Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner-Chapter 203: Objection

{Aegis} 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The morning of the betrothal ceremony, Aegis looked at the checklist on her desk one last time.

Five pillars. Political, magical, military, wealth, reputation. Five boxes that needed to be checked before she could walk into that ceremony and turn Duchess Evangeline’s carefully laid plans into a flaming wreck.

She scanned the list and nodded to herself.

[All five. Ready to go. Let’s crash a betrothal.]

---

The Stone family’s city estate was the kind of place that made you feel underdressed even if you were wearing your best clothes. Which Aegis was, for the record. A deep crimson coat with gold embroidery, fitted trousers, polished boots, the whole noble package. She looked good. She knew she looked good. But the estate still made her feel like maybe she should’ve worn something fancier.

The main building was three stories of white marble and tall windows, with columns out front that were purely decorative and probably cost more than most houses. Gardens stretched out on either side, perfectly manicured, with little fountains and statues of old Stone ancestors looking dignified and vaguely disapproving. Carriages were lined up along the drive, each one fancier than the last, disgorging nobles in silks and jewels who all seemed to know each other already.

Aegis stepped out of her own carriage and took it all in.

[Evangeline really went all out. Must be nice to have "obscene wealth" money.]

Kai’Lin materialized at her elbow, which was impressive given that Aegis hadn’t seen her approach. The catgirl was wearing servant’s clothes, her ears hidden under a cap, her tail presumably tucked away somewhere uncomfortable.

"Report, nya."

"Twelve guards on the perimeter," Kai’Lin said quietly, falling into step beside her. "Eight more inside, plus another six near the ballroom. All House Stone, no outside security."

"Weapons?"

"Standard swords, nothing enchanted that we could see. They’re not expecting trouble, nya. This is a party, not a siege."

Mei’Lin appeared on her other side, also in servant’s garb, her larger chest straining against the uniform in a way that was probably attracting attention.

"The Duchess has two personal guards with her at all times," Mei’Lin added. "They look competent. Everyone else is just for show, nya."

"Good to know." Not that Aegis was planning to fight her way out of anything, but it was always nice to have options. "Where are Scarlett and Kanna?"

"Already inside, nya. They’re near the back of the ballroom, trying to look like they belong there."

"Do they?"

"Scarlett keeps glaring at nobles who look at her funny, so... mostly, nya."

Aegis snorted.

"That tracks. Alright, you two disappear. I’ll signal if I need you."

The twins melted back into the crowd of servants, and Aegis made her way toward the main entrance.

The inside of the estate was somehow even more ostentatious than the outside. The entrance hall had a ceiling painted with some kind of historical scene, lots of dramatic figures in flowing robes doing dramatic things, and the floor was polished marble that reflected everything like a mirror. Nobles clustered in groups, talking and laughing and pretending to be delighted to see each other.

Aegis moved through them with a smile fixed on her face, nodding at people she recognized, making small talk when she had to, generally acting like she had every right to be here even though she definitely hadn’t been invited. The confidence trick worked every time. If you walked like you belonged somewhere, most people assumed you did.

She was halfway to the ballroom when she spotted a familiar head of blonde curls near one of the refreshment tables.

Liora.

She was wearing a pale blue dress that was probably borrowed, given how carefully she was moving in it, and she had a glass of wine in her hand that she wasn’t really drinking. She looked nervous. She looked like she was trying very hard not to look nervous, which somehow made it more obvious.

Aegis changed course and headed toward her.

"Hey."

Liora startled, nearly spilling her wine, then relaxed when she saw who it was.

"Aegis." Her voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. "I didn’t know if you’d actually come."

"Wouldn’t miss it for the world." Aegis leaned against the table beside her, casual, like they were just two acquaintances making small talk. "How’s she doing?"

Liora didn’t need to ask who "she" was.

"She’s... holding together. Barely." Liora took a tiny sip of her wine. "She didn’t sleep last night."

"And how are you doing?"

Liora’s smile was fragile.

"I’m terrified, honestly. Feels so weird."

"Don’t worry," Aegis smirked. "That won’t last."

She made her way into the ballroom.

If the entrance hall had been ostentatious, the ballroom was aggressively, almost hostilely fancy.

White flowers covered every surface, cascading from arrangements on pedestals and woven into garlands along the walls. Golden ribbons streamed from the ceiling, catching the light from the massive chandeliers overhead. The floor was white marble with gold veining, polished to a mirror shine. At the far end of the room, a raised dais held two ornate chairs and an altar draped in white silk.

Nobles filled the space, arranged in rough rows facing the dais, chattering amongst themselves while servants circulated with wine and little foods. Aegis spotted Scarlett and Kanna near the back, both in their formal armor, both trying to look like they weren’t ready to draw swords at a moment’s notice. Evelyn was nearby with Rosalie.

Aegis found a spot with a good view of the dais and settled in to wait.

She didn’t have to wait long.

A hush fell over the room as Duchess Evangeline Stone swept in from a side entrance. She was wearing deep purple silk, her dark hair elaborately styled, her expression radiating satisfaction. This was her triumph. Her victory. The culmination of months of planning and maneuvering.

[Enjoy it while it lasts, lady.]

Darius Goldspire entered next, looking every inch the perfect noble heir. Tall, handsome, impeccably dressed in formal black and gold. He walked to the dais and took his position beside one of the ornate chairs, his expression composed and unreadable.

And then Talia walked in.

White gown, fitted perfectly, probably worth more than most houses. Black hair pinned up in an elaborate style. Yellow eyes fixed straight ahead, not looking at anyone, her face a perfect mask of noble composure.

She looked beautiful. She looked like a princess from a storybook, elegant and regal and untouchable.

She also looked like she was barely holding herself together, and Aegis was probably the only person in the room who could see the cracks.

Talia walked toward the dais, and as she passed Aegis’s position, her eyes flickered sideways.

Just for a second. Just long enough to meet Aegis’s gaze.

Aegis smiled at her. Not her public smile, not her charming smile. Her real smile, the one that said "I’ve got you, don’t worry, I’m going to fix this."

Something shifted in Talia’s expression. The mask didn’t crack, but something underneath it softened, just for a moment.

Then she looked away and continued to the dais, taking her position beside Darius.

Duchess Evangeline stepped forward, positioning herself at the center of the altar, and raised her hands for silence.

"Honored guests," she began, her voice carrying through the ballroom with practiced ease. "We are gathered here today to witness the formal betrothal of my daughter, Princess Talia Stone, to Lord Darius Goldspire. This union represents the joining of two great houses, a bond that will strengthen our kingdom for generations to come."

Aegis shifted her weight, rolling her shoulders slightly, getting ready.

[Here we go.]

"The houses of Stone and Goldspire have long been allies," Evangeline continued, clearly enjoying herself. "This betrothal cements that alliance in the most sacred way possible, through the bond of marriage. Lord Darius has proven himself worthy of my daughter’s hand through his accomplishments, his character, and his devotion to the values our houses share."

[Devotion to being boring, maybe.]

Evangeline’s expression settled into the formal solemnity that this part of the ceremony required.

"If there are any present who would speak against this union, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."

The room was silent. This was a formality. Everyone knew it was a formality. Nobody actually objected at betrothal ceremonies. It simply wasn’t done.

Aegis stepped forward.

"I object."

The silence that followed was absolute. Total. The kind of silence that happened when an entire room full of people simultaneously stopped breathing.

Every head turned toward her.

Evangeline’s face went through about five different expressions in the span of two seconds, starting with confusion and ending somewhere around murderous fury. Darius’s composure cracked just slightly, his eyes widening. And Talia, standing on the dais in her white gown, looked at Aegis with something that might have been shock or might have been hope or might have been both at once.

Aegis walked forward into the center of the ballroom, her boots clicking against the marble floor, acutely aware that every single noble in Valdria was staring at her.

She stopped in front of the dais, met Evangeline’s furious gaze, and smiled.

"I, Lady Aegis Starcaller, head of House Starcaller, formally object to this betrothal." She spread her hands, taking in the whole room, letting everyone see exactly how not-afraid she was. "And I believe I have the right to offer an alternative."