The Charm of Deception- Chapter One, Part Two

We stopped just outside the door to Father's office. It stood tall and ominous, made out of thick wood, polished so that it shined. I took a deep breath, glancing at Char before I lifted my hand to knock.

"Yes, yes, come in."

Char carefully turned the worn brass handle and pushed the door open, stepping to the side to let me go through first. This was one of the times that I hated being a woman. I didn't want to face Father first.

I stopped just inside the door, met with the warm scent of scrolls and old books. It would've been pleasant, if it wasn't accompanied by Father. Char squeezed my shoulder reassuringly, pushing me further inside, shutting the door behind us.

"Papa?" I said gently.

He was leaning against his desk, glaring out the window behind it, his back to us, arms crossed. He turned around slowly, glaring at me a long moment before he lifted his gaze to glare at Char.

"You two...were born to privilege." And with that privilege comes responsibility. I bit back a sigh. The least he could do was think up a new lecture. "And with such privilege comes a certain responsibility."

Oh, he rephrased it. That's something. "Yes, Papa."

He strode towards us slowly, trying to draw himself up. He wasn't physically imposing. Rather short, plump, with a flushed red face and balding hair. His gray hair made him look even older than he was. But the sneer on his face, paired with the memory of my childhood, made him scary to me.

"Don't you 'Yes, Papa' me."

I blinked, frowning. "Er...yes, Papa...or...No, Papa...?"

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he muttered under his breath. "You half-witted little..."

You fat, arrogant... I longed for the day that I could insult him like he always insulted me. I doubted it would go well. I didn't care.

"That responsibility." He resumed as he walked around us, his shoes clicking against the stone floor of his office. I straightened my shoulders and fixed my glare out on the window, even though I couldn't really see anything out it. "Requires that you not do certain things...such as, climb trees."

I nodded, once. There was no winning this battle. I'd tried before.

"I know you know that."

"Yes, Papa." I said quietly. I just don't care.

"So can you explain to me why it is..." He was in front of me again. "That I saw you in the top of that tree?"

"You came home early." The answer slipped from between my mouth before I could stop it. His head snapped up to my face, eyes bulging slightly. I felt my own eyes go wide. I can't believe I said that.

"What did you say?" He snapped icily.

I stated the truth. "I made a mistake."

"Indeed you did." He grabbed my tunic, wrinkling his nose in disgust as he let his fingertips brush across it. "One that you keep making, and making, and making."

I lifted my chin. One would think that you'd get used to it by now.

"Any explanation for that?"

Actually...I could come up with many. Mama says I'm quite good at coming up with strange and exciting tales to explain the ordinary. It makes life more interesting. "Well--"

"On second thought, forget it. I don't want to hear any of your lies."

Not lies. Interest...and I'm not fond of your lectures either. "Alright."

His glare.

"Yes, sir." I amended stonily.

His knuckles in my chest, a dull blow as he pushed me backward, into Char.

"Sir, she was just--"

"I would think of my own excuse before I began thinking them up for... her." Father interrupted, his glare snapping up to Char's face. "If I were you."

You're not him. You're a bitter old man.

"My excuse? I wasn't doing any--"

"You were."

"I most certainly was not." Char answered indignantly. "I did nothing wrong."

"You were there. That makes you guilty."

"In what universe?"

I nearly smirked. Facing Father wasn't nearly as bad when Char was there. Father just got so angry at Char that he lost interest in shouting at me. It was fun to watch, at least for a little while. Father jabbed his finger into Char's chest. "Watch it."

"I did nothing wrong." Char's eyes narrowed. "And I refuse to apologize for a crime I didn't commit."

"Please." Father scoffed. "If you didn't just climb down, you were planning to climb up any minute."

"I was not." It was starting to get less fun to watch. Char and Father seemed to be taking this fight to a personal level, as they glared at each other for several long, silent moments, the tension growing with each passing second. I started getting uncomfortable. Char could only push to a certain point, before Father reverted to taking his anger out on me. No, Char, please. Just drop it.

“Either way, you were still standing there watching her. Staring at her bared legs. I’m sure your Father would be very happy to hear that you were…leering… at my young daughter’s immodesty.”

I felt my face get hot.

“I wasn’t leering.”

Of course he wasn’t. Char had no interest in me. He was nearly a man, and I was barely old enough to be a maiden. You’ve got the interest backwards, Papa.

“You were. And you. Where did you get those undershorts?” Papa swung his venomous gaze around on me, jabbing his finger into my chest once more. “And where did these trousers magically appear from?”

I swallowed hard. I wasn’t about to rat out Eldon.

“Did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice? That you’d save yourself?”

“I…”

“Where did they come from?”

“I…found…them?”

“You insolent little—“ Father lifted his hand, threatening to slap me. I looked down, flinching. Char quickly stepped between us.

“I gave them to her.”

“What?” Father and I asked at the same time, our heads both snapping up to look at Char.

“They’re mine.” Char repeated. “Dresses look horribly uncomfortable, so I asked her to wear my trousers, to see if they were any more comfortable, but they didn’t fit right. She took them off when she went to climb the tree, because she was afraid the extra fabric would get in her way.”

“Yet she still ended up falling out.” Father sneered.

“That was your fault.” I muttered under my breath, so quietly I could barely hear myself. But Father heard.

“How in the name of the gods do you figure that it was my fault?” He was glaring at me, but Char was still mostly between us. A defense. A courage booster.

“I wouldn’t have fallen if you hadn’t distracted me.”

“You wouldn’t have fallen if you’d been in the parlor, practicing your needlework, like you belong!” He bellowed, stepping around Char.

I clenched my teeth. My father was the only man in the world that would yell at someone for hurting themselves. I couldn’t help but balk at the injustice of the situation.

Father leaned close to me, laying his hand on my cheek. I hadn’t realized that it hurt, until he pressed against it. A branch must’ve swatted it while I was falling. “That had better not bruise.”

I narrowed my eyes. One would think that, after a lifetime of living under a man who only cared for me because he was required to, I’d be used to his lack of concern. Yet I never could get used to it. It made me angry every time. “I don’t think I hit it very hard.”

“Good.”

Yes. It’s very good. “Yeah.”

“Indeed. Prince Synakrein sent word that he will be able to attend tonight.”

Your reputation is saved. No one will ever suspect me as anything but a tame, obedient daughter-- “What?”

“Prince Synakrein.” Father repeated slowly, as if speaking to a half-wit. “Will be at the banquet tonight.”

Shit. “Is that tonight?”

“It is.”

I sighed. Too bad it didn’t bruise.

“Don’t give me that look.”

I let my eyes flick up to him, making no effort to conceal my annoyance. I didn’t want to go to a banquet tonight. I didn’t want to get into one of those horrid dresses that made it impossible to catch one’s breath. I didn’t want to be paraded around in front of the mob of Royals and Nobles. And I didn’t want to watch as their critical eyes picked me apart.

"You will be there tonight, and you will look as nice as you're able, and you will be polite."

"As always, Papa." I nearly rolled my eyes. And I will talk to every one of those high-feeling jerks, and giggle, and pretend to enjoy myself until I can go talk war with Char and Wylsim. Then the three of us will plot how to best kill every boy who dares touch me. As always.

"I can't believe you forgot. Again."

"I've got more important things on my mind." The words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them. It was the truth. But then, Father didn’t like hearing the truth.

His face flushed a deeper shade of red. “You have no mind, and the only important thing in your miserable life is the man you will marry.”

Some things needed to be said. “You may not have anything better to do than sit around thinking about my future husband, but I’m not so needy.”

I didn't see his hand coming toward my face, until I was knocked into his bookcase.