CHAPTER 103: HARD TRUTHS

Rosevale’s merchant district was having some kind of festival, which meant the streets were packed with people trying to sell things to other people who were also trying to sell things.

Economic ouroboros at its finest.

Aegis wandered through the chaos, fifty thousand gold burning a hole in her interdimensional pocket. She’d already bought three legendary weapons, two full armor sets, and enough potions to survive a small war. But none of that solved the actual problem.

[The hard truth is, Talia should probably just marry Darius.]

She stopped at a jeweler’s stall, examining rings she didn’t need while her brain chewed on the problem.

Nobles married without love all the time. It was basically their whole thing. Political alliances, economic benefits, producing heirs. Love was a luxury they couldn’t afford. Most people would probably consider Talia’s "situation" to be a sign of immaturity anyway.

[Marrying Darius is what Queen Rosanna would have done. It’s what most queens would do, no?]

The thought sat heavy in her chest. Rosanna, the best example Aegis could follow in her mind, had been practical above all else. She’d united a kingdom through strategic marriages, careful alliances, and occasionally murder. A woman like her wouldn’t have hesitated to marry for advantage.

[A woman like Talia wouldn’t hesitate either. So... why is she hesitating?]

"That ring would look lovely on you!"

The merchant’s voice jarred her from her thoughts. Aegis looked down at the ring she’d been unconsciously trying on—a simple silver band with a blue stone.

"How much?"

"For you? Special price! Only three thousand gold!"

"That’s robbery."

"That’s business!"

She put the ring back and kept walking.

Maybe the problem wasn’t just the marriage itself. Maybe it was what it represented.

[Talia giving up. Accepting that her life wasn’t her own. Becoming exactly what her mother wanted. But, what’s the alternative? She can’t just refuse forever.]

Indeed, in the game, she didn’t refuse Darius much at all. At this point and time, she was still a villain, and in the game, her relationship with Liora didn’t progress until the player made it progress, so she just kept pining after Liora from afar.

"Big sis!"

Aegis’s contemplation was violently interrupted by Sophie launching herself at her from behind. They went down in a tangle of limbs, Aegis barely managing to turn the fall into a controlled roll.

"Sophie, what the fuck—"

Sophie’s tongue was already in her mouth. This was just how Sophie said hello now, apparently.

They made out in the middle of the street for a solid thirty seconds while people politely stepped around them and whispered things.

When they finally broke apart, Vera was standing over them with her typical deadpan expression.

"You two are disgusting."

"You’re just jealous," Sophie said, still straddling Aegis.

"Of public indecency? Pass."

"It’s not indecent! We’re fully clothed!"

"Yeah, for now."

Sophie grinned.

"Well, if you insist—"

"No!" Aegis grabbed Sophie’s hands before she could start stripping. "Not in the street!"

"You’re no fun anymore."

"I was NEVER fun!"

"That’s not what you said last night."

"We didn’t see each other last night."

"Yes we did. In my dreams~"

"Sophie, please."

Sophie pouted but climbed off her. Aegis stood, brushing dirt off her new armor. The expensive armor she’d bought with Darius’s money. The irony wasn’t lost on her.

[Wait.]

She pulled up her HUD while Sophie chattered about some new spell she’d learned.

Event: Hearts and Minds

Transfer Students Befriended: 0/4

[... I still don’t get why Sophie doesn’t count as befriended. We already make out constantly.]

"Are you even listening?" Sophie demanded.

"Sorry, what?"

"I said Vera and I are going to the academy library to research group casting techniques."

"That sounds very educational."

"It’s for sex!"

"Of course it is."

"Group casting can be adapted for coordinated stimulation—"

"Sophie, I don’t need the details."

"You really do though. See, if we synchronize our mana flows—"

"Sophie." Aegis grabbed her sister’s shoulders. "I need you to be serious for one second."

"Ugh, fine. What?"

"Are we friends?"

Sophie blinked.

"What kind of question is that?"

"A serious one."

"We’re sisters."

"That’s not the same thing."

"We’re sisters who fuck."

"Also not the same thing."

Sophie tilted her head, actually considering the question for once.

"I... don’t know? You’re my big sister. You’re supposed to take care of me and teach me things and occasionally rail me against various surfaces."

"That’s not—wait, is that actually what you think siblings do?"

"Isn’t it?"

[Oh right. The backstory I wrote. Fuck.]

"Most siblings don’t have sex, Sophie."

"Boring siblings don’t."

"Normal siblings."

"Again, boring."

Vera snorted.

"You two are so fuckin’ weird."

"Thank you," Sophie replied.

Aegis, however, was busy putting her incredibly smooth brain to work.

[Is that the answer? She doesn’t count as "befriended" because Sophie doesn’t consider us friends? She sees us as something else? But, if that’s the case, how do I fix that?]

"We should go," Vera said, tugging Sophie’s arm. "The library closes early today."

"Right! Bye, sis! Try not to pine too hard over whatever noble drama you’re involved in now!"

They disappeared into the crowd. Aegis stood there, mind racing.

[Four transfer students to befriend. Sophie, Serilla, Darius, and the twins... Whatever, I’ll figure it out eventually.]

She headed back toward the academy, arms full of shopping bags that definitely didn’t contain anything useful for the current situation.

"Starcaller!"

Before she could take too many steps however, she turned to find Darius approaching, looking insufferably pleased with himself.

"Goldspire."

"I heard about your... conversation with Talia."

"News travels fast."

"It does." He smiled, all teeth. "I wanted to commend you on your economic intelligence."

"My what now?"

"Taking my offer. It shows you understand how the world really works. Money talks, everything else is just noise."

[If only you knew, you pompous ass.]

"Right," Aegis said. "Money. Very important."

"Exactly. I’m glad we could come to an understanding."

"Me too."

"Enjoy your purchases." He gestured at her bags. "I trust the gold is being put to good use?"

"Oh, absolutely. Very good use."

"Excellent."

He walked away looking so smug that Aegis had to physically restrain herself from throwing something at his head.

[Just wait until you find out, dickhead.]

---

Aegis headed to the Sky Piercer that night.

Rosanna was waiting at the top, translucent in the moonlight, wearing one of those flowing robes that barely contained her ghostly... assets.

"You look troubled."

Aegis visibly deflated.

"That feels like it’s my default state these days."

"More troubled than usual, then," Rosanna corrected with a smile. "No sense in keeping it to yourself, darling. If you can’t tell me, who can you tell?"

Aegis planned to tell her anyway. She flopped onto the meditation platform, arms and legs spread.

"It’s Talia."

"Ah. The marriage situation. Any new updates?"

"Same old same old," Aegis sighed. "Talia’s being paired up with ’the highest value suitor’ and she’s mad about it."

"As are you, clearly."

"As am I, I suppose."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. The city spread out below them, lights twinkling like fallen stars.

"She should just marry him," Aegis said finally.

"Yes," Rosanna agreed.

"It’s the smart move."

"Indeed," Rosanna nodded.

"It’s what you would have done."

Rosanna was quiet for a moment.

"Yes."

"But?"

"But what?"

"There’s always a but with you." Aegis insisted.

"Perhaps I’ve gotten sentimental in death." Rosanna moved to sit beside her, close enough that Aegis could feel the cold radiating from her ghostly form. "I did my duty. Always. Every marriage, every alliance, every compromise. For the good of the kingdom."

"And?"

"... And I feel as though I died alone."

The words hung in the air, pressing down on Aegis like a weight on her shoulders.

"I was certainly not literally alone," Rosanna continued. "I had lovers, servants, advisors, and an entire court. But alone in the ways that mattered. No one who knew me. The real me, not the crown."

"That’s depressing."

"That’s duty, my dear. Pray you never need to find out what that’s like."

Aegis took a second.

"So Talia should...?"

"Talia should do what Talia needs to do. She’s the heir to House Stone. That comes with obligations."

"That’s not helpful."

"I’m a ghost, not a miracle worker."

Aegis pulled her knees to her chest, staring out at the city.

"There has to be something I can do."

"Why?"

"Because I..." She trailed off. Because why? Because Talia was her favorite character in the game?

Instead, she said:

"Because she’s my friend."

"Is that all?"

"Does it matter?"

Rosanna smiled, sad and knowing.

"I suppose not."

"So? Any ghostly wisdom?"

"Marry him yourself."

"What?"

"Darius. Marry him instead. Problem solved."

"What—would—that even—"

Rosanna laughed, the sound echoing strangely in the thin air.

"I’m joking."

"That wasn’t funny."

They fell quiet again. The wind picked up, whistling through the tower’s architecture.

"She has to do her duty," Rosanna said finally. "That’s not negotiable."

"I know."

"But..."

"But?"

"Perhaps all that you can do is make it so ’doing her duty’ still includes you."