Hello there! Welcome to an entire week of me posting. You can also expect some bonus content as well. 

Anyways, this chapter was a treat to write since I could finally relate some of my experience to this novel. I also feel so much free now that Vayne is no longer a plot device and I can have Aric do what I really want.

Thank you to the new patron, JewBot9000.

Thank you as well to the patrons, OdeToAKite, Danielle Warvel and Michael.

Two days have passed since Aric's awakening and while Seraphina was relieved to see him up and working, she couldn't shake the gnawing suspicion that something… off was happening.

Every morning, after Lira extracts the lingering traces of dark mana from Aric's body, a process that left him groggy but otherwise fine, he would vanish almost instantly. Not in some dramatic, cloak-flipping way, mind you.

No, he simply slipped out of the inn like a shadow before Seraphina could even get a hold of him.

So here she was, crouched behind a barrel outside Mira's Bakery with Penelope, Evelyn, and even her teacher, Lira. They were currently hunched over, peeking through gaps between wooden planks like some amateur spy.

It was undignified. Humiliating, even. But Seraphina really wanted to spy on him.

"Your Grace." Evelyn whispered, adjusting her hood nervously as a passerby glanced their way.

"Are we absolutely sure this isn't just paranoia? I mean, Aric is harmless."

Seraphina responded while still peeking,

"Harmless? Harmless does not involve sneaking around town at odd hours, visiting bakeries, and whispering conspiratorially with people who bake bread for a living."

Lira raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the spectacle.

"Seraphina, darling, are you certain you're not overthinking this? From what I've observed, Aric has no interest in anyone else. In fact, if anything, he's rather smitten with—"

"Don't finish that sentence! This is purely investigative work."

Penelope snorted softly, earning a sharp elbow to the ribs from Evelyn.

"Right. Investigative work, your grace."

She lowered her voice to a level only she can hear, "Totally not jealous or anything."

"I am not jealous!" Seraphina hissed. She straightened her body slightly,

"I'm merely curious about what he's doing."

Lira breathed in deeply, "It's probably nothing, Seraphina. That boy is as harmless as a baby. Maybe he's at Mira's place because he's just teaching them new stuff. He is after all not from here and probably misses home food. Perhaps he's simply being thoughtful."

Before anyone could respond, the bakery door swung open and Aric stepped out, clutching a small paper bag. He paused briefly, scanning the street before heading toward the flower shop owned by Kim, one of Ashwick's most cheerful merchants.

"There!" Seraphina pointed dramatically. "He's moving again. Follow quietly!"

The group scrambled to their feet, ducking behind carts, barrels, and unsuspecting townsfolk as they tailed Aric. Their attempts at stealth were less than subtle; several onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, while others suppressed giggles at the sight of four grown women behaving like mischievous children.

Meanwhile, Thorin was around the area, helping Borin fixing stuff. Beth was there too and they were watching this unfolding chaos.

"Well, well." Thorin drawled, folding his arms across his chest.

"Looks like someone's got admirers."

Beth grinned, "Or maybe they're just curious about why Lord Aric keeps disappearing every day."

"Oh, I know why." Thorin replied while winking at them.

"But a dwarf never betrays a secret, especially when it involves cake."

Borin frowned, scratching his beard. "Cake? What kind of cake?"

"The best kind, obviously. Now hush. You're ruining my entertainment."

As the trio watched, Adam approached, looking confused at this whole ordeal,

"Uh… what's going on?" he asked, gesturing to the covert operation unfolding before them.

"Apparently a spy mission." Beth explained,

"Led by Her Grace herself. Apparently, Aric's been acting suspicious lately."

"Suspicious how?"

"He went to Mira's Bakery." Linda said while appearing out of nowhere, frightening Adam and Thorin in the process.

"He's been visiting there frequently for a couple days now. He's also a hot topic for the older women around here but I doubt he's actually doing things like Vayne would've."

Seraphina and her team had reached Kim's Flower Shop. They pressed themselves flat against the wall, peering cautiously through the window as Aric browsed the colourful displays inside.

"What is he doing now?" Seraphina muttered under her breath, squinting for a better view.

Evelyn peeked out, "Oh! He just bought a bouquet of sunflowers. Isn't that sweet?"

"Sweet?" Seraphina echoed, narrowing her eyes.

"Sunflowers symbolize adoration. Who exactly is he adoring?"

Lira sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"For heaven's sake, Seraphina, it's probably for you."

"M-Me? Don't be ridiculous. Why would he buy flowers for me?"

"Because he likes you?" Penelope offered helpfully.

"Enough speculation." Seraphina declared, straightening her posture. "We must continue following him. There's clearly more to uncover."

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

I knew I was being watched. You know that weird feeling? Like when someone's burning holes into the back of your head with that intense stare. And like, although you don't have eyes behind your back, you can pretty much feel it.

Yeah. That.

[Don't look back.] Ivy's voice chimed in, [Just play it cool. Act natural. You're not being stalked by grown women and your wife's teacher. Nope.]

You could've told me sooner. Like yesterday with her being a playboy model and today stalking me like some yandere.

[I wanted to see if you'd crack under pressure.]

...You're insufferable.

[And yet, here I am, still your favourite guide. Anyway, eyes on the prize, Romeo.]

He was currently walking to a secluded area to make something. His fingertips were covered in flour while he gripped his paper bag of flowers.

They're still behind me aren't they?

[Pretty much. Anyways, what are you doing?]

He kept on walking in the alley.

Making a gift for Seraphina since her birthday is tomorrow. And yes before you say it, I am just doing this for the sake of maintaining that image.

Plus, everyone deserves something nice for their birthday...

Aric's mind replayed some memories of Vayne on Seraphina's birthday. Vayne had managed a 'surprised' in his intoxicated state and brought an orgy into her room and was fucking the girls in there.

When Vayne stared at Seraphina who was standing at the door, dropping her roses to the ground, Aric felt pain in his chest.

Even now when recalling that memory, he understands the pain Seraphina went through.

It was the same as me celebrating my birthday alone in my room...No cake. No candles. Just silence and the sound of a ceiling fan turning slow, like it pitied me.

It was one of those days that made you hate being born. Where you start asking dumb philosophical questions like:

"Was I even supposed to be here?" or "Why does it hurt more when people pretend they care?"

And maybe that's why I couldn't get the image out of my head. The one of Seraphina, just standing there in her nightgown, roses slipping from her hand.

It wasn't thrown. It wasn't crumpled. Just… dropped. It was painful to see that. The way her lips trembled for a second then nothing.

The way her face was on the verge of tears but sucked it up and turned around without a word, as if choosing silence was kinder than saying "You ruined this day forever."

She didn't cry nor did she did scream. She just walked away. And for the rest of the night, Vayne kept going. He went to fuck a couple of the noble women there.

He's a monster that destroyed the good perception of her birthday.

[You alright there?] Ivy asked quietly.

Yeah. Just thinking.

[About her?]

About how pain stains a day.

You know what they don't tell you? That once something bad happens on your birthday, like something real bad...you never really celebrate it again.

You never appreciate your day anymore. People try to "fix" it next year like throwing a party or baking a cake or giving you something nice. They say "let's make this one better."

But it doesn't work. It never does.

Because the heart doesn't reset annually like a calendar.

Every time the date comes around, so does the memory. That's how trauma works. It sets up camp in your brain and refuses to leave, even when you roll out balloons, cake, presents, whatever and people sing Happy Birthday off-key like idiots.

Even if they mean well, even if they love you...it still hurts. The memory always finds a way to crawl back.

And that's why Seraphina looked so… empty at her next birthday ball.

Aric closed his eyes and squatted down to create the gift for her. He made sure to use his back to cover their eyesight from seeing what he was making. While he was doing that, he replayed the memory of that ball.

She wore the dress Evelyn picked for her. It was flowy, light blue, like something out of a fairytale. She had her hair up, a few strands loose by her cheek, just the way she used to like it as a child.

And everyone tried. Evelyn smiled beside her. Margurite brought her new tea sets and every staff pitched in for a gift.

The nobles as usual gave their shallow compliments since that's a thing. But not once did she smile.

Not even a fake one.

Aric sighed while concentrating on making her gift with precision and care,

She just nodded politely. Gave brief answers, danced once and then disappeared before the night ended.

Vayne found her later asleep on the couch, still in her dress, heels kicked off, makeup smudged a little from rubbing her eyes. I could still smell the alcohol reeking out of her.

Aric sighed so heavily this time that even the women behind could hear him.

It's wild, isn't it? How something like a birthday that's meant to celebrate your existence can become a date you dread the most.Seraphina may not say it out loud but it's also weird how she never talks about it to anyone despite it being tomorrow.

I know for a fact she doesn't like her birthday.

[You think she remembers it the same way?]

I hope not. I hope she healed from that. I hope she forgot about it and moved on with her life. I hope that she is healed from the things she doesn't talk about...but, no one really forgets the day they stopped celebrating their existence.

So yeah, maybe I am putting too much effort into this stupid gift. Maybe me doing this is just doing whatever I said won't work. Maybe I'm just the same as the people who sing off key 'happy birthday' or someone who bought cake.

Ivy's heart stung a little as she knew he was also talking from experience. She looked at the gift and it had the sparkle of gold with some hints of black.

Maybe it won't erase what Vayne did. But I at least want to try to make her associate her birthday with something positive.

[Well, aren't you a hypocrite?] Ivy said while smiling.

I may be but you know, I at least want to try just a little harder than that man. Even if she doesn't smile tomorrow, even if she doesn't appreciate the gift...

I at least want to leave a mark in her life. I just want her to know someone thought about her.

That someone cared. Well, I guess Evelyn does but well, it doesn't hurt to put one more right?

He stood up and kept the gift neatly into a box.

Aric said aloud as if to tell them where he's going next,

"Well, I'm gonna head back to the bakery now. I wonder how the cake's progress is going."

Seraphina whipped her head around to whisper furiously at the group huddled behind her.

"He knows, doesn't he?"

Lira raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by the entire debacle.

"Of course he does, darling. At this point, even a blind squirrel could figure it out. You've been stalking him like some obsessed concubine."

Penelope stifled a laugh, "Technically, it is kind of romantic."

"It's not romantic! It's-!"

Evelyn sighed, cutting her off, "Your Grace, pardon my rudeness for cutting you off but, maybe we should call it a day. This has gone on long enough. Besides…"

She gestured vaguely at their current position, crouched awkwardly behind a pile of crates,

"…this is getting ridiculous."

Lira nodded while standing up, "She's right. Just go ask him directly what he's doing. He's honest with you, Seraphina. And let's not forget, he's sleeping in the same room as you. If anyone can get answers, it's you."

Seraphina hesitated, torn between curiosity and embarrassment.

"But what if he asks why I was following him?"

Penelope rubbed her face in slight frustration, "Just tell him you were worried about his safety. Or better yet, say you missed him. That always works with men."

Lira rolled her eyes, "Enough dilly-dallying. Either confront him or let it go. Personally, I'd prefer the latter because my knees are killing me after crouching behind these boxes for so long."

Seraphina shot her teacher a glare but reluctantly pushed herself to her feet. Dusting off her dress, she straightened her posture and tried to regain some semblance of dignity.

"Fine. I'll talk to him tonight when we return to the inn. Thank you for following me today, I am sorry if I wasted your time."

"It's no worries. We always like some scavenger hunt anyways."

Evelyn said while grabbing her hand, "Just ask him and he'll probably tell you what he's actually doing. Besides, tomorrow is..."

Seraphina walked immediately as if not wanting to hear the sentence finish,

"Hahaha, yes. Let's go and help Borin!"

Penelope, Lira and Evelyn all sighed in unison.

Lira said while facepalming herself, "She cares about people but never her own feelings. These two are the same side of the coin."

Evelyn and Penelope said in unison, "Yep...that's right..."

Thank you for reading Reincarnated into a Failed Marriage.

Any comment, suggestions, correction or really anything are appreciated. 

Also, thank you for the support yall showing, it's fking insane and I love yall.

Also side note, I may have gotten Seraphina's age wrong but I think I could be right. If I am wrong or right, let me know.