[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 417

Chapter 417: Sweet Healer Planning a Demise

"What did you two talk about?"

"You mean His Highness Nikolai?" Xion asked, pushing a bowl of soba with wild mushrooms and bone broth toward the Archduke.

Steam rose from the dark broth, carrying the earthy scent of mushrooms and herbs, threaded with something foreign to the Northern lord’s palate, and yet soothing all the same.

"Yes, him."

Darius knew Xion was busy in the kitchen.

To keep his recovery a secret, there was no one else to help him through the process. Only Xion.

So when he was suddenly dragged to share a meal in their chamber, he had been almost happy about this little lunch date.

Almost — if not for that damned prince still freeloading in his castle.

"Why would you talk to him for so long?"

Xion blinked, tilting his head as though the question itself puzzled him.

"We talked about medicinal herbs, and it was only for a few minutes. Were you keeping an eye on me, Your Grace?"

That faint smile on Xion’s lips was enough to make Darius’ hand tighten around his spoon.

Instead of answering, he took a sip, letting the hot broth flood his tongue, earthy and rich.

"...It’s delicious."

Xion watched Darius bury his head in the bowl and sighed. They both knew that there were indeed secret guards protecting him from afar.

They would not act until it was absolutely necessary.

And if Xion’s guess wasn’t wrong, it had happened after his kidnapping during their marriage.

He stirred the broth in his own bowl, thinking that time was indeed a funny thing.

It was as if he was back in his past, with Darius looking at him with the same adoringly obsessive eyes when they were both children.

Their hands would brush, their breath mingling into each other as they would lie in the garden.

Both were unaware of their love back then, but it was there. It had always been.

And like a fine wine, it had simmered until the intoxicating smell couldn’t be kept hidden. Until they simply couldn’t stay at a distance from each other.

It had turned to the point where Xion didn’t even care if Darius’ way of love wasn’t how it should be.

He was just teasing his lover, nothing more, nothing less. If putting more guards lets Darius sleep at ease, so be it.

Anyway, with his knack for getting in trouble, it was better to have extra help. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Darius," he called.

"You called my name so sweetly. Say it again."

Darius grinned in that stupid way that made Xion’s stomach do a little flip.

Xion huffed, though the corners of his lips twitched. "I can call it as many times as you want, so you’d better be there to hear it."

"Do you really think he’s that stupid?" Xion shook his head, sipping his broth. The bitterness of the mushrooms lingered on his tongue like the bitterness of his words. "The only thing he wants is... me."

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