The entire ball had turned into chaos.
What was supposed to be a celebration of the betterment of education in Svetlana had become a night filled with fear and confusion.
No one was allowed to leave the palace.
No one was allowed to enter either.
Guards had been placed at every entrance, while others searched the palace from room to room.
The guests had no idea what was happening.
They stood in small groups, whispering among themselves.
"What happened?"
"Why have the gates been locked?"
"Did someone attack the palace?"
"I heard the Grand Duchess is missing."
"Missing?"
The whispers only made everyone more nervous.
Ivan barely heard any of them.
He had searched the ballroom.
He had searched the garden.
He had searched Lydia's chambers.
He had even checked places where he knew she might have gone to get away from the crowd.
Nothing.
She was nowhere.
His heart refused to calm down.
He kept thinking about the night before.
Lydia had been frightened.
