[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 351

Chapter 351: The Stroll

The quiet of the afternoon draped the castle halls in a strange, almost sacred stillness.

Xion strolled the corridor at a leisurely pace, his fingers idly grazing the cold stone walls as he walked, feeling the faint chill seep into his skin.

It wasn’t often he found time to simply wander about without Darius’ company. The Archduke had started to hover over him more.

Darius now found the time to come back for lunch — something he’d never done before.

Xion was surprised. With the hunting going on, he was aware of how busy Darius must be.

Along with the long list of people to be invited, there were the trading routes of the neighboring countries that they had been discussing to open for the Northern borders.

So, Xion hadn’t expected Darius to start showing up for dinner earlier.

"We need to eat on time. That’s what you always preach to me on."

Xion had laughed at that. He had indeed been preaching to Darius to eat on time and sleep more. Though it mostly went on and off.

The Archduke would eat, but the timing would shift for hours.

Now, for some reason beyond Xion’s mind, Darius was always on time as if racing with the clock.

’What an adorable elf.’ He couldn’t suppress the smile spreading on his lips.

[Only you would say that.]

Xion ignored the sarcasm dripping from the system’s voice and focused on the delicately crafted patterns around him.

Silence.

This side of the wing had always been silent, so still it sometimes seemed as though time itself dared not disturb what these walls had witnessed.

The time when little Darius had quarrelled fiercely with Ray right here, or the later years when the older Darius had finally taken control over the place.

Everything seemed to be ensnared here for some reason.

Those thoughts inevitably led Xion to think of the other side of the castle. The Archduke’s own wing.

It still felt strange that Darius had chosen to stay here, in these rather modest chambers.

Though Xion didn’t find them modest at all.

Even after their marriage, he’d never moved them to the main room that tradition dictated they should occupy.

There had been rumors about it too.

Xion had heard it more than once that he was being kept on this side because there might be another wife of the Archduke waiting to claim those chambers one day.

The servants could be cruel like that, especially those who were working in other wings of the castle.

Funnily, he’d always found such insinuations absurd.

He didn’t feel anger—not even a trace of bitterness—towards Darius for it.

Before he had even realized it, Darius had carved out such a place in his heart that Xion simply... believed in him.

He knew Darius would never let him down. Ah, there was another person like that. His little brother.

The clingy Noxian had been clamoring in his ears for hours, begging him to come out and visit the market, or perhaps wander into the city to see the spectacles there.

But Xion simply hadn’t had the energy to leave his little nest.

In the end, it was Serena who had come to his rescue and dragged Noxian out by the arm.

Scolding Noxian good-naturedly, she had paused just long enough to pat Xion’s hair in a gentle touch.

Even now, he could still feel that lingering warmth on his head.

Like the greedy person he was, he hadn’t even combed his hair, just to keep the sensation lingering a little longer.

With his tousled hair, he walked forward.

Soft footsteps echoed faintly as he wandered aimlessly until he found himself standing before a pair of closed doors flanking both sides of the hallway.

Most of them were empty, while some were being used for storing old treasures and trinkets like their wedding gifts.

After what had happened to him a few weeks ago, Darius had strictly forbidden him from touching any unidentified objects.

Not that he wanted to. But it was still a pity to destroy such a delicate lotus flower.

[Yes, you could have given it to me, host. Such a waste.]

The system clicked in annoyance.

’You want me to faint again?’ he shot back. One time was enough. He had no desire to wake up in the same place as Caspian Hale.

The system, as always, was quick to defend itself.

[How can you say that?! I have always prioritized your health above all. And it was only the wooden box that was contaminated—not the gift inside.]

Darius had baffled him more than once. Still did.

Why is he so... consumed by me?

Xion wasn’t so naive that he couldn’t see it. He was slow sometimes, maybe even gullible at points—but not stupid.

’Is it a good thing or not? I’m not sure anymore,’ he muttered under his breath.

[Why is it a bad thing?] it said, clearly unable to fathom why anyone would turn their nose up at such power and wealth.

[Is the money not enough? Should we go on a treasure hunt, then?]

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