The Bride Of The Devil-Chapter 50: The Devil’s Warmth

Ivan walked slowly toward her.

Lydia couldn’t move. Her whole body went stiff. Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears. She had been caught. Caught sneaking after him like some suspicious little girl. But still, she stood frozen in place. She couldn’t even bring herself to speak.

Would he be angry? Would he scold her for following him? She expected something—anything.

But Ivan said nothing.

He stopped right in front of her. His face was calm. Quiet. His eyes held no anger, just a strange softness.

Without saying a word, he reached out and gently fixed her hair that had fallen loose from her hood. Then, he adjusted her cloak, making sure it was wrapped tightly around her.

"It’s cold," he said in a quiet voice. "Stay near the fire to keep warm."

And with that, he turned around and went back to what he had been doing.

Lydia just stood there, stunned.

No questions. No accusations. No lectures.

He didn’t ask why she followed him.

He didn’t even look disappointed.

He just... cared for her. As if her comfort mattered more than anything.

With her legs trembling, Lydia slowly walked to the fire and sat down. The warmth of the flames didn’t touch the cold inside her chest.

She stared at the ground, unable to look up. The shame sat heavy on her shoulders like wet clothes.

She had thought the worst of him. She had let fear and doubt cloud her mind. She had imagined all sorts of dark things. That maybe he had hurt someone. That maybe he was hiding something terrible.

But now—now that she knew the truth—it all felt so foolish.

She looked over at him again. Ivan was bent over beside the men, giving quiet instructions. He moved with purpose, with care. The men—Nikolai and a few soldiers—were wrapping bundles of meat and food and placing small sacks of coins beside them. Everything was done quickly and quietly, with no need for words.

They had done this before.

This wasn’t something new. This was something Ivan had been doing for a long time.

And he never wanted anyone to know.

He was helping people. Starving people. Poor families who wouldn’t take his help if they knew it came from him.

Lydia’s throat tightened.

He didn’t do this for praise.

He didn’t do this to be loved.

He just did it... because it needed to be done.

The fire crackled beside her, but her chest ached more than ever. The guilt grew heavier with every passing second.

A moment later, Nikolai walked over to her. His face was calm, but there was a small smile tugging at his lips.

"You must be surprised," he said, glancing at Ivan. "Not many people know. Actually—none do."

Lydia looked up at him, not knowing what to say.

Nikolai continued, his voice gentle. "The people here... they don’t want help from nobles. Especially not from someone like him. They think it’s a trick, or a debt they’ll have to repay."

He looked at the bundled food again. "So, Ivan does it like this. No one sees. No one knows. But they survive the winter."

Lydia swallowed, her hands gripping the edges of her cloak.

"He’s been doing this for years," Nikolai added. Then, with a teasing smirk, he added, "But I think he’s been a little different since marrying you."

Lydia blinked in surprise.

Nikolai grinned softly. "He used to just give meat. Now there’s grain, dried fruit, warm blankets... small things. Kind things. That’s new."

Lydia’s cheeks flushed. She looked down, heart heavy with emotion.

Ivan had changed. Because of her?

The thought made her eyes sting.

By the time the sky began to lighten, Lydia and Ivan quietly rode back to the palace. They said nothing during the ride.

The silence between them wasn’t cold... but it wasn’t quite warm either. Lydia didn’t know what to say, and Ivan didn’t ask anything.

When they arrived at the stables, Ivan helped her down from the horse. His hands were gentle, just like always.

Their eyes met for a brief second. He didn’t smile, but he looked at her longer than usual. Like he wanted to say something. But in the end, he didn’t.

They walked side by side through the quiet halls of the palace. The early morning chill made the walls feel colder than usual.

Just as they passed one of the corridors, Tatiana stepped out in her robe, her eyes sleepy and confused.

She blinked at them. "Where are you two coming from at this hour?"

Neither of them answered.

Ivan kept walking.

Lydia followed.

The silence between them was louder than any words.

At breakfast, the mood was heavy.

Only Tatiana and Lydia sat at the table, with Ivan joining shortly after.

Tatiana, sensing the cold air around them, tried to make light conversation. "I had the strangest dream last night," she began. "There were ducks... and they were wearing crowns."

But no one laughed.

Ivan quietly sipped his tea. Lydia picked at her food without eating.

Tatiana gave up trying and fell silent.

After the meal, Lydia excused herself and walked alone to the library.

The palace was too quiet.

Her own thoughts were too loud.

She pushed open the library door and walked inside. The smell of old pages and dust greeted her. Books lined the walls, and the soft morning sun spilled across the floor through the tall windows.

She walked between the shelves until her eyes landed on a familiar spine.

"The Last Adventure of Captain Elias."

She froze.

It was their favorite book.

That memory hit her like a wave.

Her chest tightened, and tears filled her eyes before she could stop them.

She slowly picked up the book, ran her fingers over the cover, and sat down on the floor with it in her lap.

The tears came faster now. Soft, broken sobs escaped her lips as she curled into herself.

"I’m horrible," she whispered to no one.

She had doubted him. Feared him. Judged him without even trying to understand.

She had been so wrong.

The library door creaked open behind her.

"Your Highness?" It was Tatiana’s voice. Soft. Worried.

Tatiana walked closer and knelt beside her.

"Why are you crying?" she asked gently.

Lydia wiped her eyes, but the tears didn’t stop. "I... I’m a terrible wife," she said through a shaky breath.

Tatiana looked at her with confusion, then concern. "What are you talking about?"

Lydia didn’t explain everything. She couldn’t. But she whispered, "I thought the worst of him. I doubted him. And he... he didn’t even get angry."

Tatiana wrapped an arm around her. "Your Highness..."

"I feel awful," she cried. "He’s so kind. And I thought he was... something else. I didn’t trust him."

Tatiana stayed quiet for a moment, then smiled softly. "Sometimes we’re afraid of the things we don’t understand. That doesn’t make you terrible. It just makes you human."

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