[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke
Chapter 99: A Stroll in the Paradise

Chapter 99: A Stroll in the Paradise

Xion followed the direction pointed out on the map. His feet lightly stepped onto the cobblestone path leading to the back garden.

Unlike the front garden, where withered leaves and gnarled branches mirrored the dead, murky eyes of low-level orcs, this place was alive.

Vibrant flowers of all shapes and colors thrived here as their delicate petals swayed ever so slightly as if breathing in harmony with the night.

At the center of it all, nestled beneath a canopy of vines, was a pavilion covered in cascading greenery. And there, within its shadowed embrace, was Rael sitting on one of the chairs.

Xion barely had time to take in the sight before, with a mere flick of Rael’s wrist, the entire garden bloomed with light. In an instant, the night turned into day.

It was only then that Xion truly noticed his surroundings. His gaze lifted, following the light upwards only to realize the sky he had thought was open... wasn’t.

A massive glass dome stretched above the entire garden. It was so flawlessly transparent that the moon and stars shimmered through it as if suspended in midair.

Xion exhaled softly as he gazed at the beauty of flowers bathed in moonlight.

This wasn’t just a garden.

It was a hidden paradise.

He admired the view, his hands tugging at the small petals of various colors as he made his way toward the only other figure in the vicinity.

Like a selfish child, he couldn’t help but want to claim those pretty blossoms for himself. Yet, rather than plucking the ones still in full bloom, he carefully chose with petals curling at the edges.

Those were the flowers that would wither soon, just like the night.

"Yo, your grace," Xion waved his hands filled with blossoms. A bright smile etched on his face as he placed his newly found treasure on the small table.

"Could not sleep? Or you got afraid of ghosts again?" Darius had a tiny smirk on his lips. His bad mood from the evening was already fading away.

Xion snorted. "Kids aren’t allowed to tease their elders," he declared with such righteousness that for a moment, Darius was rendered speechless.

The Archduke was neither a child nor did he need anyone’s permission to speak.

He shook his head, his long silver hair swaying with the motion. "Then why are you here?" he asked, arching a brow.

Instead of sitting, Xion remained standing, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I was reading about stuff," he said vaguely before flashing a smug grin. "And I have my baby with me. Why would I be afraid?"

Was I not the baby? Humans were indeed fickle. Darius shifted his gaze from Xion’s face to the flowers.

The fleeting thought of the little brat, Noxian, crossed his mind, and he remained silent.

Though Noxian had been training under Berry and was a loyal subject, that didn’t mean Darius had any particular tolerance for him.

Perhaps he should assign the brat some extra work. If not for him, Xion would have come running straight to Darius for help.

Now that would have been a sight worth seeing.

Just as Darius was watching him, the ever-moving Xion suddenly stopped bouncing on his feet. He glanced around, searching for something to drink, but found nothing.

After a moment of thought, a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. Remembering Noxian’s usual reaction to his tricks, he leaned in closer to Rael.

"Want to see magic?" he whispered mysteriously while wiggling his brows.

When Rael did not reply and just stared at him, Xion decided that the boy was just shy. Otherwise, which kid did not like magic?

With a casual wave of his hand, two wooden cups materialized on the table.

Xion chuckled as Rael’s eyes widened ever so slightly. "It’s one of my favorites. You won’t find it anywhere else," he said with a wink before lifting his cup to his lips.

The warm, sweet flavor of jasmine tea soaked into his dry throat, filling him with a quiet sense of comfort. "Ah... that tastes like home," he murmured, taking another slow sip.

His gaze lingered on Rael, watching as the boy hesitated before bringing the cup to his lips. He drank cautiously at first, but when he took another sip, Xion knew, he liked it.

Satisfied, Xion smirked. And as for conjuring things from thin air? He wasn’t worried in the slightest.

He had been reading all about mana, and this was completely feasible. High-level mages could store their most precious belongings in personal dimensional spaces, retrieving them at will.

Guild members often used this trick to safely transport treasured items from one place to another. Though only a select few possessed the ability, Xion wasn’t concerned.

With his healing talent, no one would question his capacity to manipulate mana. It’s pretty convenient.

As Xion enjoyed the view, his gaze unconsciously followed the silver strands of hair that swayed lightly in the gentle breeze.

If not for the glass enclosing the area, they would have been pelted by flying leaves carried by the restless wind.

"Can I ask you a question?" Xion finally broke the silence.

Darius idly swirled the tea in his cup, watching the liquid ripple at his command. "You already did."

Xion just laughed, "Why do you keep your hair like this? Do you actually like it, or are you just too lazy to style it?"

Darius, "... Lazy."

Xion had already finished his drink, and before Darius could react, he was suddenly standing behind him.

"Let me try something," he said casually.

Without waiting for permission, Xion ran his fingers through Darius’ long silver hair, gently unknotting the barely-there tangles while humming a song under his breath.

He parted the hair down the center, then carefully began braiding it into a crown. It was a style he had learned for one of his patients. She was a very young girl of twelve.

She had died of leukemia. And after her, he had never done anyone’s hair again.

He had lost more people than he had earned. Both of his teachers, his patients who used to respect him... everything.

Ah, no. Not everything. Xion’s lips curled into a small smile as he glanced at Rael, who sat perfectly still, not even daring to move his head. He had a new little friend.

As long as he was alive, there was no way he would let Rael suffer. Nodding to himself, he picked up the bright blue flowers and decorated the braided hair.

In just a few seconds, all the flowers were neatly placed in Darius’ hair.

Xion stepped in front of the silent boy, tilting his head as he admired his own handiwork.

"Wow, you look like a fairy," he blurted out, eyes widening in genuine amazement. He had never truly noticed before just how pretty Rael was.

But now, with the soft braids woven around his head and delicate blue flowers adorning his silver strands, he looked like something straight out of a fairytale.

"So pretty..." Xion sighed dreamily as he slumped into the chair beside him.

Resting his face on his palm, he openly admired his masterpiece, utterly shameless in his appreciation.

Lost in a trance, he kept admiring the boy’s delicate features until Darius finally muttered...

"Why?"

Xion blinked, tilting his head. "Why what?"

Darius inhaled slowly as if trying to push down whatever emotion had crept up his throat. "Why would you do that?"

Xion, being Xion, simply smiled. It was bright and carefree like a sunbeam breaking through the gloom. "Because I knew it would suit you."

He lifted his chin slightly, looking immensely proud of his decision. "And I was right. I’ve never seen anyone look like an angel before I met you."

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