Saved By The Mad Duke
Aideen Ruan, though a royal princess, was always unwanted due to the circumstances of her birth. Born blind to a hostage concubine, she possessed an intriguing beauty; however, her disability rendered her utterly useless to the royal family. Even when the struggling Count Crueder reluctantly agreed to take Aideen as his wife to secure the royal dowry, her life failed to improve. A year into their marriage, Aideen's inability to produce an heir sealed her fate. The princess was destined for exile to the Temple, consigned to spend the remainder of her days in isolation and abandonment. Contrary to her anticipations, instead of the Temple, Aideen found herself within the cold walls of Duke Tillian Valentine's castle. Duke Valentine, the last scion of the once-revered Valentine family that ruled the Kingdom before the "Fratricide Rebellion", now presided over the desolate Northern lands. Faced with fear and confusion, Aideen expected her life to perpetuate its cycle of misery, only to discover that Duke Valentine might hold the key to a new opportunity, a chance at a life she had never envisioned. "You bewitched my body and soul. Put an intoxicating spell on me, shackled my heart to yours with your magic. If I could exchange my eyesight with you, I would do it just to make you see what a man dying from love looks like."
Do You Still Think About Her?
"Your powers have diminished, Bjarna, far too feeble for a witch of your rank," Ahspid remarked, his gaze fixed upon her as she gingerly readjusted her black canvas bag on the side of the horse's saddle. Every movement of hers was scrutinized by his keen eyes, filled with insatiable curiosity.
Bjarna, still avoiding direct eye contact with the mage, responded with a hint of awkwardness in her voice,
"And what, pray tell, does that imply? Are you now questioning my abilities, after witnessing what I have achieved here?"
"Your condition was dire when the fire witch was summoned," Ahspid began, his tone laden with concern and slight suspicion. "You were barely able to sit upright, lost your ability to speak, and had to send Ylva right back once the curse was lifted. Even now, you appear as though it will take another day or two for you to fully recover. Normally, a witch's powers should amplify with age, but in your case, I observe quite the contrary."