Transmigrated Into A Women Dominated World

Athea rarely set aside an entire afternoon for Aphrodite. That afternoon, however, the two of them sat with Erythea beneath a pavilion in the palace’s eastern garden.

Aphrodite placed two open jewellery cases in the middle of the garden table and turned them until Athea could see both pairs of earrings properly.

They had finished lunch almost an hour earlier, although none of them had asked the attendants to clear the table. Several plates of fruit and pastries remained between them, alongside a cooling pot of tea that Erythea continued drinking despite complaining that it had become too bitter.

For once, there was no data-slate resting beside Athea’s plate, no correspondence waiting beneath her hand and no palace official standing nearby with another matter that required her attention.

Aphrodite intended to take full advantage of the occasion.

"The darker stones work better with the amethyst silk, but the longer pair will draw attention toward the layered collar," Aphrodite explained. "I can’t decide whether that would complete the design or make the upper half look too crowded."

"The shorter pair," Athea replied.

Aphrodite looked at her suspiciously.

"You barely considered them," Aphrodite said.

"You have been moving them around the table for the last ten minutes," Athea replied. "I have considered them from every possible angle."

Erythea reached across the table and selected another piece of fruit.

"I told her the same thing," Erythea said.

"You suggested that I wear one from each pair," Aphrodite reminded her.

Erythea gave her a wounded look.

"I was offering a third possibility," Erythea said.

Aphrodite was not convinced.

"You were making fun of me," Aphrodite said.

"I can do both at the same time," Erythea replied with a grin.

Aphrodite ignored her and returned her attention to Athea.

"You genuinely think the shorter pair will look better?" Aphrodite asked.

"The collar already frames your shoulders and throat," Athea explained. "The longer pair will compete with it, particularly once your hair is arranged above your shoulders. The darker stones will provide enough contrast without drawing attention away from the dress itself."

Aphrodite’s expression brightened.

"You remembered how I intended to wear my hair," Aphrodite said.

"Of course I remembered," Athea replied. "You explained the entire arrangement to me over dinner."

"You were reading three different reports while I explained it," Aphrodite said.

"I was still listening," Athea replied.

Aphrodite closed the case containing the longer earrings and pulled the other one toward herself. She smiled with enough satisfaction to make it clear that this was the answer she had wanted.

Erythea leaned back in her chair and looked between them.

"Since we somehow have Athea for an entire afternoon, we should ask her every question we’ve been saving before someone comes looking for her," Erythea said.

"I made the afternoon available to my daughter," Athea replied.

"I’m sitting beside your daughter," Erythea said. "Surely that gives me partial access."

"It does not," Athea replied.

"That seems unnecessarily strict for someone who is supposed to be relaxing," Erythea said.

Aphrodite laughed and reached for another jewellery case. Before she could open it, Athea’s attention shifted toward the garden path behind her.

A woman had entered through the open archway and was walking toward their table.

There were no guards surrounding her and no herald moving ahead to announce her arrival. She wore fitted dark travelling clothes beneath a structured coat, and she approached with the unhurried stride of someone who had already been told where she would find them.

Aphrodite followed her mother’s gaze.

"Is that the person you were expecting?" Aphrodite asked.

"Yes," Athea replied. "And she has arrived just in time."

Erythea turned in her chair, and recognition appeared upon her face almost immediately.

"Kayla Noctis?" Erythea asked. "The Void Scythe?"

Aphrodite looked at her cousin and then returned her attention to the approaching woman.

"I know who Kayla Noctis is," Aphrodite said. "I simply did not know she looked like that. What is she doing here?"

Athea glanced toward her daughter but did not ask what she meant.

Kayla reached the table a few moments later. Her green eyes moved briefly across Erythea and Aphrodite before settling upon Athea.

"Your Highness," Kayla greeted her.

"Warlady Noctis," Athea replied. "I am glad you came."

Kayla looked across the remains of their lunch and the open jewellery cases.

"I hope I am not interrupting private family time," Kayla said.

"You are not," Athea replied. "Aphrodite is choosing jewellery for an upcoming reception, while Erythea has invited herself into an afternoon I set aside for my daughter."

"I’m offering Aphrodite support," Erythea said.

"I don’t mind her being here," Aphrodite said. "Some of her suggestions have even been useful."

Athea gestured toward them.

"This is my daughter, Aphrodite, and my niece, Erythea," Athea said. "Aphrodite, Erythea, this is Kayla Noctis."

"We know who she is," Erythea said. "We studied the District Two breach at the Lyceum."

"You never showed much interest in military history," Athea said.

"I paid attention when it was interesting," Erythea replied.

Athea accepted the answer without questioning her further.

Aphrodite had paid little attention to their discussion of military archives. Her interest remained fixed upon Kayla herself. She allowed her green eyes to move openly across the Warlady’s face, taking in the sharpness of her features and the composed beauty that the old recordings had failed to capture.

Then Aphrodite smiled.

"You are very beautiful," Aphrodite said.

The direct compliment appeared to catch Kayla by surprise. Her expression softened, and a small but genuine smile appeared upon her face as she looked back at Aphrodite.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Kayla replied.

"The military archives do you a terrible disservice," Aphrodite continued. "They always make you look severe."

"They were military recordings," Erythea said. "I doubt anyone filming a battlefield was worried about finding Kayla’s best angle."

"That does not excuse poor presentation," Aphrodite replied.

"I’ll file a complaint," Kayla said.

Aphrodite’s smile widened, apparently pleased that Kayla had taken the observation seriously enough to answer it.

Athea pulled out the empty chair beside her.

"Sit with us," Athea said. "There is still tea, and Aphrodite requires another opinion."

"I already have your opinion," Aphrodite said.

"You have mine and have dismissed Erythea’s," Athea replied. "Kayla provides a deciding vote."

Kayla removed her coat and placed it across the back of the chair before sitting down.

Only then did her attention return to Aphrodite.

Official portraits had never revealed how much of Ysmeine remained in the young woman’s face. Kayla could see it now in the shape of Aphrodite’s mouth, in several of her expressions and, most clearly, in the green eyes that belonged to the Noctis bloodline rather than the Lumina family.

Kayla looked toward Athea for a moment.

Athea understood what she had noticed, although neither woman acknowledged it aloud.

Aphrodite pushed the two jewellery cases toward Kayla.

"The shorter pair or the longer pair?" Aphrodite asked.

Kayla examined them without understanding how she had entered the garden expecting a private conversation with Athea and found herself deciding which earrings a princess should wear to a reception.

"The shorter pair," Kayla replied.

Aphrodite immediately closed the second case.

"There," Aphrodite said to Erythea. "The matter has been settled by three sensible women."

"You had already made your decision before Kayla sat down," Erythea replied.

"I had," Aphrodite admitted. "That does not make their agreement any less valuable."

"Aphrodite, Erythea, give us a few minutes alone," Athea said.

Aphrodite looked at her mother, then at Kayla before closing the jewellery cases.

"Of course, Mother," Aphrodite replied. "But you promised me the afternoon."

"I remember," Athea said. "I won’t be long."

Aphrodite gathered her jewellery cases. She and Erythea left the pavilion together. Their voices remained audible for several moments as they followed the path toward the palace, with Aphrodite continuing to explain why mismatched earrings were not a serious suggestion.

Once they had passed through the garden archway, silence settled over the table.

"I hope you didn’t invite me here to choose earrings," Kayla said.

"No," Athea replied.

Athea looked across the garden toward the section of the palace grounds where the Crown Guest Residence stood beyond the trees.

Kayla waited.

"So," Athea said quietly. "My son is here."

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