CHAPTER 68: STAGE PRESENCE 18

The academy dining hall had been transformed in record time.

Gone were the long tables where students choked down porridge each morning. Instead, round tables draped in blue silk dotted the space, while magical lights drifted through the air like floating, glowing jellyfish.

The faculty had gone all out for the cast party.

Aegis sipped from a glass of sweet wine as her eyes scanned the room. Everyone who mattered was here. Professors mingling with nobles, cast members accepting congratulations, and in the center of it all, Talia Stone, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else.

[Perfect. Exactly where I want her.]

Aegis passed her empty glass to a servant and made her way across the room, pausing occasionally to accept praise from various faculty members.

"That last-minute adaptation was inspired!" Professor Loralei gushed, clutching Aegis’s arm. "Truly, you have the soul of an artist."

"Just following my muse," Aegis replied with a wink that made the professor fan herself dramatically.

As she approached Talia, she noticed the princess was trapped in conversation with some ancient noble whose jowls quivered as he talked. Talia’s smile was so fixed it looked painful.

Aegis slid up beside her, strategically positioning herself between Talia and the jowly noble.

"Excuse me, Lord..." Aegis paused, pretending she couldn’t remember his name.

"Baron Frostwell," the man huffed indignantly.

"Of course, how could I forget!" Aegis placed a hand on his arm. "I just needed to borrow the princess for a moment. Director’s notes, you understand."

Before the baron could protest, Aegis whisked Talia away toward a quiet alcove near the dessert table.

"You’re welcome," Aegis said, grabbing two glasses of champagne from a passing tray and offering one to Talia.

Talia took it without a word, her yellow eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"What, no thank you?" Aegis leaned against the wall, taking a deliberate sip. "I just saved you from death by boredom."

"I could have handled it," Talia replied.

Aegis was stunned at how little bite there was to that.

She noticed something and said...

"Eh? Is that a smile I’m seeing you hold back?" Aegis nudged Talia’s shoulder playfully.

"It’s a grimace." Talia took a long drink. "I’m in pain from having to stand near you."

"Funny, that’s not what it looked like on stage when your tongue was halfway down my throat."

Talia choked on her champagne. A blush spread across her cheeks, and for a moment, Aegis thought the princess might actually dump her drink on her head.

Instead, Talia scoffed. It was short and surprised, like she’d startled herself with what was almost a laugh, but it was genuine.

"You are the most infuriating person I’ve ever met," Talia said.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

"You would."

They stood in surprisingly comfortable silence for a moment, watching the crowd. Aegis spotted Liora across the room, chatting with Lady Roseheart. As if sensing Aegis’s gaze, Liora looked up and gave a small wave.

"Your girlfriend looks lovely tonight," Aegis commented.

Talia’s head snapped toward her.

"What did you say?"

"Liora. Looks lovely in that blue dress."

"How did you—" Talia’s eyes widened, then narrowed again. "We’re not... she’s not my..."

"Save it, princess." Aegis took another sip of champagne. "I’ve seen you two making out in the music practice rooms."

"You were spying on us?" Talia hissed.

"I was looking for Liora for a singing lesson." Aegis grinned. "Got quite the education instead."

Talia’s fingers tightened around her glass.

"If you tell anyone—"

"Relax." Aegis raised her free hand. "Your secret’s safe with me. Though after today’s performance, people may have the wrong secret in mind."

Talia glanced around nervously.

"Everyone thinks we were acting," Aegis assured her. "That’s the beauty of theater. All the things you’re afraid to do in real life? Just call it a performance."

"I need another drink," Talia said, her throat suddenly dry.

"Say no more. I’ll fetch us something stronger than this fancy water." Aegis winked and sauntered off toward the refreshment table, leaving Talia alone with her thoughts.

---

{Talia}

Talia downed the rest of her champagne in one gulp. Her lips still tingled from that damned kiss on stage. Three kisses, actually. She’d counted. Each one more intense than the last.

Her soul almost left her body when her mother pretty much manifested beside her.

"Darling," her mother said, voice dripping with that soul-rending, practiced political warmth. "You were magnificent tonight."

[Magnificent? Big talk from the one who tried to stop the play from happening.]

"You hated every second."

"I never said that."

"You didn’t have to. You tried to shut down the entire production."

Her mother’s smile remained fixed, though her eyes narrowed slightly.

"I merely expressed concerns about certain... casting choices."

Talia knew exactly which "casting choice" her mother meant. She glanced across the room where Aegis was charming the wine server into giving her an entire bottle.

"Well, those concerns were clearly unfounded," Talia said, enjoying the flash of annoyance that crossed her mother’s face.

"We’ll discuss this later," Duchess Evangeline said. "For now, do try to mingle with the Countess’s son. He’s been asking about you all evening."

[Pass.]

Talia didn’t bother to respond as her mother glided away.

She had no interest in the Countess’s son, or any son for that matter. Her eyes drifted back to Aegis, who was now juggling two bottles of wine and navigating through the crowd with surprising grace.

"She’s something else, isn’t she?"

Talia nearly jumped. Liora had appeared at her side, a knowing smile on her face.

"She’s annoying," Talia muttered.

"Mhmm." Liora’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "That’s why you can’t stop staring at her."

"I wasn’t—"

"You were. It’s okay." Liora bumped her shoulder against Talia’s. "The play was amazing. You two had... chemistry."

Talia felt her cheeks flush.

"It’s called ’acting’. I’d like to think I’m good at it."

"Was it though?" Liora leaned closer, her voice dropping. "That kiss looked pretty real to me."

"Liora!"

"What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking." She took Talia’s empty glass and set it on a nearby table. "Besides, I wasn’t jealous. It was actually kind of... hot."

Talia blinked, suddenly very aware of how close Liora was standing.

"You’ve had too much to drink," she said.

"Not enough, actually." Liora’s fingers brushed against Talia’s wrist. "I was thinking we could go back to your room tonight. Celebrate privately."

Heat pooled in Talia’s stomach.

"That sounds... acceptable."

"And maybe..." Liora bit her lip, glancing toward Aegis who was now making her way back toward them. "Maybe we could invite a certain someone to join us."

[...]

"..."

Talia’s jaw dropped, her mind going blank for a second.

"You can’t be serious."

"Why not? Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it."

"I haven’t!"

Liora gave her a look.

"Fine, maybe once," Talia admitted. "But that doesn’t mean—"

"The kissing was great."

"So she’s a good kisser. So what?"

"She saved your life today," Liora reminded her as well.

"That’s not a reason to sleep with someone!"

"No, but it’s a good excuse."

Talia opened her mouth to argue further, but the words died on her lips as she caught sight of Aegis approaching, two bottles of Moonbloom wine clutched triumphantly in her hands.

"Ladies," Aegis said with that infuriating grin. "How are we doing?"

---

{Aegis}

Aegis threw an arm around each of them, the wine bottles clinking together as she pulled them into a tipsy huddle. Liora immediately melted against her side while Talia stiffened but, interestingly, didn’t pull away.

"I’ve liberated some wine," Aegis announced, holding up the bottles. "And I’ll have you know, the wine steward was very receptive to my charms."

"I’m sure he was," Liora giggled, her cheeks already flushed pink.

Aegis winked.

"And he said this particular vintage is best consumed somewhere more private than a stuffy faculty party."

Aegis nodded toward a group of elderly professors who were now attempting to dance to the string quartet’s increasingly desperate rendition of an old folk tune.

"I’m inclined to agree," Talia muttered, watching Professor Whittles swing his partner with such vigor her wig nearly flew off.

[DIALOGUE OPTIONS]

1. "What do you say we continue this celebration somewhere more private?" [FLIRT]

2. "Should we get some fresh air? It’s getting stuffy in here." [POLITE]

3. "I haven’t stopped thinking about that kiss since we left the stage." [BOLD]

"What do you say we continue this celebration somewhere more...intimate?" Aegis suggested, her voice dropping to a husky register. "My roommate’s out."

She wasn’t lying. Lune had, coincidentally, said she woudn’t be back at the dorm room tonight.

Talia and Liora exchanged a look that Aegis couldn’t quite decipher. There seemed to be an entire conversation happening in that single glance.

"What exactly are you suggesting, Starcaller?" Talia asked, her yellow eyes narrowing.

[DIALOGUE OPTIONS]

1. "I’m suggesting that I’ve been thinking about kissing you again since the curtain dropped. And I’ve been wondering if Liora’s lips taste as sweet as they look." [BOLD]

2. "Just some drinks and conversation away from all these stuffy nobles watching our every move." [HONEST]

3. "Whatever you two lovely ladies might be in the mood for..." [FLIRT]

[Bold it is.]

"I’m suggesting," Aegis said, leaning closer so her lips nearly brushed Talia’s ear, "that I’ve been thinking about kissing you again since the moment the curtain dropped. And I’ve been wondering if Liora’s lips taste as sweet as they look."

Talia’s breath caught audibly. Liora’s fingers tightened on Aegis’s waist.

"You’re far too shameless," Talia replied softly, looking away.

"Part of my charm," Aegis agreed.

Then, she got another notification.

ROUTE STATUS:

Near Completion (Talia & Liora Joint Route)

NEXT ACTION:

Physical Contact to Progress

Aegis glanced around the room.

Most of the guests were too preoccupied with their own conversations to notice three students huddled in a corner. The crowd provided just enough cover.

Kiss Talia, then Liora, right here in public [SPECIAL]

Suggest leaving first, then make your move [CAUTIOUS]

Build tension but wait until you’re alone [TACTICAL]

[Special option? Hell yes.]

Aegis turned to Talia first, her free hand coming up to cup the princess’s face. Talia’s eyes widened, but before she could protest, Aegis closed the distance between them.

This kiss was different from those on stage. Slower, more deliberate. She didn’t let it go on too long, but deepened it for just one or two seconds before stepping back.

When they broke apart, Talia looked dazed, her normally sharp eyes soft and unfocused.

Without missing a beat, Aegis turned to Liora, who was watching them with parted lips, wide eyes, and flushed cheeks. Unlike Talia, Liora met her halfway, rising on her tiptoes to press her mouth eagerly against Aegis’s.

Liora kissed like she sang, with passion and surprising confidence. Her fingers tangled in Aegis’s hair, pulling her closer.

When they separated, all three of them were breathing hard. Aegis could feel the heat radiating from Talia and Liora.

"Ladies," she said, taking one hand from both of them. "How about... we head back to my place?"

Talia almost immediately looked at Liora.

Liora looked back at Talia... and nodded.

Aegis grinned.

[Holy fuck.]