Chapter 277: The Enemy Within

Lydia had settled in her room after a hot bath.

She sat by the window in a simple nightgown, staring at the dark sky.

It was already midnight, perhaps even later, but she had no idea what time it was.

She was tired.

Her body was exhausted from everything that had happened.

But sleep would not come.

Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the man’s hands around her throat.

She remembered struggling to breathe.

She remembered reaching for the dagger and being unable to reach it.

She remembered thinking she was going to die.

Lydia slowly touched her neck.

The skin still hurt.

She lowered her hand and looked out the window again.

How could she sleep after almost dying?

No matter how hard she tried, she could not shake the feeling.

She had almost died tonight.

And if Damir had arrived even a little later, she might not have returned to the palace at all.

A cold feeling settled in her chest.

She had planned to tell Ivan about the baby tonight.

She had been so determined.

She had spent the entire day preparing herself for it.

But she never got the chance.

If she had died tonight, Ivan would never have known that he had a child.

He would have gone on with his life without ever knowing that a part of him had been growing inside her.

Lydia’s eyes filled with tears.

"What if it happens again?"

The words left her lips in a whisper.

What if someone tried to kill her again?

What if she was not lucky the next time?

Ivan might never know.

For a moment, Lydia made up her mind.

She would go to him.

Right now.

She would knock on his door and tell him everything.

She would tell him about the baby.

She would tell him that she had known for months.

She would tell him that she had been afraid to tell him because she did not know how he would react.

Her hand moved toward the door.

Then she stopped.

She remembered Ivan’s face when he saw her earlier.

The guilt in his eyes.

The way he could barely look at her.

He was already blaming himself for what had happened.

Everyone was probably still shaken.

The palace had been thrown into chaos because of her.

Perhaps tonight was not the right time.

She could tell him tomorrow.

There would be another day.

Lydia slowly lowered her hand.

"Tomorrow," she whispered.

She hated postponing it again.

But she was too tired.

She needed to rest.

For tonight, that would have to be enough.

---

Ivan stood outside Lydia’s door.

His hand hovered near the door.

He wanted to knock.

He only wanted to see her.

He wanted to ask if she was truly okay after everything that had happened.

But he could not make himself do it.

His mind kept returning to the same thought.

This happened because he left her alone.

He had known she was vulnerable.

He had promised himself that he would protect her.

Yet someone had still managed to take her.

Twice.

Ivan lowered his hand.

He did not want Lydia to see him and remember everything that had happened because of him.

He took one last look at the door.

Then he turned around and walked away.

---

The dungeon was quiet.

Anna walked through the dark passage with a lamp trembling in her hands.

Boris walked beside her.

The sound of their footsteps echoed against the stone walls.

Anna’s heart was beating hard.

She did not know why she had asked to see Konstantin.

Perhaps she wanted to see him one last time.

Perhaps she wanted to understand how the man who had once been her husband could become someone capable of doing something like this.

They stopped in front of a cell.

Boris looked at her.

"Are you sure you’ll be okay?"

Anna nodded.

"I’ll be fine."

Boris did not look convinced.

"If you need anything, call me."

Anna nodded again.

"I will."

"I’ll be waiting outside."

Boris stepped away.

Anna took a deep breath before entering.

The moment she saw Konstantin, she stopped.

He looked nothing like the man she had once known.

His clothes were dirty.

His hair was a mess.

His left eye was poorly bandaged, and there was still dried blood around his face.

He looked exhausted and broken.

But Anna felt no pity.

She only felt fear and anger.

Konstantin looked toward her.

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

"If you’ve come to show me pity, I suggest you leave."

Anna said nothing.

"I’d rather be beheaded than receive even a little of your sympathy."

Anna’s hands tightened around the lamp.

Something inside her finally snapped.

"Pity?"

Konstantin looked at her.

Anna’s eyes were filled with anger.

"I can’t believe I spent half of my life married to someone as despicable as you."

His smile faded.

"Don’t pretend you are better than me."

"I am."

Her voice shook, but she did not look away.

"I would rather give pity to pigs than someone like you."

Konstantin stared at her.

Anna took a breath.

She suddenly regretted coming.

There was nothing she wanted to hear from him.

She had already suffered enough because of him.

"I shouldn’t have come here."

She turned around.

"Goodbye, Konstantin."

"Anna."

She stopped.

She did not turn around.

Konstantin’s voice was quieter this time.

"I know why you came."

Anna slowly looked back at him.

"You came because of guilt."

Her brows pulled together.

"Guilt?"

"Because of Her Highness."

Anna stared at him.

Konstantin leaned back against the wall.

"You feel guilty because I tried to kill her."

Anna said nothing.

"She helped you, didn’t she?"

His eyes narrowed.

"She helped you escape me."

Anna’s expression hardened.

"Don’t talk about her."

"But I’m right."

Konstantin gave a bitter laugh.

"You came here because you feel responsible."

"I don’t feel responsible for what you did."

"You should."

Anna shook her head.

"You are the one who made your choices."

Konstantin looked at her for a long moment.

Then he said quietly, "But my dear Anna, the enemy isn’t me."

Anna’s heart skipped.

"What are you talking about?"

Konstantin smiled.

"Someone closer than you think."

Anna’s expression changed.

"You’re lying."

"Am I?"

Konstantin leaned forward.

"The question is not whether there is someone else."

He paused.

"The question is whether you will be able to protect Her Highness from them."

Anna stared at him.

She did not want to believe him.

She could not.

"You are only saying this because you want to save yourself."

Konstantin laughed softly.

"You can believe whatever you want."

Anna shook her head.

"Goodbye, Konstantin."

She turned and walked away.

She did not look back.

Boris was waiting outside the cell.

He immediately noticed her expression.

"Are you all right?"

Anna nodded.

"Yes."

But she did not sound certain.

Boris looked at her for a moment before following her down the passage.

Anna held the lamp tightly.

Konstantin’s words kept playing in her mind.

The enemy isn’t me.

Someone closer than you think.

She tried to dismiss it.

He was a desperate man facing death.

Of course he would say anything.

He wanted to frighten her.

He wanted to make her doubt everyone.

But there was one thing Anna could not ignore.

How had those men managed to get Lydia out of the palace?

They had entered the palace.

They had taken the Grand Duchess.

They had somehow gotten her outside without being stopped.

That did not make sense.

Anna slowed down.

Her eyes narrowed.

Someone must have helped them.

There was no other way.

The thought frightened her.

If Konstantin was lying, then she had nothing to worry about.

But if he was telling the truth...

Then Lydia’s enemy was not far away.

The enemy could be much closer than any of them realized.

Anna looked toward the palace above them.

For the first time that night, she felt a different kind of fear.

The danger might not be outside the palace.

It might already be inside.