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."
Something Formidable
"What is it?" Yanad's serious tone only increased Aideen's concern.
"I believe that your husband's men, along with the armies of Davoor and Lafad, are strong enough to defeat the King and the additional forces from Anathaen," the Crown Prince began. Although his words were confident, his voice remained somewhat uncertain. "However, there's a disturbing rumor circulating within Valon's quarters that has made me worried."
"What kind of rumor?"
Yanad let out a heavy sigh. "You probably remember all the experiments Valon has been conducting ever since he started studying alchemy. I'm afraid the more he practiced, the more he improved..."
He paused for a moment, as if to collect his thoughts, but in reality, he was still conflicted about going against his own family so openly. Changing one's perspective on a lifetime of beliefs doesn't happen overnight, and this inner turmoil was evident in Yanad's entire demeanor.