Chapter 263: An Unbreakable Promise PT 1

Ivan sat alone in his study, surrounded by papers.

The room had been quiet for hours.

A single lamp burned beside him as he went through one proposal after another. He signed a document, placed it aside, and immediately picked up another.

He barely remembered what he was reading.

His eyes moved across the words, but his mind was somewhere else.

Lydia.

Ever since dinner, he had remained in his study.

He had buried himself in work because it was easier than thinking.

If he kept his mind busy, perhaps he wouldn’t remember the look on Lydia’s face.

Perhaps he wouldn’t remember the way she had barely spoken to him.

Perhaps he wouldn’t remember that she still looked at him as if he were a stranger.

He picked up another proposal.

He tried to read it.

But the words began to blur.

Ivan rubbed his tired eyes.

He looked at the clock.

He had no idea how so many hours had passed.

He had completely lost track of the night.

Then suddenly...

BOOM!

A loud clap of thunder shook the palace.

Ivan’s head snapped up.

He stared toward the window.

Another flash of lightning lit up the dark glass.

Only then did he realize what was happening.

It was raining.

His expression changed immediately.

"Lydia."

He pushed himself out of his chair so quickly that he nearly stumbled.

His heart began pounding.

He didn’t even stop to think.

He rushed out of his study.

The corridors were dark and quiet. The servants had already retired for the night, leaving only a few lamps burning along the walls.

Ivan barely noticed any of them.

He moved as quickly as he could toward Lydia’s room.

He turned a corner and nearly collided with someone.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness."

It was Katherine.

Ivan barely looked at her.

"Your Highness?"

He pushed himself back up and continued running.

Katherine stared after him in confusion.

She had never seen Ivan move like that.

Then she heard him muttering under his breath.

"Lydia..."

Her expression changed.

She immediately followed him.

Ivan reached Lydia’s door and pushed it open.

The room was completely dark.

A flash of lightning suddenly filled the room with white light.

Empty.

His heart dropped.

"Lydia?"

There was no answer.

Ivan stepped inside.

He looked toward the bed.

Nothing.

The balcony doors were closed.

The room was empty.

Katherine arrived a moment later carrying a lamp.

She raised it and looked around.

Her face became worried.

"Your Highness..."

"She’s not here."

Ivan’s voice was shaking.

Katherine stepped closer.

"Perhaps she is somewhere else in the palace."

"Where?"

Ivan turned toward her.

"Where could she have gone?"

Katherine didn’t know what to say.

Ivan’s hands were trembling.

He looked toward the window as another flash of lightning crossed the sky.

"It’s raining."

Katherine understood.

"Your Highness..."

"She’s afraid of the rain."

His voice cracked.

"She hates storms."

He looked around the room again as though Lydia might suddenly appear.

"I have to find her."

Katherine reached for his arm.

"We will find her."

Ivan nodded, but he was already thinking.

There had to be somewhere.

Somewhere Lydia would go.

His mind suddenly went to the library.

"The library."

He turned and ran.

Katherine followed.

Ivan reached the library and pushed the door open.

The room was dark.

He hurried through the shelves until he reached the hidden entrance.

He opened it.

The hidden room was empty.

His breathing became heavier.

"Lydia..."

Nothing.

He searched the small room again.

There was nowhere to hide.

She wasn’t there.

He stepped backward, his hands shaking.

Where was she?

He knew Lydia.

He knew how frightened she became during storms.

He knew she would not simply stand outside in the rain.

She would be somewhere she believed was safe.

But where?

Ivan ran back into the library.

He tried to think.

There had to be somewhere he had missed.

Then a terrible thought entered his mind.

What if she was alone somewhere, frightened and crying?

His chest tightened.

He turned and rushed out.

Katherine was waiting in the corridor.

She looked just as worried.

"I don’t know where else to look," she admitted.

Ivan didn’t answer.

He ran back to Lydia’s room.

He searched again.

The bed.

The balcony.

The corners of the room.

Then he dropped to his knees and looked underneath the bed.

Nothing.

His breathing broke.

He slowly sat back.

His eyes filled with tears.

"It’s because of me."

Katherine’s heart sank.

"Your Highness..."

"If I hadn’t left her..."

His voice trembled.

"If I hadn’t abandoned her, she wouldn’t be like this."

He wiped his face, but the tears continued.

"Lydia used to love the rain."

Katherine remained silent.

"She told me she liked listening to it at night."

A painful smile appeared on his face for only a moment.

"She said it helped her sleep."

His voice became quieter.

"But now..."

He looked toward the window.

"Now she’s afraid of it."

Katherine stepped closer.

Ivan lowered his head.

"All because of me."

Katherine could see that nothing she said would make his guilt disappear.

She gently placed her arms around him.

"Your Highness..."

Ivan didn’t resist.

He simply stood there, crying quietly.

Katherine held him for a moment.

Then a thought suddenly came to her.

"I’m not sure..."

Ivan lifted his head.

Katherine looked at him carefully.

"But perhaps Her Highness went somewhere she feels safe."

"Where?"

Katherine hesitated.

"Maybe..."

She looked toward him.

"Your room."

Ivan stared at her.

"My room?"

Katherine nodded.

"I think you should check."

For a moment, Ivan didn’t move.

Then realization flashed across his face.

He immediately pulled away.

Without another word, he ran.

He hurried through the corridor as fast as his legs could carry him.

His heart pounded harder with every step.

He reached his room.

His hand grabbed the door handle.

He pushed it open.

Lightning suddenly flashed across the sky.

For a moment, the entire room was illuminated.

And there she was.

Lydia.

She was sitting on the floor beside his bed.

Her knees were pulled against her chest.

Her arms were wrapped tightly around them.

She was trembling.

Ivan’s heart broke.

"Lydia."

She looked up.

Her eyes were wide with fear.

She looked so small sitting there alone.

Ivan didn’t think.

He rushed toward her and dropped to his knees.

"Lydia..."

He pulled her into his arms.

She stiffened immediately.

But Ivan held her gently, his arms wrapped around her as though he was afraid she would disappear if he let go.

"I’m sorry."

His voice shook.

"I’m so sorry."

Lydia remained silent.

Her body was still trembling.

Ivan held her closer.

"I shouldn’t have left you alone."

His tears fell against her hair.

"I promise..."

He swallowed hard.

"I promise I’ll never leave you alone again."

Lydia’s eyes slowly closed.

She could hear his heartbeat.

Fast.

Unsteady.

Almost as frightened as she was.

Ivan pressed his cheek against her hair.

"I’m here."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"You don’t have to be afraid."

Lydia didn’t know what to say.

She had spent so long telling herself that Ivan didn’t care.

That he had abandoned her.

That she meant nothing to him.

Yet here he was.

Running through the palace in the middle of the night because he thought she was frightened.

Holding her as though losing her was the one thing he couldn’t bear.

Another flash of lightning lit the room.

Lydia instinctively held onto his clothes.

Ivan felt the small movement.

His arms tightened around her.

He didn’t ask her to explain.

He didn’t ask her to forgive him.

For that moment, he simply held her.

And for the first time in a long time, neither of them tried to run away from each other.