Big chapter today. Tying up some loose plot points here and also setting up for the biggest plot point of this arc.

Thank you to the patrons who support this novel. OdeToAKite, Danielle Warvel, Michael, JewBot9000, Anonymous8418 and Jonathan Newman.

The morning light filtered through the tall windows of the town hall, casting golden beams across the polished wooden floors. Aric sat at a long table littered with papers, tapping a pen as he tried to figure out how to deal with Callista and the crown’s looming debt.

But how do you focus when your so-called friend is speaking directly into your head?

[Well, if it makes you feel any better, you didn’t puke when you got drunk yesterday.] Ivy said, currently cosplaying a sexy nurse.

Aric groaned, dragging his hair back from his face as the hangover clawed at his skull. I am quite literally dying right now and you decided to show up as a sexy nurse? What is this?\

A hentai?

[I mean, you could just heal yourself. Nobody’s stopping you.]

I could, Aric admitted, but then I’d just get reliant on healing magic. I’d rather let my body’s ‘naturale’ healing do its thing, you know?

[Then don’t complain when you’ve got the antidote right there.]

Oh, I’m still gonna complain.

[God, you’re insufferable. Maybe I should just kidnap you and inject you with—]

Aric raised a hand to her interface. I’m gonna stop you right there, ‘pretty boy.’ We are not doing this.

[I like how you say that like you have any control here.]

I do. It’s called free will.

[And I have something called ‘access to your biometric overrides.’]

You wouldn’t dare.

[Aric, I once made someone have unlimited diarrhea for calling me “ma’am.” I can definitely make it worse for you.]

…What the hell is wrong with you?

He shook his head, Anyways, I don't remember what happened last night. Did I do something to Seraphina? Why did she look all red when I woke up? Also, who brought me home?

She made a shrugging pose, [Ehhh, I mean, nothing hot happened per se...but I ain't telling what you said to her though.]

What do you mean by that?

Ivy went silent and started whistling.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT!?

[You’re cute when you’re panicking.]

I am NOT panicking, I’m—

[You’re panicking.]

Ivy, I swear on everything, if you—

[Oh, look, he’s promising air now. He’s guilty. Hey everybody, guilt—]

WHO is “everybody”?

[The voices in YOUR head.]

…But, you’re in my head.

[Exactly. It’s a shared space. Rent’s due on the first, by the way.]

Aric pinched the bridge of his nose. Just please tell me. Tell me I didn’t say anything stupid.

[Define “stupid.”]

…If it involves me, Seraphina, and any form of undressing—

[Oh, no no no. Nothing like that.]

Thank God—

[But you DID drunkenly call her “Mommy.”]

Aric froze. The pen fell from his hand. “…No.”

[Yes.]

“No.”

[Yes.]

“NO!”

[I even replayed it twice for myself because it was that funny. You wanna see it?]

Aric’s soul left his body for a brief moment and he put his hand over his face as defeat,

“Oh my God...”

[Relax. She didn’t even react badly.]

“She looked at me while blushing, Ivy!”

[Yeah, because you were looking at her as if you love her!]

Aric slammed his head onto the table. “Kill me. Kill me now. WHY AM I LIKE THIS!?”

He groaned into the wood. “And who brought me home?”

[Oh, that was fun. You don’t remember?]

“…No.”

Ivy decided to mess with him further, Well, if your perfect memory couldn't remember this...I think I should have a little fun.

[Picture this: You, clinging to Seraphina’s arm like a lost toddler, insisting she take you home because and I quote ‘only my wife knows where my pillow lives.’]

Aric’s eyes went wide. “…I—WHAT?”

[Oh, and then you made grabby hands at her hair because you wanted to ‘pet the shiny.’]

Aric covered his face. “…I’m moving to another continent. I am moving to Thorin's place later. I no longer can look at Seraphina the same way.”

[Do it. I’ll still be here.]

“You are a parasite.”

[I prefer ‘emotional support.’]

Claire hesitated near the doorway. She clutched a leather-bound book tightly to her chest. She could hear the sound coming from the hall and felt odd hearing Aric talking to himself.

Is he talking to himself again?

She opened the door and bowed,

"Lord Vayne." Claire began, "I... I brought this for you. It's yours."

Aric looked up from the stack of documents he'd been reviewing and offered her a warm smile.

“Claire, how many times do I have to tell you? Call me Aric. And thank you for bringing it back.”

She flinched slightly but nodded, placing the book gently on the table.

I really can't get used to this 'Aric' person being inside Lord Vayne...

“I-I-I didn't mean to keep it.” Claire stammered, wringing her hands together.

“But it's just that, you weren't coming back for months so it was just sitting there...”

“It's fine. Plus, it's not your fault for something like this. I should be the one apologising to you.” Aric assured her, opening the book. His brow furrowed as he flipped through its pages, each filled with neatly written entries detailing the desires of those who lived within Ashwick Estate.

Claire: A piano.

Aric glanced up at her, “Why a piano, Claire?”

Her cheeks flushed red and she fidgeted under his gaze. “It's silly, really. Nobles always seem to have them, don't they? They play music that fills entire halls. But...someone like me could never afford something like that.”

Aric leaned back in his chair, Music. Something aspirational yet deeply personal. No wonder she wants it. I guess owning a piano during this time period is a luxury few could even afford and she seems excited about it.

“There's nothing wrong with wanting beauty in your life, Claire. In fact, I think everyone deserves it. I'll make one for you when we get back. I'll make one so good that even nobles wants it.”

Claire’s lips parted as if to respond, but emotion seemed to choke the words. She quickly bowed again.

“Thank you, Lord Va- I mean, Lord Aric...You don't have to do this...it's just a silly-”

Aric put his finger on his lips, “Shh. I will do it okay? I will also grant everyone's wishes here as well.”

Aric stood up and held the book, “You should be going now. I heard the cleanup will be awhile. I would like to help you all but I am busy figuring out our finances. I'm sorry for that.”

“It's okay Lord Aric! You are already helping us so much and did everything as well. It's the least we could do. I will be taking my leave now!”

She backed toward the door, almost bumping into it in her rush to leave. She bowed deeply and left the hall.

Aric sighed while looking at the closing door, “At least she didn’t call me ‘Lord Vayne.’”

[Yeah, it's an improvement for sure. But I'm sure she heard you speaking to yourself and thought you have a loose screw somewhere.]

“I do not—”

[Nah, you do.]

Aric walked back to his seat, You know, you could’ve let that be a wholesome moment.

[I did! I only heckled you a little bit. That’s me being respectful.]

That was respectful?

Ivy laughed a little and touched her curves, [Also, if you really want to impress Claire, forget the piano. Build her a full-on concert hall.]

Ivy.

[What? Go big or go home.]

He sighed in defeat and decided to just keep himself busy. You know what? Nevermind. Also, you wearing that is so distracting. I’m a man, you know.

[Oh, I know.] She leaned forward and showing off her barely covered boobs,

[That’s why I’m doing it.]

************************************************************

Later that afternoon, Thorin and Lira joined Seraphina and Aric in the common area at the inn.

“So,” Thorin began, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the table, “the Crown has accelerated their arrival. They'll be here any day now.”

Seraphina's expression remained impassive, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

“Any day huh? I need to prepare a way to handle the crown. But how did you know they are close by?”

"My magic told me so." Lira added dryly while covering her left eye as if to show how she did it,

While they were discussing, Aric was figuring out who was behind this.

This smells like Callista’s work. From the memories I got, the royal city is so far away that it takes a month at the minimum to get to Ashwick...If they are already here, they must have use magic.

Hmmm. If Callista is still in Ashwick, there's little to no way for her to contact if she is that far. So either she planned this even before coming to Ashwick or she somehow informed them from here.

Aric put his hand on the table and covered his mouth,

She thrives on chaos, always picking sides to ensure she comes out on top. If the Crown wins, she’ll cozy up to them. If we somehow manage to pull this off, she’ll claim victory alongside us since she has a stake in the inventions.

Thank God that Seraphina and Thorin stopped my ass before from handing over the rights. It would've been really bad if the ownership wasn't with us...

Ivy sighed, [You got that right.]

If she didn't learn her lesson before, this would just be stupid from her part. But if she did learn, that means her plans are really layered this time and I need to find a way for all of us to get out of this while not having her over our shoulders.

Vayne got this debt to pay off some of the debt he had with Callista while also giving some to Seraphina but this has now snowballed out of control and the interest with the original would probably take everything she has.

He looked at Seraphina who was talking to Lira and Thorin,

I need to use myself to make sure that she can be debt free once and for all.

Seraphina turned to Aric and met his stare. She suddenly got an idea,

“I believe I’ve devised a plan. However, it requires your full cooperation, Aric.”

Aric raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What did you have in mind?”

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.

“The Crown will demand payment. Instead of outright refusing or worse, handing over everything we have, we can use your inventions as leverage."

“You want to barter them?”

“Not exactly.” Seraphina clarified, “We are going to lie to them. We make them believe we’re willing to sell our technology to anyone except them. Every blueprint, every prototype goes to every other noble but them if they try to force repayment.”

Thorin whistled lowly. “That's assuming, they forced repayment?”

Seraphina lifted her fingers, “Yes. But if they are willing to negotiate, we can use Aric's inventions to pay off the debt and potentially, even get some money from them.”

Lira tilted her head thoughtfully. “And what happens if they call our bluff? What then?”

“That’s where Aric come in.” Seraphina said, turning to Aric. “If they refuse to negotiate, we pay off the debt in full just like we say we would but only after securing a binding agreement that bans them from ever accessing your work. Essentially, we buy ourselves freedom while crippling their ability to compete technologically.”

Everyone was humming in thought.

“It's a good plan...but there's a flaw.” Aric said after a few minutes of silence.

Aric twirl his finger, “We are assuming this plan would work if the Crown plays nicely and becomes a good boy to us. But realistically, the Crown has more power than we do. They are the royal family after all. Although the Arkwright's matches them, we are in a disadvantage at the moment with this debt.”

“So, let's assume the worst and negotiations failed along with the bluff. They can do so by just telling that they don't see the worth in my inventions even though every one here can say otherwise. Plus, I'm just saying that the accelerated arrival is 99% caused by Callista so if she somehow informed them, that means the Crown might already have an idea of what my inventions could be.”

Seraphina, Thorin and Lira were impressed by this.

“Huh.” They said in unison.

“Anyways, the bluff and negotiations isn't bad but we need a way to solidify it without leaving a glaring hole in the plan.”

Lira was the first to speak, “So what do you suggest?”

Aric chuckled, “It's easy. Since the Crown should already know what the technology is, he would also know that I am the reason it could go further. They aren't idiots. So if he does threaten us, I can always play my own card and blackmail them.”

Lira arched a brow. “And what exactly do you have to blackmail them with?”

He gestured toward the table and tapped on it, “Simple. They can’t recreate certain things without me explaining how to… or without dwarven labour which brings me to my next point.”

He inclined his head toward Thorin. “Thorin here is our good friend. Without the dwarves, they can’t get this technology quickly. No matter how much money they throw at it, the bottleneck remains.”

Thorin gave a satisfied grunt, clearly pleased at being considered a strategic asset,

“Usually I would hate being an asset but in this case, I am quite okay with it. I hate the royal family and I wouldn't want them to get my friends too.”

Aric now took out a big paper and started writing, “Now to add on Seraphina's plan, there's a few things we must do. One of them is...”

Thank you for reading Reincarnated into a Failed Marriage.

Any comment, suggestion, correction or anything is appreciated.

Patreon has advanced chapter now where Aric and Seraphina are busy dealing with the crown.

See you on Monday or maybe this Friday for a new chapter. We'll see, so stay tuned.