Immediately, Alexander snapped. He roared like a mad dog.
"Where did she go?!" he bellowed. "Where is she!"
His voice echoed through the walls. Within seconds, the entire household woke up. Servants came rushing, confused and frightened. Some held candles, others just stood still in the hallway, rubbing sleep from their eyes.
"WHERE IS SHE!" he shouted again. "I knew something was wrong. The way she stood, so calm, so composed like she had nothing to lose!"
No one replied.
"Speak!" he barked. "Where is Lady Lydia?"
The servants looked down at their feet. No one dared to speak. Daria stood quietly beside Galina, her hands shaking slightly. She could feel it coming.
Alexander picked up a vase from the table and flung it at the wall. It missed by inches.
"I said—" he turned, eyes wild, "—where is she?!"
Still, silence.
Then suddenly, he grabbed another vase—this one heavier—and threw it straight at Galina. It hit her on the side of her forehead. She let out a short cry and fell to her knees, her hand on the bleeding wound.
"Are you helping her?!" he roared, walking toward her with fire in his eyes.
"Stop! Please!" Daria shouted, stepping between him and Galina. "Please, I'll tell you! Don't hurt her!"
He froze.
Daria was shaking, her hands raised. "She left. She left last night. She went through the back door. She's heading for the docks… she plans to leave by ship."
Alexander stared at her, breathing heavily, his jaw clenched. Then he turned to his men.
"Find her," he ordered coldly. "I don't care how far she's gone. Find her and bring her back."
"You!" Alexander said, referring to Daria. "You better pray to the gods that they find her on time or you'll regret the day you were born."
Hours passed. Dawn broke.
Lydia was woken up by a soft shake. She opened her eyes slowly.
"Lydia," Mira whispered. "It's morning. Time to go."
Lydia sat up, still feeling the weight of the night before. She turned to look at the man still lying unconscious on the bed. Ivan hadn't moved.
Mira handed her a cloth-wrapped piece of bread. "Eat this on the ship. It's fresh."
Lydia stood and looked at Mira and Pavel. "Thank you... for everything."
Mira smiled softly. "Go. We'll handle the rest."
She mounted her horse and rode off. The sky was still faint with pink and orange. Birds chirped quietly as the wind brushed past her cheeks. She didn't look back.
At the docks, people were already gathering. Some were loading crates. Others stood in line, holding money, waiting to buy tickets.
Lydia joined the queue.
It was almost her turn when she heard hurried footsteps.
She looked behind.
Three men were walking straight toward her. Her heart sank.
She recognized them.
Her uncle's guards.
She turned to run but didn't get far. The third man caught her arm and yanked her back.
"Lady Lydia," he said, breathing hard. "You're coming with us."
Back at the Andreyevna house, the air was thick with tension.
The guards burst into the sitting room, dragging Lydia in.
"We found her, my lord," one said.
Alexander stood up. Before Lydia could even speak, his hand flew across her face.
SLAP!
She stumbled back and hit the floor.
"You ungrateful child!" he shouted. "I should've known! I should've known! All these years of raising you, this is how you repay me?"
He stormed toward her, yanked her bag from her hands, and opened it. There, shining in the morning light, was her mother's ruby jewelry.
He scoffed. "So you were the one who took this," he sneered. "I searched for it for years."
He turned to the maids. "Galina! Daria! You're fired! Pack your things and get out of my house! You've been poisoning her mind!"
"No, please!" Galina cried, still holding her wounded head.
"Don't do this," Daria begged. "She's just a child, she was scared!"
Lydia slowly stood up, shaking. Her cheek still burned from the slap.
"Please…" she whispered, voice hoarse. "Don't fire them. I'll do anything you want. I'll marry the Count. I won't run again. I swear it."
Alexander didn't blink.
"If you fire them," Lydia said louder, "I'll jump from my window. I'll break my legs or kill myself. Then you'll never get your marriage or your deal."
Silence.
Alexander stepped forward and stared at her coldly.
"It hasn't come to that," he said in a calm but cruel tone. "They'll stay. But if you ever try something stupid again, don't worry about them being fired."
He looked at Daria and Galina.
"I'll sell them as slaves," he said. "Or kill them myself."
Back at the cottage, Pavel was ready to leave.
"I'll go to the palace," he told Mira. "Someone has to report this."
She nodded. "Be careful."
Ivan was still unconscious on the bed, breathing shallowly.
At the Andreyevna house, Lydia was in her room.
Galina and Daria helped her into a warm bath. She didn't speak. She just cried, quietly, endlessly.
She looked up and saw the cut on Galina's head. "I'm sorry," she choked. "This is all my fault. I was selfish. I didn't think."
Daria sat beside the tub and sighed. "It's not your fault."
Galina touched her shoulder gently. "You're not selfish. You're brave. You did what any girl would do. You tried to save yourself."
"But now you're hurt," Lydia said. "And he wants to throw you away because of me."
Galina shook her head. "I'm not mad at you. I'll never be mad at you. He's cruel. That's not on you."
She looked at Daria, then back at Lydia. "You're not going to marry that Count."
"How?" Lydia whispered.
"Write to your godmother," Galina said. "The Queen's cousin."
Daria blinked. "Your godmother?"
Galina nodded. "She won't let this happen. If anyone can help, it's her."
Meanwhile, back at the cottage, Pavel returned—this time with guards.
The head guard stepped into the house with two others. Their eyes widened when they saw Ivan lying there, half-dead.
"You found him," one of them breathed.
"Thank you," the head guard told Mira and Pavel. "You've saved someone important."
Mira and Pavel looked at each other, confused.
"Who is he?" Pavel asked.
They didn't answer. They were already lifting Ivan up carefully.
"We're taking him to the palace," the guard said.
And just like that, they were gone.