It was past noon.
The palace was oddly quiet.
Ivan sat alone in the music room, his fingers moving softly across the piano keys.
At this point, it was the only thing keeping him distracted.
He had spent the entirety of the previous day thinking about everything.
He was exhausted.
He had tried to work, hoping that the documents and reports in front of him would keep his mind busy. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not concentrate.
His thoughts always returned to Lydia.
Her face.
Her tears.
The things Katherine had said to him.
The decision he had made.
The decision he was no longer sure about.
Eventually, he had given up trying to work.
He had come to the music room instead.
The piano had always been one of the few things that could calm his mind.
He did not need to think when he played.
He only needed to let his fingers move.
The music that filled the room was soft and slow.
There was sadness in every note.
Ivan stared down at the keys.
