Chapter 16 #3
“He bought and sold slaves and kept the youngest for himself. I suspect other people in this room are aware of this truth, though they need not say it aloud.” Purity was referencing the Darlif’s family’s longstanding stake in the slave trade.
Invia’s father may have even sold some of those slaves to Father Finlee directly.
“It’s true,” Ashley added. The glint in her eye told me she backed Purity in part to see if Charity or Godfried had the gall to dispute the Queen.
“The Reapers seemed to specifically target slavers,” Invia said, holding her father’s eyes. “Not enough people talked about that. Any family involved in such a business would be wise to cease operations immediately.”
Lord Darlif sat back in disbelief. “Nobles built this kingdom. Any leader would be wise to recognize the influence of noble families.”
“Like the Darlifs?” Ashley asked, casually cutting into a tomato in her salad.
“Precisely.”
“A Darlif is Queen. Is there a greater recognition than that?”
Esita caught my eye from the dinner table. She seemed to implore me to step in. I shrugged.
Godfried dropped his napkin on his plate as if already preparing to leave. “You’ve all been brainwashed. The evil oozing off of that man is so great that I struggle to breathe, and the harm he has done is immeasurable.”
Solara spoke with her mouth full of salad. “I like measuring things. Purity has already explained all the ways the kingdom is better off, and those seem straightforward to me. What variables aren’t I seeing?”
“Faith, honor, tradition,” Godfried barked while Invia’s father and Purity’s sister nodded their agreement.
“Those don’t sound as important as food, housing, and education,” Solara observed.
“Potential good is not a reason to bed evil,” Godfried growled.
“Father,” Purity said calmly. “How much evil did you sense from Father Finlee?”
“That has nothing to do with this.”
“Of course it does. You call a good man evil and praise the memory of an evil man. If you believed Father Finlee to be good, and the Goddess supported that, maybe you're really just feeling and hearing what you want to be true.”
Invia's father leaned across the table to address Purity. “Your father is a great man, and he deserves your respect.”
“Do not speak to my guests that way,” Invia said.
Charity stood from her seat, sending it sliding across the room. “I can prove Byron is evil.”
“Silence,” Ashley boomed to quiet everyone. After a beat, she addressed Charity. “You can prove he is evil?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, your Highness.”
Invia smirked at Ashley's display of power.
“Yes, your Highness,” Charity repeated. “I can prove it.”
“Say you can’t,” Ashley continued. “What will you do if your test proves that Byron is not evil?”
“I don't understand,” Charity stammered.
“How will your behavior change if you discover that you were wrong?”
“The Goddess is telling me he is evil. Her guidance has never failed me.”
Ashley dabbed her lips with a napkin. “If you find he isn't evil, then it is like Purity suggested. The voice you hear is not, in fact, the Goddess but your own.”
“Your Highness,” Godfried forced himself to say. “Even with differences of opinion, there is no need to demean our faith.”
“You demeaned mine.”
Godfried paled. “What?”
“I believe that your daughter is the incarnation of the true Goddess. You spat on that idea mere moments ago.”
“Well, I.. It’s…”
Ashley turned back to Charity. “If you fail to prove Byron is evil, then I think you should try our faith. Pray to Purity and see what you feel.”
Charity hesitated.
“Or you can withdraw your statement, and we can return to our dinner.”
In my mind, Purity asked, “Would you like me to stop this?”
“Only if you want it to stop. I don’t mind letting it play out,” I answered.
“I believe in the voice of the Goddess,” Charity said, her own voice wavering.
Ashley addressed me next. “Do you submit to this test?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“Good. Then Charity may proceed.”
Charity walked around the table to where I stood. “My test is to subject you to Holy magic,” she said. “I won't hold back, so I'll give you the chance to admit your evil and spare your life.”
“Go ahead.”
That response set Charity to blinking in surprise. “Fine. Holy Eruption is the strongest spell I know. The ground where you stand will be purified entirely by the Goddess’ love.”
“Ready when you are.”
Charity cast her spell. The room brightened, and I had the sensation of sunlight warming my skin, but nothing else happened. Seconds later, the spell was over. I offered Charity a pitying shrug.
“I believe you owe Byron an apology at a minimum,” Ashley declared.
Godfried grabbed his wife's wrist. “We must go, your Highness. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Invia's father stood to do the same. He bowed to Queen Ashley. “Your Highness, we must depart as well. I offer you my sincerest apologies.”
Ashley raised an eyebrow. “There are two queens in your presence.”
Invia didn't hide her grin, and her father didn't hide his disgust.
Slowly and with great reluctance, he bowed to Invia. “Thank you for the meal, your Highness.”
In that moment, I knew Invia was going to fuck my brains out. Nothing could ever turn her on more than that moment just then.