Chapter 33: Truths in Trickery
The Pyranthos palace gleamed under the late afternoon sun, gold-tipped spires glittering like fire-kissed towers reaching into the heavens. The courtyards were alive with celebration. The crowning ceremony had passed, Valeria now stood recognized as both the Princess of Pyranthos and the rightful heir to the Fire Dynasty. But peace, in a land bound by elements and egos, was as fragile as the crystal phoenix sculpture shattered two days ago by a suspicious wind surge.
Preparations for Kael's naming ceremony were underway. Valeria, visibly radiant but also slightly annoyed, sat in the Sun Garden with her hand resting protectively over her swelling stomach. The palace healers said the baby was developing faster than expected—not in age, but in energy. Kael had begun to respond not just to emotions, but to lies.
Every time someone lied within a few feet of Valeria, Kael kicked.
Hard.
Like-make-your-ribs-tap-a-hymn hard.
And today, the lies were flying.
"I swear, I only ate one honeycake," said Lady Virella, dabbing her lips with a silk napkin.
THUMP.
Valeria winced. "Kael disagrees."
Lady Virella went pale.
Jaxon, who had arrived late from the Western Flame barracks, leaned against the marble column, amused but tired. "He really doesn't let anything slip by."
"Neither should you," Valeria said with a pointed glance. "What exactly were you doing with the Water Council's delegate behind the temple?"
Jaxon gave a grin. "I was talking strategy."
THUMP. THUMP.
Valeria groaned. "Kael says you were planning to bribe someone with a sea-dragon egg."
"Oh come on! That was a metaphorical bribe!"
From behind the spice garden, a squeaky voice rang out, "Bribes and secrets! Sounds like my third marriage!"
Everyone turned. There, dressed in a slightly scorched servant's apron, was a new palace maid—tiny, wrinkled, and with a nose like a flamingo's beak.
"Who are you?" Valeria asked, startled.
"Name's Auntie Fira! Just joined today. Heard you needed someone who knows the difference between Fire Pepper and actual bombs."
"You're not on the hiring list," Jaxon murmured, stepping closer.
"Course not. I'm freelance."
Kael kicked again. Hard. Valeria's eyes widened.
The woman gave a sly wink. "Oh, don't mind the boy. He knows me. We go waaaaay back."
And that's when it started.
The palace kitchens trembled as Auntie Fira sauntered through, complaining about the lack of cumin, and accidentally knocked over an old brass urn hidden in the upper shelves. The urn cracked open, releasing a hiss of silver light.
"Oh no," muttered Valeria, recognizing the symbol etched into its side—the Seal of Memory.
Silver smoke curled into the air, and in seconds, everyone nearby was trapped in a vision.
---
They saw Aryan, years ago, inside the temple vaults, meeting a hooded figure with sapphire eyes.
"It's agreed," Aryan said. "In exchange for her forgetting the fire, you grant me access to the Shadow Forge."
The hooded man's voice was unmistakable. Jaxon's father.
---
Back in the present, Jaxon swore under his breath. "I never knew..."
Valeria's gaze sharpened. "You knew enough."
Auntie Fira cackled. "Secrets are like pickled onions. You try to keep 'em fresh, but eventually they stink."
Suddenly, a richly dressed envoy appeared, flanked by golden guards. He bowed low before Valeria.
"Princess Valeria," he said, voice smooth, almost too familiar. "It is I, Prince Rael of the Ember Coast. Do you recall our chai ceremony when we were fourteen? You promised me your hand."
Valeria stared. "I promised you a biscuit."
Rael beamed. "And a biscuit shared during the Ember Moon Festival counts as a betrothal."
Jaxon stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "She's taken."
Rael shrugged. "So were most of my exes. Didn't stop them from returning."
Kael's kick almost knocked Valeria off the bench.
"Kael does not approve," she gasped.
The scene dissolved into chaos—guards, suitors, hovering servants, Auntie Fira throwing cinnamon like a weapon. In the middle of it all, Valeria doubled over in a mixture of laughter and frustration.
"Is this my life now? Divine politics and pastry-induced engagements?"
"Yes," Jaxon said, wrapping his arms around her, "and I wouldn't miss it for anything."
Valeria looked up at him, eyes softening. "Even with Kael detecting your every fib?"
"Especially then. He keeps me honest."
From behind them, Auntie Fira whistled. "Might want to hurry. That urn you broke? Yeah... it wasn't just for memories. It was keeping a very ancient prankster spirit asleep."
Jaxon paled. "How ancient?"
"Let's just say, he once replaced the moon with a coconut."
Valeria groaned. "Of course."
And so, between revelations, biscuits, divine pregnancies, and uninvited prankster spirits, the palace of Pyranthos prepared for the next chapter in their chaotic tale.
With laughter.
With love.
And just a little bit of lying.