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."
Aideen rose from the bed as soon as she heard a gentle knock on her bedroom door, welcoming Bella to enter. The maid came inside carrying a large wooden tray laden with delicious food, deftly situating it on the small, round table by the tall window. She cordially invited her lady to take a seat and enjoy her dinner, a gesture that surprised the princess as Aideen had been hopeful of the opportunity to share a meal with Tillian tonight.
Regrettably, Bella relayed,
"His Grace has informed me that he was unable to prepare for dinner and will be skipping it tonight. He extends his sincere apologies, Your Highness."