Chapter 206: The Devil’s Trial Pt3
The night Ivan had searched for the missing necklace, three days ago, Tatiana sat in her chamber. A book lay open in her hands, but the words blurred on the page. She could not concentrate. From the distance, the faint sound of music drifted from the ballroom, the melody pressing against her ears. It was laughter and cheer that mocked her silence. She slammed the book shut and groaned in frustration.
"Too loud," she hissed, pressing the pillow against her ears. Her eyes stung with tears of fury. "That bitch. That cursed woman."
The thought of Lydia basking in the glow of Ivan’s attention sent her blood boiling. She tossed the pillow aside and stood abruptly, pacing across her chamber. "Ivan... he must still be outside. At the lake. I need to see him. I have to check on him."
She rushed to her vanity, straightened her gown, and stormed out of her room. The halls were dimly lit with scattered torches, her slippers tapping against the polished floor. As she reached the staircase, her eyes caught sight of a tall shadow passing just below. Her breath hitched. "Ivan?" she whispered. Without a second thought, she hurried down the stairs, clutching the railing as her heart raced.
But when she reached the bottom, the hall was empty. The shadow had vanished. "Where did he go?" she muttered under her breath, turning in circles. Her mind scrambled for possibilities. Then it struck her. "The lounge..." she breathed. She rushed toward the corridor, her hands trembling as she reached for the door.
She pushed it open softly, almost holding her breath. Her heart stopped at the sight before her. Ivan was there, not alone, but with Lydia. They were locked in a kiss, his hand resting tenderly on her cheek. Tatiana’s entire body went numb. Her nails dug into the wooden doorframe until they almost broke the skin.
And then Lydia pulled away, her eyes meeting Ivan’s with warmth and softness. Tatiana felt her world collapse. She staggered back, quickly slipping into another lounge before anyone could notice. The door shut behind her and she sank against it, gasping for air. The tears came fast, blurring her vision.
"After everything I did," she whispered in broken sobs. "After all the letters I hid, all the work I put into keeping her away, he still doesn’t see me. He still chooses her." She pressed her hands against her face, her nails scraping her skin. "No. I can’t let this go. If she finds out about the letters, she will forgive him. She will go back to him completely. I have to do something before that happens. I have to make sure she leaves. But how?"
The questions rattled in her head as the night dragged on. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her chest tight with envy and rage.
The following morning, she sat at her vanity again, staring at her pale reflection. The sound of hurried footsteps approached. Yelena burst into the room, almost breathless. "My lady!" she exclaimed. "I bring good news!"
Tatiana straightened at once. "What is it?" she asked sharply.
"The senate has written a petition to His Majesty," Yelena said, her eyes gleaming with gossip. "They are demanding that the Grand Duchess be dismissed. His Majesty has ordered her to stand trial here in the capital."
Tatiana’s lips parted in disbelief. "What? Truly?"
"Yes!" Yelena said eagerly. "But... people say it is only a formality. That His Majesty will never dismiss her. Still, she will be torn apart by the senators. You know how cruel they can be."
Tatiana leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. "You’re right," she said softly. "He won’t dismiss her. Not unless... unless he saw her as a danger to Ivan." Her voice dropped into a whisper, the corners of her lips curling into something dark. "Yes. That’s the only way."
She turned sharply to Yelena. "Yelena."
"Yes, my lady?"
Tatiana’s eyes narrowed with determination. "I have an uncle among the senate members. There is something very interesting he should know. Something that will make the trial... unforgettable. His Majesty will have no choice but to dispose of her himself."
Yelena blinked, stunned by the venom in Tatiana’s voice, but nodded quickly. "Yes, my lady."
Now.
The courtroom was suffocating with whispers. The senators leaned close to one another, exchanging words in hushed tones that sounded like the hiss of snakes. Lydia, standing tall in the center, felt her body tremble slightly. She had been confident before, but this accusation was something she had not expected.
Vladimir’s brows furrowed in confusion. His voice carried across the chamber. "What do you mean by that?"
The senator, Tatiana’s uncle, stepped forward with deliberate slowness. His voice was sharp, almost mocking. "Your Majesty, according to the rumours, ever since her Highness returned, she has made the Grand Duke’s life a living hell. They say she insults him worse than a peasant, calls him names, mocks his birth. She has no respect for her husband. And the saddest part is that he never speaks against her."
Anna, standing quietly at the back, squeezed her dress with trembling hands. Her heart ached at the venom dripping from his words.
The senator continued, his tone growing bolder. "We believe she practices witchcraft. She has enchanted him. That is why he never defends himself. And there are even rumours..." He paused dramatically, letting the silence stretch, the court holding its breath. "Rumours that he tried to drown himself because of her. Because of the torment she causes him."
Gasps echoed through the chamber. The whispers grew louder, like fire spreading across dry grass.
"Please, Your Majesty," the senator pressed, "this woman is a danger to the Grand Duke. A threat not only to him, but to all of us."
Ivan was already seething, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He slammed his hand against the arm of his chair and shouted, "That is not true! That is a lie!"
The senator turned toward him, unflinching. "That is what I heard. That Boris Golubev was the one who saved you." His eyes narrowed as he looked at Ivan. "Tell me, am I wrong? Am I not telling the truth?"
Ivan rose from his seat, his chest heaving, ready to speak. But before he could, Lydia’s voice rang out, sharp and cruel. She broke into bitter laughter, her voice echoing in the chamber.
"You are right," she said, her tone biting. "I do not respect him. I do insult him. Because he deserves it."
The court erupted into chaos. Murmurs and gasps filled the air. Vladimir’s voice cut through in disbelief. "What?"
The senator smirked. "This is exactly what we are saying. She has no respect for him. And she is not even ashamed to admit it."
But Lydia’s eyes burned with fire as she snapped back. "And you are?"
The senator froze. "What did you say?"
"You are the ones who insult him," Lydia said, her voice rising, her hand pointing accusingly toward them. "The devil. A monster with no soul. A demon. An animal. An illegitimate son. For twenty-three years, you have called him these names behind his back. So why now? Why do you act as though you care? You cower in his presence. You hiss when he passes. You curse him under your breath. Do not pretend you are concerned for him."
The chamber fell silent, the senators shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Lydia’s eyes softened for a brief moment as she turned her gaze toward Ivan. "The only difference between you and me is that unlike you, I said it to his face."
Her voice hardened again. "You wonder why he says nothing? Ask him yourself. I do not hold his lips closed. And as for your ridiculous claim of witchcraft—" She gave a sharp laugh. "If I had such power, why would I waste it on my husband? I would turn my entire chamber into gold and diamonds. What nonsense you spew!"
The senator’s face darkened. "Then how do you explain his behaviour? Why does he keep silent when you insult him? It is obvious. It is witchcraft. You bewitched him. That is why he tried to kill himself. Because of you. Because of your sorcery. Because you are a witch!"
Lydia’s body began to tremble, the weight of the accusation pressing down on her. Her lips parted, but no words came. For the first time, she felt truly cornered.
Olga’s smile widened from her seat. She had been waiting for this moment. She knew Lydia was slipping.
Alexander, Anna, Elena, and Anya exchanged worried glances, their hearts heavy. They could see Lydia’s strength faltering.
Just then, Boris entered quietly from the back of the hall. His eyes narrowed as he listened, his jaw tightening. "This isn’t good," he muttered under his breath.