CHAPTER 167: THE DEVIL’S LAW PT2

The morning sun slipped through the tall windows of the court, filling the priest’s chamber with a pale golden light. The air was heavy, and though it was quiet, there was a strange tension. The people who had come to witness the divorce whispered among themselves, their voices like a restless hum.

At the center stood Baron Konstantin Fedorov, tall and broad-shouldered, his face stern and full of pride. By his side was his wife, Anna Petrovna. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from nights of crying. She looked fragile, yet she stood with a kind of desperate dignity, her hands trembling as she clutched the edges of her gown.

The priest, an old man with tired eyes, sat before them with sacred books on the table. He looked from Konstantin to Anna and said in a steady voice, "Baron Fedorov, you called for this separation. State your case."

Konstantin bowed slightly, then straightened his posture like he was ready to perform for the crowd. His voice was firm. "We have been married for eighteen years, Father. Eighteen years! And yet there is no heir. No child. My family’s name will die with me if I remain tied to this woman. She is barren. A wicked woman who has brought me nothing but shame."

Gasps filled the chamber. Some covered their mouths. Others shook their heads.

Anna’s lips parted. Her voice cracked, but she spoke, "That is not true."

Her tears fell, yet her words grew stronger. "I am not barren, Father. I have been checked by physicians many times. They said there is nothing wrong with me. I did everything. I prayed, I fasted, I drank the herbs his mother gave me, I suffered through the bitter medicines. But still, no child. How can he blame me for what is not my fault?"

Konstantin snapped, "Silence! You will not embarrass me further."

The priest raised his hand to calm them. "Let the lady speak."

Anna turned to Konstantin, her voice trembling, "It has been eighteen years of marriage. Eighteen years of hope and waiting. I gave him my youth, my love, my loyalty. And now he wants to cast me aside like I am nothing. Father, I beg you, this is not justice. I am not barren."

The priest asked quietly, "Can anyone testify for her?"

Anna wiped her tears and nodded. "Yes, my maid. She has seen me every month for all these years. She knows."

The servant, a timid young woman, was brought forward. Her eyes darted nervously to Konstantin, who glared at her like a wolf ready to pounce. She trembled, lowered her gaze, and whispered, "I... I don’t know anything."

Anna gasped, her hope breaking. "How can you say that?" Her voice cracked in disbelief.

Konstantin smirked, triumphant. He turned to the priest. "You see? Even her own servant cannot defend her. She is barren. I want nothing more to do with her."

Anna’s legs weakened, and she fell to her knees. She pressed her hands together and cried, "Konstantin, please! We’ve been married since I was eighteen. That is half of my life. How can you throw me away like this? I gave you everything. My parents trusted you with all they had. I trusted you. How can you do this?"

Konstantin crossed his arms, his eyes cold. "Enough of your pitiful begging. You cannot give me a child. That is the end of it."

The priest’s face looked pained, but he opened his book as though to proceed. Anna, desperate, raised her head and shouted with what little strength she had left, "It is not me! It is you! I believe you are the reason we have no children!"

The crowd gasped loudly, their whispers filling the air like a storm.

Konstantin’s face turned red with rage. His voice thundered, "How dare you! You ungrateful woman! You accuse me of being impotent? You dare to shame me in front of everyone? You are filth!"

The court erupted in murmurs, but then the sound of sharp heels echoed against the floor. The noise hushed instantly.

A cold, firm voice cut through the silence. "Yes, she dares. Because it is true. So why are you shouting?"

Every head turned.

It was Lydia.

She entered with slow, graceful steps, her gown trailing like liquid silk. Her face was calm but cold, her eyes sharp like a blade. She carried herself with such power that even the air seemed to grow heavier.

Anna looked up, her eyes wide with relief. "Your highness..." she whispered.

Lydia did not look at her. She only said coldly, "Get up. Why are you kneeling for no reason?"

Anna rose slowly, standing behind Lydia like a shadow seeking protection.

Lydia’s eyes locked on Konstantin. She tilted her head slightly, her lips curling with disgust. "What an ugly bastard," she said with a scoff.

Konstantin stiffened. His voice shook a little though he tried to remain calm. "Your highness, this is a matter of the court. Your presence is not needed. You have no right to interfere. I will divorce her no matter what."

Lydia laughed softly, a bitter sound that sent chills through the room. "Interfere? Do you think I came here to stop your divorce? I do not care if you leave her or not. I only came to watch the truth burn you."

The crowd gasped again.

Lydia turned slightly and raised her hand. "Come out."

From the crowd, a man stepped forward. He was middle-aged, nervous, but carried the dignity of a professional. He bowed before Lydia. "Your highness."

Lydia turned to the priest. "This is the physician of the Fedorov family. He is the only one who can tell us who is truly at fault here."

The priest nodded and said, "Speak, doctor. Is Lady Petrovna barren or not?"

The physician lowered his head. "No, Father. She is not barren. She is healthy. There is nothing wrong with her body. The truth... the truth is that it is Lord Fedorov who cannot father children."

The words fell like thunder.

Konstantin roared, "Lies! All lies! This man has been bribed to destroy me!"

Anna cried, "That is not true!"

Lydia chuckled darkly. "Lies, you say? Then answer me, Baron. If you were truly a man, why haven’t you fathered children with your mistresses? Do you think no one knows about your affairs? If you were not impotent, you would have filled this city with bastards by now. But where are they? Show us one child. Just one. You cannot."

The court burst into whispers again, the shame heavy in the air.

Konstantin’s face twisted with rage. "This is all a trick! She is trying to ruin me because she cannot give birth! Do not believe her, Father. I will still divorce her. I will not be tied to this woman any longer."

Anna’s tears returned, but Lydia leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "Do not forget what I told you."

Anna nodded faintly. She wiped her tears and spoke, her voice steady now. "I do not expect him to stay with me. I only wanted everyone to know the truth. It is not me. It was never me."

The priest sighed deeply. After a long silence, he said, "Very well. If both wish to part ways, then let it be written."

A parchment was brought forward. The priest handed it to Konstantin first. He grabbed the pen and signed quickly, almost angrily, his hand pressing so hard the ink splattered.

When the paper was given to Anna, her hand shook, but she steadied herself. She signed slowly, her tears dropping onto the page.

The priest took the paper, sealed it with wax, and announced solemnly, "By the authority of the church, this marriage is dissolved."

Konstantin smirked as though he had won. But Lydia’s cold voice stopped him.

"Oh, I almost forgot," she said with a sly smile. "There is something else."

Konstantin froze. "What now?"

Lydia stepped closer, her eyes cutting into him. "Remember, Baron, that you will return everything Anna’s parents left in your care. They trusted you with their wealth for their daughter. Now that you cast her away, that wealth returns to her. Unless, of course, you planned to steal her inheritance."

The crowd gasped. Konstantin clenched his jaw so tightly a vein bulged on his neck. He forced a smile. "Of course... Your highness. I would never steal. Everything that belongs to her will be returned."

It was clear he was lying, but he dared not show defiance in front of everyone.

Anna signed the parchment at last, her tears falling freely.

The priest sealed the final mark and announced, "They are no longer husband and wife."

Konstantin exhaled like he had been released, but Lydia’s voice cut him once more.

"Oh, and one more thing." Her smile widened. "I actually came here to announce a new decree."

The room stirred with shock. Whispers spread quickly.

Katherine stepped forward from the shadows, holding a rolled parchment. Lydia took it and handed it to the priest.

"Read it," she commanded.

The priest opened it, his voice carrying across the chamber. "By the royal decree of the Grand Duke Ivan Romanov and Grand Duchess Lydia Andreyevna... any man who seeks to divorce his wife must give her half of all his assets, and ten percent must be remitted to the palace. Divorce shall only be permitted if consensual, or if there is clear proof of infidelity or serious crimes. Otherwise, he must obey this law."

The court fell silent. Then gasps, murmurs, even nods of approval rippled through the crowd.

Lydia smiled faintly, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. She had not only saved Anna, she had changed the law for every woman who would come after.