Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner-Chapter 174: Summer Auction 7

Serilla’s hand was warm in hers as they stepped onto the dance floor.

The music swelled, strings and woodwinds weaving together in a melody that had probably made nobles fall in love for generations. Other couples moved in graceful patterns. Talia looked like she was being tortured through Darius’s lead. Liora was being twirled by her unwanted suitor with the enthusiasm of someone getting a root canal.

Serilla pulled Aegis close, one hand on her waist, the other clasped with Aegis’s own. Their bodies pressed together, tits against tits, and Serilla’s eyes burned.

"Finally," she breathed. "You’re mine."

Immediately, Aegis’s HUD flickered.

DIALOGUE OPTIONS

1. "I’m yours." [SUBMIT]

2. "For tonight, at least." [DEFLECT]

3. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves." [RESIST]

Aegis stared at the options.

She didn’t like any of them.

Submit meant giving Serilla exactly what she wanted: total possession. Deflect was wishy-washy bullshit. Resist would hurt Serilla’s pride and probably tank whatever progress they’d made.

None of them were her.

[Fuck it.]

She smirked.

[Tonight, I’m doing things my way.]

"Hold that thought."

Before Serilla could react, Aegis gently pushed her back—and spun away across the dance floor.

She caught Liora mid-step, pulling her away from the confused noble who’d been leading her.

"Aegis? What are you—"

"Just dance with me."

Liora’s eyes went wide, but her body responded automatically. They moved together, perfectly in sync, Aegis leading with as much confidence as she could muster.

Scandal Points +2

The crowd was already murmuring. Dancing with multiple partners wasn’t forbidden, but it was unusual. Bold. The kind of thing people would gossip about for weeks.

[Perfect.]

She caught Serilla’s expression across the floor. The pink-haired woman was standing frozen where Aegis had left her, face cycling through confusion and fury.

[Bear with me, baby.]

Aegis winked at her.

Then she released Liora and grabbed Scarlett.

"Wha—Aegis!?"

"Come on, dance with me," Aegis whispered through her teeth.

"I don’t—I’m not—this isn’t—"

But Aegis was already leading, and Scarlett’s combat training made her react automatically. They moved together awkwardly but enthusiastically, Scarlett’s face turning the same color as her hair.

Scandal Points +2

"People are staring," Scarlett hissed.

"Let them."

"What are you doing?"

"Making a statement."

"What statement? ’I’m insane’?"

"Something like that."

She spun Scarlett away—directly into Kanna’s path, which was absolutely intentional—and turned to find her next target.

Lady Cassandra Vermillion stood at the edge of the floor, wine glass in hand, watching with raised eyebrows.

Aegis approached with a bow.

"Lady Cassandra. May I?"

"You’re causing quite the scene, Lady Starcaller."

"I prefer to think of it as entertainment."

Cassandra’s lips twitched. She handed her wine to a passing servant and accepted Aegis’s hand.

They danced for exactly eight bars—long enough to be meaningful, short enough to be appropriate. Lady Cassandra moved like she’d been doing this since before Aegis’s grandmother was born.

Scandal Points +2

"You’re playing a dangerous game," Cassandra murmured.

"I’m playing my game."

"I can see that." A small smile. "Whatever you’re doing, don’t let it blow up in your face."

Aegis released her with a respectful nod, then turned to survey the floor.

Kanna was standing near the refreshments, watching the chaos with her usual stoic expression. Scarlett hovered nearby, looking like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

Aegis walked directly up to Kanna.

"Dance with me."

"No."

[Jesus, Kanna.]

"Please?"

"I don’t dance."

"Everyone dances. You just haven’t found the right partner."

Kanna’s grey eyes were flat.

"Lady Starcaller, I’m your retainer, not your—"

"Look, consider it a professional obligation," Aegis whispered-yelled. "I’m trying to make a point!"

Kanna’s expression flickered. Barely. But enough.

"Fine."

Scandal Points +2

Kanna danced like she fought—efficient, controlled, no wasted movement. It wasn’t graceful exactly, but it was impressive. The crowd watched with fascination as Aegis led the stoic warrior through a simple waltz.

When the minute ended, Kanna stepped back with a curt nod and retreated to the refreshment table.

Scarlett immediately materialized beside her, face red, mouth moving at approximately a thousand words per minute.

Aegis’s HUD flickered again.

Route Recalculating...

New Dialogue Options Generated

DIALOGUE OPTIONS

1. "I choose everyone." [DECLARE]

2. "I belong to no one—but I can belong with someone." [COMPROMISE]

3. "Sharing is caring, Serilla." [TEASE]

[Now we’re talking.]

She turned.

Serilla was still standing where Aegis had left her, but the fury had faded into something more complex. Confusion. Frustration. And underneath it all, a desperate need to understand what the fuck was happening.

[Good. The fact that she didn’t storm out of this place is a good sign.]

Aegis walked back to her.

The crowd parted. The music continued, but half the dancers had stopped to watch. This had basically become the night’s main show, suddenly.

She stopped in front of Serilla.

"What the hell was that?" Serilla’s voice was tight.

"A demonstration."

"Of what? Your inability to commit? Your need to make everything about you?"

"Of the fact that I’m not going to be owned, Serilla." Aegis stepped closer. "Not by you. Not by anyone."

Serilla’s jaw clenched.

"Then what was the point of any of this? The date, the Waltz, all of it—"

"I never said I wouldn’t be with you."

Serilla’s eyes narrowed.

Aegis lifted her hand, gently cupping Serilla’s chin. The touch was intimate. Deliberate. Very public.

"You’re greedy."

"You’re one to talk," Aegis replied. "I have no intention of being tied down. Even to you." She held Serilla’s gaze. "But sharing isn’t all that bad. Trust me."

"Sharing." Serilla spat the word like it tasted bad. "You want me to share you. With Talia. With Liora. With whoever else catches your eye."

"Yes."

"That’s not how I work."

"But that is how I work, Serilla. And, that’s not changing anytime soon. So, if you still want to be with me, maybe it’s time to try something new."

They stood there, frozen, the music swirling around them while the entire ballroom watched.

Serilla’s expression warred with itself. Pride versus desire. Possessiveness versus the growing realization that the alternative was losing Aegis entirely.

"You’re infuriating," Serilla finally said.

"I know."

"I should walk away right now. Find someone who’ll actually appreciate being thoroughly dominated."

"You could."

"Someone who won’t humiliate me in front of the entire nobility."

"That’s an option."

"..."

Suddenly, Serilla’s hand shot out, grabbing Aegis’s waist, yanking her close.

"But they wouldn’t be you."

The words were quiet. Almost vulnerable.

Aegis smiled.

"No. They wouldn’t."

For a long moment, they just looked at each other. Then Serilla’s other hand came up, tangling in Aegis’s hair, and she pulled her into a kiss.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t soft. It was Serilla—demanding, hungry, making a statement of her own. If she couldn’t own Aegis exclusively, she’d at least make sure everyone knew she had a claim.

Aegis kissed her back just as hard.

The crowd erupted.

Applause, gasps, excited chatter—the ballroom exploded into noise. Other couples had stopped dancing entirely, openly staring.

The music swelled to its final crescendo.

Aegis and Serilla broke apart, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together.

Route Complete: Serilla Frost

Result: Integrated into Harem

Permanent Buff Unlocked:

Frost’s Favor - Social manipulation attempts are 25% more effective. Blackmail-related information is easier to acquire.

Scandal Points +25

"This doesn’t mean you’ve won," Serilla breathed.

"Wouldn’t dream of it."

"I’m still going to make you mine."

"I doubt it, but I look forward to seeing you try."

Serilla grabbed her hand and started walking—not toward the refreshments, not toward the other nobles, but toward the exit.

"W-Where are we going?"

Serilla didn’t slow down. Her grip was iron.

"What do you think?" She glanced back, eyes dark with hunger. "I’m going to fuck the life out of you."

[Oh. Oh yes.]

They burst through the main doors into the cool night air.

Aegis barely registered the surprised looks from the guards before Serilla was pulling her toward a waiting carriage, and then the door was closing behind them, and Serilla’s mouth was on hers again, tongue shoving past her lips, hands already grabbing her tits through her dress.

The carriage lurched into motion.

Inside, Serilla was already working on the laces of Aegis’s dress, fingers rough and impatient.

"This changes nothing," Serilla growled against her neck. "I really am going to make you mine."

"You can try."

"I don’t try." Serilla bit down on her collarbone, making Aegis gasp. "I succeed."

Aegis laughed, the sound swallowed by another kiss.

[Well. That’s one route complete.]

Serilla’s hand slipped under her dress, fingers finding her already-wet pussy beneath her dick.

[Time to celebrate.]