Sands of Deceit: Chapter One
Lady Gisele used to dream of the day when everyone in the court would be saying her name.
Now she would give anything to make them stop.
While this was Prince Aiolos’ engagement ball, the Idresian prince’s engagement was only the third or fourth most interesting topic of conversation going around the ornate, glittering ballroom. More interesting than the guests of honor were the rumors that Prince Aiolos’ younger brother, Prince Cynrik, was going to choose a wife at this ball. Even that wasn’t the most interesting piece of gossip.
The quietest whispers were the loudest.
For once, Gisele wasn’t the one doing the whispering. Gisele’s father was currently several floors below them in a cell, charged with attempted treason.
And she was pretending like everyone she had known for her entire life didn’t all know it and that they weren’t whispering about her as she passed by.
But they were.
The dancing had started much earlier in the night, and Gisele had not danced once. Never in Gisele’s life had she gone so long without being asked to dance. No one had even approached her, and her father hadn’t even been convicted yet. She was still an earl’s daughter at the moment, and she certainly wasn’t going to lower herself by approaching any man of a lesser status. That would only make the gossip worse, showing her as desperate.
She ignored the servant standing nearby with a tray of glasses despite how dry her throat was. The glasses weren’t filled with water, so Gisele couldn’t take one. She moved away, her eyes skimming over the ballroom, over the crowd who wanted nothing to do with her.
She wasn’t desperate. She didn’t need them.
She just needed Prince Cynrik to choose her.
That was the only reason she was subjecting herself to this torture.
She still had a chance. And she wasn’t going to let anyone get in her way. Besides, she wasn’t the one who attempted treason. She was perfectly innocent.
She might have been invited to commit treason, but she’d turned down the offer. Gisele was no traitor.
And while her relationship—or lack thereof—with Prince Cynrik was tumultuous, she had a good argument up her sleeve. She wasn’t an idiot or blind to how Cynrik clearly didn’t return her feelings, but she hardly needed him to. She just needed to get Cynrik alone so she could convince him he didn’t have to love her in order to marry her. Marriage was about power, and together, they would be just as powerful as his brother, the king.
Of course, she was hardly powerful now that she was social suicide by association, but if Prince Cynrik chose her, it would save her reputation. She could fix the damage her father’s actions had brought on her and her family. Then, once she’d retaken her previous status and everyone forgot about her connection to her family, she’d be the queen of court gossip once again. She and Cynrik would have the court wrapped around their fingers.
She’d also have Cynrik. He was her perfect match. If he never grew to return her feelings, at least she would still have him in the ways that mattered most.
They were made for each other, perfect mirror images.
There was no one else for Gisele.
She’d spent too long building her reputation to let it all go now. Prince Cynrik being forced to get married was her last chance.
This ball was her last chance.
She could see Cynrik across the room, his eyes snapping to the polished staircase every time the herald announced someone. She was only going to get one shot with him, so she couldn’t move too early.
It had nothing to do with any kind of fear. Which she certainly didn’t have when it came to Cynrik. They were past their unpleasantness. Her wrist had barely even bruised from the encounter.
The only reason she didn’t approach him then and there was because of the timing. It just wasn’t… right, so until then, she would start getting her life back on track.
Which meant she needed to get her old friends back at her side. When the rest of the court saw Lady Alis and Lady Raylene by Gisele’s side, they’d bring her back into the fold. They were also the perfect first move because they couldn’t help themselves when it came to gossip. They hated how much they loved it, and Gisele loved how good they were at hearing things. That was the reason they’d become friends in the first place.
Gisele certainly wasn’t foolish enough to approach without a plan. She hadn’t spent the last few weeks just moping.
“Lady Alis, Lady Raylene,” Gisele said as she approached them from behind, the only way a woman of her height could sneak up on someone.
The two young women startled but quickly put on polite smiles as they turned to face her. Lady Alis’ fingers twitched in her skirts as she smiled and said, “Lady Gisele, we were just looking for you!”
They hadn’t been.
“Of course you were.” Gisele looked down her nose at the two of them. She glanced around the room. “It seems the Astrians haven’t arrived yet; that’s a shame. I’ve been looking forward to the chance to see the witch, Aurelia, since I didn’t have the pleasure last time she was in Avia.”
Everyone loved gossip about royalty, foreigners, and magic users. The Astrians fit all three.
“One of them arrived a few days ago, I think. I haven’t met him yet, but I have heard his name. Lord Hakim, I think?” Lady Raylene said.
Gisele’s eyes scanned over the ballroom before landing on the man in question. She inclined her head and made a slight gesture to direct the ladies’ attention without making it obvious they were looking in his direction.
He wasn’t the tallest of men, but he was a decent height, a little taller than Gisele but not by much. He had a rich, golden-bronze skin tone and thick, black hair. He was also easily identifiable as Astrian thanks to the Astrian royal crest patterned on the sash across his chest, marking him as Queen Loraine’s representative. Gisele had seen him in the castle a few days before. Of the three Astrians who were supposed to be at this ball, she considered him the least interesting and least important.
“He doesn’t look Astrian,” Lady Raylene said, eyes darting over the man’s features.
“He’s Astrian on his father’s side, Esmean on his mother’s,” Gisele said. At their startled looks, Gisele smirked. “I haven’t met him officially, but I’ve heard plenty. He’s supposed to be a close friend of Queen Loraine as well as her half-brother and the witch.”
He was the least interesting and least important. That didn’t mean Gisele hadn’t done her work.
“Depends on what you mean by close.” Lady Alis grinned. The precise grin she always wore when she brought Gisele gossip. “I’ve heard the reason he’s such a good friend is because he’s secretly in love with Queen Loraine.”
That was what Lady Alis wanted to lead with?
“Oh, please. Everyone knows Queen Loraine and Prince Consort Harlin are very happy and deeply in love. The only reason they aren’t attending in person is because of their newborn,” Gisele said, keeping one eye on Lord Hakim as he was in the middle of a conversation with another Idresian noble.
Alis made a little noise in the back of her throat. “That doesn’t mean anything. Just because she’s in love with her husband doesn’t mean Lord Hakim isn’t in love with her. My second cousin is Astrian; she’s been at their court her whole life. She would know. I swear on my favorite pink gown, it’s true.”
“Just because your cousin believes it’s true doesn’t mean anything,” Gisele said, giving Alis a calculated grin to show it was a mostly teasing statement despite the harsh overtones.
“He’s a good-looking man, close to the queen, a trusted advisor—so much so, he’s currently the only Astrian here to represent her. He’s never courted anyone, ever, and it’s not because of a lack of interest.” Alis eyed him. “My cousin would kill to get his attention. Now that he’s been so in favor with the queen ever since she took the throne, why hasn’t he found a wife?”
Gisele only hummed in response. She never ran with Alis’ gossip; Gisele always made sure the information she kept in her arsenal was true. But if it was… gossip about foreigners would be a good way to reestablish herself. Everyone would want it and she wouldn’t hurt any Idresian connections by spreading it.
But any further vetting of that information would have to wait. Cynrik was alone, looking a little less agitated as he moved through the room. This was a good opportunity.
She’d come here to win his hand, and that was what she was going to do.
“I’ll be back shortly; we simply must continue talking,” Gisele said, ignoring the relieved looks Alis and Raylene gave each other at her departure.
Unfortunately, Cynrik was on the other side of the room, still moving and obviously looking for someone. She could do this. She just needed to explain why she was his best choice.
She wasn’t scared of him.
She rubbed her wrist. He wouldn’t do anything in a ballroom full of people.
Her focus was entirely on Cynrik even as he continued to move farther away from her, and she was no fool. He’d seen her coming and was avoiding her, but she couldn’t stop now. Most people stepped out of her way, avoiding her completely as she hurried around the edge of the dance floor. No one wanted to be associated with her. That was going to change.
Gisele was so focused on getting to Cynrik she didn’t notice when someone didn’t move out of her way.
Her shoulder crashed into his as he stepped back, and Gisele started to pitch to the side as her balance vanished. The only reason she didn’t fall completely to the floor was because of an arm snagging around her waist and pulling her upright.
“Are you alright?”
Gisele stared up into no one else but Lord Hakim’s face. Of course. All the Idresians—even before her father’s actions had disgraced her—knew to get out of her way. She hadn’t even noticed she was heading in his direction as she’d been hurrying toward Cynrik.
“Yes, I seem to be fine,” Gisele said as she regained her balance and stepped out of his grip. As irritating as it was to be nearly knocked over, she couldn’t afford to be too aggressive or confrontational especially with someone who likely hadn’t heard of her family’s actions.
King Besart had been keeping everything regarding the traitors fairly quiet; the Idresian court knew thanks to the arrests and servants whispering about it, but not even renowned gossips like Gisele would dare spread the word to their foreign visitors. Above all else, they wanted to project unity and strength to their allies.
“Good, you have my sincere apologies for bumping into you. I’m afraid we haven’t been introduced yet.” Lord Hakim inclined his head.
“Your apology is accepted,” Gisele said, fighting to keep the grit and strain out of her voice as her eyes darted around the room, still tracking Cynrik as he continued to hurry away from her.
“I’m Lord Hakim, representing Queen Loraine of Astren; it’s a pleasure to meet you…”
Cynrik was on the very edge of the room, near a servants’ entrance. He’d been avoiding the dancefloor all night, which was very strange behavior for him—
Lord Hakim cleared his throat.
“Lady Gisele, daughter of Earl Ludovic,” Gisele said, snapping her attention back to Lord Hakim. Daughter of an earl for now. If he had by some minuscule chance heard of her family’s disgrace, he’d quickly distance himself from her and leave her to continue on her way.
Cynrik had to know he couldn’t avoid her for the whole night, not when it had been all but confirmed he’d have to choose a bride from the group of young women at the ball—
“—ele?”
What had he said? Oh, it probably didn’t matter; she just needed to politely get away.
“Yes? I—” Before Gisele could excuse herself, Lord Hakim held out his hand, and out of the corner of her eye she saw pairs of dancers taking positions for the next set.
Oh. He’d asked her to dance. He clearly knew nothing about her family or what had happened.
Fine. One dance. Let Cynrik relax his defenses so she could catch him off guard afterward and convince him she was the right choice.
Besides, now she could at least vet Alis’ gossip, and if it was true, this would be perfect to use to bring herself back in with the Idresian court.
She let Lord Hakim lead her to the floor. To his credit, he kept a respectable distance from her as they made their way to the couples taking the floor. He wasn’t leering at her, so he seemed to be a gentleman. Or he was completely in love with his queen, so he had no actual interest in her but only offered to be polite.
Gisele didn’t consider herself vain, per se, but she certainly knew she was a beauty among her peers. She had golden blonde, carefully cared for, styled hair, and all of her obscenely expensive dresses were crafted to flatter her figure perfectly. She was beautiful, and any man would have to be blind or deeply in love with someone else not to notice.
As the music started and they began moving in time to the dance, she had to force herself not to look in Cynrik’s direction as she followed the steps.
“You’ll have to forgive me if I make a small misstep here or there; I don’t dance often, Lady Gisele,” Lord Hakim said as they joined hands.
A point in favor of being in love with someone he couldn’t have.
“Then why ask me?” Gisele stared into his eyes, tracking every slight movement of his own gaze to see if it wandered downward to her figure.
It did not.
“Because you were looking in this direction,” Lord Hakim said as they turned around each other and stepped back. He was observant. “It seemed like you wanted to dance, and I haven’t seen you out on the floor yet.”
Gisele despised pity.
“So you felt obligated.” Gisele’s lips twitched, but she quickly shoved the scowl away before it showed. Instead, she put on a smile and raised an eyebrow. “As any gentleman would; very honorable of you.”
“Obligated is a strong word.” Hakim blinked and startled back as he fumbled a step at her words.
Gisele ignored his misstep as he recovered, and they stepped together and joined hands as they moved across the floor. “So I take that to mean you don’t rescue beautiful Astrian women from being forced to stand on the side when they desperately wish to dance?”
“Back home I’m usually the one standing off to the side, but I try to make more of an effort when I’m representing Queen Loraine. I wouldn’t want anyone to believe my reticent personality is a reflection of her feelings, so if that means asking a lovely young woman to dance to make up for the fact I bumped into her, I’m not going to object,” Hakim said as he lifted his arm for her to pass under.
Interesting. How long did he usually go before bringing up Queen Loraine to a stranger? Was he aware he was doing it, or was it just habit?
“Do you often represent Queen Loraine in foreign courts?” Gisele asked.
Hakim’s lips turned up in a small smile. “Queen Loraine prefers to represent herself whenever possible, but when she is otherwise occupied, I go in her stead.”
“I have not had the great fortune to meet Queen Loraine myself, but I do so wish to. She must trust you a great deal to appoint you as her official ambassador tonight rather than having her brother represent her.”
Said brother was illegitimate, and Gisele had heard little about him, so there could be a reason as to why she would choose Lord Hakim instead of him. But really this was an opportunity for Hakim to preen at having such close confidence with the queen.
“Sir Sandor should be arriving at any minute, but until he is here, I am Queen Loraine’s only representative. However, he is happy to represent his sister when needed. The issue is that Sandor is married and often has other obligations with his wife, whereas I’m more freely at Queen Loraine’s disposal.”
Hakim was a straightforward sort of man. He didn’t play to his own vanity, and any plays to hers appeared more to be from social convention rather than any true attempt to earn her favor. Honest, humble people were easier to get the best of when it came to gathering information. They were more trusting and unlikely to see through fake flattery.
“Still, to place you on the same level as her own blood says a lot. How many other Astrian nobles could say the same?” Gisele turned on her heel to the beat of the song, but Hakim stumbled at her words.
Gisele rolled her eyes while her back was to him. If he wasn’t an experienced dancer, why bother asking even if he felt obligated? And why continue the conversation if he couldn’t focus?
“Not many, I suppose,” Hakim said finally as they came back together and he quickly glanced around. No one was paying much attention to them since Princess Dione and Prince Aiolos were dancing as well.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Cynrik across the room. Hopefully this dance would end soon. From what she remembered it wasn’t a long one. She needed to wrap this up and get the confirmation she needed.
“You have great favor with the queen; that’s certainly not something to be ashamed of. That must make you popular back home with the young women of your court,” Gisele said. “Do you have anyone special who might take issue with the fact you’re dancing with me?”
Hakim blinked, ducking his head slightly and watching his feet. “You’re rather forward, Lady Gisele.”
“I just like to make sure I’m not at risk of incurring the wrath of a jealous lover,” Gisele said.
“You can rest assured I have no jealous lovers.” Hakim looked back up as the more complicated steps of the dance were over. Something flickered through his eyes, but it was gone before Gisele could fully identify it. It was still enough to work with.
“But you do have someone back home you have your eye on.” Gisele passed under his lifted arm and continued speaking before he could object, “I’m good at reading people. Why else would a handsome young man, the queen’s favorite, not dance? He must be in love with someone he can’t dance with.”
Hakim’s eyes narrowed as he brought the two of them to a clumsy, stumbling stop when the music finished. “Are you insinuating something?”
She should have been more careful. Her mind was in too many places.
Gisele needed to smooth this over quickly, get her gossip, and get to Cynrik.
“There’s no need to be ashamed of unrequited love. I sympathize greatly. It can’t be easy being her right-hand man. You’re so close and so far from her at the same time.”
Hakim’s voice rose and a scowl overtook his features. “I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m not the one accosting foreign nobles and prying into their personal lives so that I can spread gossip to make myself feel important again.”
Gisele jerked away from him. “Excuse me?”
“I might be polite, but I’m not an idiot. I noticed you looking in my direction, and how everyone in this court has been avoiding you and eyeing you and whispering about you when you walk by. Bumping into me, eyeing the dance floor, all the prying? I don’t engage in gossip, but that doesn’t mean I’m unfamiliar with the kind of people who take advantage of it. You’ll have to find someone else with actual secrets to take advantage of.”
“I’m not the oaf who ran into a young woman and nearly stepped on her three times while dancing! You couldn’t be more wrong if you tried.” Gisele huffed and lifted her chin. “What interest would I have in you? I’ve already heard all I need to know, the total of which can be described as absolutely nothing of interest to anyone. It’s clear why Queen Loraine sends you to represent her instead of showing off her father’s illegitimate mistake. You’re the most boring man in Astren. No scandal will ever follow you because no one will ever remember you.”
Hakim straightened up and glanced at the people who were not so subtly watching them. He replaced his brief anger with a cool indifference as he bowed slightly. “Unlike you, I have no interest in making a spectacle of myself or disgracing my own family name or my queen. Good evening, Lady Gisele. I hope your father’s trial goes well.”
He turned on his heel and was gone.
Gisele took a deep breath and turned to see her peers quickly directing their gazes away as they resumed whispered conversations that she didn’t need to hear to know revolved around her. They didn’t bother hiding their glee at the scene.
More than a few laughed softly as she hurried off the dancefloor to make way for the couples returning for the next set. Alis and Raylene wouldn’t even look her way. Fine. She didn’t need them. She didn’t need anyone. She just needed—
She looked over the crowd, but Cynrik was nowhere to be seen.
It had always been a foolish hope, hadn’t it? That she could somehow convince Cynrik it didn’t matter that he didn’t return her feelings. She shouldn’t have come.
Nothing was going to fix this. Not even marrying a prince.
You can read the rest of Sands of Deceit on Amazon here on November 29th, Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you next time!