Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 63: Some Peace Of Mind

Chapter 63: Some Peace Of Mind

’So, I was not mistaken that night when I touched his wrist and felt the ribbon... It was a gift from me?’

Aideen hid the silk ribbon within her fist, closing her eyes to draw comfort from the pleasant softness of Utarian silk. It helped her gain a better grip on her emotions, yet it was not enough to entirely grasp the complexity of her situation.

Uncertain about her emotions in that moment, Tillian’s confession forced her to confront the strangeness and even wrongness of not knowing her Secret Hero was none other than Duke Valentine himself.

’All this time, I could have had a friend, someone to turn to, and maybe... Maybe everything would have been so much different. If only I weren’t too shy or scared that day, I would have known everything and could never even dare to believe those horrible rumors about him.’

But that was not her only concern.

The princess could not help but ask herself – did Tillian possess this knowledge even back then?

’So, even back then, during his first visit to the Capital thirteen years ago, did he already know that I was special? He sought me out on his own and even protected me from Valon, a member of the Royal Family, when everyone else in the Capital believed I was unwell and were prohibited from visiting me... Was it merely a suspicion on his part?’

Aideen found herself yearning for answers, yet simultaneously, she harbored a reluctance to delve further into the conversation.

What purpose would it serve now anyway? She was distanced from the abhorrent members of the Royal Family; she had escaped the oppressive and suffocating confines of the Capital. Now, she resided in a secure haven, surrounded by people who genuinely liked her and treated her with kindness and respect.

She was with Ahspid who promised to help her become stronger.

She was with Duke Tillian Valentine who swore to protect her at all costs and set her free if she wanted to have more.

’The past is the past; let’s leave it at that. I find myself in this contemplative state due to the opportunities and experiences my disability prevented me from seizing. However, I am determined that history will not repeat itself. From now on, I will be sure to embrace and cherish every moment. I will make sure to do just that.’

The silence following Tillian’s confession stretched into an overwhelming length, capturing even the attention of the Dobermans, who grew curious about the sudden stillness enveloping the room.

In an awkward attempt to alleviate the tension, the Duke cleared his throat a few times, resolutely marching back to his desk chair. Then, seating himself, he casually grabbed a handful of papers from a towering stack of untouched tasks, adopting a feigned nonchalant tone as he finally spoke,

"Well, forgive me, Your Highness, but I must return to my daily tasks. There is quite a bit left for me to cover tonight. Feel free to stay here as long as you wish, just as you had originally planned. The company of the dogs is at your disposal as well."

Aideen shifted her gaze towards the leather couch, pondering her options for a few moments. Carefully, she placed the red ribbon back on the desk, stood up, and stretched her lips into a subtle smile as she responded,

"Thank you, Your Grace, but perhaps it’s best if I take my leave now. Both you and the dogs seem tired, and I do not want to overstay my welcome. I hope you can still get some proper rest before embarking on the patrol route tomorrow morning. Good night."

"Yes, good night, Your Highness."

Observing the princess silently exit the study, Tillian waited until she closed the door behind her. He then reclined in his chair, covering his face with both hands. A long, heavy sigh escaped his lips, followed by a rather loud and distressed groan that stirred the dogs, earning him another pair of disapproving red glares.

Lifting his hands from his tired face, the Duke cast an equally irritated glare at the Dobermans and grumbled,

"What? Do you have something to say to me?"

The dogs responded with a synchronized bark, promptly turning away from their owner to resume their slumber, while the man furrowed his eyebrows at such a behavior. Shaking his head, he mumbled under his breath,

"Sure, now that you’ve met the princess, I’m no longer your number one human. What am I even saying? I really should get some rest today."

***

The slow, almost lethargic clattering sound of silver cutlery resonated through the serene Royal Dining Hall, infusing the atmosphere with a somewhat refreshing melody.

King Euris indulged in his customary breakfast dish – a fried piece of chicken atop a soft bed of baked potatoes. Meanwhile, Queen Fleur absentmindedly nudged a small slice of tomato around her salad plate, clearly uninterested in its consumption.

Growing weary of the unappetizing sight before him, the King finally laid his fork aside and voiced his discontent,

"If you have no inclination to eat, why persist in having breakfast together every day? Your Majesty, it seems a waste of food to me and I don’t want to encourage it."

Fleur shot her husband a somewhat piercing glare, then laid aside her own fork as well. In a condescending tone, she inquired,

"Since when has the King of Geraldion become so concerned about whether we waste food or not? I hardly think the Royal Palace is on the brink of a food shortage anytime soon."

"I am not worried about the Royal Palace, My Queen. However, with winter already upon us, we must consider the well-being of the people in our Kingdom."

Euris’s response elicited a disappointed grimace from the Queen. Piercing the tiny slice of tomato with her fork, she continued her argument,

"We are not sustaining our people with the food we have here, Your Majesty. If people find themselves without provisions, it suggests they haven’t worked hard enough to secure necessities for the colder seasons. Moreover, considering we no longer collect taxes in the form of food, whether they starve or not is now undeniably beyond our control."

While the King contemplated a retort, he wisely chose to refrain from prolonging the conversation. Another wave of silence engulfed the Dining Hall until the room resonated with a brief knock on the door, followed by the entrance of one of the King’s assistants.

The tall man in the black and blue uniform offered the royal couple an apology for the intrusion. He then briskly walked up to Euris, placing a small white envelope with a round brown seal in the middle on the table next to his hand. Leaning closer to the King, he whispered,

"From The North. Arrived just several minutes ago."

Euris took the envelope in his hands, briefly scanning the careful writing in its bottom right corner. He then shifted his gaze to the Queen, nodding as he addressed his assistant,

"Thank you; you may leave now."

As the assistant exited the Dining Hall, Euris proceeded to open the letter with a silver knife. Meanwhile, Fleur’s irritated voice echoed in his ears once more,

"What else does that mad dog want? I thought that disgraceful stunt he pulled during the duel of honor had finally severed our ties with him completely."

The man casually skimmed through the contents of the letter, his face taking on a notably serious expression. After a thoughtful pause, he released a long sigh, carefully folded the letter, and finally responded,

"He insists on Yuliana’s body being sent to his castle as soon as possible."

"What?!" Fleur’s hands slammed onto the dining table, her eyes widening in utter shock at such a demand. "He insists? Who does he think he is to demand anything from us? Send a firm rejection immediately; we will not entertain his absurd requests!"

The King shook his head and continued,

"He is threatening to reveal the truth about Aideen to King Zelon if we reject his demand."

The remainder of the Queen’s composure had finally evaporated. Rising from her seat, she angrily knocked over a pitcher of water with both hands, unleashing her frustration,

"Lowly insects! How dare they! It’s all because of her! You should have sent that whore back the moment she set foot in our palace. A peace-making offer, a concubine! And then what did she do? Such dishonor! She brought so much disgrace into this family because she could not keep her legs crossed; she deserves to rot in that forsaken place!"

"That’s enough!"

King Euris, too, rose to his feet. Resolutely, he marched towards his wife, and when their bodies almost touched, he looked down at her with a glare filled with a sudden blend of anger and irritation as he added,

"You should not speak of the deceased in that manner, Your Majesty. What’s done is done; it’s been too long to still dwell on every ’if’ and ’maybe.’ The woman is dead; what more do you need?"

He waved Tillian’s letter before the Queen’s face, then threw it on the table, and concluded,

"I will allow this. Perhaps removing her from here will finally bring you some peace of mind."