Diamant

Chapter 26 - The Mad Moon

Canilus was beautiful, well the King was named after the kingdom. The whole kingdom was so colourful as they prepared for the festival, it was all so colourful.

Diamant took the mirror and looked at her face again, she could barely recognize herself nor could she recognize DL who sat across her in the carriage. When they got to the gate, a guard knocked at the window and it was opened.

"Sir Giston and my wife, Lady Ania from the House of Chandra, the Stone Clan." DL spoke and the guard went through whatever he was holding and if Dimitri did his job well, they had nothing to worry about.

Dimitri did a great job because they were now in one of the guest rooms in the palace. Diamant sat across the room in front of a mirror, patting her neck mindlessly.

DL had come to the conclusion that the person who attacked Roc was one of the numerous ladies he had crossed paths with. The impeccable timing was only a coincidence.

DL sat down silently, he had pulled off most of his robe. He could see the disagreement written all over Diamant's face but then he wasn't too pleased about the situation anyways. They had to share a room that had only one bed because they were here as a couple.

The tour round the palace would be anytime from now before the ball where they would be properly welcomed by Canilus himself. The ball was a really important part of their visit here and so was the tour. What better way could there be to learn about the guards' formation.

Diamant looked across the room to DL and could see his bare chest. Her gaze lingered and for a spilt moment she wondered how it would feel beneath her hands. His body looked so smooth for a warrior that had led so many wars. Then her face twisted in annoyance. She was only here with him not even up to a day and she was already allowing herself to sway? She turned her gaze away quickly.

Before she could, DL caught the look of annoyance and disgust on her face and his ego felt punctured. He knew he had a great body so why wasn't she impressed? He stopped himself at that thought. What was wrong with him?! Why would he even want to impress her? He had to be done with this mission quickly, this was affecting him and he didn't like it.

He grabbed a shirt and pulled it over his head quickly.

"Ania, Minister Dimitri will be meeting us tomorrow. Will you like to meet him?"

DL had advised that they address each other as their fake identity and have conversations like real couples. The walls, he said, had ears.

"It will be nice to see an old friend again." She replied, playing along.

Then there was a knock on the door followed by an announcement that it would soon be time for the tour and a guard would soon be there to escort them.

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The tour was important, they had to know the layout of the palace. Although, Dimitri would still give them a map but then wasn't it better this way? Diamant was too serious focusing on the layout in an attempt to take her mind off the closeness between her and the DL. His closeness made her uncomfortable, too many emotions ran through her. The one thing she didn't need getting mixed up right now was her emotions.

DL wrapped his hand around her waist and she flinched. If he hadn't been fast enough to hold her, she would have pushed him away.

"Ania, are you okay? Is is here again?" He asked pretending to sound worried.

"I am sorry, Giston." Diamant replied screaming at herself in her head for not been able to manage a simple act.

A couple had noticed them and they walked up to them.

"Some sort of trauma, right?" The man asked, his voice filled with light worry.

"Yes" DL said pretending to sound downcast.

"My wife has it too." The man looked at the young woman beside him.

"Well, I am Lucas and my wife here is Dora from the Wave Clan.

DL accepted the friendly gesture."I am Giston and this is Ania, my wife. We are from the Stone Clan."

"Wow, it is an honor to meet you." Lucas exclaimed.

"Oh no, the pleasure is all ours." DL said with a smile. "Right, Ania?"

"Right." Diamant said with a smile as she looked at the young woman beside Lucas. She looked like she was no longer in touch with the world.

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The next day was the ball and at the ball, they saw Dimitri. He waved at them and came over. The ballroom was filled up and it was hard not to get lost.

"Old pal!" Dimitri said hugging DL "Giston, how are you? How is the Stone Clan?"

"Strong as ever! Ania, come over here, it is Dimitri!" DL said with smiles. If Diamant didn't know better, she would think all this was real.

"Dimitri!" She ran into the arms of the man called Dimitri and gave him a hug. She wasn't affected by it at all, it was normal.

"How have you been?" She questioned with a smile. Why couldn't she do half of this with who she was supposed to be his wife? Maybe it was because it was DL, the man she hated so much. The very reason she was here.

"Absolutely great." He said turning around and giving her a full view of him. "Giston, what have you done to Ania? She looks like she wasn't able to have the night to herself." Dimitri questioned.

But that was true, she didn't have a good night sleep. She had refused to share the bed with him. She had suddenly started feeling things and she could not take that risk, she had slept on the floor instead.

DL smiled trying to looked shy. His face looked calm and the aura around him was cheery. His hard and sharp features were relaxed and his eyes twinkled with mischief. Diamant couldn't believe she was thinking this but the DL was really handsome. "I am not the only culprit here. Ania here didn't deny, I swear I warned her beforehand."

She raced out of her thoughts at what he said.

Realizing what this was all about, Diamant felt like water had been poured on her.

"You liar, you didn't warn me!" Diamant quickly countered but instead of throwing the conversation off course, it only deepened it.

"You didn't?" Dimitri teased.

"Alright, maybe I didn't." DL laughed.

For how long had they been acting that they got so good. Diamant felt left out. She could play this game too, she was certain she would come out of it unscathed and it won't affect her main purpose here. Why then isn't she playing this game?

"Well, you've rendered her speechless like back in those days. That is why you won her over, isn't it?" Dimitri said, laughing again.

"It is not my fault she likes it that way." DL replied, his eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched Diamant's face.

"Right! Tell the whole world how we got married." Diamant said and she was proud of herself. She smiled in her head with delight. She would soon get a hang of this game.

"I won't be an audience to that." Dimitri said and they had a good laugh to that. "Well, I have put my presents in your room." Dimitri said and they all knew that those things weren't presents.

"Oh thank you, Dimitri. If Giston was half as hospitable." Diamant said.

"I know right! Now off I go to woo some ladies. Wish me luck that they will be beautiful as you, Ania." Dimitri said as he ran off.

"Hospitable or not, you still choose me." DL said, his voice vibrated with how low he had spoken. She felt goosebumps on her neck and her heart clenched with disappointment at how she was affected.

She was suddenly affected by his words, his closeness. They were meaning something they shouldn't.

The music started playing and DL wrapped his hands around her waist, she went stiff disappointing herself yet again that she couldn't continue her act.

"May I have this dance, my Ania?" He asked tenderly. All the toughness gone from his voice yet he still managed to sound commanding, to sound mysterious.

Why was she noticing all these?!

This was a game and a game was made to be played. Diamant thought to herself.

"Yes, my dear Giston." She took his hand and started dancing.

Well two can play this game.

She fit right against him. DL was a great dancer and he guided Ania through the dance. She was a good dancer too but she hadn't been to many balls, they had always been on the run. His hand against her back radiated so much warmth, at the same time it felt like he was ever pushing her closer to him. When she got close enough she rested her head on his chest.

His heart beat wildly but his face was still with that lazy smile. Diamant was finding it hard to picture him the same way he was the first day they met anymore. She felt like she was meeting someone new, someone who she wouldn't think twice about forgiving. It felt different, like the DL was gone far away in between those smiles. Still she reminded herself, this was all a game. She leaned in and pressed a light kiss on his neck. The feel of his warm night tickled her lips and she was glad he had a firm grip on her, she would have missed a step at how crazy her heart was beating.

He felt her lips soft and warm against his neck.

He almost missed a step but he covered it up quickly. Even when her lips were gone, he could still feel them. Diamant didn't notice his faltered step and she rested her head back on his chest.

"They switched again." Diamant said and DL was brought back to reality by her whisper.

"They do that every four hours." Diamant continued.

"Canilus is trying to take precautions." DL said, her closeness engulfing him. He felt like he was losing himself. Still he wanted to push her closer. It just felt like she was never close enough!

Just a game.

He assured himself.

"The left hallway on the west wing of the palace is off limits." DL said again.

He turned her around to rest her back against his chest. She glided around his hands easily and soon she was looking at him.

With her back pressed to him she felt vulnerable, like she was heavily depending on him. Was it even safe to feel this vulnerable with anyone?

The music had changed, it was slower.

His large hand lay on her stomach and the other on her waist. Their steps matched and neither of them seemed to even be concerned about that anymore.

"You think that is where it can be?" Diamant asked.

"Likely." DL said, his voice sounding lost somewhere.

Diamant looked at him, his eyes piercing into hers. He felt that she could see through him, feel everything he felt. Behind those gazes, nothing was hidden and he felt that she could see it all.

It soon felt like they were alone and everything about the army formation had left their minds.

It was just them and the music. They didn't even notice when it was time to switched partners, they kept dancing. Diamant's heart raced with the piercing gaze but still, she couldn't look away. DL felt like he was drowning, still he didn't want to fight it.

He turned her around again, his hand was back on her waist.

Closer! Why couldn't he bring her any close?! It still felt that she wasn't close enough.

He felt different, he felt like a man without the agonyizing past that he had. He didn't feel like the Dragon Lord at all. He felt like his true self.

Just a game...

Something about his strong arms drew her in. She wanted to be much closer to him but yet, she wanted to stay far away. Her mind was in a mess but she didn't resist when he pressed her further into him.

There was something about being close to him that she couldn't resist.

Just a game...

Their body seemed to move on their own accord, like as if the one could predict the move of the other and they could do it all at once.

Then they leaned in closer, their bodies now fully pressed against each other. She close her eyes as she laid her head on his hard chest and for that time she forgot.

She forgot everything and she found peace with that one person she shouldn't.

He breathed in her hair and his mind calmed down. It was just them. No, not the DL and a slave he was punishing, not the Giston that was on a mission with a fake Ania. No! It was just them. Just two people connecting in ways beyond explanations. Just two people enjoying the dance.

Then the music stopped. There was applause and they both came out of their trance. The dancing had stopped and people were applauding the instrumentalists. She opened her eyes quickly and stepped away from him. DL leaned in and planted a kiss on her head. She gave him a dazzling smile. He let her go and they joined in the applaud.

Each covered their messed up emotions with a smile. They were confused at how affected they were.

Was this still a game?

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"Welcome to the Kingdom of Canilus." King Canilus said as he raised his goblet in joy. "We hope that this festival will be one of a lifetime. Enjoy the season of the Mad moon."

"To the Mad Moon!" They all cheered and raised their goblets. Then they drank and they continued eating dinner. They all had separate tables and on Diamant's table were DL, Dimitri, Lucas and Dora.

"The mad moon is a season of love." Dimitri started.

"Well legend says unexpected people fall in love during the season of mad moon. It has a kind of magic to it." Lucas said happily and Dora looked at him, she smiled. She looked relaxed now and had even said a word or two unlike the day they had met DL and Diamant.

"Well, these are people that would originally still fall in love. It is just known to hasten the process and these people would never have even thought love would ever occur between them." Dora said.

"Do you believe in it, Ania?" Dimitri asked.

"I will if it happens to me." Ania said mindlessly.

"Wanting to change me already? Ania, you hurt my feelings." DL said dramatically and Diamant realized her mistake. She laughed nervously.

"Well if you promise that we will always come here then maybe I won't. I love meeting a lot of people, you know." She said and they all laughed.

"I doubt there is any love lost between you two. I saw you dancing, Dora saw you dancing and it was magical. If that love wasn't born from the Mad Moon season then I don't know what to call it." Lucas commented.

"Indeed, it was. I had to watch for sometime, it was like you were lost in your own world." Dora said and she rested her head on Lucas shoulder. There was no love lost between them either.

"Just recently married, aren't you? The great love between new couples." Lucas said and he held Dora's hand affectionately.

Their minds raced but then they had convinced everyone and that was good. If they couldn't notice then they wouldn't be suspected at all. They both looked at each other and they smiled.

Dimitri looked on suspicious. He wondered if it was the acting that was so great or they were truly in love. The dinner went on with different topics rising up.

Diamant felt disturbed, she wasn't sure if this was still just a game to her.

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They tore the first gift and the scrolls fell out. This would be a long night of reading yet Dimitri knew nothing of the army's information and he confirmed that it around the left hallway at the West wing of the palace.

They went through everything and it was useless. If Dimitri couldn't really find anything then Canilus was been really careful.

"He is expecting us." Diamant said.

"He doesn't know that we are already here." He said back.

"Well, we know many things about how the guards switch places now. We have to get that scroll and get out of here quickly." Diamant said.

"It won't be safe but then again when was it ever?" DL said rubbing his sleep deprived eyes.

He went in for a bath then came back and laid on the bed. After sometime Diamant came too. She looked at him with a hard face.

"There is space enough for two." He said looking back at her, still remembering the way her lips felt on his neck.

She still stood and stared at him hardly.

"Scared that if you lay next to me, you might fall in love with me?" He asked with a lazy smile.

She looked on shocked. Was he still playing the game but they had no audience. Why then was he acting like this? Why was he making her job so difficult.

She said nothing but her lips twisted in annoyance. His question was a challenge and she settled next to him, turning her back to him. He chuckled and blew off the candle next to them. The fire place burning lowly, the room remained warm.

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She started shaking violently with fear in her sleep. DL woke up from his peaceful sleep, one that he had no had in a while. He felt her body shaking beside him, she had snuggled so close to him. Like she was looking for comfort.

He quickly brought her into his arms and he remembered that day at the dungeon. She was having the nightmare again. He whispered softly into her hair and slowly, she calmed down. Her breathing even again.

Her closeness brought him comfort and peace so he didn't let her go. He looked down at her and thought she was beautiful. He still couldn't get the feel of her lips off his mind, he could still feel it.

She turned in his arms and had her head around his neck. Her breathing fanned his neck and it tickled him. Yet he still held her closer to him.

This wasn't the game anymore, it was the mad moon. He thought to himself.

Still, admitting that it was the mad moon meant admitting that he was falling in love with her.

It was all a trick. The mad moon was trying to trick him to fall in love with her. He laughed at his thought.

Not withstanding his conclusion he still pressed her closer to him. The peace he got from her was tempting.

No, he wasn't in love with her and he could never be! Still one must commend the mad moon, those were fine tricks up its sleeves.