CHAPTER 196: THE UNEXPECTED CALL PT2

The previous morning

The capital

The sun had not fully risen, and the light in Olga’s chamber was soft and pale, falling across her paints and brushes. She sat in silence, her brush moving slowly across the canvas, though her mind was clearly elsewhere. The air smelled faintly of oils and flowers. Across from her, Pavel, the grand chamberlain, stood waiting with a long list of minor issues he was reciting.

Olga nodded from time to time, though her eyes were fixed on her painting. She looked calm, almost distant, until the sudden sound of wings made her pause. A bird flew through the open window, its feathers beating against the air before it landed neatly on the rail.

Olga raised a brow, putting her brush aside. A tiny roll of parchment was tied to the bird’s leg. She untied it, curious.

Her eyes scanned the words.

"I kept my own end of the bargain, and now it’s your turn. Please help me get rid of the grand duchess. If you don’t, I won’t hesitate to expose everything you have done."

The letter was signed by Tatiana.

Olga’s lips curved in a cold, bitter smile. She let out a scoff. "She is threatening me," Olga muttered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Who does she think she is?"

Pavel, who had been watching her closely, asked carefully, "Is it from Orlova? What does it say?"

Olga tossed the parchment onto the table with little care. "She is threatening me to help her get rid of the grand duchess. Imagine that. She thinks she can order me around."

Pavel tilted his head. "That’s bold. And dangerous."

Olga’s eyes hardened. "She’s unbelievable. As if I care about what happens there. Yes, I may despise that girl," she said, her tone sharp, "but the grand duchess wants to make the grand duke’s life hell. And that," she smirked faintly, "is exactly what I want. So why should I get rid of her? She is exactly what I need."

Pavel’s lips pressed into a thin line. He muttered, almost to himself, "She might not last."

Olga turned her gaze on him sharply. "What do you mean?"

Pavel hesitated. "I heard... the grand duchess set a new law in Svetlana. It enraged the senate. I heard they already wrote a petition to his majesty about it."

Olga narrowed her eyes. "And?"

"I don’t think his majesty plans to take action now," Pavel explained slowly. "But if she continues her reckless behavior, he might. A petition is no small thing."

Olga sat down, her fingers tapping the arm of her chair as her mind turned quickly. "This... is a good chance."

"For what, your majesty?" Pavel asked cautiously.

Olga leaned forward, her voice low but filled with venom. "To watch the grand duke suffer. Imagine how suffocating it will be for him," she said, her eyes gleaming. "To watch the woman he loves get chewed apart by the senate. He won’t even be able to defend her. And she, in her pride, will hate him even more. Whatever is left of their bond will crumble."

Her words were spoken almost with delight. She stood suddenly, her gown sweeping around her. "Fetch all the senate members for me. In the meantime, I will have a chat with his majesty."

Pavel bowed. "Yes, your majesty."

Olga’s steps echoed in the quiet hallway as she walked with determination. She went straight to Vladimir’s study.

Inside, Vladimir was sitting at his desk, a man of cold presence. Papers and parchments were spread neatly before him. His hand moved across the page, signing with precision, his face calm and unreadable.

Olga paused at the door, then knocked softly.

"Come in," Vladimir said firmly, without looking up.

She entered, her smile polite though her heart tightened under his icy tone. "Your majesty," she greeted.

His eyes finally lifted. "Why are you here?" His voice carried no warmth, only command.

Olga’s fingers twitched at her side, but she kept her expression composed. She stepped closer. "I heard a horrible piece of news today."

Vladimir leaned back slightly, studying her with narrowed eyes. "What news?"

"I heard the members of the senate wrote a petition," Olga said slowly, watching his reaction, "a petition for you to dismiss the grand duchess because of her current behavior. I thought... we should talk about it."

Vladimir’s expression didn’t change. "I have no plans to interfere or dismiss her," he said flatly. "So there’s nothing to talk about. Leave."

Olga’s lips curved in a faint sigh. "I don’t wish to dismiss her either," she said smoothly. "But if you dismiss their petition so quickly, it may cause unrest. People will talk. They will say you aren’t listening to your subjects. You are the Czar. I only worry about your reputation."

Vladimir frowned, his eyes cold. "Then what do you expect me to do? Should I obey their every demand? Should I become their puppet?"

Olga quickly shook her head. "No. Not that. But..." She stepped closer, her voice lowering like a whisper of suggestion. "How about you give them the impression that you are listening? Or at least, make them believe you are. A trial," she said, her eyes glinting. "That way, the grand duchess can defend herself properly. And in the end, the decision is still yours."

Vladimir studied her, his face unreadable. He gave no answer, and Olga, sensing she had planted enough, smiled and left the room.

Vladimir leaned back in his chair, staring at the parchment before him but not seeing it. His thoughts were heavy. What is she plotting?

But as he sat there, the weight of truth pressed down. If he did nothing, people would call him deaf to his subjects. They would say he ignored the senate. They would whisper and gossip. Unrest would spread.

He had no choice.

With slow, heavy movements, Vladimir pulled out a parchment. His hand wrote the words carefully, officially. When he was done, he called a servant. "Deliver this to the royal messenger. It must reach Svetlana at once. To the grand duchess."

The servant bowed and hurried away.

---

The next morning

Back in Svetlana

The morning light filled Lydia’s chamber, but her heart was heavy. She sat on the edge of her bed, her hand gripping a parchment so tightly that the edges were crumpled. Her face was pale, her lips pressed tightly together.

Her eyes scanned the words over and over again, though she had memorized them already.

"By order of His Majesty the Czar, Vladimir Romanov, the grand duchess, Lydia Andreyevna is to stand trial in front of the senate concerning her dismissal. The trial will be held in two days, in the capital."

Her hand trembled slightly, but she pressed it firmly into her lap, forcing herself to stay steady.

Anna stood near her, wringing her hands. "Your highness," she said softly, her voice nervous. "What do we do?"

Lydia’s eyes lifted slowly, her face calm but her heart burning. She spoke firmly, her voice carrying strength. "We will go to the capital. They want to play games? Fine. But I will not go down. Not ever."

Her words were sharp, filled with fire. She folded the parchment carefully, her mind already preparing for what was to come.

The storm was coming. And she would face it.