[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke

Outside felt like a fiery pit, relentlessly tossing people about until they were drenched in sweat.

Even at night, the slight chillness did nothing to reduce the stifling heat. It forced the usual crowd of alcoholics and thieves lurking in the alleys to hurriedly retreat into their homes.

The capital sure had many wonders that made it so prosperous. To Xion, those cooling crystals were one of those wonderful things.

The jail where they were was for the sinner who had committed a felony, or a crime so vile that no one would want that person to see the light of the day.

Yet, to Xion, it became a place of comfort.

Because the cells were deep in the basement, sunlight never reached them. Logically, it should have been even hotter than outside as there was also no fresh air to reduce the suffocating heat.

Nonetheless, the guards patrolling the area had no desire to suffer alongside the prisoners.

And why should they?

Hence, they had lined the place with gleaming blue mana crystals, filling the air with a refreshing coolness.

For Xion, that meant one thing, perfect sleeping conditions.

Soon, Xion drifted off to distant dreamlands.

However, Allen could not rest even a bit. He was still worrying about his grace’s arrival, and then there was Prince Nikolai.

If he somehow ignored all of it, he just could not overlook the conversation between the priestess of night and Xion.

Serena had a lover, and that person was so high up on the social ladder that no one knew about him.

At the very least, the Archduke did not. Allen was sure of that. If his grace had, the name Minato would not have sounded so unfamiliar.

Or perhaps Minato was not even his real name. Maybe it was a name known only to those closest to him, like his two students, Serena and Xion.

Allen looked at the sleeping figure, breathing slowly. There wasn’t a trace of fear or worry on his face.

Yes, this was the Xion they knew. The one who would forget danger the moment he found a comfortable place.

Adjusting his posture, Allen allowed Xion to rest against his shoulder while closing his own eyes. There was nothing he could do at the moment except wait.

But truthfully, Xion had not fallen asleep simply because he was unbothered.

Well... that was part of the reason.

But there was another— one that had turned into an odd habit over the years.

When he was studying in college, he would doze off the moment he found a resting spot.

The cafe chair, the bench at the bus stand, and sometimes, he even slept while bathing.

So, now, falling asleep in the strangest places had simply become second nature to him.

But Xion was not lucky enough to sleep even for a few hours.

The peacekeepers came for him in the dead of night, when even the sun had not yet appeared on the horizon.

Xion was immediately irritated.

Half-asleep and groggy, he barely registered the harsh clang of metal as the cell door creaked open. Rough hands grabbed him by the arm and yanked him to his feet.

Had Allen not steadied him, Xion would have kissed the filthy floor.

Xion glared at the new jailer, yet before he could grumble, he was shoved forward.

"Move along. I don’t have time for yah lunatics." A buff voice boomed.

Both Xion and Allen remained silent. One was grumpy after being woken up so harshly, while the other was observing the surroundings.

The air outside was filled with the lingering scent of tobacco. It was the jailer who was smoking heavily, dragging slow puffs as grey smoke lingered in the air.

Forced to inhale second-hand tobacco filled air, they were taken deeper into the underground.

Something wasn’t right, and Allen was the first to notice it.

According to the rules, they should be kept in captivity for a night before being presented in front of the judge.

They were not supposed to be taken into the real prisons just yet.

A new cell was right in front. A dark, suffocating space filled with the stench of dried blood and decay.

Allen, who had been dragged alongside Xion, clenched his fists. He decided then and there, if anyone so much as touched his teacher, he would fight his way out.

If the previous room was ’dirty’, this was directly the real hell on earth.

A few of the criminals were crumpled on the floor. Their bodies were so brutally beaten that their skin was peeling off in places, revealing raw, exposed flesh.

In some parts, even the white bone was visible under the light of the burning torch. Flies swarmed the bloodied flesh, feasting greedily on the rotting wounds.

The muffled groans of the prisoners echoed in the air, but none dared to scream. How could they when thick cloths were tied around their mouths?

Before Xion could react, a burly peacekeeper shoved him inside.

Unguarded, Xion stumbled forward, his feet stepping on the mixture of dried and fresh blood.

The sickening splash beneath his feet was enough to churn anyone’s stomach. But that was the least of his concerns.

With another shove, Xion nearly crashed into a skeleton chained to the opposite wall with heavy metal restraints.

The hollow sockets of the skull seemed to grin at him. This was the special masterpiece, kept there for solely one reason. To scare.

Allen knew what this was. It was a tactic to break the minds of prisoners, to put them under pressure until they confessed their crimes.

Many convicts with unstable mentalities did exactly that. They would soon confess, too terrified of ending up like the ones before them.

"You better tell what disgusting things you have done. If not, from tomorrow this will be your permanent home." The burly peacekeeper grinned, showing his yellow teeth.

Allen looked around; a deep frown settled on his otherwise calm face. Just from that Xion knew someone was deliberately making things difficult for them.

Any normal person would be terrified of the hideous mess of rotten flesh and scattered bones, and soon, he would bow under pressure.

But Xion was never ’normal’. At least not the normal others thought of.

Under the horrified gazes of the other prisoners and the wary eyes of the peacekeepers following the command of the burly jailer, Xion did something utterly absurd.

He calmly walked forward and kneeled in front of the skeleton.

Tilting his head curiously, he stared with wide eyes as if studying a fine piece of art.

Then, as if completely oblivious to the terrifying atmosphere, he turned and waved Allen over with a bright grin.

"Brother, come here. I’ll show you the bone arrangements!"

Allen, "..."

The terrified criminals, "..."

The peacekeepers, "..."

Was this guy for real?!

Allen pinched the bridge of his nose before walking over. Yeah. This was Xion, after all.