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."
Neither Of Us Feels Like Ourselves In This Place
Once the music stopped, the banquet hall filled with a loud round of applause, as if everyone were watching the married couple dance instead of sharing it with them.
Both the Crown Prince and his wife stepped away from each other and concluded the dance with a mutual bow, showing their gratitude to one another. What followed next was a brief moment of awkward silence between them, which was then quickly dispelled by Princess Melania, who spotted one of the servants carrying a silver tray filled with sparkling wine.
"Thank you for the dance, Your Highness; it was wonderful. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to have a drink. I do not believe I had even a single drop of water since morning."
Yanad's reply was a careless nod, followed by the forced necessity of a single piece of advice.
"Yes, of course. I suggest that you mingle some more, Your Highness. I am certain that many noble ladies are dying to befriend you tonight."