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."
Magic Spells
Although it had been accurately predicted, the declaration of war on Geraldion by Lafad struck the kingdom like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.
The reaction to this news was swift and immediate.
The first to express interest in the conflict was, unsurprisingly, Anathaen. Their stated reason was the urge to "regulate" and "stabilize" the impending conflict, but in truth, they simply bolstered King Euris's forces by sending their armies.
As the sole empire on the continent, Anathaen's involvement could be perceived as the Emperor's attempt to maintain political control. However, it was widely understood that their true agenda was to extend their influence over more territory.
Simultaneously, both Davoor and the North, under Duke Valentine's banner, declared their alliance with Lafad. Utar, as promised by Prince Leif, remained officially uninvolved.