CHAPTER 125: THE VERMILLION GAMBIT

Aegis stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her dress for the fifth time.

The outfit was one of Lady Roseheart’s gifts—deep emerald with silver embroidery along the sleeves. It hugged her curves without being scandalous, formal without looking like she was trying too hard.

"You look nervous," Lune said from her bed.

"I’m not nervous."

"Your hands are shaking."

Aegis looked down. Her fingers trembled as they smoothed the fabric.

"Okay. Maybe a little nervous."

"You’ll be fine. You talked your way past a Shadow Sorceress, a ghost queen, and Headmistress Valdris. One noble matriarch shouldn’t be a problem."

"One noble matriarch who could change my entire future."

"Then don’t fuck it up."

Aegis shot her a look.

"Thanks for the pep talk."

"You’re welcome."

Aegis grabbed her coin purse and headed for the door. She paused at the threshold.

"If I’m not back in two hours, assume I’ve been murdered and tell Talia I loved her."

"I will do no such thing."

"Lune—"

"Goodbye, Aegis."

The door closed behind her.

---

The Vermillion estate sat on the edge of Rosevale proper, separated from the common districts by an iron fence and about three centuries of accumulated wealth. Guards flanked the entrance, their armor polished to a mirror shine.

Aegis approached, trying to look confident.

"Name and business," one guard said.

"Aegis Starcaller. I’m expected."

The guard checked a ledger, then nodded.

"Proceed to the main house. Lady Cassandra is waiting in the garden."

The gates swung open.

Aegis walked up the path, her boots crunching on white gravel. The gardens were immaculate—rose bushes trimmed into geometric perfection, fountains bubbling with crystal-clear water, statues of past Vermillion ancestors staring down with stone eyes.

A servant met her at the door and led her through halls lined with paintings and tapestries. Everything screamed wealth and power.

They emerged into a private garden. Lady Cassandra Vermillion sat at a small table beneath a flowering tree, pouring tea from a silver pot.

She looked up as Aegis approached.

Lady Cassandra was maybe fifty, with auburn hair streaked with grey and eyes like chips of amber. Her dress was simple but expensive, the kind of understated elegance that came from never having to prove anything to anyone.

"Miss Starcaller." Her voice was smooth, cultured. "Please, sit."

Aegis sat.

Lady Cassandra pushed a teacup across the table.

"Sugar? Cream?"

"Just tea, thank you."

"Practical. I appreciate that."

Lady Cassandra stirred her own tea slowly, studying Aegis over the rim of her cup.

"So. You’re the commoner everyone’s talking about."

"I try to keep a low profile."

"Do you?" Lady Cassandra smiled. "Perfect entrance exam scores. Saved Lady Roseheart from an assassin. Starred in a highly controversial, yet successful, play. And now you’re entering the Winter Trials."

She set her cup down.

"Tell me, Miss Starcaller—what do you want?"

Aegis met her gaze.

This was it.

Time to perform.

"What I want, Lady Cassandra, is to be the investment you brag about for the next fifty years." Aegis leaned forward, her voice steady and sharp. "You’ve heard the stories. Perfect scores. Yes. An assassination stopped. True. A scandalous play that had the entire academy talking. Absolutely. But those aren’t accidents. Those aren’t luck."

Lady Cassandra’s teacup paused halfway to her lips.

"I came to Rosevale Academy with nothing," Aegis continued. "No family name. No inheritance. No connections. Just raw talent and the absolute certainty that I could turn it into something extraordinary." She spread her hands. "And I did. In three months, I went from scholarship trash to the most talked-about student in the academy. Not through tricks. Not through favors. Through pure, undeniable competence."

"Bold words—"

"Facts, Lady Cassandra. Not words." Aegis didn’t let her finish. "You want someone unpolished but brilliant. Someone hungry. Someone who will fight tooth and nail to justify your investment because their success is your success." She leaned back, casual now, confident. "Every other candidate you’re considering? They’re hedging bets. Playing it safe. Hoping for a comfortable outcome. I’m not here for comfortable. I’m here to win."

Lady Cassandra set her cup down.

"And what makes you think you can?"

"Because I’ve already beaten every obstacle put in front of me. Nobles tried to humiliate me. I turned it into social currency. Assassins tried to kill people around me. I stopped them. My own professors doubted I belonged here. I proved them wrong." Aegis’s voice dropped, intense. "The Winter Trials are just the next step. And when I win—not if, when—you’ll have your name attached to the commoner who shattered every expectation and rebuilt the social order from the ground up."

The garden went quiet except for birdsong and the distant sound of fountain water.

Lady Cassandra’s amber eyes studied her.

"You speak as if victory is already yours."

"Because it is. I just haven’t collected it yet."

"Confidence without skill is arrogance."

"Then watch tomorrow and decide which one I have." Aegis held her gaze. "You’ve sponsored commoners before. Some succeeded. Most failed. The difference? They were grateful for the opportunity. I’m going to make you grateful you gave it to me."

Lady Cassandra’s lips twitched. Almost a smile.

"Ambitious doesn’t begin to cover what I’m hearing."

"Ambition is the floor, Lady Cassandra. Excellence is the ceiling. I’m aiming for the ceiling."

"Even knowing that failure from that height would destroy you?"

"Failure isn’t on the table."

Lady Cassandra laughed. Sharp and genuine.

"You certainly have a performer’s gift for words." She picked up her tea again. "Very well. Win your first match. Convincingly. Show me this competence you speak of so highly."

"Just one match?"

"I do not expect you to win the entire tournament, darling. That would be unreasonable for someone of your... background." Her smile was calculating. "But impress me in the first round, and we’ll discuss more substantial terms. Fail, and there are other candidates waiting."

Aegis stood, bowing slightly.

"Then prepare to be impressed, Lady Cassandra. Because I don’t do anything halfway."

"We’ll see." Lady Cassandra stood as well. "The Winter Trials begin tomorrow. I’ll be watching."

"Good. You won’t want to miss this."

The servant appeared to escort Aegis out. As they walked back through the halls, Aegis caught sight of someone entering through the main entrance.

Darius Goldspire.

Their eyes met.

He smirked, adjusting his coat.

"May the best fighter win, Starcaller."

"Oh, I will."

His smirk widened.

"We’ll see."

He walked past her toward the garden.

[Of course he’s here too. Bastard’s hedging his bets.]

Aegis left the estate, her mind already racing ahead to tomorrow.

---

Evening settled over the academy. Aegis wandered the halls, too restless to sit still.

Music drifted from one of the practice rooms. Liora’s voice, clear and bright.

Aegis pushed the door open.

Liora stood by the window, eyes closed, singing some old Valdrian folk song about lovers separated by war. Her voice rose and fell with practiced ease.

She finished the verse and opened her eyes.

"Aegis. I didn’t hear you come in."

"Didn’t want to interrupt."

"You’re always welcome." Liora gestured to the piano bench. "Want to try a duet?"

"I’m still terrible."

"You’re improving."

Aegis sat beside her. Liora played a simple melody, humming along. Aegis joined in, her voice nowhere near Liora’s level but not completely embarrassing either.

They harmonized on the chorus. Liora’s fingers moved across the keys with fluid grace. Aegis watched her profile—the curve of her jaw, the concentration in her eyes.

The song ended.

Liora’s hands stilled on the keys.

"Serilla’s been leaving me alone lately."

Aegis blinked at the sudden shift.

"Yeah?"

"It’s strange. She’s barely looked at me all week." Liora turned to face her. "What did you do?"

"Nothing."

"Aegis."

"I just... gave her something else to think about."

Liora’s eyes narrowed, then widened.

"You didn’t."

"I did."

"With Serilla?"

"Yep."

Liora stared at her for a long moment. Then she laughed, soft and surprised.

"Of course you did."

"You sound almost relieved."

"I am, a little." Liora’s smile faded. "I do like her, you know. Serilla. She wasn’t always like this. When we were younger, she was sweet. Thoughtful."

"What changed?"

"I don’t know. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything." Liora’s fingers traced idle patterns on the piano keys. "Talia’s been talking to me more though. That’s nice."

"Good."

"I just wish Serilla could be more like you."

Aegis snorted.

"Lune says we’re already a lot alike."

"Really?"

"That’s what she claims. I don’t see it."

Liora studied her.

"Maybe you’re more similar than you think."

Before Aegis could respond, Liora leaned in and kissed her.

Her lips were soft, tasting faintly of honey tea. Aegis kissed back, one hand sliding to Liora’s waist. Liora’s fingers tangled in silver hair, pulling her closer.

They broke apart, breathing hard.

"I needed that," Liora whispered.

"Anytime."

They kissed again, slower this time. Liora’s body pressed against hers, warm and solid. Aegis’s mind wandered despite herself—to Serilla, to Talia, to the tangled web of relationships she’d somehow woven.

[Maybe I can help steer Serilla in the right direction.]

The thought lingered as Liora’s tongue swept into her mouth.

---

Aegis lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling.

Lune’s soft breathing filled the room. Outside, the academy grounds were quiet.

Tomorrow, the Winter Trials would begin. Tomorrow, she’d step into the arena and fight for everything she’d been working toward.

A noble title.

A future with Talia.

A life she actually wanted.

Her fists clenched beneath the blanket.

She’d fought assassins, navigated noble politics, learned forbidden magic, and somehow managed not to get herself killed.

One tournament. That’s all that stood between her and the next step.

Aegis closed her eyes.

[Let’s fucking do this.]