Chapter 276: A Second Time Disaster

The ride back to the palace was unusually long.

Lydia sat quietly on her horse, exhausted from everything that had happened.

The night that had started as a beautiful masquerade ball had turned into something she never wanted to remember.

She had been kidnapped.

She had nearly been killed.

She had fought for her life with a small nail and a dagger.

And now she was finally going back to the palace.

Ivan rode a short distance ahead of her.

Lydia kept looking at him.

She did not understand him.

He had been so worried when he first saw her.

She had seen it clearly in his eyes.

He had rushed toward her as if he wanted to hold her and make sure she was safe.

But the moment he saw Damir holding her hands, something changed.

Since then, Ivan had barely looked at her.

Whenever Lydia tried to meet his eyes, he looked away.

She did not understand why.

Was he angry?

Or was there something else bothering him?

Lydia wanted to ask him.

But she was too tired.

For now, she simply wanted to get back to the palace.

When they finally arrived, the palace was unusually quiet.

The ball had already ended.

The guests had all gone.

After Lydia had been found, one of the guards had immediately ridden back to the palace to inform the others and order the gates to be opened.

The guests had been asked to leave.

It was better that way.

There would be no unnecessary questions.

No whispers.

No one needed to know what had happened to Lydia tonight.

She was already exhausted.

The last thing she needed was a crowd of people surrounding her and asking questions.

Ivan stopped his horse.

He immediately got down and walked toward Lydia.

"Let me help you."

He held out his hand.

Lydia looked at him for a moment before placing her hand in his.

Ivan helped her down carefully.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Lydia noticed his expression again.

Distant.

He was standing right in front of her, yet somehow he seemed far away.

"Ivan..."

Before she could continue, footsteps came rushing toward them.

"Lydia!"

Katherine was the first to reach her.

Anna, Irina, and Xena were right behind her.

They all looked worried.

Irina immediately took Lydia’s face between her hands.

"My dear, are you all right?"

Lydia gave her a tired smile.

"I’m fine, Godmother."

Irina looked closely at her face.

"You don’t look fine."

"I’m just exhausted."

Katherine stepped closer.

"Are you hurt?"

Lydia shook her head.

"No. I’m fine."

Katherine still looked worried.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Lydia tried to smile.

"I just want to sleep."

Katherine nodded.

"Of course."

She turned toward Xena.

"Prepare a bath for Her Highness."

"Yes, my lady."

Xena immediately hurried away.

Lydia took a small breath.

She was relieved to be home.

She had barely taken a step when several guards passed them.

They were dragging three men toward the dungeons.

Lydia’s eyes moved toward them.

Anna suddenly stopped.

Her entire body became still.

Then she began to tremble.

Lydia immediately noticed.

"Anna?"

Anna’s eyes were fixed on one of the prisoners.

It was Konstantin.

His face was covered in blood, and he was barely able to walk.

He looked nothing like the man Lydia remembered.

Anna’s breathing became unsteady.

"That’s..."

She could barely speak.

"That’s Constantin."

Lydia reached for her immediately.

"Anna."

Anna looked at her.

Lydia held her hand tightly.

"Don’t look at him."

Anna’s eyes filled with fear.

Lydia gently squeezed her hand.

"He’s not going to hurt you."

Anna swallowed.

She nodded slowly.

Katherine looked at her with concern but did not ask questions.

Lydia knew exactly what Anna was feeling.

She had once been afraid of that man too.

She knew what it felt like to see someone who had caused you pain.

"Come with me," Lydia said softly.

Anna nodded.

The women continued into the palace.

Lydia walked between Katherine and Irina, with Anna close beside her.

She did not look back.

Ivan remained outside.

He watched until Lydia disappeared through the palace doors.

Only then did he turn around.

Damir was standing nearby.

Ivan looked at him.

"Thank you."

Damir shook his head.

"You don’t need to thank me for protecting her."

Ivan remained silent.

Damir looked toward the palace entrance.

"But Your Highness, as far as I know, this is the second time this has happened."

Ivan’s expression hardened.

Damir continued.

"It was sheer luck that I happened to be outside tonight."

He took a breath.

"I noticed something was wrong with those men and followed them."

Ivan listened without saying a word.

"If I had been even one minute late, Lydia would be dead."

Those words hit Ivan hard.

Damir did not say them to insult him.

He said them because he wanted Ivan to understand how serious the situation was.

"I would appreciate it if you did something about her safety."

Ivan looked at him.

"We don’t need a third event."

Damir bowed.

"If you understand what I mean, Your Highness."

Then he turned and walked into the palace.

Ivan watched him leave.

He understood perfectly.

It was the second time Lydia had been kidnapped under his watch.

The second time she had come dangerously close to death.

And twice, he had failed to protect her.

Ivan lowered his head.

His chest felt heavy.

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

Yet danger had still found her.

He could not allow it to happen again.

Ivan turned toward Boris.

"Make sure the prisoners face the punishment for high treason."

Boris nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Ivan looked toward the palace doors once more.

Lydia was inside.

Safe.

At least for tonight.

But the thought of what could have happened refused to leave his mind.

He had almost lost her.

Again.

---

In another part of the palace, Tatiana was celebrating.

She sat in her room with a glass of wine in her hand.

A smile remained on her face as she took another sip.

Everything had gone according to plan.

At least, that was what she believed.

Lydia should have been dead by now.

The thought filled Tatiana with happiness.

Finally.

After all the humiliation, all the whispers, and all the pain, Lydia would be gone.

Ivan would have no choice but to look at her.

There would be no Grand Duchess standing between them anymore.

Tatiana smiled to herself.

Then there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Yelena stepped inside.

Tatiana looked at her with excitement.

"Well?"

Yelena hesitated.

Tatiana’s smile grew.

"Has her body been found?"

Yelena’s face was pale.

Tatiana’s smile slowly disappeared.

"What is it?"

Yelena lowered her head.

"It’s quite the opposite, my lady."

Tatiana stared at her.

Yelena swallowed.

"Her Highness has returned."

Tatiana froze.

"And Lord Fedorov was caught."

For a moment, Tatiana could not understand the words.

She simply stared at Yelena.

Returned?

Lydia had returned?

Alive?

"No."

Tatiana’s fingers tightened around the glass.

"No."

"My lady..."

"No!"

The glass shattered in her hand.

Pieces of glass fell to the floor.

Blood immediately appeared across Tatiana’s palm.

Yelena rushed toward her.

"My lady!"

Tatiana barely noticed the pain.

She could not hear anything.

Her entire plan had failed.

Lydia was alive.

And Konstantin had been caught.

Everything had gone wrong.

Everything.

Yelena reached for her injured hand.

"You’re bleeding."

Tatiana pulled her hand away.

"Leave me."

"But my lady..."

"I said leave me!"

Yelena stepped back.

Tatiana stared at the broken glass on the floor.

Her breathing became heavier.

She had thought tonight would be the end of Lydia.

Instead, Lydia had returned to the palace alive.

Tatiana had never felt such anger.

She had been so certain.

How could this have happened?

She closed her eyes.

Her hands trembled.

She could not give up.

Not now.

If Lydia survived this, she would have to find another way.

A better way.

A plan that could not fail.

Tatiana looked toward the mirror.

Her face was filled with bitterness.

"If I can’t have him..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"...then neither can she."

She would find a way to get rid of Lydia once and for all.

She had to.