Saved By The Mad Duke

Aideen and Yanad rode hard through the night, their horses’ hooves pounding against the ground as they approached the outskirts of the capital of Geraldion. The first light of dawn cast a grim glow over the landscape, revealing the full extent of the devastation brought by war. As they crested the final hill, the capital lay before them, shrouded in smoke and fire. The sight that greeted them was nothing short of mortifying.

The battlefield stretched out in a chaotic expanse of destruction. The once-proud capital was now a nightmarish scene of ruin. Flames licked at the remnants of buildings, and thick black smoke curled into the sky, blotting out the sun. The stench of burning wood and scorched earth filled the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood.

Everywhere Aideen looked, there was death and ruin. The ground was littered with the remnants of battle: broken weapons, shattered armor, and the lifeless bodies of soldiers. Among the debris were torn banners, their once-vibrant colors now dulled by ash and grime. She recognized the symbols—some belonged to Tillian, some belonged to Davoor. The sight of Duke Valentine’s dark blue banner, in particular, made her heart clench with sorrow. These were the men who had fought valiantly for their values, now reduced to mere memories amidst the chaos.

Taru, waking up from the poignant smell of smoke, buried his face into the scarf, whimpering from all the distress he was witnessing. The princess patted him lightly on the head, "Don’t worry... It will all be over soon."

Yanad pulled his horse to a stop beside her, his face pale with horror. "This... this is worse than I imagined," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames and distant cries of the wounded.

Aideen’s eyes filled with tears, but she steeled herself, drawing on every ounce of her inner strength. "We have to keep moving," she said firmly. "We need to find Tillian and address the situation. He must be somewhere near... I can feel the traces of my magic still lingering around him."

They urged their horses forward, picking their way carefully through the debris. The closer they got to the heart of the city, the more the true scale of the disaster became apparent. Buildings that had stood for centuries were reduced to rubble, their foundations charred and blackened. Streets that had once been bustling with life were now deserted, save for the occasional figure stumbling through the ruins, dazed and wounded.

"I was certain the battle would continue here," the Crown Prince furrowed his black eyebrows as he scanned his surroundings, "They must have moved their camps elsewhere. The battle here has been going for too long, my only guess is that they agreed to have a break to replenish their forces."

The moment he finished speaking, another male voice chimed in from behind them, "You seem to know quite a lot for someone who deserted his kingdom, Your Royal Highness."