[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke
Chapter 286: Death Gives Life. Life Breeds Darkness.

Chapter 286: Death Gives Life. Life Breeds Darkness.

Xion curled his fingers over the lapel of Darius’ shirt and tugged at it slightly. His eyelashes fluttered as he peeked at those green eyes before dropping his gaze back down to his fidgeting hands.

His lips parted, then closed again, hesitating. It was as if he were too shy to speak, his shoulders drawn in ever so slightly.

"Xion," Darius murmured, grasping his delicate chin and lifting his face. "What is it?"

"Um..." Xion bit his lip. "Can I go, please? I’ve never been to church before."

There was a soft, sorrowful tremor in his voice, as though the world had wronged him. And by "world," of course, he meant Darius.

He waited. But instead of answering, Darius’ grip on his chin tightened slightly.

With no other choice left, Xion widened his big doe-like eyes to the fullest as he blinked up at the Archduke with all the innocence he could muster.

"I know you’re busy," he whispered. "I’m sorry for causing trouble, but... I really want to see the saintess."

That title made Darius’ eyes narrow and the grip on his chin loosened.

Xion felt how those long fingers slid up his jaw and held his face. He instinctively leaned into the warmth of his palm, rubbing his cheek in full dependance.

"How about you assign me some guards? That way, you won’t have to worry about my safety and you can also focus on your work."

Then after a brief pause, Xion said, "Please, love?"

The air seemed to stir with suppressed mana, and Xion being so close to the source could feel it thrumming violently under Darius’ skin.

The palm that was gently cradling his cheek, drifted down before it slowly unwrapped the blue scarf around his neck and flung it aside.

In that moment, Xion was truly glad he’d used the improved version of the refreshing agent.

Darius’ eyes were dark, predatory, tracing every faint mark on Xion’s skin like a snake eyeing prey. His fingers curled lightly around the healer’s slender neck.

The silly kitten felt his breath hitching in his throat. Did I go overboard?

The small knot rolled as he gulped. It teasingly grazed the pad of Darius’ thumb that was placed so dangerously close to his windpipe.

Even when he knew there was no way Darius would strangle him, he still couldn’t let down his unease.

"Why her, Xion?"

"Err..." the kitten wavered before muttering, "I think she is the one who kidnapped me before and I also need to confirm something related to plague."

That was straightforward enough. As for why he was linking the plague to the saintess... was it not natural to be wary of bad people?

Darius sighed, warm breath spraying on Xion’s face. "I can feel it, Xion. Your heart beat." And that woman had tried to stop it.

Ah, so he was focusing on that. Xion, unaware of the internal thoughts of Darius, pondered.

"Of course you can." Then, he gave a shy smile as he placed his hand on his muscular chest. "I can feel it too. It’s very powerful, just like my lover."

That made Darius’ lips twitch in amusement. "Really want to go?"

Instead of speaking, Xion blinked his big blue eyes, practically begging him with his watery gaze.

Who can bear this cuteness? The great Archduke was defeated by puppy eyes in less than a minute.

"Take Allen with you," he relented. "He’s familiar with these things."

"Yay!" Xion yelled, his eyes glowing up with a bright light. He leaned forward and gave a loud smooch on Darius’ cheek. "You are the best!"

What could Darius do other than hold Xion tighter and listen to his baby babble about some poisonous fungi and laughing mushrooms?

So, that was how the next morning Xion found himself standing in front of the ’dilapidated’ church.

Despite being covered with snow and heavy vines that wrapped the walls, it was a beautiful structure held by four huge pillars, with engravings carved on them.

The first thing that caught his squinting eye after that was the huge wooden board suspending over the arch of gigantic gates.

"Mors vitam dat. Vita tenebras parit. Tenebrae a sancto fugiunt. Hic sanctum dormit."

Xion hadn’t learned the old tongue, but somehow, he could understand it as clearly as if it were his native language.

"Death gives life. Life breeds darkness. Darkness flees from the holy. Here, the holy sleeps."

At a glance, it seemed to glorify holiness—proclaiming it as the final truth, the ruler of death and life alike. And that holiness was sleeping here.

However, if one mulled deeper over the words, did that not mean that the holy was asleep and not aware anymore? That Darkness had nothing to fear now?

Perhaps, he had been reading too much into the lines, or maybe the reason why someone decided to grow those condemned flowers had something to do with this inscription?

Well, that wasn’t something he needed to worry about. His goal was very simple. Pretend to take a stroll, chat with the saintess if she’s free.

Then he would lead Allen and Ray to the area shown on the map. That was all.

The rest of the situation was up to the two bodyguards, and they could do whatever they deemed fit.

"Is this the motto of all the churches?" Xion asked.

Ray rested his palm against the hilt of his sheathed sword that casually hung around his waist. His gaze traced over the inscriptions, now veiled by thick green lily vines.

"Nah," he shook his head. "I am not sure what it means but it has changed."

"’The holy lies in every soul, every soul deserved the holy.’ Something along those lines." Allen stepped to the side, a ball of orange mana shone at his fingertips.

With a flick of his wrist, the orange ball was thrown at the rusted lock that hung over the chained gates.

The lock dropped with a heavy clatter that echoed ominously through the frozen floor.

"They used to say that a few centuries ago as Lady Nazia had told me once. But after the coronation of the current king, many things were changed."

Xion hummed as he stepped forward. His heavy boots fell on the snow-covered floor, but his gaze was focused on the tall building that towered over him.