Chapter 108: I'm imagining things.

Diana cast her eyes downward toward her lap and lapsed into silence, each word weighing heavy enough to suffocate her.

“Now, about the wedding itself.” Mirabelle looked at Geneviève with more excitement in her tone. “I was considering late autumn. Everything would be still beautiful before the frost comes.”

“That suits me just fine. Late autumn is perfect. This way, we’ll have enough time to get everything ready. Such an important event mustn’t happen in a hurry.”

“You are right about that. A hurried marriage feels superficial somehow.” Mirabelle put her tea cup down. “What place do you suggest?”

“The east hall would suit it well,” Nicole offered. “More light comes through those windows in the afternoon.”

“Yes, the east hall.” Mirabelle clapped her hands together softly. “And the ceremony just before sunset, don’t you think? Something about that hour always feels right for these things.”

“My mother was married at sunset.” Alistair smiled, leaning back in his chair. “Said she never forgot the color of the sky that day. Orange and gold, all mixed together.”

“How lovely.” Mirabelle turned toward Diana, still smiling wide. “You’ll have that too, dear. Something you’ll remember forever.”

Diana said nothing, staring down at the tea in front of her.

“We should invite the Ferrant family,” Geneviève continued, already moving past her. “And the Bellamys too, of course. It would be rude not to, given their standing.”

“Naturally.” Mirabelle nodded firmly. “And the musicians from last spring’s gala, they were wonderful. We should see if they’re available.”

“I’ll have someone send word to them this week,” Nicole said.

“Good. Good.” Mirabelle beamed around the table. “This is going to be wonderful for you, Diana. Truly. You’ll see, once it’s all arranged properly.”

“Everyone will be talking about it for months.” Geneviève reached over and gave Diana’s hand a small squeeze. “In the best way, of course.”

“You won’t have to worry about a single detail,” Nicole added, glancing at her gently. “I’ll make sure of that myself.”

The curtain near the far window fluttered slightly, a thin draft slipping through the room. Diana lifted her head at the movement, eyes drifting past the conversation still carrying on around her.

Near the door, Hakimi stood with his arms crossed, watching her.

Diana lowered her head fast, breath catching in her throat.

I’m imagining things.

She stared down at the tea in front of her, and her hand trembled just enough to send small ripples across the surface.

She looked up again.

He was still there. Arms crossed, steady, and this time a faint smile crossed his face.

“Hakimi!” She shot up out of her chair. “You’re back!”

Every head at the table turned at once.

Mirabelle’s smile dropped in an instant. “Diana. Sit down.” Her hand reached out and grabbed Diana by the wrist, forcing her back into her chair.

“Hakimi.” Mirabelle’s voice rang clear across the room, losing any remaining traces of calmness she may have tried to project. “How dare you enter without invitation.”

“My apologies,” said Hakimi, making no move to leave his current spot. “I did not realize that you were having a meeting.”

“You did not.” Mirabelle gave a dry laugh. “You never do, do you. Appearing precisely when you shouldn’t.”

Hakimi stayed standing, silent and unperturbed.

“Then maybe you should make your leave.” She turned and sat down again, grabbing at the teacup before her.

“Let me go.” Diana struggled against her, keeping her gaze on Hakimi across the room.

“Diana.” Mirabelle’s hold only tightened further. “You are embarrassing yourself in front of our guests.”

“I am not—”

“Getting up from your seat. Yelling his name across the room like a child.” She shook her head and her tone became petty rather than angry. “This is what I have feared.”

“She’s been like this for weeks, I guess.” Geneviève moved closer to her husband, her voice just loud enough to hear. “I heard she wrote his name in the margins of her letters. Repeatedly.”

“That’s not—” Diana’s cheeks flushed red. “I’ve never done anything like that.”

“There’s no shame in it, sweetie.” The expression on Geneviève’s face was sympathetic, but somehow, it stung more than anything accusatory ever could. “Young girls fall for those who take care of them. It’s just normal, and it’s nothing like being in love.”

“She was following him to the training ground three times last month, according to rumors.” This time, Alistair spoke in a casual way, as if it were an old rumor and not one he had made up just then.

“I have not done anything like that.” Her voice broke.

“Diana.” Nicole sounded softer than all of the others put together, almost gentle, and thus much more painful. “Nobody is going to hurt you by saying this. We’re just concerned.”

“I’m perfectly fine.” She blurted out.

“Yet, you do not.” Nicole shifted forward a little, looking into her eyes. “I’ve seen it these last months. Every time he is mentioned, you seem to withdraw a little. You hardly eat anything on some days. Even the gardening you have completely stopped since that one time he was there, right?”

“That is unrelated to—”

“He has made you suffer, Diana.” Nicole spoke softly, reasonably, almost painfully calm. “Maybe unintentionally, but he has. Over and over again, in ways you have refused to look at. I would only like to see you somewhere safe. Somewhere that does not require you to be constantly hurting like this.”

Diana opened her mouth, not saying a word, the words hitting their mark dead center.

“No one is holding you accountable for any of this.” Mirabelle patted her hand soothingly once more. “It’s just time you released those… ties. They are unhealthy. Especially now.”

Hakimi had not left the doorway, his arms still crossed. Finally, after a few seconds more of silence, he spoke.

“I am not here to get in anyone’s way.” His eyes met Diana’s, calm and level, staying fixed on her for a brief second too long. “Just to ensure everything is as it should be.”