The sun had just risen over Zolotaria, but the palace remained quiet, filled only with servants cleaning rooms and preparing breakfast for the royal family and visiting nobles. It should have been a peaceful morning.
But Ivan had not slept.
He lay on his back in his canopy bed, staring at the ceiling. Every time he closed his eyes, Katherine's words returned to him.
You are running away.
You can't keep doing this.
You deserve happiness too, Your Highness.
He turned toward the window as morning light filtered through the curtains. He should have begun his day, but instead he asked himself the same question.
What was the right thing to do?
There seemed to be no right answer anymore.
He could let Lydia go, keeping her from the truth about her uncle and honoring the wish of her godmother. Perhaps she could finally live a normal life, find happiness somewhere far away, and raise her child without fearing what would happen next.
