The next day after testing further, Thorin and Aric stood outside Seraphina's private office, their footsteps echoing faintly in the marble corridor. As they waited for her to acknowledge their presence, Aric turned inward, silently summoning Ivy within his mind.
Ivy. he called mentally.
Explain the economics of this world. How does currency work? What are the values?
[Oh, darling.] Ivy replied with enthusiasm, lounging lazily in her holographic form.
[Glad you finally asked. Let's break it down]
[Bronze Coins: Worth the least, used primarily by commoners for everyday purchases like food or basic supplies.
Silver Coins: Used by merchants and lower nobility for larger transactions; roughly equivalent to a month's wages for skilled laborers.
Gold Sovereigns: Reserved for the wealthy elite—nobles, royalty, and high-ranking officials. One gold sovereign equals 100 silver coins or 10,000 bronze coins.
Notes (Banknotes): Only the richest nobles and royals possess these. They're essentially promissory notes backed by immense wealth stored in vaults. Each note represents hundreds of thousands in gold sovereigns and is rarely exchanged physically—it's more symbolic than practical]
Aric nodded internally, absorbing the information quickly. With this knowledge fresh in his mind, he remembers the debts he has to clear.
Debtor: House Arkwright
Creditor: Lady Callista Duval
Amount Owed: 500,000 gold sovereigns
Due Date: Six months prior (already overdue)
Purpose: "Funding for trade expansion into eastern territories."
Debtor: House Arkwright
Creditor: Crown Regent Lord Edmond Greaves
Amount Owed: 2 million gold sovereigns
Due Date: Three months remaining
Purpose: "Reconstruction of war-torn estates following border skirmishes."
And then there were countless smaller debts that were all from different people with the total sum exceeded 3 million gold sovereigns.
Nearly 6 million gold he has to get back.
Aric turned to Thorin, he spoke softly,
"I've decided on pricing for nobles. Generator: 500k gold sovereigns. Power grid: 450k.Air conditioning units, ceiling fans, refrigerator and blender—all individually 300k each. If you buy everything together, I'll offer a discounted rate: 2 million gold coins—or its equivalent in notes."
Thorin raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Aric's business acumen.
"Bold move." he remarked dryly.
"But fair enough. Let's see how your wife reacts."
Inside her office, Seraphina glared at the shadow tendrils snaking along the walls, confirming who awaited her outside. Her jaw tightened when she recognized the familiar silhouette of her husband—and the towering figure of Prince Thorin Stonefist beside him.
Snatching up the ledger she'd been reviewing, she signed off one last entry before calling out sharply,
"Evelyn! Open the door!"
Moments later, Evelyn opens the door, ushering Thorin and Aric inside. Seraphina sat regally behind her desk, her blue eyes icy as she regarded them both.
Aric stepped forward, threading carefully between respect and caution. He avoided meeting her gaze directly, focusing instead on the polished surface of her desk.
Huh it actually looks nice (it isn't)
"Your Grace." he began, his tone formal
"We propose a contract—an agreement between House Arkwright and Prince Thorin regarding the sale of certain inventions. All copyrights will belong exclusively to you. Additionally, I will designate whoever you wish as the official inventor. This is not about recognition—it's about repayment."
Thorin arched an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Seraphina.
"Why wouldn't want your name in there?" he echoed skeptically.
"Sounds unnecessary to be honest. Why hide your contributions?"
Seraphina interjected coldly, her voice dripping with disdain.
"I have to agree with the prince and also humility doesn't suit you. And besides, such notions hold weight in our world. So I'll use you."
Despite their objections, Aric pressed on, unfazed.
"The terms are simple. Individually, each item costs between 300k to 500k gold sovereigns. Together, the full package—like the generator, power grid, air conditioning units, ceiling fans, blender and refrigerator—is priced at 2 million gold coins—or its equivalent in notes. You'll receive all blueprints, free to use within your region. Should you sell them elsewhere, House Arkwright is entitled to royalties."
As Seraphina and Thorin delved into the intricacies of the contract, Aric found himself lost in thought. His gaze drifted toward Seraphina, taking in her striking features—the way how smooth her silver hair looks, the face of a beauty, the intensity of her blue eyes.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, commanding respect with every movement.
What could possibly be more beautiful than her? he wondered bitterly.
How could Vayne cheat on someone like this—with Lady Callista Duval, no less? Was it worth destroying everything for mere infidelity? Was her pussy that good? I genuinely don't get it. She's objectively hot, pretty, beautiful and sexy.
After nearly an hour of negotiation, the terms were finalized. Thorin handed over the payment—two banknotes from his kingdom. representing millions of gold sovereigns—before collecting the blueprints Aric had promised.
Satisfied, he excused himself, leaving Seraphina and Aric alone in the office.
Once Thorin departed, Seraphina dismissed Evelyn with a curt wave of her hand. The moment they were alone, she rounded on Aric, her fury palpable, her shadow tendrils writhing violently around her like serpents ready to strike.
"So you got some money now. Do you think this make up for everything?" she spat venomously, slamming her palms against the desk hard enough to rattle the inkwell.
"Selling inventions? Not wanting your name? Really? Do you honestly believe that some fancy gadgets will erase the damage you've caused—the lives you've ruined? Let me remind since you have 'amnesia'."
Aric flinched visibly, his shoulders sagging under the weight of her words.
"Gambling away my fortune was the first." she continued, her voice rising with each accusation.
"Starving entire villages during winter because of your incompetence. Committing arson. Buying slaves off the black market—yes, I know about that one. Did you think I wouldn't find out? Or how about hiring prostitutes and throwing orgies in our guest halls while I was stuck covering your debts? Taking drugs Vayne! You brought dealers into our home to add on, poisoning servants who trusted us. And then there's the indirect killings—the merchant families who lost everything because of your swindling schemes. People died because of you. Children starved to death Vayne! All so you could fund your disgusting habits."
Her voice cracked slightly as she leaned forward, gripping the edge of the desk until her knuckles turned white.
"Cheating on me with that bitch Callista. Humiliating me publicly, betraying me personally. How does someone sink so low? I waited for you to be ready and this is what you have done. Does it jog your memory hmm?"
Aric felt bile rise in his throat. Each word cut deeper than any blade ever could.
He wanted to defend himself—to scream that he wasn't Vayne—but what good would it do?
Instead, he stood there silently, trembling as the full scope of Vayne's depravity sank in. His amnesia may have shielded him from remembering these atrocities firsthand, but hearing them now was almost worse.
It made him sick to his stomach.
Fuck, this body is irredeemable. Not only cheating, but everything else under the sun? At least there's no assaults yet. Not like that's any better.
[You don't deserve this degrading.] Ivy whispered solemnly in his mind, her usual sarcasm replaced by genuine sympathy.
[None of this is your fault.]
But Aric couldn't stop the tears that began streaming down his face.
They came unbidden, hot and relentless, blurring his vision as he tried—and failed—to hold himself together.
Seraphina noticed immediately. She stepped closer, grabbing his collars roughly and forcing him to face her. When he still refused to meet her gaze, she grabbed his chin, tilting his head upward until their eyes met.
"What's wrong, Vayne?" she demanded coldly,
"Why aren't you fighting back like you used to? Where's the arrogance? The recklessness? Are you acting like some two-faced goody piece fuck face now?"
Aric choked back a sob, unable to hold back any longer.
Two faced? I'm two faced!?
"I'm not him!" he whispered hoarsely, his grey eyes reflecting pain, exhaustion, and an overwhelming sense of despair.
"I don't want to fight. I just… I just want to fix things—to make amends for what I've done."
Seraphina just look at him. Her anger is at an all time high but she couldn't help but notice the streams coming down his face.
The Vayne before would've never regret anything nor cry like this.
Could Vayne truly be different? Or was this just another elaborate façade designed to deceive me?
She shoved him backward, "You're manipulating me again, aren't you? Pretending to care, pretending to change—all just to buy yourself more time. Well, it won't work!"
Something deep inside Aric shattered at those words. The glimmer of hope he'd clung to—that maybe, just maybe, he could redeem himself—was extinguished in an instant.
Any effort I make would always be seen as manipulation or a trick. There was no redemption for me, not in her eyes.
With tears streaming down his face, he finally had enough.
"I'll finish all the debts!" he said brokenly, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions.
"Every single one. Just… please, never stop hating me. Torture me, make my life a living hell—it doesn't matter. Just let me finish fixing what I broke."
"No." Seraphina shot back harshly, her voice trembling with rage and lingering doubt.
"You're trying to manipulate me again. Stop lying, Vayne! Monsters don't change."
That was it. That final crack in his fragile resolve sent him over the edge. Pushing her hand away roughly, he turned to leave, desperate to escape the suffocating tension in the room. But Seraphina wasn't about to let him go that easily.
Her tendril shot out, wrapping tightly around his ankle and yanking him backward. He stumbled, falling hard onto the floor, his forehead slamming against the floor. Blood trickled down his forehead, staining his pale skin with his own blood.
[Aric!] Ivy exclaimed worriedly, her holographic form flickering anxiously beside him.
[Are you alright?]
Ignoring the searing pain, Aric manifested a sword using his Creation Magic and sliced through the tendril holding him down. Rising unsteadily to his feet, he looked at Seraphina one last time, his tear-streaked face filled with anguish.
"I'm so sorry for everything." he whispered brokenly before turning and fleeing the room, blood dripping onto the pristine marble behind him.
Unbeknownst to either of them, Thorin hadn't left. Standing in the shadows of the corridor outside Seraphina's office, he'd heard every word of their argument.
As Aric ran past him, clutching his bleeding forehead, Thorin remained silent, watching the young man retreat with pity.
The crimes committed by Vayne are unforgivable. Thorin mused somberly, crossing his arms tightly over his chest.
But the man standing before me now… he's different. Changed overnight, it seems. Like two entirely separate souls inhabit the same body.
He shook his head slowly,
Whatever else might happen, one thing was certain: Vayne's journey was far from over.
Back in his chambers, Aric slammed the door shut and locked it firmly behind him. Collapsing onto the bed, he buried his face in a pillow, letting the sobs rack his body uncontrollably.
No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, I will never be forgiven—not by Seraphina, not by anyone. The sins of Vayne is fucking disgusting, heavy yet it is stuck to me like a second skin, impossible to shed.
[Hey, hey..] Ivy murmured softly
[You're stronger than this, darling. Don't let her hatred define you.]
But Aric couldn't respond.
All he could do was cry, the weight of Vayne's sins crushing him completely.