[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 325: How To Not-So-Accidently Seduce The Archduke

With a helpless sigh, Xion resigned himself to his fate.

"When I was trying to follow the instructions of dressing up—which, by the way, was far more difficult than climbing Mount Risa, and more frustrating than making the antidote—"

"Xion," cutting his babbling short, Darius leaned closer.

After gently brushing a thumb over the healer’s furrowed brow, he lightly pinched the flushed, red-tipped ear. "Did you wear the clothes wrong?"

Xion made a noise that was somewhere between denial and despair.

"Are you..." Darius lowered his voice, gaze narrowing just slightly. "Are you naked?"

Up to this point, he hadn’t seen anything beyond a glimpse of smooth legs and the gold bell fastened around Xion’s ankle.

If his darling was truly bare beneath that mountain of covers, then he absolutely wanted to see.

A blush crept up Xion’s cheeks, painting them in a lovely pink.

"Err... not exactly." He squeezed his eyes shut and muttered, "But I-I accidentally tied my hands, and now I can’t move."

There. He said it. All at once. Like ripping off a bandage made of embarrassment.

There was a brief silence before Darius chuckled.

"Oh, sweetheart," the archduke cradled the burning cheek and Xion subconsciously leaned into the touch.

"You should’ve told me so. Let me see," he said while his fingers moved lower toward the duvet.

"Promise that you won’t laugh at me." Xion made one last desperate move to salvage what little dignity he had.

"Hmm," Darius said as he finally removed the hindrance, allowing his gaze to feast on the sight.

The air stilled. Xion’s breath caught, and he swallowed hard.

When Darius didn’t move or utter another sound, Xion spoke, "Can you maybe... loosen them?"

The arm Darius had propped under his head gave way and he collapsed forward, directly onto the bed. In one fluid, uncontrollable motion, he yanked Xion until not even air could pass between them.

"Is this my gift?"

With his face buried in Darius’ chest, Xion could hear the loud roaring against his ears.

"Y-Yes... No! I mean—that box," he stammered, nodding toward the wrapped gift by the nightstand. His arms wiggled slightly, only for the red silky ribbon to cinch tighter. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"Remove the silk and I’ll give it to you!"

That came out wrong. So very, very wrong.

Regardless, his attention was on the warm fingers moving ever so slowly over his tied wrists before they slid up toward his shoulder.

"What if I don’t want to?" Darius drawled. There was a strange hoarseness edging into his voice, like desire carefully caged.

He dipped his head, nose brushing through raven-black hair, one arm wrapped tight around Xion’s waist while the other came to rest at the nape of his neck.

"Then how am I going to help you wear it?" Xion asked while making no move to step back. He simply stayed in the Archduke’s embrace.

Normally Darius would have already kissed him a few times, but His Grace had opted to hold him instead.

"Do it, okay? I really want to give you something," Xion mumbled the words against the warm hollow of the Archduke’s neck. His voice was muffled, his breath soft. "I don’t know if you’ll like it though."

"And why wouldn’t I?"

Darius was being awfully talkative tonight. Not that Xion minded. It was just surprising because he hadn’t been speaking, if one ignored the questions relating to Xion’s health.

Strange, he thought—not noticing how heavy and restrained Darius’ voice had become.

"I made it," Xion admitted sheepishly. "Well, designed it. Time was tight, so I asked Brother Allen to help with the actual crafting."

Now that took Darius’ attention.

Something Xion had made himself? To His Grace, it was second only to the living, breathing gift already in his arms.

With a low hum of interest, he moved to the red ribbon, fingers gliding over the knot. With a light flick, it snapped, freeing Xion’s slim wrists from their silken prison.

Like someone getting an immunity boost from embarrassment, the kitten bolted upright. Pushing Darius aside with the soft force of excitement, he scurried to the side table.

With a slight tremor, his fingers reached for a small, wooden box.

"I, um... I was going to give this to you on our wedding night," he said, fidgeting. "But... oh well."

He popped the box open while scooting closer to Darius.

Inside sat two matching rings—elegant bands of intertwined silver.

Each was inlaid with two different gemstones: one a deep ocean blue, the other a pale green.

Darius sat up slowly, eyes locked on the box. He took the rings out, carefully examining the exquisite work of art that put the most beautiful paintings to shame.

That was when he caught sight of two letters engraved on the inside of the ring. D. X.

"They’re beautiful," Darius said at last. "So very beautiful."

"Not more than you though," Xion teased only to get a playful flick on his forehead.

"Where I grew up, there’s a tradition. If two people exchange rings and seal it with a kiss, they’re considered married for the next seven lives as well."

Xion stared at Darius with wide, hopeful eyes, "So, I guess this is... me asking."

Taking a blue ring, he offered his palm. "May I?"

Darius didn’t say a word. Instead, he lifted his hand and placed it on Xion’s.

One might have thought that His Grace was so elegant and graceful even when doing such a simple hand-raising gesture.

That was if one ignored what Darius actually did.

The great Archduke had placed not just one but both of his hands in his lover’s palm.

Xion blinked, then burst out laughing. It was bright and sweet and helpless.

"You’re such a cutie," he said, shaking his head.

Then, carefully, reverently, he slipped the silver ring onto Darius’ finger.

The enchanted silver band gleamed in the soft candlelight, the stone glowing faintly as it settled into place. Seeing the perfect fit, Xion breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Darius stared at the ring, and then his gaze shifted to the other, smaller one. This was meant for Xion.

"May I?" he asked in the same way as Xion.

"Of course."

That was how Xion successfully managed to deliver his gift. "Do you like it?" He couldn’t help but ask.

His gaze was focused on their joined hands, as two beautiful stones shone brightly under the crystal lamp.

"Like it?" Darius pulled Xion back into his arms, "I love it, sweetheart. I love you."

His tense shoulders sagged, and a smile appeared on Xion’s lips. "I am glad." He truly was.

"But didn’t you say..." Darius teased, "...that this kind of ceremony isn’t complete without a kiss?"

"I did say that," Xion murmured as his lips tilted higher. Then, steadying himself, he leaned in.

Two pairs of lips met, softly, gently. A current surged through Xion’s entire body as Darius kissed him back.

Perhaps they hadn’t been this close for a long time. Or maybe it was just Xion’s mind playing tricks on him. Either way, he wanted more of that gentleness.

Until he would drown in it and never see the surface again.

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