Chapter 66: Loneliness At Dawn
Lydia woke up at dawn. Her eyes opened slowly to the cold light of morning. She hadn’t slept much through the night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ivan’s face—his broken expression, the way his voice cracked with pain, the tears he tried so hard to hide. Her chest felt heavy, and no matter how much she tossed and turned, the ache in her heart wouldn’t go away.
She sat up in bed and pulled the thick blanket around her shoulders. The palace was quiet at this hour. She walked slowly to the window and sat down, resting her cheek against the cold glass. Outside, the snow glowed softly under the early light. The sun was rising behind the trees, casting a golden hue over the icy ground. It was beautiful. So still, so peaceful. But somehow, it only made her cry.
Tears slid down her cheeks as she looked at the gentle sky. She wondered where Ivan was. Had he slept at all? Was he hurting alone somewhere, like she was?
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In the royal library, Ivan stood by the large window. The same sunrise touched his skin, but it brought him no comfort. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t really looking at the view. His mind had drifted far into a memory he tried hard to forget.
He was only four years old again.
In the memory, their small home was quiet. The walls were cold, and outside the window, winter had covered everything in white. He had just woken up and walked to the front room, rubbing his sleepy eyes. His mother, Marina, was standing by the window, wrapped in a thin shawl, watching the sun rise just like he was now. Her face was pale. She looked scared... and very sad.
He had walked up to her and hugged her leg, looking up with innocent eyes.
"Mama, are you okay?"
She quickly wiped her eyes and forced a smile. "Nothing, my love. Mama’s just a little sick. I’m okay."
She bent down and hugged him tightly. He remembered how her hands had trembled.