[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke

The chill had deepened overnight.

The entire day, Xion had spent snuggling on Darius' lap just like he had done in his dreams. The only difference was the one holding him.

In dreams, Darius was treating him more like a toy or his dress-up doll. The feeling was so very similar to the times when he was treating the Moon shade affliction.

But now...

He moved his head slightly and planted a kiss on Darius' face. Well, he intended it to be on his cheek, but his blindness was there, and his lips ended up landing on the lips.

It would have been fine otherwise, but there were guards, and even some ministers there!

"Ah, sorry about that."

Darius chuckled at his flustered reaction. "Why apologize when you are literally rewarding me?"

Xion, "... don't..."

"Why not kiss me more? Maybe use your tongue. Actually, you should have told me if you were lusting-"

Xion hastily placed his palm on Darius' babbling mouth.

"Shut up!" he said through gritted teeth. "Don't speak like that!" Don't make me sound like some pervert who is lusting after your body...

Amused, Darius laughed. His voice muffled against the soft hand.

Then, he teasingly licked it, watching Xion cradle his hand as if it were burned.

He had even licked Xion all over, watched him drown in lust, and yet that pink coating Xion's face was so damn charming.

Xion could unravel him without even doing anything.

Not that he was complaining about it.

Flushed cheeks, angry pout...

He couldn't resist reaching forward and pinching the face, which had lost nearly all the extra flesh.

"No one is here, baby. Just us."

Xion blinked and then sighed. "Why didn't you tell me before? I was so..."

"Shy of kissing me? Darling, you make it sound as if I am someone to be ashamed of."

"No, that's not what I mean," Xion was quick to respond. "Really, believe me. You are the best person in the whole world."

With no sight, silly kitten completely missed the teasing smirk on his lover's face.

"You say that, but..." Darius held the black hair strand, curling it around his fingertip, while his gaze was fixed on Xion.

Despite the obvious smile in his eyes, his words were filled with sighs of sadness.

"You always try to hide when someone is watching. You care about everyone's opinion, but not mine."

Xion blinked, his long lashes making pretty shadows on his red cheeks. "Ah... That... I am just naturally shy. Don't you already know that?"

Yes, Darius did.

Could that stop his urge to tease his darling while seeking some benefits from him? Of course not.

So, the rest of the afternoon was spent with Xion coaxing the Archduke with lots of kisses and giggles.

It wasn't like Xion hadn't noticed all the deliberate actions.

Today was the appointed time to visit that place Darius had told him about. A way related to his cure.

The Archduke was trying to ease his mood, and he, despite being aware, played the part of a fool.

If it made Darius happy, it was fine.

The sun dipped below the horizon, giving way to a beautiful night to cover the entire sky.

With him always tightly wrapped in thick duvets and robes, he hadn't experienced anything extreme, so he hadn't even realized that the real winter of the North was in full bloom.

By the time they set out, snow was already piling high enough to cover his knees.

Darius had directly picked him up before bringing him to the carriage.

When they reached their destination, Xion refused to be carried again.

"I want to walk on my own."

"Alright, just hold my hand."

He slipped his gloved hand into Darius' and slowly moved.

Each step crunched softly, and his breath puffed into warm fog, curling away into the frigid darkness.

He couldn't see it, of course. But he could feel the winter pressing in from every side.

The crisp sting against the strip of skin left bare at his chin, the weight of wet flakes melting against his lashes, the faint prickle across his cheeks where the hood hadn't covered him earlier.

The moment he tugged the hood down tighter, the sensation dulled, leaving him in a small cocoon of warmth and the muted sound of falling snow.

Had anyone noticed the tiny mana crystals stitched into the robe's intricate embroidery, they would have marveled at such extravagance.

Xion was equally oblivious to the fact that he was wearing the worth of a small city on his body.

His attention was entirely focused on the way the Archduke's gloved hand pulled him forward.

The jingles of a shop bell rang somewhere to the left, along with the hustling voices of the customers.

The pathway was one he had walked before. Though he wouldn't know it by the way his mind refused to attach any familiarity to it.

The dull clink of coins changing hands was almost pleasant to his ears long used to the silence of the castle.

Hidden under the cover of his robes, he doubted anyone would recognize him.

And even if they did… well. There was nothing Darius couldn't handle.

That thought made his steps lighter.

He stumbled once on a loose stone, nearly pitching forward, but the hand at his side caught him without hesitation.

"Want me to pick you up?" Darius asked.

For the umpteenth time, Xion shook his head. "No."

It reminded him, absurdly, of that night at the inn. The night he'd been drunk enough for Darius to carry him out.

What happened afterward… yeah. Not the time to think about that.

The cold pressed harder as the night deepened. Snow fell heavier, settling in the folds of his cloak. He tightened his grip on Darius' hand.

"It's so cold," he muttered.

"Bear with me a little longer. We're almost there."

The bright moon hung high above them. He couldn't see it, but he could feel its pale light in the open air, in the way the snow seemed to glow faintly beneath his steps.

As if the night itself whispered: No matter how dark, I'll be here to guide you.

"We're here," Darius said at last, helping him over the threshold of a wide stone gate.

And that's when it happened.

A shrill, familiar voice burst in his head.

[Dear Host! Your Perfect System has returned from its… temporary sabbatical!]

Xion winced so sharply he almost tripped. A sharp hiss escaped his lips.

"What happened? Did you hurt yourself?" Darius immediately bent closer, searching for injury.

"No, just… my head. Nothing serious."

He forced a small smile for Darius' sake, though inside he was seething.

'Can you not scream directly into my brain?! And where exactly have you been all this time? You have no sense of timing, no work ethic, and absolutely zero understanding of being a decent system.'

[Ohhh, someone missed me.]

'I did not.'

[You so did. I could practically feel your lonely little heart pining for me while I was away.]

'I was fine.' Xion huffed out a foggy breath in irritation.

[Uh-huh. That's why you're getting all sentimental now. Don't worry, your charming system is here to stay by your side.]

Xion resisted the urge to roll his unseeing eyes. But… it was indeed stupid of him.

He had actually really worried about a system. Like a stray cat that might never come back.

Xion was someone who had been used to getting abandoned by his people. Somewhere in the corner of his mind, he had started to think about his life without a system.

And now, he was absurdly relieved.

[Awww~ I missed you too, my dear host~]

He could almost feel the smug grin radiating from the empty space in his mind.

'Where have you been?' Before Xion could shift the tone, the system suddenly yelled again.

[Alert, host! Warning!]

Xion nearly flinched at the sudden blare. 'What now?'

[Host, turn around. Immediately. Your husband—]

'My husband?'

[Yes, the tall, broody one currently dragging you through the snow. He's taking you to see Father Anton.]

The words made him stand in the snow like a stone. His raised foot was still hovering in the air before he took it back.

'…What?'

[Don't 'what' me. I'm telling you to turn those adorable little boots of yours around and head in the opposite direction. Right. Now.]

His hand tightened on Darius' palm.

[I am not kidding. This is the same church you visited before. You know, the one you avoided ever since Father Anton told you about the kid's sacrifice? The one you swore you'd never—]

'I know which one it is.'

[Then you also know this is a very, very bad idea. Father Anton is—]

'System.'

[Yes, my beloved Host?]

'Shut up.'

Was it him, or was this system acting weirder than usual?

It was even talking a bit too much. However, this system could wait for now.

"Darius?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Let's go back. I don't want my eyes in this way."

His blunt reply made the Archduke stiffen in his place. Right at the entrance of the inner gates of the church.