[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67: A Glimpse Into The Past

Legacy. Darius knew no word more intimately than this. His father had continuously drilled into him what their legacy meant, and how, even at the tender age of five, it was his solemn duty to guard it with his own life.

At times, Darius had felt relieved. Having a legacy gave him purpose, something to strive for, and if he managed to do splendid work, his dear father would look at him.

Perhaps he might speak more than a few words to him, or just maybe, even offer a hug.

All the hugs he had received were from his nanny.

One in the morning when she would help him down the stairs, one in the night when he would doze off at some random corner exhausted from trying to memorize the names of noble houses.

Despite that he was glad. Albeit tired, little Darius was delighted. He had a very important responsibility to hold after all.

Then there were those moments when Darius saw his cousin, Talia Velaria, giggling and screaming as she rushed through his gardens with his mother.

Though Darius was not old enough to fully understand the difference, he could still sense it. Unlike his own screams that only left his lips after his father’s punishments, Talia was not in pain.

She seemed... happy.

His mother, a royal princess, had a different legacy she intended to pass on to her daughter. Unfortunately, that never came to pass, as the archduke Darkhelm never once visited her chambers after Darius’s birth.

"Your mother loves you. She just needs time," his nanny had assured him.

Little Darius would often find himself trying to climb the window of his mother’s chambers, and there he would see Talia and his mother decorating each other’s long golden hair with various flowers.

At times, they would sit together on the swing, or wade in the cool waters of the nearby ponds. They looked so carefree, so full of joy that little Darius dreamed of joining them.

But every time Darius tried to inch closer, his father would call him, well it was the servant. Always the servants.

His father had never visited his side of the castle. He was a busy man after all, and Darius came to understand that at a very tender age.

It would have been easier if his mother had lived closer, but even that distant hope was stifled.

He was glad that there were gardens closer to his assigned area, or his mother too would never come to see him.

Serve... For as long as Darius could remember, he had wanted to serve his mother. Maybe pour her tea, sit by her side with Talia, and perhaps, just perhaps, have her place flowers in his hair. But he never dared to ask.

How could he when his hair was so dull like ash, unlike the pretty gold that flowed so radiantly from his mother’s hair and eyes?

His hair was short too. So, he thought all he needed to do was grow it a bit. Just a tad more than his shoulders to get a loving head pat... or maybe when they reached his back... _{freёwebnovel.com}

And then there were his eyes. The same venomous green shade as his father’s. Talia’s, on the other hand, gleamed with golden light.

Talia Velaria, a royal princess, a niece of his mother and a daughter of the ruling emperor, was a splitting image of his mother.

Sadly, he, Darius Rael Darkhlem, was the very portrait of his father.

Darius knew even then that he was not considerate. At least, not the way he showed it in front of others.

He had given his one and only toy to Talia. A tiny flower pot which his mother had touched in the passing.

He had not given it to her out of kindness. No, he had given it to the little princess in hopes of reaching his mother through her.

Greedy, yes, he was greedy for affection, for attention. Was he not?