Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 88: I Already Hate It Here

Chapter 88: I Already Hate It Here

The Duke’s departure appeared to further elevate Yuraon’s already buoyant mood. Redirecting his attention to Aideen, he leaned on his elbow, smiled once more, and inquired,

"So, how is life within the castle walls treating you, Your Highness?"

Setting her wine glass aside, the princess pondered the kind of response the King anticipated. After a moment’s consideration, she cleared her throat and opted to sidestep providing a direct answer.

"You seem to know quite a lot about me, Your Majesty. I am uncertain whether I should feel flattered or concerned."

The young man could only shrug his strong shoulders in response.

"I believe it is neither flattery nor cause for concern. As a king, it is imperative for me to stay informed about matters concerning other kingdoms, especially when it involves someone special favored by my mentor, the Duke."

Piercing a piece of meat on his own plate with a fork, Yuraon brought it to his mouth and washed it down with a sip of red wine, relishing the exquisite blend of flavors evoked by the combination. He then resumed,

"To be completely honest with you, I didn’t anticipate your agreement to marry him, My Lady. After all, within this kingdom, he’s a political nonentity; his wealth is his only asset. Well, apart from his looks, of course. However, I must admit, the two of you make a formidable couple. A striking one, at that. I confess, I feel a twinge of jealousy."

Aideen could not help but feel embarrassed once again. Frankly, she found it flattering when people around them referred to them as a good pair. After all, that was precisely what she hoped they would become—two strong and supportive companions whose compatibility could inspire jealousy and awe.

Enjoying the woman’s blush, the young man shifted his bright blue eyes to the ring on her finger, his eyebrows arching as he observed the unique shape and color of the gem.

Clearly astonished, he gently took Aideen’s hand in his own, bringing it closer to his face to admire the beauty of her exquisite engagement ring.

"Wow, this ring is stunning, Your Highness! A gem shaped like a snowflake! Who would have thought such a thing was even possible? And it’s the dragon’s tear, isn’t it? What a marvel indeed!"

As he traced his fingers over the unique shape of the ring’s gem, the door to the dining hall swung open once again, welcoming Tillian back to their interrupted meal. However, the Duke’s return was not met with enthusiasm. Seeing the princess and the young King getting along so well again only fueled his anger.

With a fresh wave of jealousy coursing through him, Duke Valentine strode toward the pair. Standing directly behind them, he intervened by taking Aideen’s hand and firmly placing it back on the table. His voice was cold and irritated as he spoke,

"Your Majesty, I believe it is time you retired to your bedroom and got some more rest. The hour is late, and you have spent most of the day on the road."

Yuraon considered retorting, but upon seeing Tillian’s furious glare, he wisely opted to refrain from further argument and simply acquiesced to his words.

"Yes, you are correct, Your Grace. I am feeling rather tired from my journey here." He rose to his feet and added, "This dinner was marvelous, most likely thanks to your delightful company, Your Highness. I hope we can share more memorable moments in the future."

The young King offered the Duke a sly grin accompanied by a polite nod before he finally exited the room.

Sensing Duke Valentine’s distress, the princess also rose from her seat, her voice tinged with genuine worry as she inquired,

"Your Grace? Is everything alright?"

Left alone, only the two of them present, Tillian finally realized that his reaction was somewhat exaggerated, but he still could not hold back his emotions. With a long, somewhat embarrassed sigh, he rubbed his forehead and replied,

"Your Highness... I believe it’s time we finally got married. Two days. Yes, I will arrange for everything to be ready in two days!"

"Excuse me?!"

***

A rich brown carriage, adorned with beautiful red and golden decorations and drawn by large but elegant white horses, made its way through the outskirts of the Capital of Geraldion. Glistening under the thick rays of the autumn sun, it was covered in a subtle but noticeable glow, enhancing the scenery around it with vibrant golden colors.

It was followed by at least a dozen additional carriages and no fewer than twenty guardian knights dressed in dark brown knight uniforms, their intense red capes flowing behind them.

Inside the leading carriage was none other than young Princess Melania—the esteemed princess of the Kingdom of Lafad—another kingdom that had joined the intricate web of political marriages on the Central Continent.

The woman was the epitome of innocence and elegance—petite in form, she was draped in all hues of pink like a delicate blossoming flower. Her skin was slightly tanned, touched by the everlasting southern sun; her brown, curly hair cascaded, with several rogue strands falling over her smooth forehead, perfectly matching the color of her eyes and eyebrows in harmony. The princess’s features were gentle yet prominent, and her perfectly outlined peach-colored lips added a beautiful finish to her youthful face.

Although she had not slept since leaving her homeland, the Southern Kingdom of Lafad, the young lady remained alert, her sharp senses heightened by the resounding beating of her restless heart.

With her deep brown eyes firmly fixed on the scenery outside the carriage’s window, Melania kept sighing, pressing her small right hand against her trembling chest.

Having noticed the princess’s saddened expression, her lady-in-waiting, Loraline, gently placed her hand on Melania’s shoulder and asked, her voice laced with careful consideration,

"How are you feeling, Your Highness? Are you, perhaps, feeling motion sickness? I can ask the coachman to slow down if you’d like."

With her eyes still glued to the changing scenery outside the window, the princess slowly shook her head before finally replying,

"No... Slowing down won’t stop the inevitable."

Her words seemed to drown the carriage in silence once again. As time passed quietly, allowing only the rhythmic melody of the horses’ hooves to seep inside the coach, the tense and somewhat sad atmosphere became unbearable.

Finally, releasing a long and rather pained exhale, Melania closed her eyes and whispered,

"I hate it... I already hate it here."