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."
The Witch Who Fell In Love With The King
Although Ahspid received the message and canceled their lesson, he still joined Aideen in her exciting inspection of Queen Elindine's room. As always, he justified his actions with the fear of succumbing to boredom once again.
Unfortunately, denying him something he had already set his mind to was utterly useless, and the princess was well aware of that. Therefore, albeit reluctantly, she agreed to take him with her, mostly because she was convinced that this way, the mage would still do less harm than when left to his own devices.
"You must promise me you will be careful, Ahspid. This room is very important to His Grace, and I do not wish to break his trust in me because of you," Aideen said, inserting the key into the lock but not opening it until she received Ahspid's reply.
Releasing a long and somewhat irritated sigh, the mage nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes, I promise. What am I, a child? Open the room already, this hallway is very cold!"