~Gilded Cage~

Almost every minister in the hall had taken a glance at their neighbor one or two times but not one word was spoken. The atmosphere in the court dimmed, stretched thin by tension so thick that it made the air feel like honey.  A thousand candle flames flickered in sync, casting dark shadows against every sober face present, while hair ribbons and sleeves were whipped up by a frenzied current of desert wind that had somehow gained awareness of what was taking place and was very displeased.

No one dared to step forward—even though it was the very thing required for the discussion to proceed.

Just like the wind, they were aware that picking a side so obviously in front of the Emperor and Empress Dowager was a death sentence in itself.

The harem was not to interfere with the court and the Court's officials were subjects of the ruler not the Queen Mother. At the same time, offending the Empress Dowager—especially if you had a candidate for the Selection—was equivalent to cutting off an arm.

What was the use of planting someone by the Emperor's side if they never got a chance to talk to him? What good was a daughter-in-law disliked by her husband's mother?

If these dynamics could be understood by the common people, how would educated men not take not of it?

Only Andrea's father had taken the risk to be on her side, subtly opposing the Empress Dowager at every turn for her sake. He might have chosen to stay out of this if his daughter hadn't been caught in the thick of it, but he had to have had some power in court to back his will or else it would have been for nought.

The other ministers had been quick to agree with him despite their initial reluctance because of it, and the few ministers who had opposed him were either powerful themselves—and had a more influential backer—or just never cared about the consequences of upsetting the Emperor in the first place.

At first glance, it was hard to distinguish which people belonged to the Empress Dowager and which didn't. The harder it was, the more Oris' thoughts drifted back to what Mikeal had told her about all not being as it appeared.

Hermes' court was not as simple as it looked. Far from it, it was a den of snakes with pleasant smiles and words that dripped with honeyed venom.

Oris hadn't realized how much she hadn't missed the feeling of wondering which misstep in court would lead her to certain death, until she saw Hermes on his throne today.

"What is this?" Faeradaigh was the one to break the dangerous spell cast on the hall.

As he walked to Oris' side and everyone focused on him, the tension in the air thinned and normalcy was restored once more.

Wei Wei relaxed in her seat, an easy smile propped on her blood red lips, and the ministers no longer looked as though their feathers had been ruffled.

Only Hermes demeanor remained unchanged. From the beginning to the end, he remained unaffected, as though the light in his court had not just been almost snuffed out by the gods' meddling.

Oris had to admit that he was a good Emperor in that aspect, unshakable, though when they had first met he had seemed like a person who could not control his temper.

The stark difference in attitudes made her wonder if he was just like how she had been when she still ruled Orse: an actor drowning in a hall of grinning liars.

"Dai, you have something to say?" he said while touching his fingers to his chin. With their tips, he brushed his lips, and as his rings reflected candlelight they caught Oris' attention.

He had two on each finger of his left hand, some silver, some gold and some bejeweled.

There was no specific pattern to their placement but the symbolism wasn't lost to Oris: The wealth of my kingdom abounds.

Most rulers enjoyed flaunting that facet of royalty, often to the detriment of the common people but she hadn't pictured Hermes as the type of emperor that would be extravagant.

Granted, she had only seen him once before and tales of his previous exploits painted him as an exceedingly cruel man, but an emperor who wore plain white robes and collected sand as a yearly tribute wasn't one to spend wealth lasciviously.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Faeradaigh dabbed his face with a cloth and slicked his hair back with a sweaty palm before pointing a finger at her.

"The Lady Of Inqa wasn't called here to be questioned about her virtue," he said, exasperated, as he shuffled towards the dais, his back hunched and his gaze lowered. "She was summoned to be rewarded."

At that moment Oris was sure that he served Hermes, only for her doubts to return when he turned to her and said, "The Empress Dowager was only asking out of concern, there is no need to kneel."

She blinked, still not able to believe what had happened as she let her head drop elegantly and shifted her weight off her knees to her heels.

This slippery eunuch... He had managed to be for and against the Empress Dowager in the same instance, and he had done it so smoothly.

Once again, Oris realized that she had underestimated him too many times than was acceptable. Ever since the incident at the gates, she had been sure that he was one of the Empress Dowager's people, but all along his identity was still that of Hermes' personal eunuch.

And why would Hermes keep someone not loyal to him so close to his side? A person that blind wouldn't have been able to claim all the territory behind the Great Sea as his.

Hermes' court, she thought as her mind drifted to everything she had witnessed so far, is truly frightening.

A minister stepped out of his file and bowed. "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager was only concerned about the well-being of the nation when she imprisoned this woman. The situation at the time was highly suspicious. Provoking the masses into rebellion is not a light crime."

"The Empress Dowager is the mother of the nation, Your Majesty. She shows care for all the people, including the future members of the harem," Andrea's father interjected. "Someone is clearly attempting to stain her name by poisoning the Lady Of Inqa during her house arrest."

House arrest? Oris was tempted to raise an eyebrow at that but she was nothing but a prop in this discussion. It was best for her to just stay silent.

If things ended well, she would be able to ask Mayree and Keziah for a detailed description of the relationships in the palace to better prepare in the future.

She needed to know who was on Hermes' side, and who wasn't. She wasn't about to trust someone recklessly and risk losing her head in the process.

She also wanted to learn the proper set of etiquette for this particular dynasty. Since she couldn't avoid taking part in the Selection without the Empress Dowager finding a way to sentence her to death, she might as well do her best to ensure that the only enemies who could affect her were the ones up on the dais.

"Minister Varehir, we are clearly stating the same things," the other minister said with an annoyed huff, "do not cause division in the court."

"Minister Rehcai, the matter of the Selection is of the uttermost importance, we cannot be a candidate short. Doing so will have dire consequences."

"The Lady Of Inqa missed three events and shouldn't be eligible for the next." The minister bowed to the thrones. "Your Majesty?"

"Rise," Hermes said, barely any inflection in his tone.

Oris imagined he would act the same when he spoke to condemn someone to death. Compared to the first time she was in this hall, he seemed to care even less about what happened to her, which didn't make sense seeing that his mother's reputation was riding on how things turned out today.

The contrast was enough to make her head ache with conflicting thoughts. She wished she could go back to the time when she was sure that Hermes was a heartless, lustful tyrant and nothing more.

Now though, she knew that he had two irreconcilable mothers, a handful of disloyal ministers and a palace of women he quite possibly didn't want.

The fact that he saved her meant that he wasn't heartless. The fact that he had never set his gaze on her the way some other men in the hall had, as though they were trying to see through her veil, meant that he didn't care for whatever beauty she was hiding.

A mission to kill a monster became a more arduous task when said monster turned out to be only human. And Hermes was most certainly so.

Oris rose to her feet, her hands clasped at her side, and Andrea and the physician stood up with her.

They both looked a little troubled, which was understandable. She would have been troubled too if she hadn't been in court over a thousand times.

She turned to Andrea and nodded slightly. It was the most reassuring thing she could do with so many eyes on her.

"Your Majesty—" Minister Varehir began but had to pause when Hermes held up his hand.

"You," his gaze shifted to Oris and their eyes met for the briefest moment, "were imprisoned in the palace dungeons for four days and two nights. During that time an investigation was carried out and you were found innocent. Before the edict could arrive, the palace was attacked by assassins. While other prisoners took up arms and rebelled, you didn't and even. . .risked your life to save me."

"Hear my decree," he said and all the ministers bowed. His mother turned to him with a panicked stare. She spoke to him with her arm raised to shield half her face, but his expression didn't change. "The Lady Of Inqa is virtuous, kind and thinks for the people. Disregarding her own safety, she rescued me from a perilous situation. She will be rewarded with ten chests of jewelry and twelve bolts of fabric in repayment and as a symbol of my gratitude."

"Let it be as the Emperor decreed," the entire court chimed and Oris felt their voices shake the earth the hall beneath her feet.

A scribe handed a scroll to Faeradaigh before scrambling back to his seat beneath the thrones, and when the eunuch dropped it into her hand, Oris realized that it was the edict that Hermes' had just spoken.

"You should thank His Majesty," Faeradaigh whispered after a moment of silence.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Oris recovered immediately and bent her knees to curtsy. "These gifts are more than this servant can bear. This servant wants nothing more than to have all my maids beside me," she held up the scroll, "please grant this servant's request, Your Majesty."

Hermes' gaze landed on Faeradaigh and the eunuch was quick to explain.

"When the Lady Of Inqa was imprisoned, her maids were reassigned. Apart from her lady-in-waiting, the rest are working in the palace."

The longer version would have included the fact that Seline had offended one of the other candidates for the Selection and was awaiting punishment in a woodshed behind the laundry halls.

Faeradaigh had to have known all these, being the Head Steward of the palace, but he had chosen his words carefully.

Oris supposed that he was trying to get in her good graces now that it was certain that she would not be executed.

"Mother," Hermes turned to the throne beside him, a new softness to him, "the harem is under your control."

Wei Wei nodded and the ornaments in her hair swayed beautifully.

"Granted," she said though there was a hint of reluctance in her voice. "You will be given ten maids to manage your new chambers."

Oris bowed, more than aware of the catch in the woman's words. She had played this game too, once upon a time. "This servant thanks the Empress Dowager, but it would not be fair to them to care for a dying mistress. This servant only wishes for the maids that were bestowed by the Emperor in Asharath. Execution is the punishment for losing the Emperor's gifts, and it is a crime this servant cannot bear."

"It is only natural that a Lady be with her maids," Minister Varehir chimed in immediately. "Your Majesty, the Lady Of Inqa is supported by the people. Tales of her imprisonment have spread all through the capital. Stories are told everyday in tea houses and children sing songs in the streets. I am afraid that recieving jewelry and clothes would be seen as a slight by the people. The other candidates for the Selection have been rewarded more for less."

The ministers behind him murmured in agreement.

Minister Rehcai walked out of his file, shrouded by an aura of obnoxious confidence.

Now, Oris was sure that he was the kind that enjoyed stirring trouble—and that made him a dangerous enemy.

"Your Majesty." He bowed. "Even the daughter of my concubine has been awarded clothing and jewelry for coming third in the flower arrangement event. How can the life of the child of Sūn, and this nation's leader only be worth so?"

"Then. . . what do you suggest?" Minister Varehir turned to him, and suddenly the two men were on the same side.

"That, of course," Minister Rehcai raised his clasped hands towards the dais, "is for the Emperor to decide."

All eyes were fixed on Hermes again.

He said nothing, but the steady tapping of his rings against the armrest of his throne as he flexed and relaxed the joints in his fingers spoke volumes.

Oris could almost see thoughts whirl around his head like a windmill powered by a thunderstorm.

As it was now, he couldn't gift her with something inconsequential without calling his own life worthless and making himself out to be a thrifty—even petty—emperor.

Though she was aware that at the moment she was nothing but a pawn used by the ministers to attack Hermes, Oris couldn't help but wonder what his answer was going to be.

She wanted to see if he was as much a warrior in court as he was on the battlefield because if he was anything less, he was no better than a puppet king in a gilded cage.

~

First chapter of today! Having two weeks to write gives me a lot of time to edit, so less errors and more details!

Oris is realizing that Hermes' court isn't all roses and daisies. It's real dangerous out there. Maybe she sees herself in Hermes right now, lol.

So tell me, good people, what will Hermes gift to Oris?

The next chapter will be in a couple of hours. I was so busy yesterday. Need to sleep now!