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 Crimson Witches
As the bright blue flames began to go down, the purifying feeling of catharsis settled in as well.
Aideen stood silently and watched the dragon fire consume everything beneath her. A strong, unfamiliar sense of power crept inside her heart, drowning all other senses, and leaving her feel unsettled and confused. She couldn't help but wonder whether it was alright to feel this powerful; whether it was a good sign at all.
Yuraon, too, watched as the blue flames destroyed the last remnants of Valon's army, his blue eyes reflecting the same bright color of the burning rage below his feet.
He did not feel anything. He only felt empty.
And while it still brought him a great sense of satisfaction that the second prince died such a gruesome death, the most important fact remained the same––it would not bring Melania back.