[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 172: Xion’s Realization

The carriage was moving at a speed that could rival a modern car. That was what Xion thought as he glanced at the blurry shadows of trees whizzing past them.

"Marquis Roberto had been hiding a huge amount of gold, along with rare paintings, and many treasured artifacts. Some are said to be even more valuable than the holy artifact. But now they are all burned to ashes. Even the gold was looted by the people who came to help."

Such were the words he had heard from the soldiers before they started their journey.

Xion, of course, was sitting inside the archduke’s carriage. However, the silence spreading around felt too loud to him, deafening even.

There were countless thoughts rushing through his mind, making him irritated and restless.

He could barely focus on anything, but his eyes couldn’t help but stray to the man sitting across from him.

Darius was busily writing and stamping documents, looking completely unfazed by the burning chaos that had happened.

Xion’s eyes followed the smooth motion of the archduke’s hand, then drifted higher, toward the familiar silver strands of hair tied in that simple, neat fashion.

It was the same style Xion had once decorated with wildflowers.

Just before their departure, Darius had asked him to comb his hair.

Xion, out of habit, complied without protest. It was just a simple favor after all. A lord asking his healer to help him comb his hair was really just an ordinary thing.

Just a common aspect among nobles, nothing more.

Right?

Xion mentally repeated it to himself.

His Grace was merely fulfilling his role as a lord, taking care of his people.

And Xion, well ... he was just another person under the archduke’s protection. Nothing more than that.

He had seen how kindly Darius treated everyone around him.

Ray, who might be the most reckless knight, remained fiercely loyal.

Allen, Nazia, and the servants all followed his grace without question. They did so not because they were forced, but because they believed in him.

So, wasn’t it only natural for Darius to treat Xion nicely too? He was a useful healer, after all.

Normal to let Xion cook for him.

Normal to assign him as his personal advisor.

Normal to allow him to scold and nag without punishment.

Normal to share a bed. Normal to be so attentive about his whereabouts.

Normal to leave a bite mark on his cheek after he accidentally fell asleep on his grace’s lap.

Normal ... No.

There was nothing normal about it!

No matter how Xion tried to convince himself, he couldn’t ignore the changes anymore.

At first, he brushed it all off. He had assumed Darius was just bad at making friends, and so he was childishly possessive because he lacked companions growing up.

But the escalation had been far too sharp. From advisor to fiancé, and from fiancé to ... Husband.

There was only one "such relationship" in his previous life, and that had led him to be accused of stealing his brother’s garments. Of being a sinner. Of seducing someone he shouldn’t have dared to love.

His name was spoken with such vulgarity that he never dared to let himself fall for anyone.

Regardless of the condition, he had no intention of binding himself to any family name anymore. One time was lesson enough.

Love, no matter what kind, was a curse to him.

Either it was he who was hurt, or he ended up hurting others.

Even to this day, he had been waking up drenched from the cold sweet.

Those nightmares were always filled with vulgar remarks, dirty curses and those hands that were always ready to drag him down the mud and tear his clothes apart.

It is the punishment for a pervert. I bet you secretly like it... Those were the words his best friend had said to him.

He had miraculously opened his eyes in this new world where there was no Aijawa family, no Takumi, no classmates, and no dirty past.

He was barely out of the quagmire.

If anything even remotely like that happened again, where he was accused of seducing someone he cherished, Xion was sure that he would fall apart.

There was not even Minato Sensei anymore to gather his broken pieces and mend them together.

Ray had done so before. Accusing him of being a spy or something like that, but that was something he could ignore.

At that time, they were not so close.

However, if Noxian’s smile was replaced with disgust, if Allen’s respectful teacher was replaced with curses ...

The mere thought made Xion feel as if cold water had been poured over him. His body shuddered. But all his actions were hidden under the sudden jerk of the wheels rolling over the hurdle.

The busy archduke did not notice anything.

Xion’s chest ached as if it was being constricted by the weight of something he could no longer avoid.

He was so deep in his thoughts, that he barely noticed the rustle beside him. Nor did he detect when Darius set aside his pen and reached across to tap his shoulder.

"Xion?"

Xion glanced up at the frowning archduke.

It was just a slight narrowing of his eyebrows. The frown was barely there, and yet Xion could clearly see Darius looked puzzled and worried.

"What are you thinking about?"

Xion flinched at the low sound. Nonetheless, the jolt also brought his mind into a working state.

So, he smiled. Not the genuine one though.

Due to his profession, he had learned the art of hiding his emotions. Even if it was not the level of a master, it was enough to keep him away from trouble.

Like when he had to deal with a particularly aggressive patient, or restrain himself from smacking one ... It was that kind of smile.

"Nothing," he said in a casual tone, waving his hand in dismissal. "You were saying?"

Although Darius had noticed that Xion was strangely silent, he did not give it much thought.

After knowing his identity, Xion had stopped rambling to him as he would to Rael, so Darius was planning to slowly make Xion get used to him, and only him.

If Xion remained constantly by his side, it was only a matter of time before he revealed his true self. It was another matter entirely that even this cautious Xion still managed to cross so many lines.

But that was why Xion was this cute in the first place.

The frown dissolved, and soon, a slight smile bloomed on his face. The archduke handed Xion a small stack of parchment.

"A gift for you."