Chapter 266: Enough Hiding From The Devil

Ivan opened the door to his study and stopped when he saw Boris sitting inside.

For a moment, he simply stared at him.

Boris looked tired. His clothes were dusty from the journey, and there were dark circles under his eyes. He looked like someone who had barely slept.

Ivan frowned.

"Is everything all right?"

Boris looked up and smiled.

"Everything is fine, Your Highness."

Ivan did not look convinced.

"You travelled all the way from the capital. What’s the matter?"

Boris leaned back in the chair.

"Nothing. I just missed my friend."

Ivan stared at him.

Boris smiled wider.

"That is why I have successfully been transferred all the way from the capital to Svetlana. I can stay here with you, Your Highness."

Ivan’s expression did not change.

He turned around and started walking back toward the door.

"I should have known."

Boris’s smile disappeared.

"He must have sent you to spy on me again."

Boris sighed.

"Must you always think the worst of me?"

Ivan glanced back at him.

"You travelled all the way here for no reason?"

"I never said there was no reason."

Ivan stopped.

Boris’s face became serious.

"There have been some serious rumours about an attack on the Grand Duchess."

Ivan’s expression changed immediately.

He turned fully toward Boris.

"What do you mean?"

Boris sat up straight.

"Since the divorce law Her Highness passed, and His Majesty later established throughout Zolotaria, many men have become angry. Especially the men who lost their properties to their former wives."

Ivan’s face became colder.

Boris continued.

"There has been a lot of talk. Some of them have been meeting in secret. We don’t know exactly what they are planning, but there are enough rumours for us to be concerned."

Ivan remained silent.

His mind immediately went to Lydia.

Her face from the night before came back to him. The tears in her eyes. The way she had held onto him. The way she had asked him not to leave her.

And now Boris was telling him someone might be planning to hurt her.

Boris watched him carefully.

"So I requested a transfer."

Ivan looked at him.

"You resigned from your position as head guard?"

"I did."

Boris gave a small shrug.

"It was my precious position, too. I will miss it terribly."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Ivan almost smiled.

Almost.

Boris continued, "But I thought staying here would be more useful. I can help protect Her Highness myself."

"You didn’t have to."

"I know."

Boris looked at him.

"But I wanted to."

Ivan frowned.

"It’s just a rumour."

"It is."

Boris nodded.

"But we cannot take chances."

Ivan knew exactly what he meant.

The last time Lydia had been in danger, things had gone too far. He had already spent enough time regretting the things he had failed to notice before.

"I understand," Ivan said quietly.

Boris stood from the chair and stretched his back.

"Good. Now that I’ve done my duty as a loyal guard and a wonderful friend, I think I deserve some sleep."

Ivan raised an eyebrow.

"You call yourself a wonderful friend?"

"I travelled at dawn."

"That doesn’t answer my question."

Boris smiled.

"I travelled at dawn to get here on time. I have barely slept. So yes, I am a wonderful friend."

Ivan shook his head.

Boris walked toward the door.

"I’ll be going to bed."

He had almost stepped outside when Ivan spoke.

"Thank you."

Boris stopped.

He looked back at him.

Ivan’s voice was quiet, but Boris understood what he meant.

Boris smiled.

"You’re welcome, Your Highness."

Then his expression became serious again.

"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Her Highness is safe."

Ivan nodded.

Boris left the room.

Ivan remained by the door for a moment.

His eyes lowered.

An attack on Lydia.

The thought alone made his chest tighten.

He had promised her that he would never leave her alone again.

He intended to keep that promise.

---

Lydia lowered herself into the bath.

The warm water surrounded her, but her mind was far from relaxed.

She had made her decision.

Tonight.

She would tell Ivan tonight.

For the first time since arriving in Svetlana, she was no longer thinking about how she would hide the truth.

She was going to tell him about their baby.

Her hands slowly rested over her stomach.

She could already imagine everything that could go wrong.

What if he did not believe her?

What if he was angry?

What if he thought she had come back only because she was carrying his child?

What if he looked at her with the same coldness he had shown her years ago?

And the thought that frightened her most was simple.

What if he cast her aside again?

Lydia closed her eyes.

She had spent so long trying to protect herself from that possibility.

She had told herself that she wanted revenge. She had told herself that she no longer cared about Ivan. She had tried to convince herself that she could raise the child alone.

But after last night, she could no longer pretend she felt nothing.

She remembered waking up in his arms that morning.

His warmth.

His hand around her.

The promise he had made.

She knew promises could be broken.

She knew that better than anyone.

Still, some part of her wanted to believe him.

Lydia opened her eyes and looked down at the water.

"I have to do this," she whispered.

Her voice trembled.

Whatever happened after tonight, she could not keep hiding the truth.

The baby deserved to have a father who knew about them.

And she deserved to stop living in fear of what Ivan might do.

She slowly moved one hand over her stomach.

"If he casts me aside again, then let it be."

The words hurt as soon as she said them.

She swallowed.

She did not want to think about that part.

She did not want to imagine Ivan looking at her and deciding he wanted nothing to do with her.

But she had already survived losing him once.

Perhaps she could survive it again.

Lydia took a slow breath.

She was still afraid.

Very afraid.

But this time, she would not run.

Tonight, Ivan would know the truth.

No matter what happened after that.

She had made her decision, and she would not back down.