Lydia sat quietly in the terrace. The air was soft and still, filled with the scent of spring blossoms. She had just finished her bath. Her skin glowed under the sun, smooth and warm from the oils. Her hair was damp, tied loosely behind her. She wore an emerald robe, silk and flowing, the fabric catching the light with every small movement.
Her lunch was spread gently before her. Warm bread, nectar, sweet fresh fruits, and a slice of soft vanilla cake. She sipped from a delicate cup filled with nectar, light and golden. Everything was peaceful. The sounds of birds chirping in the distance, the soft rustle of trees, the clink of her spoon as she reached for a grape. She looked calm. She looked like someone at peace.
Soft, slow, dragging.
Lydia didn’t look up at first. She knew who it was. The air around her seemed to shift slightly, as if the wind held its breath.
Tatiana appeared. She was dressed simply, her hair tied up, her face looking pale but determined. She smiled, a soft, fake smile, and said, "Your Highness."
Lydia slowly picked a grape from her tray and placed it in her mouth. Her voice came calm and low. "I didn’t call for you. Why are you here?"
Tatiana placed a hand on her stomach and smiled. "I know. I’m sorry to disturb you. I just wanted to talk."
Lydia didn’t respond. She didn’t even look at her. Her eyes stayed on the horizon. Calm. Distant. Cold.
Tatiana pulled out a chair and sat across from her. She smiled again, placing both hands on her round stomach. Lydia gave her a sideways glance and said quietly, "Say what you want and leave."
Tatiana reached forward and gently took Lydia’s hand. Her own hands were warm, trembling slightly. "How have you been?"
Lydia looked at her, her face unreadable.
Tatiana continued, her voice softer now. "I really missed you. I tried to write to you. Many times. But I didn’t know where you were. And I didn’t know what to say. I was ashamed of myself. I couldn’t help you when you needed someone. I should have... I should have been there."
Lydia blinked slowly. Then she said, almost bored, "That’s all in the past."
"So... what do you want now?"
Tatiana’s eyes grew watery. She held her stomach gently. "I know you’re angry at him. And you have every right to be. But... for my sake, can you stop? Please?"
Lydia said nothing. Her face didn’t change.
Tatiana swallowed and continued. "I didn’t mean to... but I’m with child. And I’m scared. If people find out, what will they say? About me. About the baby. I don’t want people to throw stones at my child because of my mistake. You know how it was for His Highness. You know. I’m scared my child will go through the same pain."
Her tears began to fall, dripping quietly onto her dress.
She reached out and held Lydia’s hands tighter. "Please help me. I’m begging you."
Lydia looked at her. Her eyes were blank, almost like she was listening to someone speak in a foreign language. She pulled her hand away and said coldly, "And so?"
Tatiana blinked. Shocked.
Lydia crossed her legs slowly, her voice calm and sharp. "I didn’t tell you to sleep with a married man. So now you bear the consequences. Why should I care?"
She picked up her cup and sipped the nectar gently.
"Please leave. You’re interrupting my peace."
Tatiana stood up slowly. She looked like she had been slapped. Her body shook, and she could barely walk.
Just as she reached the steps, Lydia spoke again.
"And for that child you carry like a crown... let me tell you something. Once you give birth, I can promise you that child will never know its mother."
Tatiana stopped. Frozen.
Lydia’s voice was calm. Deadly. "I will drag you out of here. I will raise that child myself. I won’t mistreat him. In fact, I will shower him with the love you’ll never be able to give. He’ll call me mother. Not you."
Tatiana turned around, her mouth open, her eyes full of disbelief.
She clenched her jaw, her fists shaking. She couldn’t speak. She didn’t know what to say. She only stared at Lydia, whose face was like stone.
Then she turned and walked away.
Her legs moved slowly. Her chest rising and falling too fast. Her mind screaming.
She thought, I need to do something. She’s not going to leave on her own. I need to push her out.
The library was quiet. Dust floated in the air. The windows were open and soft sunlight poured in through the large glass panes.
Ivan stood in front of a shelf. His eyes were fixed on a book.
"The Last Voyage of Captain Elias."
He stared at it for a long time. He didn’t reach for it at first. He just looked. Like the sight of it alone was enough to hurt.
Then he slowly picked it up.
His hands were steady, but his eyes weren’t. He didn’t say a word. He turned and walked out of the library. His steps were quiet, slow, almost afraid.
He reached her chambers.
The doors were open. The servants were busy inside, organizing everything.
New sheets. New curtains. New perfume bottles. New silks. New everything. Just as she had asked.
He looked around. The room looked nothing like it used to. It used to be soft, gentle, warm. Filled with flowers and light.
Now it looked cold. Bold. Elegant. But distant.
It didn’t feel like her.
Not the Lydia he used to know.
He walked slowly to the bed and placed the book gently on it.
He stood there for a moment.
Then he turned around and walked out quietly.
Katherine stood nearby, supervising the servants. She had been watching him.
As he left, she saw his face. His eyes looked lost. Like he had just walked through a dream he couldn’t understand.
She turned away quickly. Tears began to run down her cheeks. Her heart ached.
She knew they both still loved each other.
But something inside them had broken.
And no one knew if it could be fixed.