Ivan walked slowly toward her.
Lydia couldn't move. Her whole body went stiff. Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears. She had been caught. Caught sneaking after him like some suspicious little girl. But still, she stood frozen in place. She couldn't even bring herself to speak.
Would he be angry? Would he scold her for following him? She expected something—anything.
But Ivan said nothing.
He stopped right in front of her. His face was calm. Quiet. His eyes held no anger, just a strange softness.
Without saying a word, he reached out and gently fixed her hair that had fallen loose from her hood. Then, he adjusted her cloak, making sure it was wrapped tightly around her.
"It's cold," he said in a quiet voice. "Stay near the fire to keep warm."
And with that, he turned around and went back to what he had been doing.
Lydia just stood there, stunned.
No questions. No accusations. No lectures.
He didn't ask why she followed him.
