CHAPTER 56: STAGE PRESENCE 6

[I’ve literally met Rosanna. In person. Multiple times. Had tea with her ghost. Learned how to walk from her. Theoretically, I should be the favorite to get this role.]

Aegis stood center stage, script forgotten in her hand. The auditorium lights made everything beyond the first row disappear into shadow.

Good. It was probably better that she didn’t see any faces as she did this.

[But they want Queen Rosanna the legend. Not Queen Rosanna the woman who told me she once fucked a maid during her own coronation ball.]

"Which scene, dear?" Professor Loralei called out.

"Act Four. The final monologue."

Murmurs from the audience. That was the hardest scene. Rosanna’s death speech, where she passes her crown to her successor while bleeding out from an assassin’s blade.

[Is that how she actually died? Might be worth it to ask her later.]

"Bold choice!" Professor Loralei clapped. "Begin when ready!"

Aegis closed her eyes. When she opened them, she let everything she’d learned from the real Rosanna flow through her.

She didn’t project her voice. She let it carry naturally, the way Rosanna spoke on that tower. That quiet confidence that naturally made people want to listen.

"You want to know the secret to power?"

She walked to the edge of the stage. Not Talia’s predatory prowl or Liora’s flowing grace. She moved like she was already dead and had nothing left to prove.

"It’s not strength. The strongest knight in my guard couldn’t unite two farmers, let alone a kingdom." A soft laugh. "It’s not intelligence either. I’ve met brilliant fools who could recite every law while their people starved."

She touched her stomach where the imaginary wound would be. No dramatic clutching. Just a light press, like checking if her dress was still clean.

"The secret is this: make them want what you want."

Aegis sat on the stage edge, legs dangling. Completely improper for a queen.

Exactly what Rosanna would do in a private conversation, or in a situation where being proper no longer matters (like bleeding out from a stab wound).

"I was born with nothing. A farmer’s daughter who learned to read by stealing books. The nobles laughed when I took the throne. A commoner playing dress-up, they said."

She looked directly at where she knew Talia sat.

"So I made them need me. Every trade route, every alliance, every tax law. I wove myself into the fabric of this kingdom until removing me would mean removing Valdria itself."

Her voice dropped lower. More intimate. Like she was sharing gossip at a tavern, not giving a death speech.

"But here’s what the history books won’t tell you." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "I didn’t do it through noble sacrifice or pure intentions. I did it through carefully orchestrated seduction."

Someone in the audience gasped. This definitely wasn’t in the script.

"Not just sexual, though there was plenty of that." A wicked smile. "I seduced their ambitions. Their fears. Their desperate need to matter. I made every noble believe supporting me was their idea. Every merchant thought our friendship was special. Every general assumed I favored their counsel above all others."

She stood slowly, swaying slightly like the blood loss was finally hitting.

"I was fifty different women to fifty different people. The virgin queen to the clergy. The warrior queen to the army. The mother queen to the common folk. None of it was false, but none of it was complete either."

Aegis looked at her hands like she could see through them.

"You want to know the real tragedy? I was so busy being everyone’s queen that I forgot to be anyone’s person. I have lovers but no love. Allies but no friends. A kingdom but no home."

She laughed. Not bitter, just tired.

"So take my crown, child. Wear it better than I did. But remember this, power isn’t about being strong or smart or even charismatic. It’s about being empty enough that everyone can pour their dreams into you and see their own reflection."

She fell to her knees. Not a dramatic collapse, just her legs giving out.

"I united Valdria by becoming Valdria. And now, as I die, I realize... I have no idea who I actually am."

Aegis touched the stage floor gently.

"Funny, isn’t it? The most powerful woman in history, and I’m dying a stranger to myself."

She went still.

The auditorium was silent for ten full seconds.

Then Professor Loralei burst into tears. Ugly, sobbing tears that echoed through the space.

"That was... that wasn’t even the script but it was... oh my stars..."

Aegis hid a smile.

[... I did good here, didn’t I?]

Scattered applause started, building into something bigger. But Aegis caught the important reactions. Professor Whittles looked disturbed. Talia stared like she’d seen a ghost. Liora had her hand over her mouth.

[Maybe I showed too much of the real Rosanna. She might be embarrassed when I tell her about this. But oh well.]

"Thank you," Aegis said, standing and bowing. "That’s my interpretation."

She walked off stage quickly, not wanting to answer questions about where that performance came from.

Lune glanced at her as she sat down.

"That was different."

"Good different or bad different?"

"I don’t know." Lune shrugged. "But certainly different."

[Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.]

More auditions followed. Some noble boy murdered the Duke’s monologue. Ellis from her study group did surprisingly well as the narrator. A few more Rosannas, though none came close to Talia, Liora, or whatever the hell Aegis had just done.

"That was fucking crazy, Mouse," Scarlett whispered. "You okay?"

"Just method acting."

"Method acting my ass. That sounded like a whole confession!"

[Heh, except it wasn’t my confession.]

"Memorable, though."

"Extremely."

---

Three hours later, they gathered in the main hall for casting announcements.

The entire academy showed up, even students who hadn’t auditioned. Suddenly, this play had become the event of the semester.

Professor Loralei floated above the crowd, holding a scroll that sparkled with unnecessary magical effects.

"My dear thespians! After much deliberation, we have our cast!"

She began with the minor roles. Ellis got narrator. Miheyra would play the fortune teller. Various nobles and commoners filled out the court and army roles.

"Captain Steele, the loyal knight, Scarlett Lionheart!"

Scarlett whooped so loud several people covered their ears.

"Fuck yeah! I mean—thank you, Professor!"

"Lord Blackthorne, the primary antagonist, Varyn Duskbane!"

Varyn smirked from across the hall. At least he’d have an excuse to be a villain on stage now.

[No doubt there’s gonna be some fuckery on his behalf.]

"Lady Catherine, the court advisor, Lune Solana!"

Lune nodded quietly. A minor role, but she didn’t look disappointed. If anything, she looked relieved.

"Lady Margarina, Queen Rosanna’s childhood friend, Liora Vale!"

The hall murmured. Liora? In such a small role? Lady Margarina appeared in like four scenes and died in Act Two. Aegis watched Liora’s face fall slightly before she forced a smile.

[Wait. If Liora’s playing a minor character, then who’s—]

Talia stood rigid beside Liora, her yellow eyes widening with dawning horror.

[Oh no.]

"And now, for our leads..."

The hall went quiet.

Aegis’s brows shot up.

"The role of Queen Rosanna herself, Princess Talia Stone!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

A princess playing the commoner queen? Sure, it was the role she wanted, but the political implications alone would fuel gossip for weeks. But Talia barely reacted to the applause. Her gaze darted around the room, searching.

"And finally, the role of Lady Elara, Rosanna’s lover and the woman who helps her unite the kingdom—"

[Oh, god. Oh fuck.]

"Aegis Starcaller!"

The hall erupted.

[FUCK.]

Students shouted over each other.

A commoner as the romantic lead opposite Princess Talia? The same commoner who’d embarrassed half the noble houses since arriving?

Aegis’s eyes found Talia’s across the crowd. The princess looked like someone had just told her she’d have to eat commoner food for a month. Her hands clenched at her sides, knuckles white.

Liora stood between them, looking back and forth, just as shocked.

"But wait!" Professor Loralei raised her hand. "Due to Professor Whittles’s suggestions, we’ve added several new scenes to enhance the romantic tension!"

[Oh no.]

"Including an extended love scene in Act One where Lady Elara seduces the young queen!"

[Oh NO.]

"A passionate reconciliation in Act Two after their political falling out!"

[Please stop talking.]

"And the grand finale—a minute-long kiss as Rosanna passes her crown to Elara, making her the new queen!"

She was giving the crowd a spoiler, but Aegis had a feeling Loralei knew what she was doing. That kiss? The marketing for the show was basically done already.

The entire hall turned to stare at Aegis and Talia.

[A minute. I have to kiss Talia for a full minute. In front of everyone. Including Liora, who I know for a fact was tongue-deep in Talia’s mouth this morning.]

"Rehearsals start tomorrow!" Professor Loralei announced. "Bring your passion! Bring your dedication! Bring your souls ready to bare!"

[So let me get this straight. Liora has to watch me seduce her secret girlfriend for two and a half acts, then she gets to die in Talia’s arms while I probably make out with someone else.]

Scarlett slapped Aegis on the back so hard she nearly fell over.

"Holy shit, Mouse."

[Holy shit indeed. This is a disaster.]