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.