Chapter 1: The Devil Returns
Lydia Andreyevna sat by the tall window in her room, her book resting gently on her lap. The sky outside was glowing orange—the sun slowly disappearing behind the hills. The air was quiet, and the room smelled like fresh flowers from the vase by her bed.
She was a very beautiful girl. Her hair was golden, soft and long, falling over her shoulders. Her skin was pale like snow, and her eyes were a clear blue, like the ocean she often dreamed about. Right now, she was lost in a story. In her mind, she was on a ship, sailing far away to new lands, the wind in her hair, salt in the air.
Below, in the garden, her cousins were laughing. There were four of them. Little Pyotr, only eleven, was chasing his older brother Mikhail, who had just turned fourteen. The two older girls, Anya and Elena, aged eighteen and nineteen, were picking flowers and talking softly. Lydia smiled a little. She liked watching them. It made her feel less alone.
But then, she saw something that made her heart sink.
A black carriage rolled into the driveway. The horses were large and strong, their hooves loud on the stones. The family crest on the side of the carriage glinted in the last light of the sun.
Her smile faded.
"The devil is back," she whispered to herself.
Her uncle, Lord Alexander Andreyev, had returned from the sea. He had been gone for months, sailing with their family’s ships. The Andreyevnas owned most of the ships in the kingdom of Zolotaria. He always came back with gold and goods—but he also brought tension. Everyone knew when he was in the house.
Dinner was already being prepared. The smell of roasted duck and warm bread filled the halls. The servants moved quickly, laying out the table, pouring drinks, lighting candles.
When Alexander stepped into the house, the mood changed. It always did. His boots echoed on the floors, and even the youngest servant stood straighter when he passed.
At the dinner table, everyone sat quietly at first. Then his children began to speak.