[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 147: The Royal Court

The grand hall was filled with murmurs of ministers exchanging words that Xion barely understood. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Political matters were never something he was interested in the first place.

Had it not been for the urgency of canceling the royal decree, Darius and Xion would have waited until the morning court session was over.

Nevertheless, Darius had chosen this moment intentionally. The more witnesses present, the better it was for his plan.

They had barely exchanged greetings when King Valaria raised a hand, an indication for them to rise.

His dim golden eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke, "I did not expect the Archduke to fulfill his promise so soon," his voice was steady but cold.

His gaze flickered to Darius with thinly veiled displeasure before gesturing to a nearby seat. "Why don’t you take a seat with your guest? There’s something I must address first."

Darius inclined his head respectfully. "Your Majesty is too kind."

Xion wondered if they disturbed the king and that made him displeased with them. However, it was not like he could delay it.

The royal decree was a double-edged sword hanging on his head. If he did not address it as soon as possible, it would look as if he was not taking the royal family seriously which in itself was a felony.

And now that they were here, the king was obviously not happy to see them so early. Angry king only meant bad results for them.

It was really troublesome and... tiring.

Forcing himself not to think about the possible bad outcomes in which he was directly sent to Nikolai’s palace as his future partner, Xion silently followed Darius.

Yet as they moved past the gathered ministers to their designated seats, he felt the sting of the king’s gaze lingering on him.

The way that sickening look lingered on him felt oddly familiar. And it was not a pleasant feeling.

Those sharp eyes studied him, not with suspicion, but something far more unsettling.

Amusement for being here perhaps, or maybe it was contempt about his birth. He was an illegitimate child after all.

Then Xion realized it. That gaze was half similar to Soren’s.

Although it lacked the pervertedness that forced Xion to run away in the first place, the feeling of contempt as if the king were looking at something trivial, something that could be used at will, was just as identical.

A toy. That was all Xion seemed to be in the king’s mind. A pretty doll Darius had picked up to play with.

The idea sickened Xion, but he kept his face carefully neutral.

The king’s attention was soon shifted to some minister. Just a few moments later the court’s murmurs dimmed as a man was dragged forward.

Just a glance at his chained hands and the way he was dressed in tattered clothes, Xion knew he was a criminal.

The man looked in his late thirties but, in this world, where the age was really just a number it was hard to say about his real age.

He was thin and bruised, barely strong enough to stand. With a push from the guards, he was forced down to his knees.

"This," the king stayed silent while reading something from the scroll before nodding to himself as if finally understanding everything.

"Ah, so it’s you." His majesty sighed lightly before continuing, "This man has defied a royal decree. He refused to allow his daughter to wed the lord from the border country I chose for her."

Xion’s breath hitched. Defying a royal decree... just like we’re about to.

The king’s cold smile widened. "For such defiance, there can be no forgiveness."

He sure was talking to the entire court but soon his gaze was back on Xion.

"Take him to the main market square. He is to be flogged thirty times for all to witness. Then he will be taken to the healer."

A collective gasp rippled through the court.

Xion was the first to gulp. His hands clenched against his shirt. He was two hundred percent sure that if he were to be beaten thirty times, he would not survive.

This king was actually showing Xion his future.

The pale face Xion trying hard to maintain his neutral facade, "..." No matter how you try to intimidate me, I am not scared!

Xion, actually, was really terrified. So much so that he subconsciously scooted closer to Darius.

How could this old fox who had been playing with politics since childhood, not understand?

However, there was no need to worry at all.

His only displeasure was Xion’s pale face, but even that faded quickly. Without saying a word, Darius slung his arm over Xion’s chair.

Not touching his silly advisor in the slightest, but to others, it was as if he were holding Xion closer.

Regardless of the archduke being silent, Xion heard it loud and clear.

It’s okay. I am here.

So, Xion slightly relaxed. His stiff shoulder relaxed and without thinking much he grabbed Darius’ hanging hand beside him, pulling it closer.

And now, Darius was really hugging Xion’s shoulder while Xion held onto his fingers.

"No matter what I say, just follow along," Darius murmured low enough for only Xion to hear.

Of course, Xion agreed. Even if that baldy king tried to speak to him, he was going to hide behind Darius.

These royal people were so cruel and weird. The weird was only reserved for Nikolai for now.

Xio watched with pity as the guards dragged the condemned man away, and a brief silence filled the air.

Then, the king turned to Darius once more. There was a smile on his face, but no one was stupid enough to take it lightly, especially Xion.

"I must say," His Majesty said, "I didn’t expect you to resolve everything so quickly. It’s impressive... though you’ve always been quite eager to handle things your own way."

The king had given Darius some tasks which looked seemingly normal but would require quite a manpower, and with a few such chores clumped together, his majesty was sure that it would take Darius at least three to four months to be done with all of them.

However, this devil was already here in even less than a week!

Darius merely shrugged, "Your Majesty’s wisdom has always guided my actions."

It really had. Darius had directly lured one of King’s secret lovers to secretly help him while he helped her elope with her lover.

It was oddly similar to what happened to the crown prince and also equally satisfying.

The king’s eyes narrowed before he laughed as if very happy with the result. "And what a joyous occasion it is to be done with all the work, too. Your precious advisor’s engagement to Prince Nikolai... such a wonderful match sure will require more attention."

Barely His Majesty’s words fell the entire hall erupted with congratulatory shouts.

Ministers voiced their delight with exaggerated smiles, and some even clapped.

Xion was almost amused by them... almost. If he did not know any better, he might have thought that it was the minister’s child marrying Nikolai.

Just as the atmosphere was bustling with joy, a chuckle echoed.

It fell on Xion’s ears like a touch of silk. It was not the first time Xion had heard Darius’ low baritone voice but... But!

Did it have to sound this sexy?

It made his ears itchy!

And the fact that he got his ears hot while in front of the king who looked like a new version of King of the Underground was not helping either.