Chapter two

Kaliya's Pov

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Midnight came, but we were still not asleep. It was overwhelming, the stress Lumi had to face for a wedding. I was extremely glad I was part of this process, I wasn't going to experience it anyway, so why not soak in the moment?

The first minute I tried closing my eyes to get some sleep in Lumi's room, the door opened and she squealed. "You need to see this" She dropped a dress on the bed. "You are going to be my bridesmaid."

I sat up, looking at the dress beside me. "You know that is not possible. I have to stay with father all through the wedding."

"No one else can take your place, Kaliya and you don't have to do much. You only have to stay beside me" she said, not waiting for me to say anything, she started to tear the wrap of the dress. "It's a burqa dress specifically made for you, no skin, all covered."

"It's beautiful," I muttered, my hand brushing the fabric of the dress. Indeed no one else dressed in a burqa like me, so if I rejected Lumi's offer, there would be no person to fill the space. "I think..."

"You don't have to think. Father would watch nearby. You're in a safe space with the bride"

"How can you ask me to be your bridesmaid at the midnight of your wedding?"

"I wasn't asking." She rolled her eyes and I laughed. "This dress took months to perfect, so I have always known you'll be the one" She then laughed while staring at me, "I can see your smile through your eyes"

"I wasn't blushing," I argued.

"Oh yes, you were".

A knock on her door made us tilt our heads and she hurriedly went to answer. As she opened the door slightly, I heard her respond to the person with a loud " What?".

After some mutterings, she shut the door and looked at me. "He's here" Her smile widened. "Cody, King of the South is here" She jumped on the bed and hugged me. "My dream is finally coming true.

"In this house?" I panicked for no reason.

"Well, no. He has arrived in the North, at the wedding venue. He came for me, Kaliya"

Lumi couldn't contain her joy all through dawn and when it was morning and we had begun to dress for the wedding, she began to unnerve. "Is he going to like what he sees?" She had asked.

We were informed our carriage was ready. By this time, I was already dressed in the burqa and I had said a little prayer to the moon goddess for her, asking that Lumi remained happy in her marriage.

"How do they say those words, Never go to bed angry and always wake up with a kiss, that's the secret to a fulfilling marriage." Uncle Kato walked up to us as we were about to climb into the carriage. He was with my father too and they were both dressed in expensive royal attire that signified they were the bride's relatives.

"Father" Lumi hugged him tightly. "It's happening," she smiled

For a second, I saw a glint of pain in both Uncle Kato's and my father's eyes, but it cleared off before I could make sense of what it was. He was going to miss Lumi, we were all going to. She was the life of the palace and my father loved her as dearly as he loved me.

"Remember to teach your child the values of the North and not the South," my father told her.

"Child?" She blushed. "Father, that is too soon" she chuckled.

"They are incubus demons. It is what to expect." Uncle Kato laughed too.

 

I was silent as they lectured Lumi on marriage values and how to respect her husband. I didn't know what incubus demons meant, and I couldn't ask either. We never spoke about the South until Lumi's wedding came closer.

The carriage started to move and Lumi sealed her hand in mine as we headed to the wedding venue. I'll miss you, Lumi" The words that lurked in my heart finally came out and tears soaked.

Lumi cupped my face in her palm as she wiped my tears, both of our foreheads meeting each other.

As we got down from the carriage, our fathers joined us and other close well-wishers. The venue had started to crowd up. This was the first time I was out in such a long time. People's gaze were on me and I wondered if I was giving off the attention the bride should be giving.

My father held Lumi's hand while I stayed behind her and his brother behind him. The doors swung open, and a unanimous gasp filled the room.

As we made our way down the aisle, I noticed Lumi's eyes sweeping through the attendees. I looked up, glancing around too, I felt everyone's gaze on me and I gripped the bouquet harder. Maybe I shouldn't have come, the people were in shock seeing the Virgin of the Moon at a marriage ceremony.

How could someone who would never have a mate, destined to die as a virgin, hold a bouquet and walk down a wedding aisle?

I shrugged off every anxiety and timidity. Reaching the end of the aisle, the master of the ceremony began to introduce us, asking the groom's side to make a standing ovation for the bride's family.

As they all stood up, I noticed Lumi scanning the men, but her groom was not hard to find as he stood there with a physique that radiated confidence and the most expensive design I had ever come across.

And then she saw him, - Cody, her future husband, and her cheeks flushed into a deep shade of pink. I smiled seeing the sparkle of happiness in her eyes.

As I turned quickly to look at her husband-to-be, I felt his eyes locked in on mine and my chest fastened.