Chapter 186: Chapter 186

Tatiana sat up slowly in her bed, her back resting against the pillows. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, and she wore nothing but her nightdress. Her hands were restless. She kept biting at her nails as her mind ran wildly.

Her eyes were sharp, filled with unease. She whispered to herself, her words trembling but cold.

"I have to do something. I have to get rid of her quickly, before he finds out I hid her letters. If I don’t act now, they might reconcile. If they do... then all of this will be for nothing. I cannot allow that."

Her breathing quickened as she thought. She pulled at her nails, biting harder. Her voice grew harsher.

"I won’t let her have him. I won’t let Lydia win. I have come too far. I have sacrificed too much. She will not take him from me."

She pressed her hands against her chest and shut her eyes for a moment. Then, suddenly, her lips curved into a smile.

"I know what to do," she whispered. Find the newest release on NoveI(F)ire.net

Her heart steadied. Her fingers stopped trembling. A strange calm came over her face. She threw the covers aside and swung her legs down from the bed.

She walked quickly to her drawer and pulled it open. Inside was fine paper, her personal stationery. She took out a sheet and sat at her desk. Her hand moved fast, the ink flowing as she wrote quickly, her expression hard.

Her mind was sharp now. The fear was gone, replaced by determination. Each word she wrote felt like a weapon. When she was done, she folded the letter neatly, pressed it shut, and placed it on the table.

At that moment, the door to her bath chamber opened. Yelena appeared, bowing her head respectfully.

"Your bath is ready, my lady," Yelena said softly.

Tatiana gave her a faint smile and stood. "Very well."

Yelena helped her undress, her hands gentle and careful. When Tatiana was bare, she slipped into the bath. The warm water rose against her skin, calming her nerves. She leaned back, closing her eyes as the steam rose around her.

Yelena picked up the clothes Tatiana had shed. As she folded them, she noticed the stain. The underwear was marked, along with the sanitary towel. Yelena, as always, was discreet. She wrapped the soiled garments carefully in a piece of cloth, making sure no one would see, then placed them inside the basket she carried. She added Tatiana’s nightdress and a clean set of underclothes into the same basket.

"I’ll be back shortly, my lady," Yelena said softly. "I will dispose of the towel."

Tatiana opened her eyes halfway, her voice calm but firm. "No problem. But do not forget to be careful. No one must see you."

Yelena nodded quickly. "Yes, my lady."

As she turned to leave, Tatiana called again. "Oh, and Yelena, there is a letter on my table. Have it delivered for me."

"Yes, my lady," Yelena replied, bowing before she left with the basket in her arms.

The room grew quiet again, filled only with the soft sound of water as Tatiana sank deeper into the bath, her lips curving faintly as she thought of her plan.

Yelena walked steadily through the hallway, the basket balanced carefully in her arms. She tried to keep her steps natural, her face calm, though her heart beat faster. The bundle hidden inside the cloth made her uneasy, as if it carried a secret no one else must see.

But as she stepped into Tatiana’s chambers again, she froze.

Katherine was standing there, waiting.

Yelena’s breath caught. She tried quickly to compose herself, lowering her head in respect.

Katherine’s sharp eyes scanned the room, then landed on Yelena. Her voice was calm but firm.

"Her Highness said Lady Orlova should leave this room by this morning. Why are you still here?"

Yelena’s tongue stumbled. She struggled to find her voice, her lips parting but no words coming at first. "I... I..."

Katherine narrowed her eyes, watching her closely. But her gaze flickered briefly to the basket in Yelena’s hands. To anyone else, it looked ordinary. Just clothes, perhaps some linen. Nothing out of place.

Katherine did not press further. She only said coldly, "Lady Orlova will be staying in the left wing of the palace from now on."

Yelena swallowed hard, clutching the basket tighter. Finally, she found her words. "My lady is bathing. After her bath, we will leave."

Her voice was quiet but steady. Then she dipped her head and walked carefully past Katherine, clutching the basket like a lifeline.

Katherine’s eyes followed her until she disappeared. Something in her chest stirred uneasily. She could not explain it. Everything had looked normal, and yet... she could sense something was wrong. She just could not name it.

Meanwhile, Yelena hurried down the hall, her steps faster now. She moved like a shadow, glancing around to be sure no one was watching. When she reached the washroom, she breathed quickly, her chest rising and falling with relief.

But she was not alone.

Xenia was passing by. She had noticed her strange movements earlier. Yelena’s careful pace, the way she had held the basket, the quick look over her shoulder—it had all caught Xenia’s attention. Curiosity led her feet to follow. Quietly, she slipped into the washroom after her.

From the doorway, Xenia watched.

Yelena moved quickly to the fireplace where water boiled for the laundry. She unwrapped the cloth bundle, revealing the stained underwear and towel. Her hands were swift, almost desperate. She tossed them straight into the flames.

The fire licked at the cloth, devouring it. The smell rose as the fabric curled and blackened. Yelena’s eyes stayed fixed on it until nothing was left but ashes.

She straightened quickly, trying to look calm. A few other servants entered the washroom, carrying baskets of linen. Yelena acted as though nothing had happened. She bent over her own basket, unloading it with practiced ease, her face calm and empty.

But Xenia had seen everything.

Her eyes narrowed, her chest tightening as she slipped quietly back from the doorway. She said nothing, but her mind turned quickly. She knew she had seen something important.

Later, when the palace grew quieter, a knock came at Lydia’s door.

Lydia stirred weakly from where she lay. Her body was still frail, her fever making her dizzy. She turned her head slowly, expecting the knock to be followed by Katherine’s voice, reminding her that her room was now ready.

Her lips parted, ready to answer.

But it was not Katherine.