Had to delay upload due to work but I am back and next chapter will hopefully be out on Friday. (maintaining the advanced chapters for patreon so I am grateful for their patience with me)

MENTIONS OF: Sexual Assault (SA) (no depictions, just mention.)

Thank you to the patrons for supporting me and being patient with me: OdeToAKite, Danielle Warvel, Michael, JewBot9000, Anonymous8418 and Jonathan Newman.

The first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The sleepy guards stationed at the gates of Ashwick stifled yawns as they leaned against their posts, spears resting lazily by their sides. It wasn’t often that travelers arrived this early.

Especially not ones who looked like they belonged in an oil painting.

A carriage rolled into view, its polished wood gleaming under the soft morning light. Gold trim sparkled along its edges, and the horses pulling it appeared to have been brushed by angels themselves.

“Would you look at that?" Gerard muttered to his partner, Benny.

Benny squinted at the approaching shape, taking in the opulence before them.

“Who the hell comes this early? Must be traders.”

“You think we can shoo them away?” Gerard asked hopefully.

Benny shot him a deadpan look. “Unless you've suddenly developed a death wish and a taste for Miss Penelope's punishments, I suggest you follow procedure.”

Gerard groaned. “Procedure? At dawn?”

The carriage drew closer, the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoing ominously. Gerard froze mid-yawn as he caught sight of the crest embroidered on the horses' tack—a symbol he'd only ever seen stitched onto official documents and the labels of outrageously expensive liquor bottles.

“...Benny,” Gerard whispered hoarsely.

Benny frowned. “What?”

“That's... the royal crest.”

For three agonizing seconds, Benny stared blankly. Then his eyes widened. “Oh. Oh shit!”

Gerard straightened so fast he nearly impaled himself on his own spear.

“Why are they here?! Did we do something?! Did you do something?!”

“Don't start blaming me—” Benny's voice cracked. "This is your gate shift!”

Gerard's mouth went dry as the carriage slowed to a halt. The door opened slightly, revealing a glimpse of someone inside. His soul promptly left his body.

“...I'm going to go get the duchess. I believe this is for them!” he blurted, already sprinting off without another thought.

“Wait! Don't leave me here, you bastard! How does this happen to me twice?! First the dwarf prince, now this—” Benny called after him, his voice cracking as the royal entourage came to a full stop before him. The doors swung open, and William, the current King, stepped out followed closely by his wife, Alice, the current Queen.

William wore a black tailored coat with silver buttons, crisp white undershirt and a single medallion of the royal family. Alice wore a long sapphire-blue dress with understated silver stitching and her tiara was slim and elegant.

Benny stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet. “Y-your Majesty! Your Highness!”

William raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Yes, yes, lad. Now, if you'd kindly fetch Lady Seraphina and... Lord Vayne, I believe?”

Benny nodded furiously, bowing so low his nose nearly scraped the ground.

“R-right away, Your Majesty!”

He sprinted off, leaving behind a cloud of dust. William turned to Alice with a sigh.

“Honestly, must everyone be so dramatic?”

Alice chuckled softly, patting his arm affectionately. “Darling, you are royalty. Drama comes with the territory.”

Before either could say more, a figure materialized seemingly out of thin air beside them. Callista stood there, her crimson dress shimmering faintly in the morning light. Her lips curved into a smile that was equal parts charming and predatory.

Marcus appeared at her side, bowing crisply in his black coat.

“Well, well,” Callista purred, inclining her head slightly. “Hello there, Your Highness. I see you brought your lovely wife too.”

William's expression remained stoic, though a bead of sweat trickled down his temple.

What is she doing here? Surely she knows not to show herself without looking suspicious...

Alice, blissfully unaware of the affair, smiled warmly at Callista. “Good morning, Duchess Callista! What a pleasure to see you again.”

Callista inclined her head gracefully. “The pleasure is mine. Though I must admit, I expected someone of your stature to arrive with a bit more... fanfare.”

William cleared his throat. “We prefer discretion, Duchess. Not all matters require pomp and circumstance. Plus, you were the one who urged us to come faster to see this new Ashwick.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Discretion suits you, doesn't it, Your Highness?” Callista's grin sharpened.

“Especially when certain... indiscretions might slip through the cracks.”

His jaw tightened imperceptibly but he gave no outward sign of discomfort.

She wouldn’t dare bring it up now. Not with Alice standing right here.

To his relief, Alice spoke up. “You know, darling, perhaps we should treat the duchess with more kindness. After all, she's been such a loyal supporter of our family.”

William's head twitched slightly at her words. Alice turned to Callista with a bright smile.

“Isn't that right, Duchess?”

Callista's grin widened. “Indeed, Your Highness. 'Loyalty' is a virtue I hold dear.”

Well, your husband isn't exactly loyal to you. He grovels beneath me and lets me do whatever I want.

As Alice and the guards began walking into Ashwick, Callista made sure no one was around and flicked her wrist with her gravity magic around William’s collar. She yanked him close, her nails digging in just enough to draw a bead of pain.

“You may wear the crown,” she murmured, “but don't forget who really holds the power. Be a good boy, or your pretty little wife will know exactly where you've been spending your nights. I suggest you treat me with more respect in public, okay?”

William swallowed hard. “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Of course you don’t, darling.” She released him with a cold smile.

“Go along now, and don’t forget about our deal.”

Marcus, who’d heard every word, felt a cold shiver crawl up his spine. What kind of idiot cheats with a woman who could topple the nation and kill you in your sleep?

Gerard and Benny returned moments later, slightly out of breath, and bowed deeply. They were both in sync,

“Her Grace and husband will be coming soon! They’re preparing the documents. They told me to bring you all to the town hall.”

Alice smiled. “Alright, thank you. Would you please lead the way?”

“Yes, yes!” They both said as they spun on their heel and began escorting them.

William rejoined Alice, with Callista gliding behind like a shadow.

“So,” Callista asked, “you’ve heard about this man’s technology. What do you think?”

“Oh, absolutely!” Alice said before he could answer. “It sounds revolutionary. New industries, untapped markets, endless revenue streams. Why, it could reshape the entire economy!”

William crossed his arms. “Revolutionary, yes. But dangerous. In the wrong hands, it could destabilize the kingdom.”

Callista smirked. “And whose hands would those be, pray tell?”

William’s tone cooled. “Those who prioritize personal gain over loyalty to the Crown.”

“Mmm…” Callista’s hum was low, “Are you referring to Seraphina? Or… yourself?”

William’s eyes narrowed but he said nothing.

That wretched girl has always been a thorn in my side. If I can cripple her while securing the technology, all the better. The Arkwright's will no longer be equals once their coffers are empty. And Seraphina… she’s too rational to start a war.

She’s not the type to start a fight.

Alice, meanwhile, focused solely on the potential advantages. An alliance with House Arkwright would solidify our dominance. Their resources combined with ours would leave no room for rivals.

Moreover, we could further the progress of the people with these inventions.

Callista watched them both with amusement. “Since I’m such good friends, I have some advice for you both.”

She grabbed their attention from that,

“This new Vayne, you shouldn’t underestimate him. He’s… different.”

William scoffed. “Vayne is Vayne. A pathetic excuse for nobility, driven by greed and desperation. A failure is what he is.”

"Sure, we can say that.” Callista replied sarcastically. “But remember, he’s the reason Ashwick even survived. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours of him beating a demon. I assure you, they're true.”

William and Alice exchanged skeptical glances. Still, Alice pressed on. “Surely you’re exaggerating, Duchess. No one is that strong to beat a demon. Let alone, a black flame wielder. Only someone with angelic powers could defeat a demon.”

Callista chuckled darkly, shrugging her shoulders. “Perhaps. But do know that I would never lie to you. That Vayne is dangerous and you should not underestimate him.”

She glanced away, recalling the moment Aric had humiliated her during their meet. She still can feel herself shivering from that moment.

Tch. He got lucky with that one. I’ll get my revenge and make him my pet.

With that, she vanished in the blink of an eye with Marcus, leaving behind only the faint scent of roses. Alice glanced at William, concern flickering across her features.

“What did she mean by that?" she asked softly.

“I don’t know,” William admitted, “but I suppose we should heed her warning.”

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

When Callista reappeared with Marcus, she was greeted by a sight that made her raise an eyebrow.

Hah? Why the fuck is he here? Is he screwing with me?

“Why are you here?” Callista demanded.

Aric, standing there with papers in his hand, waved casually. “Oh, you know. Business, of course.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How would you even know where I live? Or that this is my home?”

Aric gave a low whistle. An afterimage shimmered before a crack of blue lightning flashed beside him. Kayla materialized out of thin air, her stance relaxed but her gaze locked firmly on Callista.

“She’s quite good, isn’t she?” Aric grinned. “You didn’t even notice her. Anyways, she’s the reason we know where you live. And apparently, Evelyn has been keeping tabs on you.”

Marcus stiffened at the sudden presence, his instincts flaring. He studied Kayla and gave a small nod of respect.

Damn. She’s fast.

Kayla met his eyes and inclined her head as respect as well.

Damn. He’s sturdy.

The tension was thick enough to cut, but Aric clapped his hands together, breaking the silence. His fingers twitched from the fear he had for her and his heart was beating fast but he forced a confident smile.

“Let’s just get to the point.” He lifted the papers. “This here… is the deed to your house in Ashwick.”

Callista’s lip curled into a smirk, “If you think you can threaten me with property rights, you’re even dumber than I thought.”

“Threaten you?” Aric scoffed.

[You absolutely sound like you’re threatening her.]

Shut up, Ivy!

“Please,” he pressed on, “that’d be shallow and stupid. And you know I’m not shallow.”

[Well...] Ivy said in doubt but Aric ignored her.

Callista’s smirk deepened. The kind of smirk that said she disagreed wholeheartedly.

Aric wagged the paper and continued, “But here’s the thing. I didn’t just get a copy. I got the original. From you.”

He leaned forward slightly, enjoying the flicker of annoyance on her face.

“You’re probably wondering: ‘Wait, how did he get that? I kept it in a chest with a magic lock only I could open.’ Well, too bad. I’m not telling.”

He tucked the deed back into his coat. “So if I can get this, imagine what else I could find. Little things. Embarrassing things.”

Callista folded her arms. “So what is it you want? Me to acknowledge you’re a little crafty now? Want me to praise you like the good boy you are?”

She made a subtle gesture and the ground trembled. A sudden pull of gravity surged toward Aric. Kayla’s hand flashed up and a wall of electric sparks crackled into place, shredding the invisible force with sizzling arcs.

“I’m sorry, Duchess.” Kayla said calmly. “But I can’t let you harm him.”

The air popped with static. Callista’s eyes narrowed, though her smirk didn’t fade. In fact, she was amused by the display of power.

Aric cleared his throat. “See, this is exactly why I came. Because the thing is, Callista, I don’t want to fight you.”

He stepped closer, staring straight into the eyes, “I want us to work together. Just once. That’s all.”

She didn't say anything but looked intrigued. Aric continued after seeing the change,

“I don’t know how you relayed info to the Crown, but I’ll give you this. It's really impressive. There’s only two ways you could’ve done it. Either you planned this all along, which makes you a terrifyingly good commander or you’ve got some kind of magical communication trick that’s way too advanced for anyone but, say… Seraphina.”

Callista gave a slight nod and seem impressed by his deduction,

“So that tells me something. You’re not just smart, you’ve got connections. Not just nobles, not just merchants, but the underworld too. Because nobody sleeps with the King like you do.”

Marcus stiffened and Callista's eye widened.

“Yes, Callista, I know you fuck the King. That’s why you had the audacity to use that little ‘discount deal’ to blackmail my wife earlier on. Cute move, by the way. But I am a little pissed that you did that when I was in a coma.”

Aric gave a cold look at her but his legs were still shivering a little,

“So here’s the deal. Consider this revenge, sure. But it’s also a gift. All I want is for you to officially back the Arkwright family and our businesses. Sign your name, make it public.”

Callista noticed his legs and decided to use it to her advantage.

He's afraid of me? Oh you little boy.

“And why should I listen to you?” she asked as she touches his leg with her leg,

“What do I gain from helping someone who can barely stand in front of me?”

Aric opened his mouth, but she cut him off,

“You afraid of me? Did mommy hurt you a little too much? You must’ve liked it when I punished you, hmm? Is that what this is? You crawling back for more?”

Vayne’s memories replayed where he was tied up to a chair for hours and endured whipping from her in the name of obedience. Aric's body shivered and felt his chest tightening up. But Aric’s gaze did not falter.

“...If you think I am afraid of you, you're wrong. I will get my revenge on you for touching me without consent but that's for another day.”

Aric manifested the contract and showed her, “One contract. That’s all. Sign it and you secure a piece of history no one else can claim. You won’t just be a duchess. You’ll be the duchess who brokered the first human alliance with the dwarves, the elves, and us.”

He stepped back, gesturing grandly like a showman unveiling a masterpiece. He had regained his composure and on his face was the smuggest, most punchable grin imaginable.

“You’ll leap ahead of every rival noble in the game. Tell me, Callista… why would you pass on the winning move?”

Thank you for reading Reincarnated into a Failed Marriage.

Any comments, suggestions or corrections are appreciated.

Also, welcome to the negotiation arc. The title will stay the same for awhile.

See you on Friday!