So, we are now 2/3 of the way of Arc 3. I seriously want to thank all of you for your patience and support especially with my state recently.
Because of you guys, the novel was number 1. That's fucking crazy to me cause it's so surreal seeing that number 1 spot being the 2nd novel I ever wrote.
(You can check the picture on patreon or royal/scribble)
I feel blessed and I want to keep writing for yall. Thank you again for being patient and supporting the novel.
Huge thank you to my patrons, OdeToAKite, Danielle Warvel, Michael, JewBot9000, Jonathan Newman, Konrule and Kolonji Francois for always being patient and supporting in what I do.
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The carriages arrived at midnight, and while Seraphina and Aric weren't tired, everyone else was. She ordered everyone to sleep in their own quarters and group up at the dining hall tomorrow. Lira and Thorin slept in the guest room on the second floor, coincidentally, just above Evelyn's room. Penelope would sleep together with her as well.
Evelyn, of course, just patted Lira's shoulder and reminded her that activities at night should be kept mute. Lira got the hint.
It was the next morning, and Seraphina called for everyone to gather in the dining hall. Everyone gathered around the long table, but no one sat despite Seraphina's and Aric's insistence.
Seraphina stood at her seat with Aric to her left and Penelope on her right.
"First," Seraphina began, gesturing toward Penelope, "allow me to formally introduce our newest member of the team. I know some of you have met her already, and I am also sure many of you recognize her from her time serving Lady Callista Duval."
"However, let me be clear: Penelope is no longer bound to that woman or her schemes. She has chosen a new path, one with us, and has proven herself more than capable of stepping into a leadership role."
Here, Seraphina paused, allowing them to whisper among each other. She raised her hand to silence them,
"From this day forward, Penelope will serve as our secretary. She will be placed in a position critical to the smooth operation of House Arkwright. I trust her implicitly, and so should all of you. James, Marguerite. I hope you two will get along with her as you're both heads as well."
"If you ask, why did she get such a big promotion? I will answer that now. She was just a toy to Callista, which many of you know what that means. She wanted to be more than that. I honestly thought she would struggle more in her position, but she has shown she can lead even in high-pressure scenarios. The rebuild in Ashwick took so much teamwork that it wouldn't have been possible without her. So please, treat her with respect."
When the applause subsided, Seraphina moved on to the second topic. The one she knew would raise eyebrows and spark confusion among the staff.
"I am also aware that Princess Lira is here, along with the man himself, Prince Thorin. They're here for a short while. Thorin wants to receive some new invention from my husband, while Princess Lira wants to visit us and do business for a while. I trust that all of you will treat them properly. But that's not the main thing I want to talk about."
She took in a deep breath, "My husband… the man you see standing beside me," she gestured at him,
"Is indeed Vayne Arkwright. The body is that. However…"
"…the mind and soul inhabiting this body are no longer his. They belong to someone else entirely: Aric Lawson."
A collective gasp swept through the room, followed by hushed whispers as the staff struggled to process what they'd just heard.
"This revelation comes courtesy of Princess Lira. According to her and confirmed through my own observations, Aric's soul is the only one currently residing in this body. Yet, due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, he carries all of Vayne's memories and experiences as if they were his own. In essence, while he is not Vayne, he feels as though he committed every action attributed to him."
She paused again, giving the staff time to comprehend the complexity of the situation.
"I understand why this may sound confusing. Believe me, it took me some time to fully grasp it myself. But here's what matters most: the person standing before you is not the same man who caused such pain and suffering to us in the past."
"Whatever I have asked you all to do before and what you all have done…it wasn't Vayne that received but rather, Aric. We…have done many things to him that were not right."
Her admission hung heavy in the air. For several moments, no one spoke and looked down in guilt.
Finally, Seraphina continued, "I won't lie to you. I still struggle with this reality myself. There are days when I look at him and all I see is Vayne. Days when old wounds reopen, reminders of everything we endured because of him. There are times when I want to grab him and throw him across the world just for the heck of it, but then…"
She glanced toward Aric, her expression softening, "Things changed. I've changed. Some of you have changed. So, please treat him with respect now as well. Release the uncertainty and fear in your heart. This is Aric Lawson, a man from the world 'Earth'."
Her words elicited murmurs of understanding from the staff, many of whom nodded in agreement. They, too, had witnessed this transformation at Ashwick. Whether through Aric's tireless efforts to rebuild Ashwick or his genuine concern for those around him.
"But this journey isn't easy for any of us," Seraphina concluded,
"It requires patience, forgiveness, and a willingness to move forward together. So I ask each of you: can we do that? Can we embrace this new chapter? Not just for ourselves, but for the future of House Arkwright?"
When Seraphina finished speaking, all eyes turned to Aric. He hesitated for a moment, visibly uncomfortable under the scrutiny of so many people. His hands trembled faintly at his sides. But then he took a deep breath,
"I'm not good at speeches. But I'll try my best."
"I am not going to repeat what Seraphina just said. We also have a lot of time for me to tell you all about the place I'm from. But just as a start."
He raised his right hand to his chest and created a comedy book. He made sure the language was translated into the language of this world.
I'm just glad they understand English. I would've been screwed if it were something different.
Ivy scoffed. Her outfit was normal this time and she popped out of the notification window,
[Well, technically. They speak many languages. You just got lucky with the language of this part of Narxuia. But, I'm sure Lira can teach you the many languages they speak.]
Later, Ivy. I have a lot of gifts to make.
She smiled, [You got that right.]
Aric spoke, "Alden? Can you come here?"
Alden, who was at the very back, started to squeeze through to get in front.
"Excuse me. Excuse me. Sorry."
Aric gave the book to him once he came out of the crowd,
"You asked for a book that will make me laugh until I'm old. I cannot say that this book will always make you laugh until you're old, but it is pretty funny to me. If you want new books like this, please ask, and I will make them for you."
Alden took the book with a deep bow, which made Aric flustered and wanted him to straighten up immediately, but Seraphina pinched his waist. Alden immediately blended back into the crowd and Aric coughed,
"I have all of your wishes. I will grant all of them the best I can. This is my way of making things right with all of you. Some of you may think, 'well, you didn't do it, so why are you doing this?'"
He chuckled a little, "I've heard that line so many times now. I just want everyone here to be my friend or at least be on good terms with me. It's tiring walking around eggshells, you know?"
The moment Aric finished speaking, the room erupted into applause. At first hesitant, the clapping quickly grew louder, more enthusiastic, until the entire hall vibrated with the sound of approval. One by one, the staff approached him. They extended their hands, shaking his hand firmly and thanking him for everything he had done. Each interaction made Aric's eyes more glassy.
"Aric." Marguerite said while clutching his hand tightly. "Thank you for everything. I know what you did for our lady. You're a good man."
"Vayne—er, sorry, Aric." Darius corrected awkwardly as he patted Aric's shoulder.
"You've changed things for the better. We won't forget it. You made my cooking a thousand times better, and no amount of thank you can express how I feel."
Aric smiled back at him, "Thank you for believing in me when few did at the time."
Darius gripped his shoulder and side hugged him, "No alcohol still, right? Hahaha!"
Aric patted his back, "Nope."
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It was night now, and Aric was tired from the training he had with Lira. His arms were bruised as he trained against her, and he was lying down in his own room.
[Well, training would be a generous word for you. She beat your ass! HAHAHAHAHAHA.]
Aric covered his eyes with his arm.
[Aww. Why are you looking away?]
Nothing, Ivy. I'm just tired. He recalled his training where he was thoroughly outclassed in physical and magic.
I know training is important, especially with my powers and my manaheart, but seriously, she could've gone easier on me.
She made a slushie and drank, [I mean. You did ask her to train you after that fight, so deal with it.]
Aric mimicked her mouth movement to annoy her and rolled his eyes.
CLICK
The light above his head turned on, and it got into his peripheral vision.
Who's there?
Aric raised his arm slightly and opened one eye. He saw Seraphina leaning against the doorframe, dressed in her nightgown. Her hair was in a ponytail, and she looked like she had just gotten out of a shower.
"Did you forget?" she asked.
Aric sat up halfway, ruffling his messy hair in the hopes of it being proper.
"I didn't forget. I'm just… sweaty." he muttered, "Didn't want to walk into your room smelling like… like a wet sock."
Her mouth opened a little but she didn't say anything. She knew it was a lie,
"Mm." She hummed, tapping a finger idly against the wooden frame.
"How considerate of you, Aric."
She walked towards him and lay on his chest.
"Hey, Sera! I'm sweaty! Now you will stink too."
She moved around her head, "That's fine. I can always shower another time."
Aric was flushed and embarrassed. He was trying to avoid sleeping together or at least delay as much as he could but she obviously didn't care about that.
"I never asked before, but how do the Earth people love?"
Aric regained his composure from that question, "How do we love?"
"Yeah. I mean…for us, it's like going on walks or going to taverns. If we like each other enough, we meet up in secret, send letters, and buy stuff. Usually, it's the men buying the women. And then, we meet the parents if they're alive and gain their blessing and get married."
"How is it for you?"
Aric touched her hair and played with it gently, "It's different in many ways. The way we meet, the way we talk. Some of us meet our love through normal means like a coffee place, a food place, a library, or even school. Some of us meet them through unconventional means, like a funeral or dating apps that are basically just speed dating. But the fundamentals never change."
"The way you love and the way the Earth loves…is still the same. Just like how you secretly meet up, we also do that. You make sacrifices and risk meeting your partner. Like climbing on walls to see them from a window. Late-night calls while making sure your parents never hear them."
He twirls her hair on his finger gently, "It's also the same for us to do anything for our loved ones. We would rather die for them if it means they get to live, and I'm sure you can understand that. Buying stuff for your partner is the same on Earth as well. We would rather spend every dime on them than ourselves. There's beauty in that, despite how stupid it sounds."
"Spending your paycheck entirely for your partner and seeing them happy…is worth it. Of course, on Earth, women also do that. Not just men but there are also millions of others ways we show our love that are the same here. Cooking for them, baking for them, cleaning for them. Making sure things are well even without them around. Protecting them from the rain."
"Doing taxes together, reading together, gardening, listening to one another…"
He scoffed while still playing with her hair, "Some of us have bad parents, so if they love each other enough, we run away and get married somewhere else. Maybe it's uncommon here but like how you want to gain blessings, some of us on Earth get approval but some don't. But, at the end of the day, if you love each other enough, you will do anything for them."
"I don't think the way we love is so different. Everyone loves their partners in their own way, but makes sure their partner feels loved. Earth and Narxuia, I think they're similar."
Seraphina's eyes locked onto his. She had gotten lost in the sound of his voice. Her pupils dilated while Aric's lips quivered as he stopped talking.
His gaze softened and they leaned closer—
"Aha! Master Aric!" Alden's laugh echoed as he strolled down the hall with the comic book in hand.
He knocked on the half-open door, "This book you gave me is—"
He stopped the knock and dropped his book. His eyes slowly moved between Aric's hand, tangled in Seraphina's hair, and the way they were staring at each other.
Oh wow. I really am stupid. He thought to himself.
"…oh." Alden's smile went away as he picked up the book.
"Oh no. I—uh—sorry! I didn't see anything!" He slapped a hand over his face and shuffled backwards like a crab.
"Nope, nope, nothing at all. Please continue whatever you were doing!"
"Alden!" Seraphina shot up, cheeks burning as she reached out with her hands.
"I'm so sorry!" he yelped, bolting down the hall.