Reincarnated into a Failed Marriage

Goodnight Aric

Seeing Seraphina cry struck a nerve Aric didn't fully understand.Aric's hand trembled slightly as it hovered near her shoulder. He wanted to comfort her but he was also scared as well.

"I'm...gonna hug you." he murmured softly, cautiously drawing her closer until his arms wrapped around her.

She stiffened at first but when he began rubbing slow circles on her back, she began to feel...relaxed.

"Seraphina." he whispered against her hair,

"It's okay. Don't feel guilty about it. It's a miracle you even listened to me, let alone believe in me. I forgive you."

For a fleeting moment, it felt like she could breathe again. Like she wasn't trapped in the endless cycle of pain and hate.

But then she had a fear. A logical yet illogical fear.

Seraphina's mastery over dark magic had taught her many things—how to see deeper than flesh, how to read emotional currents, how to feel the unseen.

And one thing her magic had never lied about was transience.

She swallowed hard, fingers twitching slightly at Aric's waist.

She drew in a quiet breath and then, gently—she pulled away from the hug.

She wiped her tears quickly with the back of her hand,

"Thank you for that... and I'm sorry." she said again, softer this time.

"Let's... change the mood. It's getting a bit too moody, wouldn't you say?"

Aric looked at her, studying the way she pulled back—emotionally and physically.

Still, he chose to honour the space she needed. Because this was still the closest they had ever been.

"Sure. Let's do that. But... just so you know, I don't resent you for any of it. Okay?"

She shifted her posture into something more composed.

"What about this philosophy you taught? Explain it to me in terms I can understand."

Aric leaned back against the pillows, gathering his thoughts.

"Okay. Philosophy isn't just abstract ideas—it's about understanding people. Why we suffer, why we love, why we hate. It's about finding meaning in chaos, even when everything seems pointless."

"See, people think philosophy is all theory. A bunch of people in robes talking circles about the universe. But it's not. It's survival. It's a framework we build when the world stops making sense."

"When you're hurt so badly you can't breathe, when everything you thought was true collapses, when you're surrounded by questions no one can answer—philosophy steps in."

He paused, fingers tapping lightly on his leg.

"Back on Earth, when I taught it... I told my students that philosophy is asking the questions we're afraid to voice out loud. It's about stripping the world down to its rawest form and saying: 'I want to understand. I need to understand.'"

Seraphina's eyes flickered with awe, "So, what kind of answers do you get?" 

Aric gave a half-smile, "None, it's frustrating but maybe that's the point. Sometimes it's not about finding the right answer—it's about learning how to live with the question."

"Take pain for example. Most people try to avoid it, suppress it, run from it. But me personally? I ask why is it there. What is it trying to teach me?"

"Philosophy gave me a language to understand my grief. To survive my guilt. To make sense of the war I fought, the people I killed, the things I lost. It helped me ask— And more importantly,

Aric then sighed to the last word, "Honestly, I wish I redeemed myself back on earth but I wasn't able to. Maybe I took on his sin just because it felt like it was a some form of fitting punishment. Hard to say really."

When he finished, she exhaled sharply, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You're nothing like him. Vayne never cared about meaning or purpose. He lived for instant gratification—for himself and no one else."

"All this… paying off debts, rebuilding Ashwick, wanting to know me deeper—what gives? Why are you doing all this?"

Aric met her eyes, "Because he caused pain. To you. To others. And if I can undo even a piece of that damage, I will. Even if it's hard. Even if you still hate me."

She stared at him, her emotions were all over the place. Frustration, confusion, admiration—it all swirled together in a storm of conflicting feelings.

Finally, she sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair,

"I have so much hatred for Vayne but whoever's sitting in front of me right now…Aric...you're clearly different. You're far more than the man I married."

Her tone shifted suddenly, "So let's change the vibe. Do you like me? I mean like as in physically?" 

Aric swallowed hard,

"Yeah. I mean... you're hot. I've said that more than once. And I honestly don't know how Vayne wasn't attracted to you, but if you were my wife... I don't think I'd be able to look at another woman. Then again, technically you are my wife, but I don't really know you well enough to say anything serious so... yeah. There's that."

"And if I were to entice you? What would you do?" she asked with her eyebrow raised.

"I'd try to respect you." he replied honestly, his voice strained. "Even if it kills me."

"What if I expect you to remember my birthday? Our anniversary?" she continued relentlessly, testing him further.

"What if I ask for gifts out of nowhere? Or demand you carry me for no reason?"

"I'll do it." Aric answered firmly, meeting her gaze, "Whatever you need, I'll do it. Because I'm not Vayne."

Seraphina leaned in closer and Aric could smell roses and vanilla. It was warm, sweet, and dangerous.

"What if I asked you to stay in my room at the estate? Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with me in the dining hall? Be present in ways Vayne never was?"

"If that's what you want." Aric replied steadily, "I'll do it."

Seraphina stared at him, shaken by his resolve, 

"If you fail even once, I'll refuse to believe you. I'll say you're just Vayne playing tricks on me."

"I won't fail." he promised, "I'm not him."

Seraphina didn't reply at first.

Then one of her tendrils extended from her gown and snuffed out the candle.

"We'll see, Aric." she murmured. "Let's just sleep tonight."

She turned away, quietly slipping under the blanket, pulling the sheet up to her shoulders with a soft rustle.

"Goodnight, Aric."

He remained seated for a moment, still staring into the dark.

He exhaled, letting the weight in his chest ease, "Goodnight, Seraphina." 

Aric pulled the blanket over himself and settled into the other side of the bed, still facing her direction even if she couldn't see it.

As he finally closed his eyes, one thought stayed with him,