Page 21 of Ties of Deception

The empress flopped backward in her chair into a more relaxed posture. “That would be kind of you. Thank you, Charity.”

Charity stood behind the empress and started to massage the empress’s hands and then forearms, before moving to her cheeks. I could see no visible difference, but when Charity finished, she presented the empress with a mirror. The empress held it close to her face and examined the corners of her eyes and mouth.

“You know, Charity, I don’t think I’ve ever met a goddess with such exquisite control as you. To even target the tiniest of blemishes…it’s a real skill.”

Charity smirked and sat back down. Was this what this gathering was? Goddesses competing to impress the empress in return for favor? In that case, Drusella had nothing to worry about. I had very little to offer, and I was not after any favor. I doubted I would be invited again. I just had to avoid a confrontation with Charity.

The empress looked over my shoulder. “Ah, here comes Constance.”

I looked around. The gardens had clearly been Blessed many times over by the constant presence of goddesses. But the trail that Constance left in her wake was something else entirely. Every flower seemed to burst open—growing impossibly large and vibrant—and butterflies followed her in a hazy cloud. Even the birds seemed drawn by her presence. She had no maids with her and wore silvery metallic silk in different shades that gave an impression of translucent dragonfly wings dragging behind her.

I looked back and saw the empress was beaming at her. Charity’s eyes gleamed with jealousy, her upper lip slightly curled. Then her expression quickly smoothed into neutrality once more. I guessed Constance was her main competition for the hand of Prince Sebastian. I looked at the other goddesses. They were all watching Constance, apart from Sincerity whose eyes were on me. She looked away as soon as our eyes met. I suppressed a shiver as my unease grew. I folded my hands and watched Constance approach with the same serene expression as those around me. She stepped into the pavilion. And the vase smashed.

For a second, everyone stared in shock at the shards of the priceless artifact. Constance’s hands didn’t leave her mouth.

The empress’s voice was icy. “Who did that?”

Most eyes turned to me. My heart sank. So this was Charity’s plan, was it?

The empress spoke again. “I said, who did that? Who dared to lose control of their emotions in front of me?”

Sincerity’s face looked truly dismayed at her smashed gift. She looked at me and narrowed her eyes. “Purity? Aren’t you the one who struggles to control her emotions?”

I needed to be careful. If I seemed too distressed or outraged at the accusation, I would only seem more emotionally unstable, and who knew what the consequences would be. I needed to stay calm and play their game.

I raised my eyebrows and slightly cocked my head. “Not at all. I was glad to see Constance approach. She has been very kind to me. I’m concerned, however, that she was quite close to the vase when it smashed. The pieces are sharp.” I stood up and stepped closer to the newcomer. “Constance, are you hurt at all?”

She shook her head and smiled, her face brightening. “No, just surprised. Thank you for your concern, Purity.” She took a small step toward me. I had no idea why she was giving me a silent show of support, but I was grateful for it.

The empress didn’t look amused. She sat up straight and gripped the single armrest. “All of you have shown exquisite control over the years apart from Purity. If it wasn’t her, then who was it?”

Charity leaned back, perfectly calm. “Purity has a reason to be jealous of Constance. I saw Purity speaking alone with Prince Sebastian at the fertility festival. Could it be that she desires to pry him from Constance’s grasp?”

I opened my mouth, but Constance spoke first. “The prince is not in my ‘grasp.’ Everyone knows he is not currently betrothed. We merely walk together some days. Purity is from Yienna, she’s probably unaware of who spends what time with him.”

I nodded and lowered my eyes in what I hoped was a meek, innocent gesture. “I have only spoken to him once and that was by chance. I didn’t mean any disrespect in doing so. I’m not seeking to spend further time with him.”

“Enough!” the empress interrupted. “I will not tolerate petty arguments in my presence, especially involving my son. Purity, tell me truthfully. Did you smash the vase?”

I shook my head. “No, Your Majesty. I was only happy to see a friend. If I may be so bold, the other goddesses have much more control than me, true. But I suspect that means they can also destroy things on a whim, just as easily as they can give life and luck.”

The empress’s eyes narrowed on me, and I realized I had taken my words too far. Her words were daggers of ice. “What are you suggesting? That somebody smashed that priceless vaseon purpose? One shouldn’t make serious accusations without substantial proof. Our words have far too great a consequence.”

I lowered my eyes. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I am so new to all of this and know little. I still speak my mind freely, but I will be more careful from now on. I will learn to guard my words like I guard my emotions.”

Constance tilted her head. “I heard that there was a disturbance that an Amazone had to attend to at the fertility festival. One of the goddesses broke some paving slabs over a ruined hairstyle. That wasn’t you, Purity, was it?”

How did she know about that? “No, it wasn't. I had a lovely time.” I turned to look at Charity. Her cheeks had deepened to red, and I glimpsed a flash of hidden fury in her eyes.

The empress followed my stare and frowned, opening her mouth to speak to Charity.

Sincerity suddenly leapt to her feet. “It was me. I broke the vase.”

All eyes turned to her. Everyone seemed surprised apart from Constance and Charity, but I was learning to distrust the visible emotions on the faces around me.

Sincerity was stuttering. “I…I was jealous. I was jealous of Constance’s power and beauty. I lost control and broke my gift. Forgive me.” She fell to her knees and pressed her forehead to the floor before the empress, the broken shards were thin and sharp as glass all around her. I blinked in surprise at her extreme gesture of submission.

The empress’s eyes narrowed at the goddess. “Leave now, Sincerity. You’re ruining my day.”

---