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

Aideen glanced at the round clock hanging on the wall of the reading room. It had been more than twelve hours since Khala, Ahspid, and King Yuraon had left her to defend the castle against the Holy Army. She was beginning to feel anxious.

She had just returned from the underground shelter, where she had spent the last several hours with the people of the North, helping the maids serve food and ensuring everyone was comfortable and well. Now, it was time to check on Taru's condition.

'He is still sleeping... I didn't have enough time to help him with his powers while we slept; perhaps it is affecting him negatively.'

The princess adjusted the red scarf around the dragon's chin and stroked his spiky head, watching as the snowflake on his forehead responded with a soft blue glow to her gentle touch.

A Couple of Strangers