CHAPTER 94: SHOPPING

The Great Hall looked like someone had dumped a jewelry box and a weapons catalog into a blender and hit ’pretentious.’

Nobles crowded every available space, their house colors clashing in ways that probably violated several treaties. Military brass rubbed shoulders with merchant princes. Court mages tried to out-mysterious each other with increasingly dramatic robes. The air reeked of fifteen different perfumes all declaring war on each other.

Aegis loved it.

"Look at them," she said to Lune, who was trying to become one with the wall. "Like peacocks. But with worse fashion sense and more money."

"They’re evaluating us for potential sponsorships."

"They’re shopping. We’re the merchandise." Aegis straightened her uniform, making sure just enough cleavage showed to be scandalous but not enough to be expelled. "Might as well give them a show."

Across the hall, Scarlett had three military officials transfixed. She was bench-pressing what looked like a small tree trunk while explaining tactical theory. Every lift made her uniform strain in ways that had two of the officers forgetting their own names.

"—and THAT is why flanking maneuvers require absolute muscle control," Scarlett said, not even breathing hard. "Want me to demonstrate the grip strength needed for proper sword retention?"

One officer dropped his wine glass.

Aegis grinned. Her girl knew how to work a crowd.

Lune soon had attracted her own audience. Three representatives from various artistic troupes surrounded her, examining her paintings with the kind of intensity usually reserved for ancient artifacts or particularly good cheese.

"The shadow motifs," one murmured. "They move when you’re not looking directly at them."

"Brilliant! A commentary on the instability of perception!"

"...sure." Lune shrugged.

Talia stood near the refreshment table, surrounded by no less than eight nobles all trying to look like they weren’t desperately vying for her attention. She looked ready to commit murder. Specifically, Serilla-focused murder, since the pink-haired girl was currently demonstrating some kind of flexibility routine that had attracted every single one of Talia’s previous admirers plus twelve more.

"Is she doing the splits on a refreshment table?" Aegis asked.

"While juggling," Lune confirmed.

"Wow."

A throat cleared behind them. Aegis turned to find a woman in Duskbane colors—one of Varyn’s aunts, probably. She had the same sharp features and the same expression of someone who’d smelled something unfortunate but was too polite to mention it.

"Miss Starcaller. I’ve heard so much about you."

"All terrible, I hope."

The woman gave her a tight smile.

"My nephew speaks highly of your... creative approaches to academia."

"That’s sweet. I didn’t know Varyn could speak highly of anything that wasn’t his own reflection."

"Perhaps we could discuss your future over tea sometime. I’m sure we could find some mutually beneficial arrangement."

Translation: join us or we’ll destroy you.

"I’m flattered, truly." Aegis put a hand over her heart. "But I’m afraid I’m allergic to tea. And arrangements. And benefits that require me to sell my soul."

The woman’s eye twitched.

"You’re quite bold for a commoner."

Before Aegis could respond, which was probably a good thing since she was very likely about to be too snarky for her own good, Dean Whitmore’s voice boomed across the hall.

"Students and guests! Classes will resume momentarily. Please proceed to your assigned observations."

The crowd began moving. Aegis caught Scarlett’s eye across the room and winked. Scarlett flexed in response, which made one of the military officers walk into a pillar.

[Good times. Almost feels like the calm before the storm, but whatever, I’ll take it.]

---

Political Intrigue was about to get interesting.

The classroom felt smaller with two dozen nobles lining the walls like particularly judgmental wallpaper.

Aegis dropped into her usual seat. Three seconds later, Serilla materialized next to her, sliding into her own chair.

"Darling," Serilla purred. "Miss me?"

"Like a bad rash."

"So you’ve been thinking about me constantly and desperately want me back once you realized it was fun to scratch me?"

"More like I’ve been thinking about ways to help Talia get rid of you that won’t leave evidence."

"Romantic~"

Obviously, Aegis knew Serilla was trying to get into her head, but... somehow... Their banter had become routine.

Comfortable, almost. Which was probably why Aegis didn’t trust it.

[This girl isn’t from the original game, so I don’t really have a way of predicting what she’s really after. I mean, I doubt her plans will just stop if she manages to take Liora away.]

Duchess Valemont swept in, her teaching robes somehow both academic and threatening. The nobles straightened. Even Serilla stopped examining her nails long enough to pay attention.

"Today," Valemont announced, "we begin our partnered presentations on historical political marriages and their societal impacts."

Talia’s knuckles went white. Understandably, given that she was about to be included in the next edition of this particular history book.

"Partners have been assigned based on complementary skill sets and maximum educational benefit."

Translation: I’ve paired you with whoever will cause the most drama.

"Stone and Vale."

Talia’s eyes widened. Liora looked relieved. Neither of them expected that one.

"Duskbane and Goldspire."

Varyn’s face did something interesting. Like he’d bitten into a lemon while someone kicked him in the shins. He was probably hoping to get paired with Talia, if only to continue getting in her good graces.

And then...

"Starcaller and Frost."

Aegis blinked.

Aegis turned to look at Serilla, who was already looking at her with an expression of absolute delight.

"Well," Serilla said. "Isn’t this interesting?"

"That’s one word for it."

"We could do the Thornberry Alliance. Lots of political maneuvering. Even more creative bedroom negotiations."

"We could do the Treaty of Silver Peaks. Less bedroom, more backstabbing."

"Why not both?" Serilla’s smile could have powered a small city. "I’m down for whatever, to be honest."

From across the room, Talia glared back at Aegis like she was saying "you absolutely better hate every single second of this or you’re dead to me."

Liora was trying to calm her down, but Talia looked about thirty seconds from challenging Serilla to a duel. Or just setting her on fire. Possibly both.

"Topics must be submitted by end of class," Valemont continued. "Presentations begin next week. Points will be awarded for accuracy, insight, and dramatic presentation."

"Dramatic presentation?" Aegis muttered.

"She means costumes," Serilla said. "Period-appropriate dress. I already have ideas."

"Of course you do."

"Picture it," Serilla scooted even closer somehow, throwing an arm around Aegis’s back. "You in the traditional military uniform of the Northern Campaigns. All those buckles and straps. The way those pants would fit—"

"Focus."

"I am focused. On how your ass would look in historical military dress."

"Frost." Talia’s voice cut across the classroom. "Perhaps you could save your perverted fantasies for your own time?"

Serilla turned in her seat, smile sharp enough to draw blood.

"Jealous, Princess? I’d offer to share my fantasies, but I don’t think you could handle them. Though Liora certainly seemed interested in handling them yesterday in the supply closet—"

Talia’s hand erupted in flames.

"ENOUGH." Valemont’s voice could have frozen hell. "Stone, extinguish yourself. Frost, cease your provocations. Anyone who disrupts my class again will find themselves explaining to their sponsors why they’re scrubbing chamber pots for the next month."

The flames died. Serilla turned back around, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

"You’re going to get murdered," Aegis said quietly.

"Perhaps, but what a way to go, right?"

Aegis looked over at Serilla, stunned.

[Wait that’s MY thing!!!]

She remembered what Lune had said.

"You two are a lot alike, actually."

Aegis shivered.

Serilla pulled out a piece of parchment.

"Now, about our project. I was thinking we could explore the marriage between Queen Rosanna and her mysterious consort."

"Her what now?"

"Oh, didn’t you know?" Serilla’s eyes glittered. "Our founding queen had a secret lover. Someone she kept hidden from all historical records. But there are hints. Little clues in her private writings."

[... If it’s about Queen Rosanna, I could probably just ask her myself, right? This might not be a bad idea.]

"Where did you hear this?"

"I have my sources." Serilla leaned closer. Close enough that Aegis could smell her perfume—something expensive with notes of jasmine. "The real question is, are you interested in finding out more?"

Aegis looked at her. Really looked at her.

"Fine," Aegis said. "But we do actual research. No making things up for drama."

"Darling, I never make things up." Serilla’s smile widened. "I just creatively interpret facts. There’s a difference."

"Is there though?"

"You’ll see." She stood, straightening her uniform. "Meet me in the restricted section tonight. Midnight."

"Why midnight?"

"Because that’s when the interesting books come out to play."

She walked away, hips swaying. Three nobles followed her movement like hypnotized chickens. One walked into a wall.

Talia appeared at Aegis’s desk the moment Serilla left.

"Don’t trust her."

"I don’t trust anyone who can do the splits on a refreshment table."

"I’m serious." Talia’s yellow eyes blazed. "She’s planning something."

"I know."

Talia grabbed Aegis’s wrist anyway. Aegis looked into her amber-colored eyes.

"Promise me you’ll be careful."

[... Is she actually suggesting I should be safe, or...?]

"Worried about me, Princess?"

"Shut up." But Talia didn’t let go. "Just... watch yourself."

"I always do."

Valemont’s voice cut through whatever was about to happen next.

"Class dismissed. Topics on my desk before you leave."

The nobles began filing out, chattering about what they’d observed. Several were already making offers to various students. One was trying to poach Scarlett for his private guard. She was pretending not to understand Common while flexing.

Aegis grabbed her things, very aware of Talia’s eyes on her back. Of Serilla’s perfume still lingering in the air. Of the way her uniform suddenly felt too tight.

Midnight in the restricted section.

What could possibly go wrong?