The ride back to the palace was unusually long.
Lydia sat quietly on her horse, exhausted from everything that had happened.
The night that had started as a beautiful masquerade ball had turned into something she never wanted to remember.
She had been kidnapped.
She had nearly been killed.
She had fought for her life with a small nail and a dagger.
And now she was finally going back to the palace.
Ivan rode a short distance ahead of her.
Lydia kept looking at him.
She did not understand him.
He had been so worried when he first saw her.
She had seen it clearly in his eyes.
He had rushed toward her as if he wanted to hold her and make sure she was safe.
But the moment he saw Damir holding her hands, something changed.
Since then, Ivan had barely looked at her.
Whenever Lydia tried to meet his eyes, he looked away.
She did not understand why.
Was he angry?
Or was there something else bothering him?
Lydia wanted to ask him.
But she was too tired.
