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."
"How dare she! Where did she get the nerve?! A lowly pest! Arrogant wench!"
The Queen flung the bedroom door open with a resounding thud, marching inside with heavy steps that seemed to echo like the footfalls of a giant. A thick, leather-covered book was tossed onto the bed, and she puffed her chest with a tangible sense of fury soaring within her being.
The King trailed behind her, quietly closing the door to conceal his wife's escalating tantrum.
Fleur Ruan spun around to face her husband, her complexion reddening as she unleashed another round of frustration,
"How could you let this happen?! You promised you would convince her to stop that crazy Valentine dog! How dare she say yes to the duel! Who does she think she is?!"
Euris watched as the Queen's tantrum progressed, pursing his lips, a deep wrinkle forming between his thick eyebrows.