look like revenge to me."

Lydia’s lips parted.

"You still love him."

Silence.

Lydia couldn’t speak.

Anna stepped closer.

"You don’t have a plan."

Lydia’s eyes began to sting.

"You are scared."

"You’re scared that if you tell him about the baby, he will abandon you again."

Lydia’s entire body went still.

Anna looked directly into her eyes.

"Aren’t you, Your Highness?"

Nothing.

Not a single word came from Lydia.

It was as if everything around her had suddenly disappeared.

She couldn’t hear the wind anymore.

She couldn’t hear the palace.

She couldn’t even hear her own breathing.

Only Anna’s words remained in her mind.

Lydia stared at Anna.

Her lips trembled slightly.

But she couldn’t answer.

Because she didn’t know what to say.

Anna seemed to understand.

She didn’t say anything else.

She simply bowed her head.

"Good night, Your Highness."

She turned around and walked toward the door.

Lydia didn’t stop her.

She didn’t even notice when the door opened.

She didn’t notice when Anna walked out.

She remained standing on the balcony.

Completely still.

She placed a hand against her chest.

Her heart was beating painfully fast.

She hated this.

She hated how easily he could still affect her.

She had spent so much time telling herself that she was done with him.

She had told herself that she would never be that helpless woman again.

She had told herself that she would protect herself and her child.

She had called it revenge.

But was it really?

Or was she simply afraid?

Afraid that she would tell Ivan everything.

Afraid that she would open her heart again.

Afraid that he would look at her and say he still didn’t want her.

That was the thought that frightened her the most.

Lydia slowly wrapped her arms around herself.

"No..."

Her voice shook.

"I don’t love him."

But the words sounded weak.

Even to her.

She looked up at the night sky.

The wind had become colder.

A few dark clouds were slowly covering the moon.

Lydia remained on the balcony, lost in her thoughts.

She didn’t know how long she stood there.

Then she noticed a flash of lightning far away.

Her body stiffened.

Another cold breeze swept across the balcony.

Lydia slowly looked toward the sky.

Rain was coming.

But somehow, that wasn’t what frightened her the most.

The storm outside was nothing compared to the storm inside her heart.

Anna’s question continued to echo in her mind.