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 young man closed the door to his small studio and turned around, a bright, wide smile playing upon his full lips. He walked up to Melania who, too, was looking at him with a genuine smile of happiness on her youthful face.
"Second buyer! Your Highness, this is already the second gallery that agreed to buy my paintings!"
The princess nodded and clasped her hands together; the artist's success made her feel fulfilled just as much.
"The art season is about to start so it is only natural that every respectful gallery is looking for fresh talent and valuable pieces to showcase. Imagine how many noblemen will come to see the exhibitions. Imagine how much money they will pay! You'll see, you will be able to pay off your debt and go back to Lafad in no time! Are you happy?"
Seeing Melania's shining face made Hayim feel rather awkward.
"Yes, I am, Your Highness."