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."
Thank you, Aideen [The Final Chapter]
As Geraldion had emerged as an empire, its status was accepted by the continent almost immediately. The news of Anathaen's unfair political games had spread far and wide, shaking their authority to its core. The emperor, once a figure of immense influence, now found his power diminished, his respect eroded by the revelations. His days of political dominance were over.
In the aftermath of the war, Aideen turned her attention to restoring the capital and its outskirts. The damage caused by the conflict was extensive, but she was determined to rebuild and heal the land. Involving many mages in the process, the empress ensured that the restoration was swift and effective. Under her guidance, the capital soon began to resemble its former glory, with buildings rising from the rubble and the streets bustling with life once more.