[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113: I Called the Archduke B-Baby?!!!

The archduke’s breath brushed against his skin, making his cheeks burn even hotter.

"Answer me, Xion."

A certain confused kitten with wide innocent eyes blinked, "...Huh???"

Those pale eyes observed everything silently as Darius slowly rubbed his thumb over Xion’s jaw, "What have I done to you that you are so afraid of me, hmm?"

The touch was so light, so delicate that it made Xion tremble. It also brought his stuttering mind back on the right track.

Honestly, Xion didn’t know how to answer the question. He had no idea what Darius wanted to hear, nor did he know what he actually wanted to convey.

The archduke’s thumb trailed over a faint scratch on Xion’s cheek, one of the few remnants of last night’s struggle.

His touch lingered a bit longer there as if memorizing the imperfection.

"Do you want me to stand aside and watch that insect hurt you?"

Despite the voice being still the same, Xion could sense the difference. There was a dangerous undercurrent beneath the words.

It coiled around him like a serpent’s grip, and soon Xion could only focus on the one before him. Following his words like a child.

"Do you want to stay with the Nocturne? Is that what you wish for? For me to watch as you struggle in pain?"

Xion’s eyes widened.

No!

Suddenly, he recalled how helpless he felt, how terribly scared he was when Klein was mere inches away from him.

He was so relieved when he saw Rael standing there.

Although his first instinct had been to tell the boy to run, a small, hidden part of him had hoped... Ah, no. He had prayed that Rael would save him.

And that was exactly what the boy had done.

If it weren’t for Darius, he wouldn’t be sitting here right now. He would have been taken away, would have broken, and ruined beyond repair.

Xion exhaled shakily, "N-No." He did not want to even get near any of the members of the Nocturne family no matter how noble they were.

He lowered his gaze once more. "Thank you for saving me, Your Grace."

Darius let go of his chin. But the warmth of both of their touches lingered on their skin more than it was supposed to.

Xion watched as Darius leaned back, and now he could finally see how tall Darius actually was.

Even as they sat on the same bed, Xion had to tilt his neck to properly take a look at the archduke.

Darius was silent as if thinking about something. With the quietness coupled with all the disrespectful way he would normally speak with Rael, Xion found a little bit of courage.

He peeked at the archduke, all the while recalling the things he had heard about him on the way. He was sure about two things now.

The second was that... maybe it was not entirely Rael’s fault that he had grown up this way. And logically, he had saved Xion’s life.

So, maybe... maybe he should not be so afraid?

But was it really that simple?

Even now, his hands trembled. He still did not dare to touch Rael as he normally would have.

Yet, despite everything, he could not bring himself to hate him.

As for the first of those two things?

Damn it. Why is Rael this awesome?!

Focus, Xion, Focus. There is a live Archduke sitting in front of me.