[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 272: A Calm Before The Strom

Xion, still wrapped snugly in the thick duvet like some sort of burrito, found himself perched on Darius’ lap.

In front of them stood a small table with steaming hot dishes, the delicious aroma filling the air.

Xion glanced from the perfectly plated food to his boyfriend, disbelief flickering across his eyes. It was carefully prepared by none other than the Archduke himself.

No matter how he imagined it, he simply couldn’t fathom the image of Darius shuffling around a kitchen, fussing over ingredients.

The tomato soup from last time had already been a big surprise.

"When did you start cooking?" he asked, curiosity seeping into his voice.

"When you left me." The response was smooth, tinged with a note of teasing. "I thought...what if one day you came back? I should be able to feed you, no?"

Thinking about that time that felt so distant yet so close, Xion pursed his lips.

"I can’t do it like you, though," Darius confessed with a sheepish smile, scratching Xion’s scrunched-up nose. "I only know how to make porridge and soup. So, you better not dislike it."

The gentle scratch made Xion lean back, his gaze locking onto those shimmering green eyes.

Darius looked happy. Truly happy. As if wasting time like this was a thing of immense joy.

"I left you because I was afraid," Xion murmured suddenly.

The acknowledgment made Darius’ smile falter. "Of what?" Even knowing the answer, he pressed further. "Of me? Of the way I treated you?"

Much to Darius’ surprise, the answer wasn’t completely what he thought.

"Not really." Xion sighed, resting his head against Darius’ broad shoulder. "I was afraid I’d fall for you even more than I already had."

The grip around his waist tightened. And yet, Xion chuckled softly. "No one has ever wanted me, Your Grace. Not my parents, not my brothers... or sister. Not even the servants."

Eli’s hatred was still fresh in his mind, telling him that even in this new world his situation wasn’t any different.

"I was afraid that when you pushed me away, I wouldn’t be able to handle it." His voice softened.

"And also..." Xion suddenly laughed, his eyes playfully narrowing at the silver-haired man. "You weren’t exactly good either. You were all high and mighty, you know. Like everyone was beneath you. You even looked at me like I was some... thing. Honestly, it made my skin crawl."

Those words struck like arrows, piercing Darius’ chest with unerring precision.

His ears turned red, and his dense silver lashes dropped down, looking so guilty that it was almost endearing.

"I’m sorry." That was all the Archduke could say. "Give me one chance, Xion. I won’t ever let you down again."

Xion knocked his forehead against Darius’. They had both been young and stupid. Neither had known how these feelings were supposed to work.

What was the point of rehashing the past?

"Aren’t I already giving you one?" Amidst Darius’ confused gaze, Xion leaned forward and loudly smacked a kiss onto his forehead, right where he’d knocked him.

"You’re my lover now. That’s me giving you a chance. So, let’s not talk about those things anymore."

And if he hadn’t wanted it, he certainly wouldn’t have let this beast toss him around all night.

Looking at Xion who was eager not to discuss the past with him any further, Darius had to stop all the things he wanted to ask. Like how Xion had lived all those years, were there any people making things difficult for him, were there any perverts?

But instead, he focused his attention on the porridge.

Thanks to Nazia, who had packed all the things in the frozen state, Darius had the opportunity to simply heat and mix them up.

If not for that, he might’ve burned the entire kitchen down like before.

However, those were the things Xion didn’t need to know. As his darling had said, there was no need to mention such trivialities.

Darius dipped the spoon into the congee and blew on it lightly before bringing it to Xion’s lips. "You need something light and easy to digest, after..." His smile curled into something cruelly soft. "... Last night."

Xion’s ears turned crimson at a rapid pace. But he opened his mouth obediently, lips closing around the spoonful of warmth.

"Good?"

Xion nodded. The taste was mild, and gentle on his stomach, but it was delicious, nonetheless.

"I’m glad," Darius replied, scooping another spoonful.

Xion’s mind kept circling back to the fact that the devil Archduke was currently blowing on spoonful of porridge like a mother hen. The image was so bizarre it nearly made him laugh. Nearly.

One fed, and one ate, until half of the bowl was empty and Xion suddenly hissed aloud.

The little kitten wiggled, trying to find a comfortable position, only to tug at his injuries.

Darius’ hand was already at the small back, carefully holding him closer and rubbing on the sore spots. "Hurt?" A naked concern filled his features.

"I know... I didn’t exactly exercise much self-control last night."

In hindsight, being slow and gentle wouldn’t have been possible at all.

When his skin grazed Xion’s heated one, when his lips fell on those lovely lips, when Xion moaned so sweetly, his mind was instantly filled with an urge to do it more cruelly.

He wanted to smack himself. Xion was on his lap, wincing in pain, yet here he was, still having debauched thoughts about tying Xion to his bed.

But... wasn’t Xion’s moans very seductive? So very alluring that it made him want to hear those lips gasp and whimper his name aloud like that was the last thing and only Xion knew.

Don’t scare him. Darius mused while saying, "Considering your body’s... delicate condition, I should have been gentle with you, darling. My bad."

Xion shook his head. "It’s fine. I can understand." As those words left his lips, his cheeks turned pink.

It indeed was painful at first, but when he got used to it, he actually enjoyed it too.

Although it was very shameful to admit it, for the sake of being honest in the relationship, the flustered kitten bit his lower lip before muttering, "I liked it too."

The spoon paused mid-air. Darius’ eyes sharpened, glimmering with something downright predatory. "What was that? I didn’t quite catch it."

"I’m not repeating it!" Xion snapped only to immediately regret the outburst because the movement sent another spark of pain through his hips.

He yelped again, and Darius’ grin grew positively dishonest.

"Xion, you have to stop squirming," the Archduke said with an obvious smile in his voice. "Unless you want me to take you right back to bed."

Xion’s eyes shot wide open, hands flailing. "D-Don’t you dare! I can’t—my legs would—" He clapped a hand over his mouth, horrified at what just spilled out. "I mean! Not that I... I just..."

Darius looked like he was having the best day of his life. And with his baby on his lap, it was indeed so.

"Your legs would...what? Be sore? Give out?" His hand squeezed Xion’s thigh just enough to make him squeak. "My poor baby."

"I am full," Xion blurted out hurriedly. His fingers curled over the duvet, gripping it tightly to prevent it from sliding down as he tried to get up.

Although he was wearing Darius’ shirt, under that were only his shorts.

This seductive demon didn’t even give him any pants! Did he expect him to waltz around in just his shirt and shorts all day? Shameless!"

His cheeks blazed red when the grip around his waist tightened, effectively pinning him in place.

Xion’s ears were practically glowing steam now, and in a last-ditch effort to change the topic before he combusted, he blurted, "P-Plant!"

"...What?"

"M-My plant!" Xion nearly shrieked, eyes wide. He flailed his arms, nearly smacking Darius in the face. "The Micosera Glacialis! My bag! We need to check it! What if it—what if it died?! Or got fungus? Or... exploded?!"

Darius couldn’t hold it anymore and burst out laughing, his deep, rumbling laugh shaking both of them. "Pffttt... Oh, my sweet darling, plants don’t explode."

Xion, silently cursing his own stupidity, still glared daggers at the Archduke. "Stop laughing, this is serious!"

"You’re right. What if it grew legs and ran away? We should check under the bed, right?"

Xion, "..." Damn it!

He glared at the Archduke with such ferocity that Darius had to push down the urge to kiss those pouting lips.

He did stop laughing, though the corners of his lips twitched. Then, with a sigh of contentment, he kissed the pink cheek, "You’re adorable when you panic."

"I’m not!"

"You’re right," Darius said smoothly ruffling the black hair into a mess. "You’re adorable all the time."

Xion... well, the healer was simply left speechless by his flirty boyfriend.

So, he simply shut his mouth and refused to eat anymore.

While the two were living a shameless little life, a new letter arrived in the Darkhelm castle, shaking the superficial peace they had been maintaining over the years.