Crown of Glass (Heritier Lunes # 1)

Chapter 4

The first ball Diamond attended was a masquerade.

Having donned a night blue mask, he was able to blend with the background.

This was his first event, and his only chance to provide a great first impression.

A cold hand clutched on his shoulder, sending him a shiver down his shoulder and spine.

"You stick out like a sore thumb." Amaury whispered behind him.

"Wah! You scared me!" He whispered loudly.

His friend ruffled his hair. "Your hair stands out." Diamond quickly covered it with the hood that came along his elegant coat.

There were times he liked his hair, there are some times that he didn't.

This was one of the times.

"Want some advice?" Amaury asked, sipping a drink Diamond couldn't name.

"Sure."

"Just lie."

Diamond paused as Amaury gently swirled the golden liquid in the glass that reflected his face that seemed to have drained all color.

"You seem to be used to this..."

Amaury shrugged.

"These nobles are no better than we are. Everyday, they lie. The only way to survive is to lie."

"..."

"Think about it." His friend finished his drink in one full swig and handed it to him, "Now off you go." Diamond was still deep in thought when he was pushed into the crowd, carrying Amaury's empty glass and his hood off his head.

He looked back in panic. Amaury was gone.

"Prince Diamond! What a surprise! A lot of us thought you wouldn't show up." A blonde woman dressed in bloody red corals laughed heartily.

Just lie.

He couldn't move, his heart was thundering in his chest. Diamond's never been in a large and unknown crowd before.

The people he only talked to were the maids, the butlers, the Wards, his mentor and Amaury.

Why... Why can't I breathe?!

"Tell me young liege, how has your education and training been going?" An older man asked, elegantly taking a sip from his glass.

...

Lying was a far better option than staying silent! Say something! Do something!

"I... um..."

"...Young... liege?"

His eyes throbbed, his throat couldn't swallow. Why is his head hurting?

"I-I'm sorry... b-but I need to-" Clear my head.

Thump.

Why did his back hurt? Why were there people shouting and surrounding him? Where's Amaury?

What's going on?

"Diamond!" A distinct voice called out to him. Amaury cradled his head.

"Amaury... what happened...?" His eyes closed.

No, that's the wrong question.

Why am I... so pathetic?

"Diamond, wake up." He quickly sat up, gasping heavily. What an amazing feeling it was to breathe again.

"F-Felicien?" His mentor smoothed down the rough edges of his messed up hair, now free from his tight ponytail.