Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 222: If He Came Here...

Chapter 222: If He Came Here...

"The king will most likely lead both armies to the eastern battlefield as agreed before we took a break," Stanis said, pointing at the map spread across the table. "For our plan to work, the king will have to move to the west instead, where he will meet Lady Valentine."

The plan they had come up with was simple, yet difficult to achieve.

Since Aideen still could not control the potency of her powers, she needed ample space to execute her magic against the enemy to ensure there were no casualties among the innocent people.

To achieve this, they had to devise a scheme that would deceive the king into moving to a separate zone where he would face the princess.

"How about we pretend to offer a negotiation?" Yanad suggested, walking up to the table. "We can send a messenger to his camp and claim that you have captured the Crown Prince. We could propose an exchange—me for a number of your own captured soldiers."

"That could actually work," Tillian said, scratching his chin as he studied the map. "Since King Euris knows that the Crown Prince is aware of most of his secrets and plans, he might want to get him back immediately. He wouldn’t like it that he’s in the hands of his enemies."

Aideen liked the idea too, even though it still had its gaps and faults.

"Perhaps if the king thinks your troops are not expecting the attack... He might come himself to see the prince to ensure we are not deceiving him. However, as sly as he is, he will still send his generals for an assault."

Yanad sighed and nodded. "It will work. He will want to kill me on the spot. He is too scared of the family secrets leaking out. He wouldn’t mind murdering his own son just to protect himself."

The atmosphere in the duke’s tent grew tense once again. Stanis rubbed his forehead and decided to continue the discussion at hand.

"We will be prepared for everything. If they come with a surprise attack, we will push them to the eastern side, creating more safe space for Lady Valentine, just as planned."

"It is decided then," Tillian said, scanning everyone with a decisive look. "I will send the messenger right away. Let’s hope the king falls into our trap."

Once the duke left with Sir Nygard, Aideen turned to the Crown Prince with a concerned expression. After several long moments of silence, she finally asked, "Are you alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"What you said about the king..." She hesitated. "I know it’s true. He wouldn’t mind killing you. He knew Valon would die too."

Yanad shrugged as if it meant nothing to him. "Once you defeat him, it won’t matter anymore. Both he and Mother are blinded by ambition and greed. They will sacrifice anything to achieve what they’ve wanted all these years. Isn’t it ironic? They’ve been struggling so much to make Geraldion ’perfect,’ but in the end, they proved to be the most flawed ones. Such people cannot be the rulers of our homeland. And my biggest regret is that I am one of them."

"You were born a Ruan," the princess said, finally smiling at him, "but you can always change what it stands for, Yan. With Tillian on the throne, everyone will have that choice. I can promise you that."

***

The entire night was spent preparing for their plan. To everyone’s relief, the messenger returned with an affirmative reply from the king. However, since they still could not trust him to refrain from sending his troops for an assault, Stanis, along with Prince Kassian and his generals, took care of their armies’ preparations.

"You have to come back to me unharmed," Tillian said, hugging his wife from behind and resting his chin on the crown of her head, inhaling the alluring scent of her hair.

Aideen released a light chuckle in response. "Are you repeating my own words now?"

"How can you laugh right now?" the duke wondered. "My heart is about to jump out of my chest. I can’t continue living in this world if you are not here by my side. So you have to promise that you will be alright."

Carefully freeing herself from her husband’s embrace, Aideen faced the duke and locked her glowing eyes on his. Then, she reached her slender fingers into the small leather pouch attached to the belt of her armor and retrieved a red silk ribbon from it.

"I think this is the same one?"

Tillian arched his eyebrows. "Is this...?"

The princess nodded and tied the ribbon around Tillian’s right wrist.

"You carried it with you through the years, and I think we can both agree that it was a lucky charm of sorts. You had it with you every time you fought magical beasts, and you had it with you when you defeated Count Constantine. Don’t let anyone harm it with their swords. I want it back the next time we see each other again."

Duke Valentine slid his fingers over the soft fabric of the ribbon, his memories drifting back to the time Aideen gave him a similar ribbon when they first met. A strong sense of painful nostalgia contracted his heart, but at the same time, he was hopeful.

With a passionate kiss that joined their lips, he held his wife closely one more time before pressing his forehead against hers and whispering, "I love you, Aideen. I’ve loved you in the past, and I will love you in the future. The next time we meet, I will say it again. And again... Until I can’t anymore."

***

The troops stood guard in anticipation of the enemy’s attack. Kassian Lafad, together with his generals, protected the rear while Tillian and Stanis remained alert at the front, their hands wrapped tightly around the hilts of their swords.

At last, the ground began shaking as if an invisible titan were making his way toward their forces. The first banner emerged from the horizon, followed by a long line of royal knights stomping over the ground in menacing unison.

Tillian froze.

"King Euris..."

Stanis, too, raised his eyebrows, utterly lost as his eyes confirmed the arrival of the king.

"If he came here... then who went to see Aideen?"