yoojee

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."

Saved By The Mad Duke

"Evidence?" The judge's explanation did not dispel the general confusion that settled in Yanad's mind. "What kind of evidence is that? Who provided it?"

Melania's heart hammered in her chest. She glanced at Hayim, whose expression mirrored her own disbelief. How had they ended up in this nightmare?

The judge's gaze bore into the princess with unwavering severity. "Princess Melania Ruan, you stand accused of the grievous crime of infidelity, a transgression against the sanctity of your marriage to Crown Prince Yanad Ruan. What do you have to say about this?"

Melania's mind raced, grappling with the absurdity of the accusation. She knew she was innocent and yet, somewhere deep inside, she had to admit that she was not surprised.

She shot a desperate glance at Prince Yanad, but his face was a mask of confusion and betrayal.

The Trial, Part II