Page 22 of Ties of Deception

She stood up and left with quick steps, her head lowered. Constance glided to her seat as if nothing had happened. I sat back calmly in mine, though my heart still thudded in my chest. If Constance hadn’t supported me by pointing a finger at Charity, Sincerity’s shame—or something worse—could have been mine.

Servants passed around the tea, an inviting floral scent trailing behind them. I had barely drunk my wine. The empress spoke about some trivial things I didn’t fully understand. I waited until I felt calm once more before studying the people around me. Nobody seemed ruffled or surprised by what had just happened.

One of the goddesses—who I thought was called Liberty—gestured behind me with her wine glass. “Oh look, isn’t that the Aida prince? Who is he talking to?”

I turned with more interest than I should have. Sure enough, the dark looming figure of the god stood out like a sore thumb in the colorful gardens. Beside him was a Grace with dark brown hair. The only one I’d met with that coloring was Serene.

Somebody beside me scoffed. “Do you think she’s begging him to spirit her away?”

Another voice I recognized as Charity’s joined in. “Serene really doesn’t know how to act with decorum.”

I glanced back at Charity as she stared across the gardens, her chin tilted up. Why did she care who was with the Aida prince? She was after Prince Sebastian.

I took a sip of my tea and tried to keep my posture calm and composed. When would we be excused? Maybe there was an allure to being spirited away to the lands of the dead…away from all of this.

Lunch was brought out on lacquered trays and set before us. Sourdough bread cut into thin slices and toasted. Bowls of oil and vinegar for dipping. Stuffed olives and peppers, feta cheese, goat cheese, and tiny crackers. Everything was perfectly seasoned, but before the gaze of the empress and Charity, it was hard to taste any of it.

At the end, the empress rose. We hurried to follow. “I wish to see you all again for lunch tomorrow at the same time.” She looked at the smashed vase that still hadn’t been swept away. “If there are any more incidents, I will be most upset.”

We all curtsied as she left, two maids following with their heads bowed behind her.

I let out a long breath but tensed as Constance approached me. “Would you take a stroll with me, Purity? Not for very long. I just wish to have a chat.”

I nodded and stood, glad at least to get away from Charity. My maids shaded me with a parasol as I left the pavilion into the hot midday sun.

Constance gestured for us to take a narrower path between a carp pond and blushing rhododendron bushes.

“Thank you for standing up for me there, even though you can’t have known whether I had smashed the vase or not. Though I didn’t,” I added quickly.

She gave me a sideways look with her large, brown doe eyes—full of knowing and more than a little scrutiny. She waved our maids back; they retreated several paces with their parasols. “Purity, do you understand what happened there? All of what happened?”

I rolled my lip between my teeth. “I upset Charity at the fertility festival. I think she asked the empress to invite me here for revenge. I thought it was Charity who smashed the vase until Serene admitted it was actually her. I thought Charity did it because everyone would then assume it was me, and I would get in trouble. Especially since she had already shown immaculate control, smoothing out the empress’s wrinkles.”

Constance nodded. “I also suspect Charity did it, but Sincerity took the blame to stop suspicion or shame from being brought near Charity when the empress was present.”

I blinked. “But…why would she do that for her?”

Constance shrugged and brushed her hand over an acer bush, smiling as its leaves brightened from russet to scarlet. “They probably had a prearranged deal. Sincerity was the one who brought the vase for Charity’s little stunt after all. They’re working as a team.” She spun to face me, stopping our walk. My maids hung back out of earshot. “Purity, I wish to be plain with you. I barely know you. However, I saw an opportunity today to stop Charity, and I took it. As a result, she lost one of her most devoted allies.” Constance gave me a small, victorious smile. “And she also failed to deal with her most recent nuisance.” Her face became more serious. “But she is incredibly powerful, resourceful, and influential. When she targeted you directly at the festival and today, you responded directly. That was foolish. You’re not powerful enough to face her. If you continue doing this, you will end up retired before the week’s over. Your role as a goddess will be taken away.”

I frowned. “So how should I respond in a situation like today when she is targeting me?”

Constance stepped closer to me, lowering her voice, although nobody was in earshot. “Charity always uses her underlings to do the footwork. She hides behind them, like she hid behind Sincerity today. Go for the underlings. She barely defends them. Remove them one by one. That is how she will become weak enough for you to eventually face her.”

I shifted and looked away. “But I don’t want to get so many people in trouble.”

Constance tilted her head with tender eyes. “You may have no choice when it’s you or them. Purity, there are two main contenders for Prince Sebastian’s hand. Me and Charity. One of us will likely become empress. The Graces who don’t hide away in their family homes have mostly picked a side. If you help me, I will defend you when I can, like I did today. But I will not always be there.”

Constance turned and started walking again. I followed her quickly to not fall behind. “How would I help you?”

“Oh, it would just be little things when they come up. When I become empress, I will reward your loyalty.”

I kept my eyes on the floor, puzzling over the consequences of me both agreeing and declining to help her when Constance suddenly stopped. I looked up to see Prince Sebastian approaching with a large smile.

He stopped and bowed to both of us. “If it isn’t two of the most beautiful Graces that ever existed. Constance, Purity, it is my pleasure.”

We both curtsied in response, though Constance’s was barely a dip. “Ever the charmer, Sebastian.”

He grinned at me. “It’s nice to finally see you with a friend, Purity.”

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