[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99: A Stroll in the Paradise

Xion followed the direction pointed out on the map. His feet lightly stepped onto the cobblestone path leading to the back garden.

Unlike the front garden, where withered leaves and gnarled branches mirrored the dead, murky eyes of low-level orcs, this place was alive.

Vibrant flowers of all shapes and colors thrived here as their delicate petals swayed ever so slightly as if breathing in harmony with the night.

At the center of it all, nestled beneath a canopy of vines, was a pavilion covered in cascading greenery. And there, within its shadowed embrace, was Rael sitting on one of the chairs.

Xion barely had time to take in the sight before, with a mere flick of Rael’s wrist, the entire garden bloomed with light. In an instant, the night turned into day.

It was only then that Xion truly noticed his surroundings. His gaze lifted, following the light upwards only to realize the sky he had thought was open... wasn’t.

A massive glass dome stretched above the entire garden. It was so flawlessly transparent that the moon and stars shimmered through it as if suspended in midair.

Xion exhaled softly as he gazed at the beauty of flowers bathed in moonlight.

This wasn’t just a garden.

It was a hidden paradise.

He admired the view, his hands tugging at the small petals of various colors as he made his way toward the only other figure in the vicinity.

Like a selfish child, he couldn’t help but want to claim those pretty blossoms for himself. Yet, rather than plucking the ones still in full bloom, he carefully chose with petals curling at the edges.

Those were the flowers that would wither soon, just like the night.

"Yo, your grace," Xion waved his hands filled with blossoms. A bright smile etched on his face as he placed his newly found treasure on the small table.

"Could not sleep? Or you got afraid of ghosts again?" Darius had a tiny smirk on his lips. His bad mood from the evening was already fading away.

Xion snorted. "Kids aren’t allowed to tease their elders," he declared with such righteousness that for a moment, Darius was rendered speechless.

The Archduke was neither a child nor did he need anyone’s permission to speak.

He shook his head, his long silver hair swaying with the motion. "Then why are you here?" he asked, arching a brow.

Instead of sitting, Xion remained standing, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I was reading about stuff," he said vaguely before flashing a smug grin. "And I have my baby with me. Why would I be afraid?"

Was I not the baby? Humans were indeed fickle. Darius shifted his gaze from Xion’s face to the flowers.

The fleeting thought of the little brat, Noxian, crossed his mind, and he remained silent.

Though Noxian had been training under Berry and was a loyal subject, that didn’t mean Darius had any particular tolerance for him.

Perhaps he should assign the brat some extra work. If not for him, Xion would have come running straight to Darius for help.

Now that would have been a sight worth seeing.

Just as Darius was watching him, the ever-moving Xion suddenly stopped bouncing on his feet. He glanced around, searching for something to drink, but found nothing.

After a moment of thought, a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. Remembering Noxian’s usual reaction to his tricks, he leaned in closer to Rael.

"Want to see magic?" he whispered mysteriously while wiggling his brows.

When Rael did not reply and just stared at him, Xion decided that the boy was just shy. Otherwise, which kid did not like magic?

With a casual wave of his hand, two wooden cups materialized on the table.

Xion chuckled as Rael’s eyes widened ever so slightly. "It’s one of my favorites. You won’t find it anywhere else," he said with a wink before lifting his cup to his lips.

His gaze lingered on Rael, watching as the boy hesitated before bringing the cup to his lips. He drank cautiously at first, but when he took another sip, Xion knew, he liked it.

With his healing talent, no one would question his capacity to manipulate mana. It’s pretty convenient.