[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke
Chapter 123: The Scene Of Social Death

Chapter 123: The Scene Of Social Death

Xion thought being carried through the grand hallways was humiliating enough. So, in the end, he gave up resisting altogether.

But what happened next made him realize he should have just stayed inside his room!

As Darius continued walking, taking him to some unknown destination, Xion decided to focus on something more important.

He placed his finger on Archduke’s neck.

Darius’ steps faltered slightly before he continued on his way. "What are you-"

"Shh, don’t talk," Xion silenced his patient out of habit. "Let me check it properly."

His focus zeroed in on the heartbeat beneath his fingertips.

It was strong. Steady. Nothing like the erratic, weakened pulse he had felt back in Uzera.

With the new pill he made, coupled with all the attention on food and mana consumption, Darius was getting better.

But in the end, it was only temporary.

Xion exhaled slowly. With extreme caution, he sent out the thinnest tendril of his own mana, allowing it to probe deeper. He was relieved when he confirmed that the rotting of the organs had significantly subsided.

It was there, but very slow. Still, it was not enough.

"Mana rejection... I can’t use my own mana... But we can’t do it otherwise..." Xion muttered to himself.

He had to be careful. Just a little too much mana, just a moment of carelessness, and all of his study and hard work would be destroyed in seconds.

"Xion? Hey, I’ve been waiting for you."

The cheerful voice startled Xion, who was too focused on the problem at hand.

But to Nikolai, who had just arrived, the scene before him painted a very different picture.

Xion, dazed and lost in thought, had his fingers lightly pressed against Darius’ neck, his face far too close to the Archduke’s.

Nikolai’s bright eyes flickered between them. Is that why you were late?

He had only left for a few hours, and they had progressed to this state?

The prince thought bitterly, but the smile on his face was as bright as ever.

"Ah?" Xion blinked, trying to process the situation. But even after a few moments... nothing clicked.

Why was the prince here? Shouldn’t he be busy with whatever royal duties he was supposed to be drowning in?

It was only when he noticed the way Nikolai was looking at him, specifically, at his hand still resting against Darius’ neck, that he quickly withdrew it.

"Your Highness? Is there something you need?"

Nikolai’s answer was immediate. "Yes. You."

Xion, "...Me?"

"You promised to meet me. Remember?"

And just like that, a light bulb finally flicked on in Xion’s head.

Oh. That.

Xion awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "Ah... I’m sorry. I forgot."

His gaze flickered toward the Archduke, the very reason for this entire mess. He wriggled slightly in Darius’ hold. It was a silent indication to let go.

But before anything could happen, more trouble arrived. Ray and Allen turned the corner at that exact moment.

Xion fully understood the meaning of social death at that moment.

Darius still held him securely in his arms while three pairs of wide, astonished eyes stared at him.

As if that wasn’t enough, Noxian came rushing in as well!

Albeit Noxian stood near Allen, all of it had only intensified Xion’s struggle.

He leaned closer, whisper-yelling into Darius’ ear, "Put me down. Now.

But the archduke did not feel the need to leave his healer with the flirtatious prince.

"Do you know he was beaten by someone in the middle of the night because he tried to touch a girl?"

Ray and Allen, who definitely knew the truth, exchanged looks with each other. "..." Yeah, we’re staying out of this.

Noxian looked at the prince as if looking at a pervert.

And Xion?

He immediately stopped struggling.

His entire focus locked onto the golden-haired prince, a man who looked like the embodiment of charm and grace. But, in reality, was an actual molester.

Nikolai’s perfect smile finally had a crack.

He gritted his teeth, "That was not-"

"That was exactly why he was cursed with Devil’s spawn. You treated him."

Xion knew the reason. It was excessive pressure on the muscle that resulted in such a tragic situation. But he had never imagined it was because of a beating!

His gaze flickered toward Nikolai with faint disgust.

The prince, for the first time, looked visibly wronged.

"Shall we leave?" Darius’s words were directed at Xion, yet his sharp gaze pinned Nikolai in place.

He was silently warning the prince to stay away, to keep his distance from his people.

Xion no longer resisted. Whatever the truth was, one thing was certain. He did not want to linger in the presence of a pervert.

"Yes," he said without hesitation. "Let’s go."

And just like that, what should have been Xion’s moment of social death seamlessly turned into Nikolai’s tragic downfall.

This humiliation, however, only fueled the prince’s desire for revenge against Darius.

One thing led to another, chaos ensued, and somehow it all spiraled into a mess that landed Xion behind bars in the royal dungeon.

But that...

That was a story for another time.

For now, Xion was finally placed on the cushioned chair. In front of him was a table filled with food, and with the heat emitting from the dishes, it was obvious everything was freshly cooked.

The scent of something sweet lingered at the tip of his nose as he sniffed the fresh air.

The garden sure looked beautiful under the dim evening glow, and Xion finally understood that the sweet scent, which he almost mistook as wine, was actually the scent of these blue flowers.

"Eat."

Xion barely had the chance to open his mouth before the Archduke took it upon himself to start filling his plate.

"You didn’t eat anything after waking up," Darius stated matter-of-factly. "I had them prepare what you usually like."

It had been hours since he last ate and now he was indeed hungry. As if on cue his stomach rumbled.

Although the sound was low, it still was clearly heard by the silver-haired male who pushed the plate to his side. On it were neatly arranged noodles, egg rolls, and pastries, accompanied by a glass of fresh fruit juice.

"Don’t starve yourself. You need energy to keep working for me."

Xion, who had actually eaten melon bread and hot chocolate earlier, suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment.

Still, he mumbled a quiet, "...Thank you."

Silently, he picked up his spoon and took a bite.

The moment the rich, familiar taste of the noodles hit his tongue, his eyes lit up with delight. It was exactly the way he liked!

Gradually, his tense shoulders relaxed. With a delightful smile, he ate while motioning Darius to eat as well.

As if to accompany him, Darius picked up a fork and took a bite of a small, soft white pastry.

The delicate texture melted in his mouth.

It was sweet.