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."
Lord Wiggles and Lord Giggles
Startled at first, Aideen abruptly recoiled from the door, pressing both of her hands against her chest. Although she had indeed been hoping to find Tillian still awake, the princess was now overwhelmed with a strange sense of embarrassment.
The Duke's insistent tone helped her regain her confidence as it seeped through the door once more,
"Please, come inside already, Your Highness; you are making my friends wait."
'Friends?'
Pushing the study door, Aideen stepped inside the room, immediately offering a polite apology she had rehearsed at least a dozen times while on her way to see Duke Valentine,
"Forgive me for bothering you so late, Your Grace. I know you mentioned working most of the time, but I was wondering if I could sit here with you in the study, just to pass the time until I finally calm down and get tired..."