Chapter 169: Chapter 169

The rain was still pouring. Katherine wrapped her arms around Lydia and tried her best to guide her toward the church. Lydia’s knees were weak, her sobs shaking her whole body. Katherine held her tightly, whispering, "Your highness, please, let us go inside. Please, you’ll catch a fever."

The heavy wooden doors opened with a creak. The scent of old wood, stone, and candle wax filled the air as they stepped inside. The church was empty, silent, and dark except for a few lit candles near the altar. Katherine helped Lydia sit on one of the benches. The rain thundered on the roof above, echoing inside the holy walls.

Katherine knelt in front of her, her voice trembling. "Your highness, please tell me what is the matter. Why are you crying so much?"

But Lydia didn’t answer. Her mind wasn’t here. Her body was, but her soul had slipped away, far away.

Her eyes blurred with tears as memories forced their way back.

Summer. Three years ago.

A small town, not far from Svetlana.

Lydia sat by the window inside a little cottage parlour. The sunlight outside was golden, but her heart was heavy. Her belly was round, swollen with child, about eight months along. But her eyes were sad. Too sad.

On the table before her lay a piece of paper. Her hand trembled as she held the pen. Words blurred through her tears as she wrote.

I am sorry. Please don’t hate me. I know you are angry, but I beg you not to throw me away. It has been six months since I saw you. Six long months. I am scared. I am all alone. The doctor says I will have our baby in just one month, and I don’t know what to do without you. I wake every morning hoping to see you, but I only see the empty space beside me. Please, Ivan. Please come. I miss you every day. I still love you with all my heart. No matter what happened, I am still yours. Please don’t leave me . Please don’t hate me. Come back to me. I beg you.

The ink smeared where her tears fell. She pressed her lips together, sobbing as she folded the letter. Her hands shook as she sealed it.

She turned to a woman standing nearby, a kind servant named Anastasia. She handed her the letter with desperation in her eyes. "Anastasia, please deliver this for me."

The woman hesitated. "My lady... are you sure? He has not replied to the others..."

"Please," Lydia whispered. Her voice cracked like glass. "Just try one more time."

Anastasia gave a slow nod and left.

Footsteps came down the stairs. It was Irina, her godmother, her protector, the one who had taken her in. Irina’s face was stern, her head shaking.

"You are still writing to him?" Irina said in disbelief. "After six months? And not even one reply?"

Lydia quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "What else can I do, godmother? I tried to go myself. But the soldiers wouldn’t let me enter Svetlana. They pushed me back. I can’t see him unless I send letters. Maybe this one... maybe this one will reach him."

Irina’s expression softened with pity. She sat beside her. "Poor child," she murmured. Then her eyes hardened again. "But what if he never comes? What then?"

Lydia’s lips trembled. "He will come. I know he will. He probably hasn’t read them, that’s why he hasn’t come. Maybe the letters never reached him."

Irina let out a sharp scoff. "God help you, Lydia. You are so foolish. It is clear he read them. It is clear he wants nothing to do with you."

Lydia shook her head violently. "No. That’s not true. Ivan would never abandon me."

Irina crossed her arms, her voice rising. "And if by the end of the week he doesn’t come, I will take you to the capital myself. I will show you to the Czar. He will have no choice but to take responsibility for his child."

Before Lydia could answer, the door suddenly opened. Anastasia stood there, breathless, her face pale.

"Why are you here so soon?" Lydia asked, surprised. "Did something happen?"

Anastasia clutched a letter in her hand. "A reply came... from the grand duke."

Lydia gasped. Her heart leapt as she quickly stood, her hand reaching for it. She smiled through her tears. "I told you," she whispered. "I told you he wouldn’t abandon me."

Her hands opened the letter with eagerness. But the moment her eyes fell on the words, her smile broke. Her face paled. Her hands shook violently.

Tears began falling without control.

Irina jumped up. "What is it? Let me see!" She snatched the letter from Lydia’s trembling hands.

Her eyes scanned the writing. Her lips parted in horror.

Stop sending me these pitiful letters. I do not want you, nor do I want your child. How can I believe the child is even mine? You are nothing but a liar. This is my last warning. Do not write to me again.

Irina’s hands trembled. "This... this makes no sense. His highness has lost his mind."

But Lydia was frozen. She stood there, staring blankly. The words cut her deeper than any blade. Slowly, she shook her head.

"No... no. This isn’t real. Ivan wouldn’t do this to me."

She snatched the letter back, staring at it again, desperate. Her eyes searched the ink, the strokes. It was his handwriting. His seal. Her body shook. "No... no, this isn’t real. He wouldn’t..."

Her knees gave out. She collapsed to the floor, the letter crushed in her hands.

Irina dropped beside her, trying to hold her. Her voice rose sharply. "Anastasia! Prepare a carriage! We are going to Svetlana right now. He cannot do this to her. He will not! I will drag him out of his palace myself!"

She pulled Lydia up, her hands strong and determined. "Come, child. We will go to him now."

But Lydia’s voice came out weak, trembling. "Godmother..."

Irina turned quickly. "Don’t be afraid. I am here."

But Lydia’s face twisted in pain. Her voice broke. "Godmother... I think the baby is coming."

Irina froze. "What are you saying? You aren’t even due yet."

Her eyes fell downward. A pool was spreading on the floor beneath Lydia.

Irina’s face turned white. "Dear God..."

She screamed out. "Anastasia! Fetch a midwife and a doctor now! Hurry!"

Anastasia ran as fast as her legs could carry her.

Irina pulled Lydia into her arms as the young woman sobbed in fear and pain. "Hold on, child. Hold on. I am here. I won’t leave you."