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."
The Messenger
Melania retrieved the writing kit from the top drawer of her desk and dipped the quill into the inkwell.
'Where should I start?'
Although she was determined to send the letters promptly, now that she sat down to write them, her mind went blank. The gravity of the situation hit her belatedly.
War. A war against her people. To kill them. To kill everyone.
Her hands began to shake uncontrollably, and the princess dropped the quill, splattering ink across the pristine white page.
'No time... No time to waste. I need to start writing; at least something.'
Melania made another attempt. After dipping the quill in black ink once more, the words flowed forth on their own, filling the pages with urgent messages.
Two distinct letters took shape; two envelopes were addressed to two different kingdoms. One to forewarn; the other, to seek counsel.