Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 183: The Tyranny Of Grief

Chapter 183: The Tyranny Of Grief

Aideen carefully opened the door and walked into the empty room. The maids’ quarters were silent, as it was already two in the morning and everyone was long asleep.

The emptiness of the room, which Bella and Safie used to share, held a heavy presence, and the princess couldn’t help but feel somewhat unwelcome as she continued to take cautious steps toward the center of the room.

After Bella’s death, Safie requested to be moved somewhere else because she couldn’t bear staying in that room alone. Tillian didn’t hesitate with his permission, and now Safie was sharing a room with Angela, the kitchen maid. Neither Duke Valentine nor his wife had the heart to start looking for someone else to replace the beloved head maid of the castle.

As Aideen stood in the middle of the bedroom, between two single beds, she couldn’t believe that Bella was gone. The lingering comforting scent of winter flowers still hung in the air and followed her every movement, as if it was now a part of her being. It felt like every tiny part of that room was soaked in that scent, freezing the maid’s presence in time.

Lady Valentine closed her eyes and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with that soothing aroma, and a relentless stream of memories flooded her mind almost instantly.

’When I first opened my eyes in this castle, the smell of winter flowers was there too. Bella thought that a flowery scent would make me feel more comfortable and relaxed, and since these are the only flowers that grow in the North, her options were limited. Yet, she never failed to make a bouquet for me and leave it in my room. Every time I inhaled their smell, I thought of her, and in that way, she was with me all the time.’

Winter flowers were the only flowers that bloomed all year round and were not afraid of any kind of weather. They were called unbreakable because even if one were to break their stem, another one would grow instead of it, inviting yet another fresh flower to bloom again.

’I used to think of myself as a winter flower too. I have been broken many times before, but I kept growing and was finally able to bloom again. Now that I think about it, however, I can’t help but wonder––wasn’t it the case simply because there were others who took care of me, hoping that I would bloom again?’

She thought of Bella and her nurturing nature, her kind, forgiving personality, and her never-ending love for those around her. To Aideen, Bella was the gardener who poured all her affection and care into each and every flower in the castle because all she ever wanted was for them to bloom. All year round.

At last, the princess took a few more careful steps towards the bed on the left side of the room, the one that stood closer to the window. She rarely visited the maids’ room; therefore, she never had a chance to fully memorize what was inside it. And now that she couldn’t see again, Lady Valentine only knew that Bella’s bed was on the left.

Standing in front of the empty single bed, Aideen placed her hands on top of the footboard and closed her eyes, focusing her senses once again.

’I have to learn everything. I must etch it in my memory and keep it safe forever. I must not forget anything that was a part of her.’

With that thought warming her heart and soul, she started slowly moving her fingertips, discovering every little detail of Bella’s bed as if trying to imagine the exact way the maid would touch her bed as well.

Her fingers gently trailed over the soft bed sheets, lingering on the delicate embroidery that adorned them. Sleek and subtle––it was the touch of Saife’s skillful hand.

With a sigh, she moved to the plush pillows, pressing her palms against their smooth surfaces, feeling the warmth they still held from Bella’s presence. As her attention drifted to the cozy blanket draped over the foot of the bed, Aideen couldn’t help but wrap it around her shoulders, inhaling the faint scent of flowers that clung to the fabric.

Moving down to the sturdy bed frame, the princess ran her fingertips along its smooth wooden surface, tracing its every detail, however simple it was. She then paused at the bedside table, her hand hovering over the polished surface before reaching out to grasp the delicate handle of Bella’s favorite book, its pages worn from countless readings. With a tender smile, Aideen placed it back in its rightful place, her heart heavy with memories of shared moments spent in the reading room together with Safie.

Finally, she knelt before the bed, her fingers grazing the surface of the wooden box where Bella kept her knitting, feeling the faint indentations left by Bella’s touch. Closing her eyes, Aideen released another heavy sigh, and opened the box, yet was hesitant to investigate its contents.

As her heart began to race from the unexpected surge of nervousness, the princess gently dived her hand inside the box and flinched when her skin made contact with the cold touch of the knitting needles. She continued to carefully examine each item that was hidden within the box’s walls until finally, her hands reached one of her completed projects.

It was a small, soft scarf with four tiny tassels on each end. It was a scarf made for a child. It was the first of many scarves Bella promised to knit for Aideen’s and Tillian’s children.

Aideen felt her chest stiffen while her heart contracted under the heavy, painful weight of her emotions. It seemed like there was no more strength left in her body and all she could feel was an unfathomable ache that made it difficult to even breathe.

Hugging the scarf close to her chest, the princess leaned against the bed and felt hot tears running down her face, redeeming her soul from the tyranny of grief.