ar·ti·fice
 /ˈɑɚtəfəs/  noun  ,  pl   -fic·es
  : dishonest or insincere behavior or speech that is meant to deceive someone
   [  noncount  ] He spoke without artifice or pretense.
   [  count  ] political/legal artifices
    The whole story was just an artifice to win our sympathy.