Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner-Chapter 163: Peace and Quiet

Aegis pushed through the manor doors, exhausted and covered in a thin layer of forest grime.

The journey back had been completely uneventful, which was almost suspicious. No monsters, no bandits, no surprise complications. Just three people walking back to Rosevale with a magical crystal in a bag.

[Hey, I’ll take the win. My life has enough chaos without adding more random encounters.]

Evelyn appeared from somewhere in the east wing, looking as composed as ever despite the ongoing repairs around her.

"Lady Starcaller. Welcome back. Should I have the maids prepare a bath?"

"Please. And some food. Whatever’s fastest."

"Of course."

Scarlett and Kanna headed toward the barracks area where their rooms were, though they weren’t quite fixed enough to sleep at.

[Okay, how’s Rosalie doing?] Aegis wondered. [Let’s take a look.]

Aegis made her way to the workshop, pushing open the door.

Rosalie was hunched over a workbench, surrounded by bubbling potions and scattered ingredients. She looked up as Aegis entered, shoving her crooked glasses back up her nose.

"Oh! You’re back. Did you find what you were looking for?"

Aegis pulled the wrapped crystal from her pack, setting it carefully on the table.

"See for yourself."

Rosalie unwrapped it, and her eyes went wide behind her glasses.

"Is this—oh my gods, is this a Singing Crystal?"

"The one and only."

Rosalie picked it up reverently, holding it to the light. The crystal hummed softly, that wind-chime sound filling the workshop.

"This is incredible. Do you know what we can do with this?"

"Impress some pompous pricks at the Summer Auction?"

"Well, yes, but—" Rosalie turned to face her, practically vibrating. "This can be used as a catalyst for high-grade mana potions. The resonance amplifies the potency exponentially."

Aegis felt her ears perk up at that.

"Define ’high-grade.’"

"W-Well, top-tier restoration! Full mana pool recovery in minutes instead of hours. Combat-ready immediately. Nobles pay through the nose for these because they’re so rare."

"How much?"

"A thousand gold. Per potion. Maybe more if you market them right."

Aegis did the math in her head.

[A thousand gold per potion. If Rosalie can make even five or six before the auction... that’s five or six thousand gold right there. Plus, establishing House Starcaller as a legitimate alchemical supplier. Holy shit.]

"How many can you make before the auction?"

Rosalie bit her lip, thinking.

"With the crystal as a catalyst? Maybe eight, if I work non-stop. Ten if I’m lucky and, uh, nothing explodes."

"Perfect. Then do it. Make as many as you can. High-quality, no shortcuts. No explosions. These need to be perfect."

"You want to present them as your offering?"

"I want to present them and sell them. Show up with a case of the most potent mana potions Rosevale’s seen in years, let everyone sample one, then auction off the rest to the highest bidders."

Rosalie grinned, pushing her glasses up again.

"That’s brilliant. I like it."

"How long until the first batch is ready?"

"Uh... Maybe three days. Maybe four. I need to prepare the base components, then use the crystal to catalyze them. It’s delicate work."

"You have two weeks. Take your time, do it right."

"I will." Rosalie was already pulling out ingredient jars, her mind clearly racing ahead. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Aegis left her to it, heading upstairs to clean off the forest.

---

The bath was perfect. Hot enough to make her muscles unclench, long enough to wash away the dirt and sweat and general grime of travel.

She soaked until her fingers pruned, then dragged herself out and into clean clothes.

By the time she made it back to the academy, evening was settling in. The halls were quiet, most students still gone for summer break.

She headed to her dorm room.

Lune was there, naturally, sitting at her desk with her sketchbook. She glanced up as Aegis entered.

"Successful trip?"

"Got what I needed."

"Good." Lune went back to drawing.

Aegis flopped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her mind was already running through numbers. Potion sales, material costs, profit margins. The Summer Auction was shaping up to be more than just a social event. It could be a major financial win if she played it right.

But there were complications.

[Serilla as my date. I would bet a lot of money Talia probably already knows by now. Gossip travels fast in this world. And if she doesn’t know yet, she will soon.]

Aegis groaned.

"Problem?" Lune asked without looking up from her drawing.

"Just contemplating the various ways Princess Stone might murder me in the next two weeks."

"... She does seem to have a preference for ice."

"Thanks for the visual."

Lune smiled, just a little.

"You’re welcome."

Aegis rolled her eyes playfully.

[Hey, hey! You can’t have a smile that cute. It’s not fair!]

Aegis sat up, pulling out her ledger to review the finances.

Income from monster drops: steady.

Rosalie’s shop: profitable and growing.

Manor repairs: expensive but necessary.

Retainer salaries: manageable.

Overall status: not broke, but not rich yet either.

She made notes, adjusted projections, planned for contingencies.

After an hour of this, her eyes were starting to cross and the numbers were blurring together.

"I need to stretch my legs before my brain melts."

Lune didn’t respond, too focused on whatever she was drawing.

Aegis left the dorm, wandering the empty halls.

The academy felt different in summer. Quieter. Almost peaceful without the constant noise of students rushing between classes and drama exploding every five minutes.

She found herself in one of the gardens, the one with the fountain and stone benches tucked behind flowering hedges.

And sitting on one of those benches, bathed in moonlight, was Liora.

"Oh. Hey."

Liora looked up, smiling.

"Aegis. I didn’t expect to see anyone out here."

"Same. Mind if I sit?"

"Please."

Aegis sat beside her. They were quiet for a moment, just listening to the fountain and the distant sounds of the city beyond the academy walls.

"It’s peaceful, isn’t it?" Liora said. "The academy in summer. No tests, no rankings, no constant pressure to not get expelled."

"It’s weird. I’m not used to peace."

"I know what you mean."

Liora leaned back, tilting her head to look at the stars.

"I’ve been practicing. My singing. There’s no one around to interrupt, so I can actually focus without someone barging in asking to borrow notes."

"How’s it going?"

"Good. Really good, actually. I think I’m ready to perform at the Summer Auction."

"You’re performing?"

"Among other people. They always have entertainment between the auction lots. Professor Loralei recommended me. Said it would be good exposure." Liora’s smile turned a bit nervous. "I’m terrified, honestly."

"You’ll kill it. Your voice is amazing."

"Thanks." Liora glanced at her. "You’re going, right? To the auction?"

"Yeah. I have to present an offering. New noble hazing ritual or whatever."

"... I heard you’re going as Serilla’s date."

Aegis winced.

"Word travels fast."

"It does when it involves you." Liora’s tone wasn’t judgmental, just matter-of-fact. "Talia isn’t going to like that."

"I know."

"So why did you agree?"

Aegis explained the situation—the crystal, the competition, the deal she’d made to avoid bloodshed.

Liora listened, nodding occasionally.

"I get it. You did what you had to do."

"But?"

"But Talia might not see it that way. She could see it as you choosing Serilla over her."

"I’m not choosing anyone. It’s just business."

"Is it?"

Aegis met her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Serilla could have asked for money. Favors. Political connections. But she asked for you to be her date. That’s not business, Aegis. That’s personal."

Aegis thought about it for a moment.

[... She’s probably not wrong. Serilla might have said it was just business to get me to agree, huh?]

"W-Well, it’s one night. A few hours of playing nice at a fancy party. Then it’s done."

"And what happens when Serilla wants more?"

"She’ll have to be content with my cock up her cunt, then, cause I can guarantee she won’t be getting more than that."

Liora recoiled.

"Aegis!"

"What!? You wanted an answer, you got an answer," Aegis smirked.

Liora rolled her eyes light-heartedly.

"Look, I’m... I’m not trying to lecture you. I just worry, you know? Serilla... She can be... very persuasive."

"I get it, Liora. I get it."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment.

Then Aegis stood, offering her hand.

"Come on. Walk with me."

Liora took it, letting Aegis pull her to her feet.

They walked through the garden, past flowering bushes and ornamental trees. The moonlight made everything look almost dreamlike.

"How are things with you and Talia?" Aegis asked.

"Well, it helps that Serilla’s so focused on you now. I... I never had the willpower to say no to her. Still, Talia’s mother is still pushing the marriage with Darius hard," Liora continued. "Talia’s resisting, but I don’t know how long she can hold out against her family."

"She’s stubborn as hell. She’ll find a way."

"I hope so."

They reached a more secluded part of the garden, hidden behind tall hedges.

Aegis stopped, turning to face Liora.

"For what it’s worth, my manor is gonna be a reaaaaally sick hangout spot when it’s done, eh?"

"That’s your number one priority?" Liora smiled. "Having a nice place to..."

"To what, pray tell?"

Liora rolled her eyes.

"You know."

"To fuck?" Aegis grinned. "Yes, I want to make sure I have the best place for that."

"Very good use of your time, Aegis."

"The best use of it, actually. In fact," Aegis got closer. She put her hands on Liora’s hips, pulling her closer. "It’s better than wasting away our time doing nothing."

"That’s..." Liora leaned in, "debatable."

Aegis kissed her.

Liora kissed back immediately, her hands sliding up to grip Aegis’s shoulders. It started soft, tentative, then got deeper as Liora pressed closer.

Aegis walked her backward until Liora’s back hit the hedge. She kissed down Liora’s neck, teeth grazing skin.

"Aegis," Liora breathed.

"Mm?"

"We’re outside."

"I’m aware."

"Someone might see."

"Good thing it’s dark then."

They made out against the hedge, hands wandering, breaths quickening. Aegis’s cock hardened, pressing against her skirt, and Liora definitely noticed because she ground against it deliberately.

"Oh, you fucking tease," Aegis muttered against her lips.

"You started it."

Aegis pulled back just enough to look at her, both of them flushed and breathing hard.

"Come back to my room."

"Lune will be there."

"Fine. Yours?"

"Yeah."

They walked back toward the dorms, hands linked, moving through the shadows. Covered by the moonlight.