The Bride Of The Devil-Chapter 69: Royal Dinner And Disaster

Ivan sat in his chambers, by the window where he always found himself whenever his thoughts became too heavy. The sky outside had started to fade, the golden light slipping quietly into blue. It was peaceful, but not for him. His heart ached. He could not stop thinking about her. Lydia.

He had seen her return. From his window, he had watched the carriage arrive. He saw her step out slowly, her head bowed low. Even from that distance, he had noticed how she had wiped her face before she walked into the palace. But he already knew. Her eyes were red. She had been crying.

And that sight stayed with him.

He had wanted to go to her. To hold her, to ask what was wrong, to tell her he was still here. But his legs had refused to move. His pride held him like a chain. He sat still, fighting with the weight of his silence.

A soft knock came at the door.

He turned slightly. "Come in."

The door opened. It was Leonid. He looked uncertain, his hand still on the doorknob.

"She is back," Leonid said softly.

Ivan nodded. "I know."

Leonid stepped in a little. "It is almost time for dinner. Will you come eat with me?"

Ivan’s voice was low. "I am not hungry."

There was a pause.

"Then I will go eat with the Grand Duchess. She is kind. But... she looks very sad."

Leonid raised his voice just a little, letting his words hang in the air. "She barely touched her food at breakfast. I do not know if she will eat tonight either. She must feel lonely."

Then he turned and left.

Ivan remained still. The room felt even colder than before. Leonid’s words echoed in his mind. She must feel lonely.

He thought back to something Katherine had once told him, back when Lydia was still new to the palace. How she hated eating alone. How she barely ate. He recalled when she fell sick due to malnutrition.

Ivan clenched his hands into fists. He had not meant to hurt her. And yet, it kept happening. Over and over again.

He kept whispering to himself, do not go, just stay... but another voice in his heart screamed louder. What if she falls sick again? What if she stops eating altogether?

He rose to his feet.

His footsteps echoed through the corridor as he walked. The palace was quiet, but his mind was not. All he could see was the sadness in her eyes, and the way she had forced herself to smile even when her heart was breaking.

From a distance, Vladimir stood quietly, watching. It was strange to see Ivan walking toward the dining hall. He had never done that before. Not once. Vladimir narrowed his eyes, saying nothing.

When Ivan reached the dining room, he paused at the doors for a second. He could hear the soft clinking of plates. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The doors opened slowly. Heads turned.

Leonid looked up and smiled brightly. "Brother! You came!"

Ivan said nothing. He simply walked in and took the seat beside Lydia.

Lydia looked surprised, but something in her face softened. She had not expected him to come. And maybe, just maybe, a small part of her heart began to breathe again.

Leonid started to speak again. "Brother, we were just talking about you—"

But before he could finish, the door opened again.

Vladimir entered the room. He walked slowly and took his place at the head of the table. The mood changed at once. It felt colder, sharper.

Leonid and Lydia stood and bowed their heads in greeting. Ivan remained still. He met Vladimir’s gaze with a quiet, unreadable look.

Far across the palace, in her chambers, Olga stood in front of her mirror. A knock came, and the Grand Chamberlain entered. He bowed and said in a low voice,

"Your Majesty, His Majesty is in the dining hall."

She turned, raising an eyebrow. "Alone?"

"No. With Prince Leonid, the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess."

The brush slipped from her hand.

He had never joined her at dinner. Not even once.

She clenched her hands tightly, then turned and left her chambers without another word.

Back in the dining hall, servants moved quietly as they served the food. The table was long. The silence longer. novelbuddy-cσ๓

No one said a word.

Then the door opened once more.

Olga stepped in with a graceful smile.

"Well, well," she said gently. "It looks like there is a family dinner without me."

No one replied. The room grew colder.

She sat at the far end.

It remained silent.

Until Ivan finally spoke.

"We are leaving at dawn."

His words dropped like stones.

Lydia looked at him. Her lips parted slightly. She had not been told.

Olga let out a soft laugh. "I thought you would stay longer. But of course, you have duties as Grand Duke."

She lifted her spoon and stirred her soup slowly.

Then she said, more quietly, "I just hope your subjects stay alive during your reign."

Ivan said nothing.

Silence followed.

Then Vladimir spoke.

"Since there is no reason to keep you here, you may leave by dawn. But before you go, both of you will come to the throne room. I have something to discuss."

Ivan gave a small nod.

The rest of the dinner passed in silence. Only the clinking of utensils filled the room.

Leonid looked from one face to another. His smile had faded.

Lydia lowered her eyes to her plate. She tried to eat, but it was hard. Everything tasted like nothing.

Ivan glanced at her. He noticed how she barely touched her food. It made his chest ache.

Outside the palace walls, under the dark sky, a lone rider sat still on his horse. It was Ruslan. He sat on his horse watching with rage burning in his eyes.

He watched the palace. He waited.

Inside, the royal family sat together for the first time in years. But none of them felt less alone.

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