[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke
Chapter 110: Lost Sunshine

Chapter 110: Lost Sunshine

The metallic scent of blood tainted the air. The floor, too, was painted with crimson, dyeing the fragments of shattered stone and broken wood scattered around the ruined corridor.

Xion blearily blinked his eyes slowly. For a moment, he thought it was all a dream. A terrible nightmare that would go away if he just held on a little longer. Just as he always did.

However, the blood trickling down his chest was real. The throbbing pain was real. And so were those footsteps inching closer to him.

Ah. Not him.

Darius did not even spare a glance at him.

All the attention of those sharp green eyes was taken away by Klein, who stood there stiffly.

His arm, which was about to snap back into place, was still hanging in the air. Only then did Xion realize it. Darius had used the same spell as Klein.

The vampire who had been so smug just a moment ago now had his eyes wide open.

Even though Xion’s vision was blurred by tears, he could see the blatant fear in those crimson eyes.

Then, he couldn’t see them anymore.

Darius was standing in front of him, blocking his sight.

Xion had no idea what happened, but a harsh scream tore from Klein’s throat.

Darius was still standing there, without moving an inch.

Suddenly Rael’s thin back which he had rubbed so many times came into his view. He could not match it with the wide shoulders of the tall man standing in front of him.

Xion’s whole body trembled from the sheer force of that scream. To him, it felt as if he were truly prey, and once Darius was done with Klein, it would be his turn.

Before the second scream echoed, he was surrounded by Ray’s gasping voice.

"Hold on," the knight said as he lifted the debris off Xion’s leg. "Allen will be here soon. Just hold on. Don’t sleep."

When Ray saw Xion covered in so much blood, his first instinct was that they had lost him.

Albeit faint, Xion’s breathing was still there.

Swallowing hard, Ray moved the debris away using a spell. Yet, he did not dare to move Xion.

Blood flowed down Xion’s chest, his leg and even his back.

Ray’s hands trembled slightly as he spread a thin layer of mana over the open wounds, a basic skill every knight was required to master. It was not enough.

The pool of blood surrounding Xion’s little body was too frightening.

They had been rushing back when they met Allen and Noxian on the way. The alchemist was anxious, and soon Ray understood why.

They had lost contact with the guards.

Ray had seen many things in his years as a knight. War, bloodshed, death, but he could swear he had never seen the Archduke looking this terrifying.

Not even when he was forced to go to the battlefield.

He carefully tied Xion’s left foot with a cloth, tightening it just enough to slow the swelling. If his intuition was correct, the foot was broken.

Xion must have been in terrible pain, and yet the boy just sat there as if he was not the one who was hurt.

It unsettled Ray more than anything.

Xion’s unnatural calmness, paired with his slow breathing, made Ray even more panicked.

"Xion?! Oi! Just hold on, okay? Allen will be here soon!"

They had left together, so Allen must be close. Ray could only pray that the alchemist would arrive soon. If he had known this would happen, he would have switched seats with Allen earlier.

But recalling Darius’ taut face, none of them had the courage to say anything as they all rushed here.

Xion had never seen Ray this anxious before. He did not reply to his words. Rather, he could not. He didn’t have the energy to.

Despite being unable to move even a finger, his mind was too active.

He could vaguely hear the rushing footsteps, mingling with the Nocturne heir’s curses.

"Why are you here?!" It was Klein’s voice, filled with raw anger and disgust. "Why don’t you just die?! Why must I bow to a devil? Are you worthy?!"

Darius did not reply.

The metallic scent of blood thickened in the air.

And then, another, gut-wrenching scream echoed.

Xion’s breaths were shallow, barely audible over the horrid sounds that followed.

Thud!

Something fell down to the ground.

Through his hazy vision, Xion saw it. It was Klein’s arm. The very hand that had been around his throat just moments ago.

Soon another arm fell.

The sight made Xion’s whole body shudder. A bone-deep chill crawled down his spine.

This

was the archduke. Darius Rael Darkhelm was the devil they whispered about in hushed voices.

And now, Xion understood why.

Klein’s body convulsed violently; his mouth open in a silent cry before he found his voice again. The next scream was hoarse, ragged, and filled with pure agony.

Yet Darius still hadn’t moved much. He didn’t need to.

All he knew was that he had lost his Xion. The little boy who brought him sweet warmth was lying in blood. Even when Ray was talking to Xion there was no reply.

Darius did not look back. The archduke who was not afraid to scold the respected crown prince in the hall full of ministers and the king, was scared.

He was afraid to see the corpse of his little sunshine.

Ray knew with just a glance that, just like him, Darius had misunderstood Xion’s state. Albeit weak from excessive blood loss, Xion was still alive.

But Ray could not bring himself to speak.

The terrible aura surrounding Darius didn’t just make Klein shudder, it also made Ray’s spine stiffen.

This was exactly what he had feared.

The last time Darius lost control like this, it had been because of Ethan. His betrayal had driven the young heir of Archduchy into madness.

That mana explosion had not only killed many but had also burned Ethen’s right arm beyond repair. The once proud heir of Duke Reinastor, the Duke of East, was reduced to collapse.

If someone told him it was an accident that Ethen Reinastor lost the very arm which tried to grab Darius, then he would be the biggest fool.

At that time, Darius had not been this mature, nor had he become so ruthless that they started calling him the Devil.

But now... Ray’s worst fear had come alive.

His Grace had lost control again, his mana surging so violently that the barely standing wall behind him collapsed.

If not for Ray’s quick reflexes, he would have been the one buried beneath the rubble this time.

Then Ray saw it. Not a single pebble or shard touched Xion.

Even in his blind rage, even as Darius tore Klein apart, his power shielded only one thing... Xion.