[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke

Nikolai had already noticed it. The way Darius had directly called him by his name and not by his title.

A blatant act of disrespect toward the royal family.

If he wished, Nikolai could have made a grand fuss over it, forcing Darius to kneel and accept punishment.

But... but!

This damned devil feared no one!

Instead, it was the king himself who feared angering Darius just as one would fear offending the god of death.

Nikolai forced down his rising frustration, swallowing his pride and fixing a perfectly polite smile onto his face.

"I want to marry Xion," Nikolai’s voice was laced with smug satisfaction. "Even His Majesty has given us his blessing. See?"

With an excited gleam in his golden eyes, Nikolai waved the royal decree. The satin scroll was encased in a decorated gold cover. Its presence alone signified the king’s absolute authority.

"No one can deny His Majesty’s will." His smirk deepened. "Not even you."

This was the ultimate ace up his sleeve. The assurance that no matter how strong Darius was, his influence was vastly tied to the North.

Here, in the heart of the capital, all the nobles were staring at him like vultures.

They were eagerly waiting for him to slip up, ready to pounce at the first opportunity so they could devour him.

Regardless, Darius would not be foolish enough to make a scene.

That was what Nikolai believed. And for a moment, a glimmer of satisfaction crossed his face. Three parts arrogance and two parts relief flooded his gleaming eyes.

But he overlooked one thing.

He forgot who he was speaking to.

The man who had made kings of neighboring countries flee for their lives. The devil whose mere name sent shivers down the spine of even the most battle-hardened warriors.

A soft chuckle escaped Darius.

Not the kind of laugh that signified amusement, but the kind that carried an underlying mockery, as if Nikolai’s words were nothing more than a child’s delusion.

In three unhurried steps, Darius closed the distance between them. His shadow suddenly swallowed Nikolai’s form. He reached out, and without hesitation, he plucked the decree from Nikolai’s hand.

And then, there was no more.

No more royal decree for Nikolai to flaunt.

The satin cloth ignited under the influence of murky green mana. Flames devoured the royal decree and those disgusting words written on it.

In an instant, His Majesty’s words were turned into nothing but blackened ashes.

"To marry my Xion," As he spoke, he reached out. "Are you worthy?"

With a single pat on Nikolai’s cheek, Darius smeared the remaining ashes against his fair skin, leaving behind dark streaks of what was once the king’s decree.

It was both a reminder and a warning. A warning not to test his patience, not to anger the sleeping beast.

Darius didn’t even spare Nikolai another glance. Whether the royal prince had anything left to say no longer mattered.

Without hesitation, he turned on his heel while Allen started walking beside him.

By the time they reached the hallway where Xion and Raymond were waiting, Allen had already filled him in on everything.

How Xion had stood up for him at the banquet.

How he had somehow ended up in prison because of it.

With a raised brow Darius asked, as if making sure what he heard was not wrong, "In the middle of bloody jail, Xion taught you about bones? Using a criminal’s decayed body?"

Allen could only nod.

Darius was actually disappointed that he came too late. He had missed it. The rare opportunity to witness Xion rendering people speechless.

What a shame.

Well, life was long, and knowing Xion... there would be plenty of surprises in store.

His lips twitched into the faintest smile at the thought.

As they stepped inside, Darius was met with the sight of Xion telling Ray god-knew what, making the knight laugh like a madman.

At the sudden presence of their lord, Ray’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. He instantly straightened up, though the curve of his lips betrayed his amusement. freёnovelkiss.com

"Your Grace," Ray greeted. "You are back."

Darius hummed lightly. His gaze shifted momentarily to the glass window behind Ray.

That was when he saw it.

His own lips curved into something dangerously close to a smile.

A quiet chuckle rumbled in his chest.

This was the effect Xion had on all of his people. Even he was not spared.

With a shake of his head, he fixed his gaze on Xion, who was sitting on the chair, half of his face was hidden behind the flower vase placed on the table.

"Your Grace," Xion followed Ray and quickly stood to greet the archduke.

There was a slight blush dusting his cheeks, and his pretty eyes flickered around the room, refusing to meet Darius’ gaze.

Yet to Darius, it was painfully obvious.

Xion was embarrassed for having caused him trouble. Which was ridiculous. Especially considering the messes Ray had often dragged him into over the years.

Now, normally, Darius would have casually brushed it off, telling Xion that everything was under control.

But not this time.

Because there was something, a word, that had been circling in his mind for a long time, and refusing to fade.

Fiancé.

Xion would be Nikolai’s fiancé.

Even though Darius had burned the royal decree, the fact remained as clear as day. The king had already given his blessing.

Sooner or later, Nikolai would come back with another such order.

And with a mind like his, Darius knew the prince wouldn’t make the mistake of handing it to him directly.

No. He would be smarter this time.

Rather, Nikolai would make sure that everyone knew. From the nobles to royals, they would all look at Xion as Prince Nikolai’s soon-to-be husband.

And Darius abhorred it.

The very thought of Xion being claimed by Nikolai had his heart thrumming with suppressed disgust.

He hated it when his things were touched or worse... coveted.

So, he came up with a plan.

A perfect little strategy. One that would bury Nikolai’s ambitions six feet under.

Darius stepped forward and closed the distance until his long shadow swallowed Xion’s petite frame entirely.

"Do you want to marry Nikolai?"

Just as Darius had assumed, Xion’s response was immediate. He shook his head in fierce denial making his hair wiggle along. "No! Don’t want!"

A slow smirk curled at the corner of Darius’ lips.

"Then be my fiancé."