The morning sun filtered through the trees in Ashwick's outer city park, painting dappled shadows on the cobblestone paths. Callista strolled leisurely with Marcus trailing a step behind, his posture rigid as always. She glanced around at the townsfolk going about their day—children chasing each other, merchants setting up stalls, and couples sitting by the fountain.
"Everyone here is... happy."
Her sharp eyes scanned the area, her lips curling into a faint sneer as she noticed the same woman trailing her for minutes now.
Seraphina knows I'm here. she thought bitterly. Of course she does. That woman has eyes everywhere. It's irritating. Instead of just confronting me, she lets me roam around while spying on me.
"Why doesn't she just come out and talk?" Callista muttered under her breath.
"All this sneaking around is so unsavoury."
Marcus raised an eyebrow but wisely kept his mouth shut. Still, inside his head, he couldn't help but think,
Hypocrisy much? You're the one who came here in a wig and peasant clothes. You've been hiding in plain sight for days now and snooping around like some burglar.
If anyone here is a hypocrite, it'd be you.
Callista stopped abruptly, turning toward him as if she'd read his mind.
"What?"
"Nothing, Your Grace." Marcus replied smoothly, bowing slightly.
"Just admiring the scenery."
She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously before continuing down the path. As they rounded a corner, she felt the presence nearby.
"Come out." Callista called, "I know you're there."
Silence.
"Before I change the air here and suffocate you, just come out now."
A figure emerged hesitantly from the shadows. Kayla's hands trembled slightly as she clutched a small notebook against her chest.
"Hello there…" Kayla began nervously, taking a cautious step forward.
"I didn't mean to intrude. I was just… gathering herbs and writing about my day."
Callista crossed her arms, "Herbs? At this hour? In these parts of town? Are you dumb or something?"
Before Kayla could respond, the air shifted. A chill ran down Marcus's spine, followed by an overwhelming sense of dread. Even Callista stiffened visibly and instinctively activated her gravity magic.
Behind them stood Seraphina.
Callista slowly turned her head like a robot. When she finally faced Seraphina, she forced a tight smile onto her face.
"Good morning… Seraphina."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly, "Good morning, Callista. Why are you here?"
Callista swallowed hard, trying to mask her discomfort with a fake laugh.
"Can't a duchess take a morning stroll without being interrogated?"
"No." Seraphina said flatly. "Not when said duchess has been lurking around my territory for nearly a week. Like, you could've written a letter to me."
"I doubt you'd reply."
"You're not wrong."
Kayla stood a few meters back now, awkwardly scratching the back of her neck.
"Kayla, go."
"Yes, Duchess." Kayla walked away in haste.
Callista watched Kayla leave, then turned back to Seraphina.
"Well. The real reason I'm here is out of curiosity. About this Vayne beating a demon and not you."
Seraphina studied her carefully. "Curiosity alone doesn't justify your behavior. Spying isn't exactly polite."
"Oh, please." Callista scoffed, crossing her arms again.
"Like you haven't done worse. Besides, I wasn't spying. I was… observing."
"Observing what?" Seraphina pressed. "My people? My town?"
Callista lifted a brow. "Right, let me just apologize for skulking around, and we'll all pretend bygones are bygones."
"I'd like to know how this Vayne or as some folks here call him, Aric, managed to beat a demon." Callista continued.
"And also why you lied. Because there's no way he defeated a high-ranking demon."
"Evelyn," Seraphina said without breaking eye contact, "go to the inn and prepare a room."
Evelyn gave Callista a wary glance, nodded once, and vanished toward town.
Seraphina stepped closer until she stood just a breath away.
"Well. I don't see why I should tell you a damn thing, considering I hate you."
Callista cracked a grin. "Hmm… that's a fair point. I hate you just as much, so we're even."
"Then leave."
Callista held up a finger. "Not so fast."
Seraphina scowled. "What?"
Callista leaned closer to Seraphina's left ear to whisper, "I'm an investor here, remember? And you still owe the Crown quite a debt. That payment's due next month."
"I'm aware."
"Well…" Callista's lips curled into a sly smile. "The Crown Regent's been… let's say, visiting my bed lately. Quite frequently, actually. I can get him to forgive half your debt and grant Ashwick a permanent tariff reduction."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "And in return?"
Callista shrugged. "Just information about Aric. That's all. I want to know what the hell he is. Because from what I'm hearing in town, a demon wielding black flames shouldn't have lost to him. None of this makes sense."
"And if I refuse?"
Callista tilted her head. "Then the Crown comes knocking for full payment next month and then some. And with how thin your coffers are after this rebuild, you might find soldiers tearing down your precious new walls and maybe some fireballs hurled at you."
Seraphina stared at her, fury and calculation warring in her eyes.
Callista continued, "So. You tell me what's going on with your precious Aric… and in return, Ashwick breathes a little easier. Think of it as… good business."
Seraphina clenched her teeth. "I should kill you for blackmailing me."
"Oh, please." Callista scoffed. "Don't act surprised. You'd do the same if our positions were reversed."
"So what's it gonna be? Take my good gesture and come out better, or stay silent and deal with even more problems?"
Seraphina sighed as she turned her back. "I already asked Evelyn to prepare the room. I was hoping for some bullshit from you anyway."
"Oooo, always ready, huh?"
"I've known you since school. Your antics aren't surprising."
CREAK
The door to the room creaked open, revealing a vast space with a king-sized bed against the far wall. On it lay Aric, motionless, his chest rising and falling faintly. The room smelled faintly of herbs and healing salves, evidence of Seraphina's efforts to keep him stable.
Callista stepped inside, her earlier bravado vanishing the moment her gaze landed on Aric.
"So this is him." she murmured, stepping closer.
"The man everyone's talking about. Is he asleep?"
Seraphina remained by the doorway, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"No. He's in a coma."
"Coma? How long has he been like this?"
"Almost a month."
"A month?" Callista repeated, disbelief creeping into her voice. "What happened to him?"
"He died." Seraphina said flatly, "For about an hour. Sebastian or rather, the demon possessing him, impaled Aric during the battle. From what I could tell, he deliberately took the blow and fought until the very end."
Callista's eyes widened slightly. "Fuck…"
"I wasn't fast enough to stop the barrier activation." Seraphina continued,
"By the time I reached him, he was already gone. Dead. I… brought him back with my magic."
"You brought him back? From death? Just like that?"
"It wasn't 'just like that.'" Seraphina snapped, "It took everything I had. Every ounce of mana, every thread of power. And even then, I don't know if it's enough. I don't know if I made the right decision."
Callista studied her for a moment, noting the exhaustion etched into her features.
"So… you feel guilty?"
"Maybe." Seraphina admitted after a pause,
"But I cling to the hope that he'll come back. His body is healed, but his mind…"
She trailed off, shaking her head. "It feels so far away."
Callista turned her attention back to Aric. "He doesn't look like someone who could take down a high-ranking demon. Even with those black flames everyone talks about."
"But he did. There's more to it than just his magic but those are things I can't explain. Things I don't fully understand myself."
Callista arched an eyebrow. "What could be so mysterious that even the great 'Dark Princess' can't explain?"
Seraphina hesitated, then sighed. "For example, he created an explosion capable of corrupting me. It's called the FOAB. Don't worry, I don't know what the hell it means either."
"Wait, wait, wait." Callista held up a hand,
"An attack you couldn't handle? That's saying something."
"Yep. That power pushed me to my limit."
Callista gave a low whistle, genuinely impressed. "Huh. I guess this isn't the same man at all, then, with the way you talk about him. You really care about him, don't you?"
Seraphina stiffened, "That's none of your business!"
"Oh, relax." Callista said, rolling her eyes.
"I'm not judging. If anything, I get it. You're not the type to throw your loyalty around lightly. If you're willing to bring someone back from the dead, they must mean something to you."
"And although I don't know how this Aric came to exist within Vayne. I assume that this man is so different that he's earned your interest."
Seraphina paused, exhaling slowly before continuing.
"Well, for starters, he's not from this world. Aric is another person trapped inside Vayne."
Callista was confused, "I'm sorry, but what? You sure nobody cursed him or did black magic on him when he got ambushed at the gambling house?"
"Positive."
"Huh. That… is something." Callista frowned, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
"I don't believe it, but…"
"Believe what you want. But I'm telling the truth. Since you're blackmailing me for information, this is the info."
She clasped her hands together, "Anyway, I hope you'll keep your word about that discount. Otherwise, I may just destroy your entire estate."
Callista turned her back to Seraphina, "Sure. I may hate you, but I always keep my word."
"Good."
Callista's thoughts drifted as she stared at Aric, her mind racing.
So, this man isn't from this world… No wonder he doesn't act like Vayne did. Hmmm, I guess I have new cards to play now.
I'll delay my visit to the Crown Regent and focus on getting Aric's attention instead. This 'man' or persona, or whatever is still Seraphina's husband. And with the way people have been hailing him as a hero, he must be selfless.
Yeah, he's selfless. If he really is from another world, then shouldering Vayne's mistakes was out of goodwill. I can make him do things for me if I use Seraphina.
Seraphina watched Callista closely, noticing the faint sly grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
She's up to something again. Her wanting to know about Aric must mean she plans to use him somehow.
I have to protect him.
And while these two were silently reading each other's intentions, there was the slightest twitch from Aric's feet.
THUMP.