[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 55: Darius’ Taboo

The chill lingered in the air. It was not as biting as it had been in the forest. Rather, it was like an eerie coldness of early winter.

Something that would stir a subtle anticipation in living creatures for the coziness heavy winter would bring.

Unlike his old mentor Minato, whose body rebelled against the season, Xion was fond of winters, immensely so.

Why would he not when they brought holidays, the new year, and, above all else, silence?

Whenever the Aijawa family went out for vacation, Xion had the entire house to himself.

It felt nice, strangely similar to how he felt now.

He had harvested so many merit points today!

An average person had about 20, though the range varied widely.

Ironically, he treated a beggar on the street and earned 300 merits. The lavishly dressed lady, however, gave him only 3 points. The disparity was truly eye-opening.

In a good mood, he hummed a nursery rhyme while browsing the system mall.

He bought some fruit. Apples, grapes, mangoes. Despite their small quantity, they looked very tempting. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Xion would have never spent merit points on fruit, but to make Rael strong, he did not bother with such trivial matters.

Noxian was not sitting with him. The super excited kid was lounging with the coachman, giggling every time he was hurled into the air by the bumpy road.

When they reached their destination, Xion tossed a shiny red apple to the boy. "Eat it after you wash yourself, okay?"

The purple hair bobbed along with its owner’s motions. "Okay, brother!"

A sweet yell, and Xion felt his footsteps lighten.

While bathing, Xion pondered a few things he had been ignoring all this time.

He knew Darius Rael was the child of the archduke. Aside from the fact that Rael was 11, Xion had little else to know about him.

Ah, but he did know that Rael had been treated poorly by his parents. He was so sick, yet the poor boy had to search for a cure all on his own.

A sigh slipped past his wet lips.

He better not step on any of Rael’s taboos.

Maybe it was because he strictly explained the situation, Allen had been with Rael the entire day. Xion did not doubt for a second that he had taken care of the sick child.

His guess was not wrong. Allen had taken care of all the tasks the archduke had assigned him.

Like planning to move in two days or dealing with a few thugs who were trying to cause trouble for the clinic.

With the rising popularity, it was inevitable that other healers would grow envious and resort to underhanded tactics.

There was also the route they had discussed, which would take them to the royal capital within a month or two.

After that, Darius had a sword match with the other soldiers. The precious medicine worked so excellently that his master could manipulate his mana again, something he had not been able to do since the poison incident.

He also did not torture the new assassin! This time, he just cleanly severed his head.

Completely oblivious of Allen’s ’care’, Xion made his way to Rael’s room with a small plate of nicely chopped fruit.

When the door opened, Xion nearly dropped the plate at the sight. Rael was sitting on a cushioned chair resembling a small throne.

But what took Xion’s breath away was the sight of him tossing a sharp knife, specifically, a strangely shaped dagger.

Where the heck did he even get such a dangerous thing?

Xion quickly glanced around the room, and the bloody scene that sprang to mind remained purely imaginary. Phew, safe.

"You are here," Darius said with a faint smile on his lips. Perceiving Xion’s gaze, he flicked his wrist lightly, tossing the dagger into the air.

He caught it effortlessly before lowering it to the table.

"I thought you would be early. Did you not declare you wished to... take care of me?"

Xion paddled over to the boy and put the plate on the same table. He cautiously slid the dagger to the other edge with his finger.

He took a seat on the chair while replying, "I need to treat them too." For you.

His words hung in the air, and Darius’ smile vanished. Of course, he sneered, you think everyone deserves your help.

How ridiculous.

With a soft snort, he picked up the fork. The fresh, sweet tanginess filled his mouth, and the earlier unpleasantness seemed to dissolve.

"How are they?" Xion asked with a smile.

"Fine."

Darius decided to forgive his healer for his mistake. He conveniently told himself it was because of the medicine and... fruits.

They were indeed delicious.

"I will go make dinner then. Bye." Xion waved his hand like a child and trotted toward the kitchen.

Darius watched the thin back until it disappeared behind the door.

There it was. Another mistake. How could someone just dismiss themselves in front of him?

But... Fruits. He picked another bite-sized apple and chewed it. Yeah, they are good and so was the medicine.

Anyway, why else would he tolerate someone so weak, so foolish, so ridiculously naive like Xion?

If they stayed together, sooner or later, Xion would surely get himself, or the people around them in trouble.

If it were anyone else, just one of these reasons would have been enough for him to send that person’s head flying. He had actually just done that.

With the same dagger, which now lay out of the reach of his small arms.

Yet every time Xion dangled at the edge of his taboo, he would always find a reason to expand that edge.

It was not a lie that those reasons were genuine. Truly.

Darius had allowed Xion to call his name because he enjoyed the way it sounded in that sweet voice.

Sweet. It was an odd word. Something that made the edible taste better. Something he actually had a least preference for.

Now that he had met Xion, for the first time, he understood that there were indeed some people who could be considered sweet and were still tolerable.

The words of his old nurse echoed in his mind.

"My lord, there are some people who are truly sweet. They are very special, not easy to find. But once you do, you need to take care of them, as they are often fragile."

Yeah, Xion was like that.

Sweet and fragile. A combination he abhorred with all his might. He despised things that were easily breakable.

And yet here he was, sweet Xion, still breathing, still alive, because he, Darius Rael Darkhelm, had spared him.

Black Box-

Xion, while dancing on the minefield of Darius’ taboos, "I hope I won’t make him mad."

Helpless Darius, "... Dance wherever you want. It does not matter as long as you are in front of me."

The many people who lost their lives for the tiniest of mistakes, "... Are we a joke to you?"

Ray, sharpening his sword, "Yup!"