CHAPTER 111: COMMON GROUND

Lady Roseheart’s estate made the academy look like a peasant’s hovel.

Aegis stood in the center of what was apparently the "casual fitting room," watching three seamstresses circle her with measuring tapes and fabric swatches. The room alone was bigger than her entire childhood home—not that she’d ever actually lived there, given the whole made-up backstory situation.

"The midnight blue brings out your eyes," Lady Roseheart said, holding up a piece of silk that probably cost more than Aegis’s scholarship. "But the deep purple makes a statement."

"I was thinking of just wearing my uniform."

Lady Roseheart looked at her like she’d suggested attending naked. Although given Aegis’s reputation, that might have been less shocking.

"Absolutely not. The Crystal Masquerade is the social event of the winter season. You’ll wear something spectacular or I’ll have you barred from entry myself."

"That seems excessive."

"Fashion is never excessive, dear. Arms up."

Aegis raised her arms while a seamstress wrapped measuring tape around her chest. The woman’s eyes widened slightly at the numbers.

"We’ll need extra support in the bodice," she murmured to her colleague.

"I have a lot to support," Aegis said.

"Indeed." Lady Roseheart was already sorting through design sketches. "Now, for the mask—"

The door opened. A butler bowed low.

"Lord Darius Goldspire has arrived, my lady."

Lady Roseheart brightened.

"Oh wonderful! Send him to the Blue Parlor. I’ll be there shortly." She turned to Aegis. "The Goldspires are old family friends. His mother and I went to academy together. You don’t mind if we pause for tea?"

"Not at all."

[Shit. Darius is here? The universe really loves its coincidences.]

They made their way to the Blue Parlor, which was, unsurprisingly, very blue. Blue wallpaper, blue furniture, blue carpet. It looked like someone had murdered a peacock and used it for interior decorating.

Darius stood by the window, looking out at the gardens. He turned when they entered, his practiced smile faltering slightly when he saw Aegis.

"Lady Roseheart." He kissed her hand with perfect propriety. "And Miss Starcaller. What an unexpected pleasure."

"Lord Goldspire." Aegis gave the slightest curtsy she could get away with.

"Darius, dear, how is your mother?" Lady Roseheart gestured for them to sit. "Still terrorizing the merchant guild?"

"She sends her regards and says she’ll see you at the Masquerade."

They chatted about family connections and mutual acquaintances while servants brought tea and those tiny sandwiches that nobles pretended were filling. Aegis mostly stayed quiet, trying to blend into the background.

"Oh, I just remembered," Lady Roseheart said suddenly. "I need to check on the new roses. The gardener said something about aphids." She stood. "You two young people chat. I’ll just be a moment."

She swept out before either could protest, leaving them in blue-tinted awkwardness.

Darius stared at his teacup. Aegis stared at hers. Somewhere in the house, a clock ticked obnoxiously.

"So," Darius said finally. "Nice weather."

"Bit cold."

"Yes. Cold."

More silence.

"Shall we skip the painful small talk?" Darius suggested. "There’s a balcony through those doors. Better view, less chance of Lady Roseheart’s servants overhearing whatever accusation you’re about to make."

"Who says I’m making accusations?"

"You’ve been glaring at your tea like it insulted your mother."

Fair point. They moved to the balcony, which overlooked gardens that probably required a small army to maintain. Darius leaned against the railing, looking tired suddenly.

"I’ve seen you with Talia recently."

"And I’m the one making accusations?"

"That was an observation, not an accusation."

Aegis rolled her eyes.

"The academy isn’t that big."

"No, I mean with her. Talking. Laughing, even." He turned to look at her. "I paid you quite a substantial sum to stay away from her."

"You paid me to not pursue her romantically. I haven’t."

"Walking out of her room with your hair messed up seems like pursuit to me."

[Shit. He’s having me watched?]

"Talia asked me to help her practice for Political Intrigue debates. She gets... intense about winning. Things got heated."

"Heated." He turned back to the gardens. "Look, I know Talia doesn’t want this marriage. She’s made that abundantly clear every time we’ve spoken. If she had her choice, she’d probably feed me to those monsters in the tunnels."

"The thought has probably crossed her mind."

"Multiple times, I’m sure." He sighed. "But wanting and having are different things. She doesn’t get a choice, and neither do I."

"You don’t want to marry her?"

"If I have to marry someone, I’m certainly glad it’ll be her, but in truth, I don’t want to marry anyone. I’m eighteen. I want to travel, see the Eastern Kingdoms, maybe write terrible poetry that would embarrass my descendants." His smile was bitter. "But I’m the heir. So I do my duty. House Stone is powerful. House Goldspire is wealthy. Together, we’d control half the kingdom’s trade routes." He shrugged. "Plus, Mother thinks Talia will ’stabilize’ me. Whatever that means."

"And you’re okay with ruining her life for trade routes?"

"Whose life isn’t ruined by family obligations?" He gave her a sideways look. "Even commoners have duties. Yours are just usually about survival rather than politics."

Aegis thought about her fake family, the one she’d written into existence. They probably did have expectations for her, even if she’d never actually lived them.

"So you’re just going along with it? No fighting back?"

"Not at all. Like I said, I’m glad it’ll be her." He shifted position, looking at her directly. "You’re more interesting than you seemed at first," he said.

"Thanks?"

"I mean it. Most commoners at the academy are either revolutionaries who want to burn the system down or boot-lickers who want to join it. I’m still trying to figure out which one you are."

"I’m playing my own game."

"Seems like it. I can respect that." He straightened. "I’d hate to make enemies with someone so entertaining. How about we start over? Now that we aren’t rivals in love and all? You will stay away from Talia, right?"

She shook his hand.

"Of course."

"Excellent. Just, do try to get my future wife to leave you alone. I understand her habits must be hard to break, but you’ll get through to her eventually. And, now that we aren’t rivals, we can even work together, perhaps."

[Buddy, your girl gags on my cock regularly. I’m still very much your rival. You don’t know the half of it, actually.]

But she kept her face neutral.

"That’s very... practical of you."

"My family motto is ’Profit Through Practicality.’ We’re nothing if not brand-consistent."

Lady Roseheart chose that moment to return, looking suspiciously pleased with herself.

"Oh good, you’re getting along! I was worried you young people would just stand around awkwardly."

"We managed to muddle through," Darius said with a charming smile. "Though I should go. Mother will wonder where I am."

He kissed Lady Roseheart’s hand again, nodded to Aegis, and left with the confidence of someone who’d never had to question whether doors would open for them.

"Such a lovely boy," Lady Roseheart sighed. "His marriage to Princess Talia will be the event of the year."

"I’m sure it will be memorable."

"Now, back to your fitting. We still need to discuss masks."

As they returned to the fitting room, Aegis’s mind raced. Real-Life Darius wasn’t entirely what she’d expected. Still an obstacle, but a self-aware one. That made him more dangerous in some ways, less in others.

[He thinks the marriage is inevitable. That reality just hasn’t settled in for Talia.]

The seamstress held up a mask design—silver filigree with sapphire accents.

"What do you think, miss?"

"It’s perfect."

[He has no idea what I’m planning. None of them do.]

She stood still while they pinned fabric, already calculating. Two more days until the Masquerade. Two weeks until the Winter Trials. Six months until she could destroy Darius’s entire worldview by making his "inevitable" marriage very, very evitable.

The thought made her smile.

"You look pleased," Lady Roseheart observed.

"Just thinking about the Masquerade."

"It will be magnificent. The theme this year is ’Starfall Wishes.’ The ballroom will be decorated like the night sky."

"Sounds romantic."

"That’s the idea. Many matches are made at the Crystal Masquerade. Why, I met my late husband at one thirty years ago."

"I’ll try not to make any matches."

"Oh, I don’t know. You might surprise yourself."

[The only surprise will be when I show up as nobility and steal the bride.]

But she just smiled and let them continue measuring. The seamstresses chattered about fabric and cut while Lady Roseheart supervised with the intensity of a general planning a campaign.

"We’ll have it delivered tomorrow," Lady Roseheart decided. "Can’t have you trying to adjust it the day of."

"You’re too kind."

"Nonsense. You saved my life, dear. A dress is the least I can do."

Technically, Aegis had just interrupted an assassination for selfish reasons, but she wasn’t about to correct her.

As she left the estate that evening, dress ordered and measurements taken, she thought about Darius’s words. About duty and obligation and the inevitability of noble marriages.

[He’s wrong about one thing. Some games can be changed. Some rules can be broken.]

She had monsters to hunt, money to make, and a system to overthrow.

But first, she needed to figure out what to do about Serilla.

Tonight, she had other plans. Specifically, ones involving Talia and that spot behind the library where no one ever went after dark.

After all, if Darius thought they were having a "last hurrah," might as well make it memorable.