20th April. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the heavy velvet curtains of Aric's room, casting golden streaks across the floor.
Aric stirred awake, blinking groggily at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above him. His bare chest rose and fell with each breath.
He stretched, yawning loudly, before noticing something hovering near the foot of his bed.
It was Ivy.
Her interface appeared as a floating golden notification screen, but today however, she had decided to 'dress' herself in a slutty cheetah bikini with her red hair tied in a high ponytail, and amber eyes glinting mischievously.
[Good morning, sleepyhead.] Ivy's voice echoed cheerfully in his mind.
[Don't worry. I made sure no one walked in while you were drooling on your pillow like a baby.]
Aric groaned, rubbing his face with both hands. Seriously? This early?
[Oh, don't act so surprised. You know I'm always here for you—literally and figuratively.]
[Besides, look at this gorgeous view!] As she show off her curves in the bikini.
Before he could retort, Ivy tilted her virtual head, flashing him a playful grin.
[But seriously, stop staring at me too much, though I am sure you appreciate the view. You should really look to your left.]
Confused, Aric turned his head—and froze.
Sitting casually on a chair beside his bed was none other than Seraphina. Her eyes locked onto his with an intense curiosity that sent chills down his spine.
She wore a pristine white gown adorned with intricate lace patterns, emphasizing her statuesque figure. And those breast...well, they didn't exactly help calm his racing heart or his morning wood.
For a moment, neither spoke. Aric's mind raced, trying desperately to piece together how long she'd been there—and why. Meanwhile, Seraphina simply watched him with genuine curiosity.
What the hell is she doing here?!
[Well at least for once, she is looking at you without hate or disgust.] Ivy chimed in smugly.
[Looks like you got some explaining to do.]
As she sat quietly observing him, Seraphina couldn't help but marvel at the changes in her husband—or rather, the man currently occupying Vayne's body.
Since waking up, he'd behaved differently. Gone was the reckless gambler who squandered fortunes and slept around indiscriminately. The new Vayne is someone thoughtful, innovative, and considerate.
Not to mention yesterday's encounter with Callista.
If what Callista said was true—and their stories aligned—then Vayne had somehow managed to resist her seduction attempts. Twice. Callista Duval. Rejected. By him .
It boggled her mind.
Was it possible that the assassination hadn't merely erased memories but awakened something dormant within him?
Whatever the truth, Seraphina resolved to keep her guard up.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Aric found his voice.
"You scared the crap out of me." he muttered, clutching the blanket instinctively to cover himself.
"What are you doing here?"
Seraphina raised an eyebrow,
"My apologies, 'dear'. Did my presence give you a heart attack? Should I have worn another woman's face instead?"
Aric winced inwardly. Her use of "dear" dripped with sarcasm.
Still, he forced himself to remain calm.
"No wife." he replied evenly. "I'm just not used to waking up with an audience."
"Oh?" Seraphina leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand,
"Then tell me, 'darling'—why exactly are you half-naked right now? From what I heard from the maids, last night a very 'hot' woman knocked on your door. I heard she was very demanding."
Aric blinked, surprised by her directness.
This was Seraphina. Subtlety wasn't exactly her style. I'm sure she referencing about Callista.
"Well I kept my dick in my pants because I wasn't interested in Callista." he answered bluntly.
"Why would I entertain her when I already humiliated her enough? Besides, twice seems sufficient and before you ask why I sleep half naked. It's a habit of mine."
Seraphina stared at him, searching for any hint of deception. To her frustration, his expression remained sincere.
Their stories matched perfectly.Callista had indeed described being rejected, even mocked, during her attempt to seduce him.
Well I guess I should hear him out now from how stupidly honest this Vayne is.
"Let's assume, for argument's sake, that I believe your little amnesia story." she said coolly.
"What else do you plan to accomplish once we reach Callista's estate? Surely, humiliating her further isn't your only goal."
Aric shrugged, leaning back against the headboard.
"Depends. Installing the generator and power grid takes priority. After that…who knows? Maybe I'll invent something else to be petty with her."
Seraphina rolled her eyes,
"Childish but fine. Just remember—we're guests in her territory so don't do anything reckless."
Aric nodded and Seraphina satisfied for now, stood up and walked over to his wardrobe. Opening the tall cabinet doors, she scanned the rows of meticulously tailored suits, shirts, and trousers. Each garment screamed wealth, designed to impress even the most discerning noble.
Selecting a sleek black-and-blue suit paired with a crisp white shirt, she held it up for inspection.
"Wear this," she instructed, tossing the outfit onto the bed. "and pack similar designs. We leave in an hour."
Aric nodded, though his attention shifted briefly to the tray on his dressing table.
A meat sandwich accompanied by steaming tea sat untouched, courtesy of Claire's diligent service.
Noticing his glance, Seraphina smirked knowingly.
"No alcohol today, 'love'?"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"No, I don't feel like it plus I prefer tea these days. Clears the mind better."
Her gaze softened ever so slightly,
"Hmm. Well, at least you haven't completely forgotten how to function without liquor."
Aric sighed inwardly as he glanced at Seraphina, who still hadn't left his room despite him standing up to grab a towel and shower.
"Uh…" Aric began cautiously, clearing his throat.
"Do you…wanna go? I kinda wanna bathe in private."
Seraphina turned slowly to face him,
"What if I want to see you bathe naked?" her voice dripped with mockery.
It wasn't genuine curiosity—it was a test, a jab to gauge his reaction.
Before Aric could respond, however, the door swung open without warning. Lady Callista sauntered in, clad in another scandalous ensemble—this time a sheer red robe that left little to the imagination.
"Well, well." Callista purred, her eyes looking at Aric and Seraphina.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Seraphina stiffened visibly,
"Yes." she snapped coldly, stepping forward until she blocked Callista's view of Aric entirely.
"And I suggest you leave before I decide to try out new methods on you."
Callista chuckled softly, tilting her head,
"Darling, there's no need to be jealous. Your husband is quite irresistible, isn't he? Perhaps you'd like me to join some fun?"
Aric groaned internally, feeling the temperature in the room drop several degrees as Seraphina's aura shifted menacingly.
Without hesitation, she grabbed Callista by the arm and dragged her out of the room.
"Ahh〜" Callista gasped sharply, clearly not expecting such forcefulness. The sound carried undertones of arousal.
"My, my〜" she breathed, recovering quickly.
"I never knew you were so possessive, Seraphina. How sexy…"
"God you're actually worse than him." Seraphina hissed, her voice low and venomous.
With a wave of her hand, her tendrils close the door shut behind them, leaving Aric alone in stunned silence.
Well, that escalated quickly. Gotta thank Seraphina for that one.
Ivy chimed in dryly, [Looks like someone doesn't appreciate sharing you.]
Aric shook his head, muttering under his breath,
"I know right she hates me but doesn't want any women near me."
[Careful, she might hear you. ]
After finishing his bath and dressing in the sleek black-and-blue suit Seraphina had chosen, Aric emerged from his chambers looking every bit the refined nobleman.
He exuded an effortless charm that drew glances from passing servants—including Claire, who happened to be sweeping the hallway outside.
"Claire." Aric called softly, gesturing for her to approach.
He conjured up a pen and notebook using Creation Magic and handing them to her.
He said kindly, forgetting to use Vayne's persona,
"Write down whatever you or the other staff want. My magic can create almost anything within reason. If anyone's afraid of poison or harm, tell them I'll test it myself first."
To demonstrate, he created a bar of chocolate and breaking off a piece and eating it casually.
"See? Harmless." He handed the rest to Claire while swallowing his piece.
"If you're still scared, throw it away but you saw me eat it. It's safe."
Claire nodded shyly, clutching the items tightly.
"T-Thank you, sir," she murmured, scurrying off to spread the word among the staff.
Satisfied, Aric made his way to the grand entrance hall, where Seraphina, Evelyn, Penelope, and Callista awaited near the awaiting carriages.
Each carriage gleamed with polished wood and gold accents, pulled by four majestic horses adorned with plumes of feathers dyed royal blue. Liveried footmen stood nearby, ready to assist with luggage and boarding.
I should make a bike and car one day. Though the fuel part is going to be a nightmare.
Seraphina wore a stunning gown of deep emerald green, embroidered with golden thread that caught the sunlight. Callista opted for a daring scarlet dress with a plunging neckline, cinched tightly at the waist to accentuate her curves. Her black heels clicked audibly against the marble floor, drawing attention to her confident stride.
Penelope was in a modest yet stylish maid's uniform of navy blue and white, her hair tied neatly into a bun and Evelyn donned armour-like attire—an intricate blend of form-fitting leather and chainmail, practical yet fashionable.
Servants hurried to secure luggage atop the vehicles, while dwarves stationed nearby waved farewell, wishing the group luck on their journey.
Well off we go to the Duval's Estate. Aric thought to himself excitedly as he can finally see the world beyond the Arkwright