Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 74: Not a Ruan

Chapter 74: Not a Ruan

"This is the only reason I was reluctant to have our wedding ceremony sooner. Your late mother was the reason, Your Highness."

Finally letting go of her hand, Tillian distanced himself from the princess, giving her a moment to gather her thoughts. However, even this brief respite proved insufficient to fully grasp the complexity of the situation.

Struggling to formulate any semblance of an emotional response, Aideen withdrew her hand from the delicate flower and inquired,

"I don’t understand... What does it mean? How is my late mother connected to all of this?"

The Duke hesitated. He had imagined this scene many times before and even rehearsed a rather suitable explanation, preparing for any possible questions that might come his way, but now that it was actually happening, all of a sudden, the man felt like he had forgotten how to think.

Nevertheless, he had to say at least something.

"I understand that this isn’t exactly a meadow, but here, in this greenhouse, your mother will find her final resting place beneath the perpetual bloom of everlasting peonies."

"No..." The lady arched her eyebrows, once again taken aback by Tillian’s words. "You... You brought her here?"

Duke Valentine nodded.

"I requested the King to release her body, and he granted my request without any objections. The members of the Black Flame Guild assisted us in transporting her coffin here afterward. Rest assured, My Lady, it lies right beneath your chosen flower."

With her hands trembling from both shock and frustration, Aideen delicately moved her fingers over the velvety petals of the peony, absorbing its fresh softness with her cold skin. Strangely enough, the connection to her late mother felt palpable even in the delicate embrace of the petals.

She was finally there—her mother, no longer carelessly buried under the cold, barren soil surrounded by the rotten stench of death. Instead, she rested peacefully beside her, underneath the blooming blanket of her favorite flowers.

Yuliana may no longer be alive, but within the protective castle walls, her vibrant presence was omnipresent.

After withdrawing her still-trembling hands from the flower, the princess turned to face Tillian once again, wrestling with the complexity of her emotions.

"I am rendered speechless, Your Grace. Countless sentences race through my mind every second, yet I find none that capture the depth of my gratitude. You have done so much for me, continuously giving more. This, however... This is the most extraordinary gift anyone could have bestowed upon me. It’s true magic, Your Grace, and I’m at a loss for how to express my gratitude for such a priceless gesture."

Finally, the last remnants of the restraints that had still managed to hold back her feelings dissipated under the pressure of her surging emotions. One by one, like thin threads snapping inside her body, the lady felt a release until there was nothing left.

Like an uncontrollable wave, an unstoppable power, her weary heart melted, gave up, and her eyes turned into foggy glass, covered with a thick layer of hot, salty tears.

Aideen had no idea how she ended up in Tillian’s arms, but neither his gentle, affectionate touch nor his calm and comforting heartbeat could stop her from wailing.

It felt as if her body was desperate to expel every last negative feeling and memory, to cleanse her tormented heart of the pain and suffering it was forced to endure in the past. With that moment of catharsis, she was ready to embrace her new life—a life filled with love, a life filled with hope.

"Thank you, Your Grace. Truly, thank you."

Wrapped in the Duke’s strong arms, Aideen repeated those words over and over until she could no longer speak. The gratitude and relief washed over her like a gentle tide, bringing solace to the storm that had raged within her for so long.

***

"So she liked your gift?"

Ahspid stood in the middle of the greenhouse, marveling at the fascinating beauty of his magical creation.

Although reluctant at first, when Duke Valentine asked the mage to help him set up the greenhouse for Aideen, Ahspid found it rather difficult to say no to such a request. Perhaps it was his own long-forgotten melancholic nature that managed to resurface, or maybe a plain desire to do something nice after years of idleness, but something deep inside his heart spoke to him, and thus, after several playful antics, the mage said yes, and offered Tillian his helping hand.

"I must confess," Ahspid snapped his fingers, covering the colorful flowerbeds with fresh sparkles of dew before continuing, "I expected the princess to have a more complicated response to your thoughtful gesture, Your Grace. But I guess I am, too, glad with how things turned out. I guess now there is nothing else left to keep you from finally marrying her."

He offered Duke Valentine his usual sly grin while Tillian furrowed his eyebrows for a few moments, then relaxed his face again, and sighed.

"The formality of the wedding has no obstacles, that’s for sure, however... What do I do with my growing feelings?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Ahspid raised a curious brow, folding his arms in front of his chest while the Duke elaborated,

"Distant or not, Aideen and I are still relatives. King Ruan was my father’s cousin and this makes me feel very uneasy. I know about the rumors that are still surrounding the late Queen Yuliana, but they are obvious lies. So..."

Ahspid rushed to interject,

"Before the introduction of political marriages, the unions between the family members were a must, Your Grace, and you know it. Some kingdoms still encourage them even now."

Tillian ran his fingers through his cascading blonde hair, shaking his head in disapproval,

"You know it better than anyone that Valentines refrained from consanguineous unions. Even when the late Queen Regent could not conceive a child, my father took another wife from a noble family not related to his. My mother, Queen Elindine. And this is why I am so worried. I... I want to be a Valentine, not a Ruan."

The Duke’s words made Ahspid stretch his red lips into another wide grin which irked Tillian even more as he nearly shouted,

"Is this funny for you?! Goddamit, Ahspid, would you at least try to show some reason during such a serious conversation?!"

Barely containing his laughter, the magus nodded, agreeing with Tillian’s retort, and said, his voice still shaking from the overwhelming emotions,

"Don’t worry, little Duke, you will remain a Valentine. Aideen is not related to you in any way. She is not the daughter of the King. The rumors are true. She is not a Ruan."