Well, crazy week we live in huh? 

Also to add on, the novel was trending on scribble which is insane LMAOOO. Like how bro, it was never trending once and then it was. 

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

The room was silent. Thorin's face and Lira's face were perplexed to say the least.

This was not part of the plan. Lira thought. Aric told her not to double down on the threat, but it seems like Seraphina has decided to do things her own way.

Hah… this girl.

Originally, I was supposed to lend legitimacy. To show that the elves stood behind the Arkwright's, nothing more. But now… I have to find a way to reel this conversation back before it collapses entirely.

Lira touched Seraphina's shoulder, "Please, excuse us for a moment."

Seraphina didn't resist as Lira guided her toward the far wall, away from the table. The duchess's face was calm, but Lira could feel the tension radiating from her arm.

Once they were out of immediate earshot, Lira dropped the politeness.

"Are you crazy? Did you lose your mind?" she hissed. "We're here to get you out of debt, not snowball this negotiation into hell!"

Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "I know what I'm doing."

"Well right now, you're going a little out there." Lira shot back. "Aric specifically told you not to play with fire like this. We don't know for certain what their cards are, and dropping a threat like that is..."

Seraphina countered back, "They needed to be shaken. If I looked weak, they would have pushed harder. I reminded them I'm not some pawn to be ordered around."

"And what if they call your bluff? If the king takes you at your word and believes it? not only would you be at the back foot financially but you would be making enemies of nearly everyone in this kingdom. You can't wield a blade at someone's throat and expect them to smile back at you. A threat cuts both ways."

Seraphina sighed, "So what? Am I just supposed to bow my head and accept humiliation?"

"You're supposed to negotiate; we're here to negotiate. You have your pride in the family name, I understand, but you can't just do that. Listen, for what it's worth, we still have the upper hand as we hold all the keys still."

Lira said firmly. "We still have leverage as your threat works as a double-edged sword; it could be the reason the king walks away with the money and officially becomes your enemy or it could be the reason we win this."

"But either way Seraphina, we've may have just closed half of our options and we are maybe back to square one again."

Seraphina stared at the table where the King and Queen sat whispering to each other. Finally, she exhaled through her nose, calming herself down.

"…Fine. I see your point. But I won't retract what I said. That would show weakness."

"Don't retract it." Lira advised, "But don't repeat it either. Leave it hanging. Let them stew on it, wonder how far you'll go. But from here on, we steer toward cooperation, not threats. Understood?"

Seraphina gave a slow nod.

Meanwhile, at the head of the table, Alice leaned toward her husband. Her expression was controlled, but her voice was tone was filled with disappointment.

"Dear, are you intentionally being dense?"

William's brows knitted. "Huh? Dense? She spat in our face. If we let that slide, she'll think we are weak."

"And what of our kingdom? What of our people? Making the Arkwright's our enemy when they hold technologies that even the dwarves approve...is suicide. You heard her. If she follows through on that threat, we are going to make enemies with a person who has technologies this world has never seen before and a person who has earned Princess Lira's approval."

William clenched his fists on the table. "…You'd have me let her mock me?"

"I'd have you think like a king, not a prideful boy. Pride won't protect our borders when Seraphina decides to fight us. Did you not see Thorin's face? Even the dwarves are aligning with them. And Lira is sitting at their side. What does that tell you?"

William's teeth ground together, his pride and reason warring visibly across his face. Alice softened slightly, placing a hand over his.

"Listen. If Seraphina's words were a bluff, then we turn it against her. Force her to rethink. If they weren't, then we must find common ground before she pushes us over a cliff we can't climb back from."

Seraphina eventually came back to the table with a new resolve while the king and queen looked prepared.

William was the first to speak. "I apologise for my words earlier. We would never dishonour our bond with the Arkwright's, nor make enemies of those we respect. You said there was a deal. Let us hear it."

Seraphina was caught off guard. She had expected more resistance but she was fine with this outcome as well.

"Yes. As I stated before nicely, I will say it again. I want the debts erased in exchange for shared access to our technologies."

William inclined his head. "Forgiving gold is no small matter. But… yes. I believe it may be worth the price if you can tell me a couple of things."

"Sure, go ahead. What is it that you want to know?"

William put his hands on his chin, "Who is this Aric?"

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

[You know, I could snap your memory of Callista away from your head. You were shaking like a motherfucker.]

Ivy's voice carried genuine concern, but the impact of her words was undercut by her outfit. She was wearing what might generously be described as a navy suit. Except the jacket was cut so low it looked like you could see her areolae, and the skirt was so short it may as well have been a belt.

The ensemble seemed engineered purely to distract. And, unfortunately, it succeeded.

Aric sighed, looking away with a heavy exhale. For Christ's sake… why are you dressed like that right now? We're knee-deep in shit, and you look like… like an erotic secretary auditioning for a cabaret.

[Because it works.]

Works?! Aric spun toward her, drawing curious glances from passersby. Do you even hear yourself? We are on the verge of another crisis, and you show up looking like—like—

He flailed a hand at her. This!

Ivy smiled, entirely unbothered. [You're mad, but notice how you're not trembling anymore? Notice how you stopped replaying that little mental slideshow of trauma? This cosplay of mine resets you. Forces your brain to short-circuit.]

[Instead of spiraling into another flashback, you're stuck yelling at me about my tits and ass, which is healthier. Really. You want more boobies?]

Aric's retort died on his lips. His chest had been tight only minutes ago, Callista's words replaying like knives. Yet now? That suffocating grip had eased.

He dragged a hand over his face. Ugh. Fine. You're right. Now, can you please put on something less—

[No.]

Why not? 

[Because I like disturbing you.]

Their bickering carried on, half-exasperation and half-relief, until Aric's shoulder brushed hard against someone else's. The contact was ordinary enough, except the presence that followed was anything but.

The man he’d bumped into was eye-level with him, equally tall and broad-shouldered, yet carrying himself with a composure that rivaled Aric’s soldierly discipline.

His eyes were a sharp blue and he studied Aric with an intense gaze. His face was so handsome that it would make any woman or man fall for him.

Aric froze. He didn't recognize this man at all. Not from his own memories, not even from Vayne's. And yet the stranger looked at him as though greeting an old rival.

The man's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Hello there, Lord Vayne."

Ivy went silent.

“…What did you just call me?” Aric asked slowly.

The man tilted his head in amusement and had a smile that made Aric shiver,

“Lord Vayne. Surely you haven’t forgotten me already.”

Why the hell am I getting the chills from this man? Who the fuck is he?

Aric kept his tone steady. “If we’ve met, my memory must be failing me. Who are you?”

The man didn’t flinch at the hostility. Instead, he extended his hand as though greeting an equal.

“Theodore, the first Prince of Narxuia. Eldest son of King William and Queen Alice.”

Theodore. I should remember that name. He has a smile that gives me the chills, but his looks...Jesus.

Why the fuck is he that handsome?

Kachak!

...Are you kidding me, Ivy?

[Hey, it's not always that you see someone who looks like that.] She said while snapping another shot.

[Like damn, you're a pretty boy, but he might just be more beautiful than you.]

Aric’s eyelid twitched. Not. Helping.

Aric shook Theodore's hand. Theodore kept his smile at him, “I must admit, I’m surprised. I expected to find you at my parents’ table, leading the talks. Yet here you are, on the sidelines. Why is that?”

Aric kept his tone flat. “I’m not the negotiator. That’s Seraphina’s role.”

“Hmmm. Because the rumours I’ve heard paint you as the innovator, the slayer of demons, and the one who got the dwarves to work with humans. If such a man were present, why would he not be at the heart of the table?”

Aric frowned inwardly. Goddamn it, this is one of those manhwa flags, isn’t it? The blonde rival prince archetype who either becomes your best bro or your final boss.

Well, my best bro is Thorin, but the point stands. He fits all the shit. Unrealistic face and body, rich as fuck, and probably has powers stronger than mine. He's here talking to me, trying to get something.

Probing for weakness, a thread to pull. Hmmm.

Aric kept staring at him, trying to figure out why he was here.

I don't get it, but the fact that he is here, maybe Callista is the one behind this as well. Is there a connection here? If she really did bring the prince here, that means she had a backup plan, or her original plan is still within her scope.

But two could play cat and mouse.

“Rumours are just that,” Aric said casually. “Rumors. They like to stick titles on people, make them bigger than life. I prefer being useful where I’m needed.”

Theodore studied him for a moment, His aura… It’s potent, but not overwhelming. Could he really have slain a demon alone? It doesn’t add up.

Unless… someone stands behind him. Or perhaps he hides his true depth. This man has been a well-known cheater, a person who hates Seraphina and is the reason why they are in this mess.

So for him to be this changed...it's quite the anomaly.

Out loud, he said, “You speak as though you dislike the crown.”

Aric shrugged. “I speak as though I dislike being bored. And politics?”

He made a face. “Boringggg.”

Aric may have sounded calm, but his brain was firing in overdrive. Seriously. Why is he here?

Is this one of those tropes where the First Prince is secretly testing me to see if I’m worthy of his sister’s hand? No wait, wrong manga, plus my reputation besides Ashwick is still in the shit.

Or maybe it’s the political rival trope. He’s supposed to either expose me or recruit me. Shit, I need to figure out which one. If he came by his own accord, what is his game?

If not, then Callista for sure did. If so, what does she know that Vayne doesn't?

Theodore turned around, walked past Aric, but not without speaking for one last time,

“I'll see you in the hall, Vayne. Don't disappoint me.“

Aric let out a quiet laugh, “Haha. You too...“

Shit. I feel like this is going to go zero to hundred real fucking quick.

Thank you for reading Reincarnated into a Failed Marriage.

Thank you as well for supporting me and being patient with me. Any comment or suggestions please feel free to comment. I love replying to yall.

Stay safe out there and don't be divided okay? 

See you on Monday.