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."
Don't Miss My Magic Tricks Too Much, Alright?
Ahspid stood before his dark, empty desk, slowly sliding his somber, almost colorless eyes over its polished surface. He had grown used to the usual mess he liked to leave behind, even though it was always taken care of by one of the nosy maids, no matter how many times he continued to ruin her efforts simply because he liked to banter.
Now, this emptiness was a reflection of his own self.
Then, he carefully took off the golden ring from his little finger and placed it on the desk, his hand trembling slightly as he moved it away from the golden band.
'You gifted me your treasure, Lady Valentine, so allow me to gift you mine. Take good care of it for me. I know you can.'
With the heavy, solemn air surrounding him like an invisible presence, the man wrapped a long, thick black cloak around his shoulders, took one last good look at his empty room, then covered his head with the wide hood, and left the room quietly as if he were a wandering ghost.