Aegis slipped through a side door onto the balcony, desperate for air.
The night breeze hit her face and she grabbed the stone railing, staring out at Rosevale’s skyline while her heart rate slowly returned to normal.
[Third place. I actually placed third.]
She ran through the evening’s events. The offering. The sabotage accusation. The counterattack. Cindergrave’s face when his own trap snapped shut on him.
[Not bad for a commoner who’s been noble for less than three months.]
Her HUD pinged.
Route Notification: Serilla Frost Route - Culmination Approaching
Critical Choice Incoming
Aegis blinked at the floating text.
She’d seen this notification before. Right before the threeso with Talia and Liora. Right before her relationship with both of them had fundantally shifted.
[Oh fuck. What choice am I about to make?]
The balcony door opened behind her.
Aegis turned, expecting Serilla.
It was Liora.
She looked stunning in her lavender gown, blonde hair pinned up to expose her neck, cheeks flushed from wine.
"There you are." Liora closed the door behind her. "I’ve been looking for you."
"Needed so air. It’s a lot in there."
"I imagine so." Liora moved to stand beside her at the railing, close enough that their shoulders almost touched. "You were incredible tonight. The offering, the way you handled Cindergrave—I was so proud watching you."
"Yeah?"
"Everyone was talking about it. The new noble who outmaneuvered a Great House." Liora smiled. "You’re really sothing, Aegis."
"Just doing what I had to do."
"No. It was more than that." Liora turned to face her. "You didn’t just survive. You won. You made them respect you."
Moonlight hit Liora’s face. Her blue eyes were warm. A little too warm.
"Thank you," Aegis said. "That ans a lot."
"I wanted to tell you earlier, but there were so many people around, and Serilla was..." Liora trailed off. "She’s very territorial, isn’t she?"
"You could say that."
"I suppose I can’t bla her." Liora stepped closer. "You’re worth being territorial about."
[Uh oh.]
Liora’s hand found Aegis’s waist. Her eyes dropped to Aegis’s lips.
"Liora, d—"
The kiss was soft at first. Gentle. Asking permission.
Aegis gave it.
Then Liora’s tongue slipped between her lips, and gentle went out the window.
Aegis’s back hit the balcony railing. Liora pressed against her, one hand tangled in Aegis’s hair, the other sliding down her hip. Aegis could feel Liora’s tits squished against her own, could feel her heartbeat racing.
"Liora, we’re on a balcony—"
"I don’t care."
Liora’s hand slid lower, hiking up Aegis’s dress, fingers brushing her thigh, and Aegis was about three seconds from not caring either when—
The door opened.
Serilla stood in the doorway.
Her expression was unreadable.
Liora pulled back, face going red.
"I—Serilla—"
She couldn’t finish.
Silence.
Serilla approached slowly, heels clicking against the stone. Her usual smirk was in place, but sothing was off. Sothing in her eyes didn’t match.
[Wait. Is she... nervous?]
It was subtle—probably invisible to anyone who didn’t know Serilla. But there it was. A tightness around her eyes. The way her fingers kept curling and uncurling at her sides.
[Holy shit. She’s actually nervous. I’ve never seen that before.]
Liora looked between them.
"Uh... I’ll give you two so space." She retreated inside.
Serilla didn’t even glance her way as she left.
"So," Serilla said. Her voice was steady, but her gaze flickered. "The Midnight Waltz."
"The Midnight Waltz," Aegis agreed.
Serilla stopped a foot away. Close enough to touch but not touching.
"After tonight, you’re mine. Not Liora’s. Not Talia’s." Her jaw tightened. "Mine. Do you understand?"
[This is a big deal for her. Maybe the biggest. She’s about to publicly stake a claim on soone, and she’s terrified I’ll say no.]
Serilla Frost. Who’d spent years building walls of confidence and manipulation and shaless aggression. Who claid she didn’t share, didn’t compromise, didn’t care what anyone thought.
Standing here, needing Aegis to say yes.
[So... What do I do?]
Aegis didn’t have an answer yet, but she wanted Serilla to know she’d give her one.
So, she closed the distance between them.
Her hands ca up, cupping Serilla’s face. Serilla’s breath caught.
Aegis gave her a firm kiss.
When she pulled back, Serilla’s eyes were wide. For once, she didn’t have a coback ready.
"I’ll see you at the Waltz," Aegis said.
Then she walked past Serilla, back into the ballroom, leaving her standing on the balcony looking like soone had hit her with a brick.
---
The main hall had transford.
Servants had cleared the central floor, creating a dance space beneath the chandeliers. Musicians were taking their positions. Nobles clustered around the edges, pairing off, whispering.
Aegis scanned the crowd.
Talia was being led toward the floor by Darius. Her face was carefully neutral, but her body language scread "I would rather be literally anywhere else." Each step looked like she was being marched to her own funeral. Darius, oblivious or uncaring, smiled and waved at nobles they passed like he was in a fucking parade.
[Hang in there, princess.]
Near the refreshnt table, Scarlett was hovering awkwardly near Kanna. Her mouth kept opening and closing. Kanna stood with her usual stoic composure, apparently unaware that Scarlett was having a full gay panic three feet away.
[Just ask her, you useless lesbian.]
Liora was being pulled toward the dance floor by so noble Aegis didn’t recognize. She glanced back once, catching Aegis’s eye, expression complicated. Then she disappeared into the crowd.
The Master of Ceremonies raised his hands.
"Honored guests, the Midnight Waltz shall now comnce. Please find your partners and take your positions."
The musicians lifted their instrunts.
The first notes floated through the air—slow, elegant, the kind of lody that had probably been played at these events for centuries.
Aegis felt her before she saw her.
Serilla appeared at her side. Confidence restored, whatever vulnerability she’d shown on the balcony locked away. But her eyes were softer now. More certain.
She extended her hand.
"Lady Starcaller. May I have this dance?"
Aegis looked at that offered hand. At Serilla’s face—beautiful, complicated, sohow becoming more important every day despite Aegis’s best efforts to keep her at arm’s length.
The Route Notification still floated in the corner of her vision.
Critical Choice Incoming.
[Well. Here goes nothing.]
Aegis took Serilla’s hand.
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