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 unexpected greeting sent a shiver down the princess's spine, a mix of strange emotions swirling within her. It wasn't just the welcoming tone to the evening banquet that had such a bizarre effect on her, but also the name that slipped from the lips of the men—Aideen Valentine.
'It doesn't sound bad...'
With a flustered smile adorning her pink lips, Aideen nodded graciously at the guests, reciprocating the greeting.
"Good evening, dear guests. I am genuinely delighted to meet those who hold such significance for His Grace. I look forward to getting acquainted with each of you and sincerely hope that this evening will be filled with joy for all."
"Now that our previously dull male company is graced by your presence, My Lady, this dinner promises to be more enjoyable than we could have ever imagined!"