[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke
Chapter 125: Please, don’t tease me, Your Grace.

Chapter 125: Please, don’t tease me, Your Grace.

"So, I mean..." Xion fiddled with his ring. "Can I have some of your mana? I need to study it."

He had expected resistance, maybe skepticism, or at least some kind of question. Instead, what he got was...

A head pat?

Xion blinked, peeking up at the archduke, who gazed down at him with a look that was somewhere between indulgence and helplessness.

The contrast was so unexpected that Xion momentarily forgot how to react, and let the archduke ruffle his hair.

"If you need something just ask. There is no need to hesitate." For you, there is no problem.

Darius took his hand back, satisfied by the mess he had made of those raven-silky strands.

The look in those wide eyes of wanting to be angry but daring not to was so amusing that Darius decided to do it a few more times in the future.

Then as if coaxing a child, he directly changed the subject into something the kitten wanted, "But how do you want to study it? It’ll vanish as soon as I stop supplying it."

Xion’s eyes brightened at the mention. This was exactly what he had been waiting for!

"I’ll wrap it in my mana. With that, I’ll be able to feel the difference."

Darius had no objections. If anything, he seemed faintly amused by Xion’s enthusiasm. He let his mana flow toward Xion.

Following the previous way, Xion wrapped his mana layer by layer around the green tendril, enclosing it in a prison.

With a bright smile, he grinned at Darius, "Thanks."

Darius felt funny. Xion was helping him. So, logically he should be the one to thank him, and yet, it was the opposite.

It really did not take much to satisfy him.

"If you need more, just come to me."

Xion hummed in response, but instead of looking at Darius, he subtly turned his body away, shielding his hands from view.

From the outside, it looked as if he were simply concentrating on the mana. But in reality, he was carefully siphoning a small portion into his ring, storing it for later.

Okay," Xion replied without looking back. "I’ll come to you."

Now that he had a proper sample, there was something else he needed.

"I need to look for the holy book now." Xion was muttering to himself. But how could Darius who was so close not hear him?

However, he remained silent.

Ethen had claimed he knew how to decipher it. But with Nazia occupied handling tasks from the king, the process had been delayed.

It was about time he paid his dear old friend a visit. And if he could squeeze one last bit of use out of him...

Then why not?

Maybe he should meet Ethen soon. That way, Xion would not have any trouble understanding the book. Not that Darius particularly cared about it himself—it was just an old relic, a book with no real value to him.

The only worth it held was in threatening those self-proclaimed gods.

He leaned back slightly, tapping a finger against the table. Should he visit Ethen tomorrow?

It would be best to handle things before they left Myrthiana. They had only three days left here, after all.

His gaze flickered toward Xion. "We’ll return in three days. If there’s anything you want to buy from the market, you should do it before then."

Xion turned back to look at Darius and for a brief moment, he wondered if it was his half-lie about buying herbs which had led to this.

But the thought did not linger for long. More than anything, he didn’t want to stay where Nikolai was.

The prince would undoubtedly come looking for him again, and Xion wasn’t sure he’d be lucky enough to escape a second time.

This time, Darius had unknowingly saved him.

As for the next time... who knew?

Perhaps it really was a good idea to visit the market while he had the chance.

"Can I take Brother Allen with me?" After all these things, he did not want to take any risk.

Besides, this way, he could also bring Noxian along. Last time, the poor child hadn’t gotten a chance to buy anything for himself. They had been caught in the rain before he could even shop properly.

Thinking about it, Xion’s eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. It will be so fun to go with Noxian!

But to Darius, it looked like something else entirely.

Was he that eager to go with Allen?

A strange feeling settled in Darius’ chest, something he could not quite place. The tapping of his fingers against the table grew faster, a steady rhythm that subtly mirrored his rising irritation.

If Ray were here, he would have taken a silent step back. He knew this rhythm well. It was the sound of the archduke’s worsening mood.

"Why don’t you call me brother?" Darius finally asked. His voice was deceptively casual, gentle even. "I’m also older than you."

Xion stiffened. After hesitating for a moment he responded. "... I-I can’t, Your Grace."

Xion intentionally bit the last two words, emphasizing the difference in their social positioning.

Darius narrowed his eyes slightly, but rather than backing down, he leaned in ever so slightly, a teasing smirk playing on his lips.

"But you called me by name before," he mused out loud.

"You even called me Baby," he pointed out smoothly as if counting the crimes one by one.

Xion paled instantly.

Nonetheless, Darius was not done. "You also called me sweetheart-"

Before he could finish, Xion’s palm smacked over his mouth, cutting him off. His eyes were wide, his ears turning red as a faint blush crept up his cheeks.

"Stop talking," Xion hissed. "I didn’t know back then! Now I do!"

He thought his glare was fierce, intimidating, even, but his flustered expression completely ruined the effect.

Instead of looking threatening, he probably resembled an angry kitten, fur puffed up in rage yet utterly harmless.

Darius let out a muffled chuckle against his hand, clearly enjoying this far too much.

Xion, realizing the position he was in, quickly yanked his hand away as if burned.

"Please, don’t tease me!"

Although it was undoubtedly rude to leave without permission, Xion immediately jumped to his feet. Even the slight pain in his foot did not stop his movement.

"Goodbye, Your Grace."

And then, before Darius could get another word in, he ran away.