Chapter 88: The Decoy And The Lovers
It was a long night. The wind outside howled softly, brushing against the palace walls like whispers of ghosts. Inside the palace, everything was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of silence that made your ears ring. Even the fireplaces burned lower, casting faint orange glows along the cold marble floors. But Ivan couldn’t sleep. He had spent the entire day in his study, pouring over maps, writing and rewriting plans, weighing the risks. His mind was a battlefield. No matter how much he calculated, one thing was clear — if he left alone, Ruslan would stay behind to hurt Lydia. And if she left with him, Ruslan would follow. But following them... that could be useful.
He rubbed his temples in frustration. His head ached. His shoulders were stiff. The scent of ink and wax clung to his sleeves. He needed a way to draw Ruslan far away. A way that wouldn’t put Lydia in danger. A perfect illusion.
Then, just as he stepped out of his study for some air, he paused.
Someone was walking down the stairs.
At first, he almost called out, thinking it was Lydia. But then the woman turned slightly. She was older, but from behind, her figure and hair resembled Lydia’s. The same soft wave. The same posture. Her shawl dragged behind her like a whisper.
That was when the idea struck.
What if they both didn’t leave?
What if it just looked like they did?
A decoy.
He turned sharply and started searching the palace corridors. He passed several young guards and male servants until he found one. Around his height, slim build, sharp nose, quiet eyes. Perfect.
The palace air was heavy with candle smoke and distant echoes. Paintings stared blankly from the walls. Minutes later, both the female and male servants were standing in front of him in his study. They looked nervous. The fire in the hearth crackled softly behind him, throwing flickers of light against the walls.