Chapter 79: True Partners Grow Together
"There is no need for pretentious courtesy or sensibility. I am blind therefore I am limited in my abilities. However, I am no princess, I am no queen, and I am definitely no damsel in distress. The moment I set foot in this place, I became one with it. You called me Aideen Valentine, and this is who I am now. I am a Valentine and a descendant of a great lineage.
I might not look like I am capable of doing a lot, but for someone like His Grace, I am willing to do anything to help him become more powerful, and he will do the same for me. This is what true partners do –– they grow together. In everything."
Aideen felt like she used all the powers she had, both magical and physical, to utter these words without stuttering, but she still had to make an enormous effort in order to stay tall and not betray her frightened state by either a change in her breathing or any movement on her face.
The dining hall remained silent as if the princess’s brief speech erased every last source of sound that had existed in it before.
Avir could not come up with any response he deemed at least remotely reasonable but he knew that he was expected to say something. Thus, lowering his voice to the modest tones of submission, the man stood up, bowed down, and finally said,
"I sincerely apologize, My Lady. I am ignorant, uneducated, I make mistakes I then deeply regret so all I can do is apologize. Please forgive me."
The lady swallowed an invisible dry lump stuck in her throat and tried to reply in the same calm and serious voice,
"I am uneducated, too, Sir Avir, yet I never use this as an excuse for anything. I accept your apology but I must warn you not to be so reckless in the future when talking about Valentines. Remember that disrespecting anyone close to His Grace is the same as disrespecting the Duke himself."
"Yes, I will remember that, My Lady."