CHAPTER 52: STAGE PRESENCE 2

Aegis found Liora near the fountain courtyard, locked in what looked like an uncomfortable conversation with Princess Talia Stone herself. The princess stood too close with one hand on Liora’s shoulder, speaking quietly.

[Well, this is interesting.]

Aegis knew a juicy story where she saw one and this had all the makings.

Talia spotted Aegis first. Her yellow eyes narrowed to slits, and she immediately stepped away from Liora like she’d been burned.

"Starcaller."

"Princess." Aegis gave a mock curtsy. "Fancy seeing you here."

"I was just leaving." Talia spun on her heel and stalked off, black hair whipping behind her.

Liora watched her go with an expression Aegis couldn’t quite read. Relief? Disappointment? Both?

"Everything okay?" Aegis settled onto the fountain’s edge beside her.

"Oh! Yes, fine." Liora tucked a strand of honey-blonde hair behind her ear. "Talia was just... chatting."

"About?"

"Nothing important."

The deflection was obvious, but Aegis let it slide. She had bigger fish to fry.

"So, heard any interesting rumors lately?"

Liora’s cheeks went pink.

"You mean about the play?"

"What play?" Aegis feigned innocence.

"Don’t tease me." Liora fidgeted with her skirt. "Everyone’s talking about it. A romantic drama about Queen Rosanna."

"And?"

"And supposedly they need actresses who can portray a convincing romance."

"Sounds exciting." Aegis scooted closer. "You thinking about auditioning?"

"Me? No, I couldn’t possibly."

"Why not?"

"Because I’m not an actress! I sing, I don’t... act."

"Acting is just singing with your whole body." Aegis bumped their shoulders together. "Besides, you’d make a perfect Queen Rosanna."

Liora’s blush deepened.

"You don’t even know if the play is real."

"What if I told you it was?"

Liora paused.

"Is it?"

"Professor Loralei confirmed it to me herself." Aegis lowered her voice conspiratorially. "She’s trying to convince the Headmistress to approve it. But she needs committed actresses first."

[And a bit of buzz, but we’re already taking care of that part.]

"Oh." Liora looked down at her hands. "I still don’t think I could do it."

"Not even if I auditioned with you?"

Liora’s head snapped up.

"You’d audition?"

"For the right partner." Aegis let that hang in the air. "Think about it. We already have chemistry from our singing lessons. We work well together."

"That’s different from pretending to be in love onstage!"

"Is it though?" Aegis stood, offering her hand. "Come on. Let’s grab lunch and you can tell me all the reasons you definitely shouldn’t audition while secretly wanting to."

Liora stared at the offered hand for a long moment before taking it.

"You’re relentless."

"I prefer ’persuasive.’"

---

Over the next three days, the play rumors spread like wildfire.

What started as whispers became full-blown speculation. Students debated casting choices over meals. Nobles gossiped about the scandalous content. Even professors seemed intrigued.

Aegis fanned the flames wherever she could.

"I heard the kiss scene lasts a full minute," she mentioned casually in Magical Theory.

"Someone told me they’re using real period costumes," she added during Combat Fundamentals.

"Apparently the script is based on Rosanna’s actual diary," she whispered in Political Intrigue.

Each tidbit got embellished and passed along until the entire academy buzzed with anticipation for a play that didn’t officially exist yet.

Liora cracked on day two.

"Fine!" She burst into Aegis’s dorm room without knocking. "I’ll audition! But only because everyone keeps asking if I will and I’m tired of saying no!"

Aegis looked up from her textbook, hiding her grin.

"That’s great! When did you decide?"

"Just now! After the fifth person today asked if I was going to be Queen Rosanna!" Liora paced the small room. "This is your fault!"

"How is it my fault?"

"You started those rumors!"

"I would never." Aegis pressed a hand to her chest. "I’m offended you’d even suggest it."

"Don’t lie to me, Aegis Starcaller!" Liora pointed accusingly. "Miheyra said you told her about the period costumes!"

"Pure coincidence."

"And Ellis said you mentioned the diary!"

"He must have misheard."

"And Tam-"

"Okay, okay." Aegis held up her hands. "Maybe I mentioned a few things. But only because I knew you’d be perfect for the role!"

Liora deflated slightly.

"You really think so?"

"I know so." Aegis stood and took Liora’s hands. "You’re talented, beautiful, and you actually understand music. Who else could play Valdria’s most beloved queen?"

"But the romance scenes..."

"We’ll practice." The words slipped out before Aegis could stop them.

Liora’s eyes went wide.

"Practice?"

[Shit. Too forward.]

"I mean, if you want. Just to get comfortable with the idea."

"I... maybe." Liora pulled her hands free. "Let me think about it."

She fled before Aegis could respond.

[Two steps forward, one step back. But progress is progress.]

---

On the morning of day four, Professor Loralei swept into Aegis’s first class like a hurricane.

"Darling! My conspirator! The time has come!"

Students stared as the blue-haired professor grabbed Aegis’s arm and hauled her from her seat.

"Professor, class just started-"

"Art waits for no schedule!" Loralei declared. "Professor Nazraya, I’m borrowing your student! Urgent theatrical emergency!"

Nazraya looked up from her tome with barely concealed amusement.

"By all means. Though do try to return her in one piece."

[What, so you can break me later yourself instead?]

"No promises!"

Loralei dragged Aegis into the hallway, floating three feet off the ground in her excitement.

"The student body is in an uproar! The rumor mill churns! The board has taken notice!" She spun midair. "You’ve done it, clever girl! Now we strike while the iron burns!"

"We’re going to see the Headmistress?"

"This very instant! I’ve prepared a seventeen-page proposal detailing the cultural and educational benefits of theatrical productions!"

"Seventeen pages?"

"Plus appendices!" Loralei zoomed ahead. "Hurry! Valdris only has thirty minutes between meetings!"

They arrived at the Headmistress’s office breathless (well, Aegis was breathless. Loralei hadn’t touched the ground the entire way).

The ancient oak door loomed before them.

"Ready?" Loralei asked.

"As I’ll ever be."

Loralei knocked with theatrical flair.

"Headmistress! Your humble servants seek audience!"

"Enter." Valdris’s voice carried through the wood.

The office hadn’t changed since Aegis’s last visit. Same towering bookshelves, same massive desk, same intimidating woman behind it.

Headmistress Valdris looked up from her paperwork, silver hair gleaming.

"Professor Loralei. Miss Starcaller. What brings you here?"

"Art!" Loralei exclaimed. "Drama! The very soul of creative expression!"

"Be more specific."

"The play, Headmistress." Aegis stepped forward. "The one you wrote about Queen Rosanna."

Valdris’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in her eyes.

"And what would you know about that?"

"I know the entire student body is desperate to see it." Aegis pulled out a rolled parchment. "I took the liberty of collecting signatures."

She unfurled the paper. Names covered every inch, from first-years to seniors, commoners to nobles.

"Four hundred and thirty-seven students have expressed interest." Aegis set the parchment on Valdris’s desk. "That’s over half the academy."

"Including several house heirs!" Loralei added. "Lady Roseheart herself asked when auditions would be held!"

Valdris studied the signatures.

"You orchestrated this."

"I may have mentioned the play to a few people." Aegis kept her expression innocent.

"A few." Valdris’s tone was dry as dust. "And I suppose the wild rumors about nude scenes and forbidden romance also came from these ’few mentions’?"

[So she heard of all that?]

"Rumors do tend to grow in the telling."

"Indeed." Valdris leaned back. "You realize the board has rejected this proposal three times? This is my play, Aegis. Obviously, I’ve tried to get it approved before."

"But they’ve never had student support before," Aegis countered. "Half the academy wants this play. Wouldn’t it be politically wise to give them what they want?"

"Especially with the Spring Festival approaching!" Loralei swooped around the desk. "Imagine the publicity! Rosevale Academy, fostering the next generation of artists!"

"The board cares nothing for publicity."

"They care about donations though." Aegis played her trump card. "Several noble families have expressed interest in sponsoring the production. Lord Silvermont offered to fund the entire costume budget."

That was technically true. She’d overheard him mention it. The fact that he’d been deeply drunk at the time was irrelevant.

Valdris was quiet for a long moment.

"You’re asking me to risk my reputation on teenage theatrics."

"We’re asking you to trust us," Aegis said simply. "Give us one chance. If it fails, we’ll never bring it up again."

Valdris paused. She damn near stared a hole through Aegis’s skull.

"One chance." Valdris tapped her fingers on the desk. "Very well."

Loralei squealed. Actually squealed.

"But." Valdris held up a hand. "There will be conditions. No nudity, for one. I don’t know how those rumors started, but no."

[Aw.]

"Of course!" Loralei spun in circles. "It will be art! Pure, beautiful art!"

"Furthermore, you’ll need a faculty advisor to ensure propriety."

"I volunteer!" Loralei raised both hands.

"Someone else." Valdris’s tone brooked no argument. "Professor Whittles, perhaps."

Loralei’s face fell.

"That dusty traditionalist?"

"He has experience with historical dramas."

"He has experience with being boring!"

"Professor." Aegis nudged her. "We’ll take any advisor. Right?"

"...Right." Loralei deflated slightly. "Even Whittles."

"Excellent." Valdris pulled out a fresh parchment. "I’ll draw up the authorization. Auditions can begin next week."

"Next week!" Loralei perked up again. "So much to prepare! Scripts to copy! Stages to set!"

She zoomed toward the door, then spun back.

"Come, Aegis! We have work to do!"

"Thank you, Headmistress." Aegis bowed quickly before Loralei could drag her out again.

Valdris watched them go with something almost like amusement.

"Miss Starcaller?"

Aegis paused at the door.

"Yes?"

Valdris smiled.

"Well played."

The approval in those two words made Aegis grin all the way back to class.

[Mission accomplished. Now to make sure Liora and I get those lead roles.]