Chapter 189: Chapter 189

Ivan walked quickly through the palace hallways, his footsteps sharp and hurried. The air felt heavy around him, almost pressing down on his shoulders. His mind was racing but focused on one thing only. The necklace.

He didn’t notice the tapestries hanging along the walls or the servants bowing as he passed. He didn’t hear the echoes of his own boots striking the marble floors. His chest was tight, his breath short, and his eyes were fixed forward. To him, nothing else existed.

Boris was walking toward him from the opposite direction. The moment he saw Ivan’s face, his heart clenched. Something was wrong. His Highness looked pale, restless, and almost broken.

"Your Highness," Boris called, stepping closer. "Is everything okay?"

But Ivan didn’t stop. His eyes didn’t even move toward Boris. His expression was clouded, his lips pressed tight, his whole body straining forward. He didn’t hear the question, or maybe he refused to. His mind was deaf to everything except the thought of that necklace at the bottom of the lake.

Boris turned and looked after him, troubled. His voice softened, almost to himself. "What is happening to him?"

Ivan didn’t care. He didn’t slow. All he could think was I have to find it. I have to. Because it wasn’t just a necklace. To anyone else it might look like a simple trinket, silver and crystal that could be replaced with ease. But to him it was something more. It was Lydia. It was his heart, his love, his promise to her. It was the only gift he had ever wanted to give her, and now it was gone. Lost in the water. Sinking in silence. Just like her love for him.

As he reached the grand staircase, Katherine suddenly appeared in his path. Her face was pale, her hands tightly folded. She had been waiting.

"Ivan," she said quickly, almost breathless. "Did you find it?"

He stopped. His eyes were wide, his hair slightly disheveled from the restless rush through the halls. Slowly, he shook his head.

"No," he whispered. His voice was rough, trembling. Then, firmer, "But I know where it is."

Katherine let out a quick breath of relief, though worry still darkened her features. "Good. Where is it?"

His throat worked as if the words pained him. He finally said, "In the lake."

Her brows furrowed. She tilted her head slightly, confused. "The lake?"

"Yes," he answered, his voice breaking slightly but steady with determination. "I am going to find it."

And before she could speak again, before she could stop him, he turned and left.

Katherine’s eyes followed him. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her heart pounding in her ears. Something about the way he said it, the way his voice cracked, filled her with unease. She whispered to herself, "What is he doing to himself..."

Ivan strode across the courtyard and down the stone steps that led toward the lake. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of wet earth and new grass. Spring had softened the land, but the lake was still cold, its surface shining under the pale light of the sun.

He didn’t hesitate. He tore off his boots, pulled off his heavy coat, and walked straight into the water. The chill struck him instantly, biting into his skin, wrapping around him like icy hands. He gasped, but he did not stop. Step by step, the water rose higher against his body until it reached his chest. His heart hammered, his breath shook. He closed his eyes for just a second, then filled his lungs with air and plunged under.

The lake swallowed him. The world turned dark and heavy. His eyes stung, the water clouded his vision, but his hands searched blindly, sweeping through the cold mud and stones beneath. His fingers scraped rough edges, cut against sharp rocks, but he didn’t care. All he wanted was the necklace.

His chest ached. His lungs begged for air. Still, he searched. Still, he reached and grasped at nothing. Finally, his body screamed for release, and he pushed himself upward.

He broke through the surface with a loud gasp, water pouring down his face, his chest heaving. He coughed hard, dragging air into his burning lungs. For a moment he floated there, shaking, his hair plastered against his skin, his hands trembling. Then, with a groan of determination, he went down again.

Again, the darkness swallowed him. Again, he searched. His hands scraped through mud. His nails dug into wet sand. His knuckles split open on sharp stones. His arms moved desperately, frantically, but he found nothing.

His chest screamed again. His vision blurred. He forced himself to stay longer, just a moment more, just another sweep of his hand. But still there was nothing.

He burst up through the surface again, coughing, choking, gasping for air. His throat burned. His lips trembled. His whole body shivered from the cold, but his eyes remained wild, desperate. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel✶fire.net

"No," he whispered through his shaking breath. "No. I will find it. I have to."

Over and over, he went under. His body grew weaker each time. His arms ached, his chest burned, his teeth chattered. The water was merciless. Every dive was longer, heavier, more painful. But he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t give up. To give up meant letting go of Lydia. Letting go of everything he had left of her.

The necklace had become more than silver and crystal. It was hope. It was proof that his love had not died, no matter how much she hated him.

By the time the sun rose higher, his hands were scraped and bleeding, his lips had turned pale, his body shaking with exhaustion. Yet he still pushed himself down into the water again, refusing to stop, refusing to surrender.

It was late morning now.

In her chamber, Lydia sat by the tall window, her body calm though her mind wandered. A tray of fruits rested beside her, their sweet scent filling the air. She picked at them quietly, lifting a grape, then another, while her eyes moved over the open book in her lap. She read, though the words didn’t fully settle in her mind.

The door opened softly, and Katherine stepped inside. Her face was drawn, her movements careful. She bowed slightly.

"Your Highness," she said. "Everything is ready for tonight’s ball."

Lydia looked up from her book. Her eyes were steady, her tone composed. "Thank you. You may go now. Get some rest."

Katherine lowered her head. "Yes, Your Highness." But her voice was soft, hesitant, not steady as usual.

Lydia noticed. She set down the book and turned her face toward her. "Are you okay? Are you sick?"

Katherine quickly shook her head. "No, I am fine."

Lydia’s gaze sharpened. "Then what is it?"

For a moment Katherine hesitated. Her lips trembled. Finally she stuttered softly, "It’s His Highness."

At once Lydia’s expression changed. The softness of her features hardened like stone. Her tone grew cold. "What about him?"

Katherine shifted uneasily, her eyes lowering. "Apparently... he misplaced something. A necklace."

The coldness in Lydia’s eyes flickered, replaced for just a second with something else. Her voice softened slightly. "A necklace?"

"Yes," Katherine said carefully. "A necklace he had made for you."

Lydia froze. Her breath caught in her throat. For a heartbeat, her chest ached, though her face remained calm. She forced herself not to react, though inside her emotions twisted.

Katherine hesitated, then continued, "The problem is... the necklace is at the bottom of the lake. And he went to search for it."

Lydia’s heart raced. She blinked, her expression betraying just a flash of fear, worry, sadness, and something deeper she didn’t want to name. But in seconds, she pushed it all down. Her voice turned sharp again.

"And so?" she said firmly.

Katherine looked at her in surprise. "Huh?"

"Why should I care?" Lydia said, her tone cutting. "If he wants to drain the lake to find a stupid necklace, then so be it."

She stood slowly, her body poised though her heart was trembling. She walked toward her bed, sat down on the edge, and said quietly but firmly, "Please close the curtains, Katherine. I wish to sleep now."

Katherine lingered, her eyes soft with worry, but she obeyed. She closed the curtains, dimming the light in the room. She looked at Lydia one last time, then quietly left, closing the door behind her.

The moment the room was empty, Lydia’s face changed. Her lips quivered, her eyes glistened. She blinked hard, but the tears still threatened to fall. She gripped the blanket tightly with her hands, pressing her fingers into the fabric.

Her chest ached. Her heart pounded. Her thoughts spun.

"Why," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "Why would he go to that extent... for a single necklace... when he left me?"

Her eyes grew glassy, and she closed them tightly, trying to block the tears. Confusion tore at her heart. Anger, sorrow, longing, all tangled together until she didn’t know what she felt anymore.

Her heart whispered one thing. Her mind shouted another. She shook her head, but the question burned inside her, refusing to leave.