Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 32: Old Bedroom

Chapter 32: Old Bedroom

"How dare she! Where did she get the nerve?! A lowly pest! Arrogant wench!"

The Queen flung the bedroom door open with a resounding thud, marching inside with heavy steps that seemed to echo like the footfalls of a giant. A thick, leather-covered book was tossed onto the bed, and she puffed her chest with a tangible sense of fury soaring within her being.

The King trailed behind her, quietly closing the door to conceal his wife’s escalating tantrum.

Fleur Ruan spun around to face her husband, her complexion reddening as she unleashed another round of frustration,

"How could you let this happen?! You promised you would convince her to stop that crazy Valentine dog! How dare she say yes to the duel! Who does she think she is?!"

Euris watched as the Queen’s tantrum progressed, pursing his lips, a deep wrinkle forming between his thick eyebrows.

Truthfully, he was perplexed himself. Aideen had never been confident; therefore, making decisions or voicing her opinions were things he never expected her to do.

’How did he manage to do that? How did he make her so brave and confident over such a short period of time? I do not like it one bit... Something is definitely going on with these two.’

As the King emerged from his inner musings, he noticed that Fleur had finally calmed down and was now standing next to their bed, quiet and angry, her red, swollen eyes glaring at him intently.

He took a few steps towards her but remained reluctant to get closer. The tension between them was almost palpable, and Euris decided to dismiss it with a long, weary sigh.

"My Queen... This is just a minor setback. Duels of honor happen all the time, everywhere. There is nothing to worry about."

"They do not happen between nobles of high rank whose support is crucial to the throne! What will others think when they learn that the duel was in her honor? What kind of rumors do you think will start spreading far and wide?!"

At last, Fleur could not hold herself back any longer – hot tears ran down her white face, leaving visible trails on her cheeks as the salty water made its way over the thin layer of her face powder.

Startled, the King rushed to his wife and embraced her trembling body in his arms, pressing his head against hers as he replied,

"It is going to be alright, Fleur. What Tillian brings to the table is far more valuable than what Count Crueder is giving us right now."

The Queen shook her head, her voice losing its volume under the torrent of tears,

"I do not care about it! I hate it! The reason why Valentines were obliterated was for this Kingdom and its rulers to be perfect! We have spent so many years changing Geraldion, polishing and perfecting it so that it could become the standard for acquiring the status of an Empire."

Euris listened while his wife kept lamenting, his big wrinkled hand stroking her red curly hair in an attempt to provide at least some sort of comfort. He released another weary sigh, planted a light kiss on the crown of her head, and whispered,

"I promised you Geraldion would become an Empire. We will become an Empire. No matter what."

***

Aideen’s old bedroom in the abandoned royal quarters was exactly as she remembered it – cold, windy, and neglected.

The old hardwood floors creaked every time she took even the lightest step. The doors were hanging loose on the rusted hinges, and the cold, persistent wind howled through the cracks in the wooden window frames, creating a chilling draft that raised the dust from the uncleaned surfaces, filling the already stuffy air with it.

Tillian stood in the middle of the dark room, taking a better look around. The dim light revealed the traces of the past, highlighting the wear and tear that time had inflicted upon this place.

Everything was dirty and untended. The paint on the doors and window frames was chipping, and the old white wallpaper with tiny pink flowers on it was now dark and covered with mold.

The furniture was scarce and half-broken – a small bed with a plain white bedspread and a thin blanket unsuitable for such cold weather; an old dark green armchair, its back cut in the middle with something sharp, revealing its plush stuffing; a small desk and a wooden chair that did not even have a cushion to sit on; and a large carpet spread right in front of the bed, dirty and smelly – the final touch in that horrible ensemble of mockery.

’It looked better the last time I was here. Well, my room cannot boast with splendor too... Should I bring my blanket here and leave it with the princess? That... handkerchief can barely protect her from the nighttime cold.’

"It feels strange to be here now... I guess I have already grown used to the comfort and coziness of your castle, Your Grace."

Aideen sat on the edge of her bed and turned her face towards Tillian. Although he knew that her words were supposed to be a compliment to his efforts to provide her with the best things he could afford, somehow, he could not bring himself to feel pleased.

He worked hard to erase all the bad memories and experiences that Aideen brought with her to The North, and now, although just for a few days, they were all coming back to her, tainting her heart once more.

He took a few steps forward, positioning himself right before her, then grabbed the thin blanket that was resting next to her, unfolded it, and gently wrapped it around her shoulders.

"I’m sorry you had to come back here again, Your Highness. It will all be over soon, and we can return to that coziness together. Hopefully, you will never have to set your foot in this disgusting place ever again."

Aideen found unexpected comfort in the Duke’s words. She could not help but wonder,

’How come he can always make me feel so easy and warm even in the coldest places? Perhaps it’s other people who are mad, and not you, Duke Valentine.’

The room echoed with a loud, rather impatient knock, and before either of them could respond, it swung open with an irritating squeak, inviting a familiar old housekeeper who had been tending to Tillian before.

"The bathwater is ready. Unfortunately, the maids were already sent back to the Royal Palace, so you will have to manage on your own."

The Duke approached the tall, silver-headed man and replied,

"I will bring the hot water from my bath here, if this is not an issue. I would like Her Highness to take her bath first. And could you please bring the blanket from my bed here too? The one allocated to the princess is not warm enough."

The housekeeper arched his bushy gray eyebrows and offered Tillian a somewhat bewildered look.

"Whatever do you mean, Your Grace? This is your bedroom too. You are to stay in this room together from now on."