[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 159: A Trust Too Easily Given

Fate had a strange way of unraveling people’s beliefs, and Xion had experienced it in both the best and worst ways possible.

When he believed no one was on his side, he found the strongest support. And when he thought things were finally going according to plan, they twisted and tangled, dragging him deeper into an even bigger mess.

Just like now.

Xion glanced at the trees lining the narrow path winding through the forest. The carriage creaked as it climbed up the very track he had once sprinted down in a desperate attempt to run away.

It had barely been more than two weeks since they had started moving toward the north, and Xion was already back, exactly where he started.

Just above the mountain was Marquis’s mansion.

"You don’t have to worry about anything. I will just do it quickly. You can wait here with Ray."

Darius had said that already. More than once, actually. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

They all were tired from the journey, and how could they not when they were moving so fast?

Xion knew everyone needed rest. Yet the archduke had made it clear that their next resting spot would be after they passed this entire town.

Because Xion did not want to be here.

"It’s okay. I know you will protect me, right?" Xion smiled at Darius, who looked more uncomfortable than him.

"And we should take a rest here. They need it, and horses too."

Darius hummed in reply. They had this conversation more than once, and each time it just ended with Darius not properly answering.

The archduke was concerned about him.

However, Xion was not. Rather than dread, he just had an inherent dislike for this place.

Nonetheless, that didn’t mean he wanted others to suffer along with him. And honestly, this was the best place to take a little break.

Here, they could get the comfort of more satisfactory beds, and unlike inns or camps, the Marquis’ mansion would provide better care for the horses as well.

Xion did not want to be a burden to anyone, especially to Darius.

And... This way I can finally slip back to my lab.

He had been reading the holy book whenever he had any free time. The rest was spent on measuring Darius’ mana and the way it reacted with his own.

Xion had figured out one thing. The murky green mana was really alive. It was conditioned to tear apart anything that came in its way.

No wonder they called it a curse. For it really was like one.

Now that he was almost at the end of the reading pages, he had figured out a few other things as well.

This ring that was now adorning his finger belonged to Sakura Mei, well... more like it was from her devotion system.

Minato sensei thought that Sakura and he were the same kind of beings so he gave the ring to him as a token of trust and also with the feeling to return it to its rightful owner.

Other than this, Xion had also realized that Sakura seemed more interested in matchmaking two men than actually focusing on that experiment!

The thing which made Xion so excited was nowhere to be found.

Sakura just glossed over it, saying that she could not save the victim in the end. Case closed.

No, it was not!

Xion had flipped through the words so frantically after that.

He wanted to find any semblance to that experiment but there was no more. Hence, now he was both physically and emotionally drained.

He was so emptied that even the looming dread of the Marquis’ mansion couldn’t unsettle him more than he already felt.

There was also another thing. He was tired of looking at Darius’ face.

Xion had no clue why, but no matter where they were, Xion was not allowed to move more than ten steps away from the archduke.

He wanted to give both his eyes and body a proper rest before starting his new journey.

I deserve a vacation. Xion silently mused. He was definitely going to get one after treating Darius.

He could feel it, that he was close to finding something. Something that was just dangling in front of his eyes, but he was just too blind to notice it.

With a sigh, he slumped back, his back resting against the fluffy big pillow.

Then, he really saw something dangling in front of his eyes.

Xion blinked before instantly sitting straight.

"Your locket!" Xion’s sudden yell made Archduke alert.

His one hand was already gripping around the handle of his sword hidden under his robe, while his other hand shot toward his neck.

The green pendant was still there, hanging around his neck like a second skin.

Darius’ hanging heart settled down when he realized there was no danger.

"What about it?"

Xion hesitated. There was a terrible guess forming in his mind, something he both wanted to be true while also wishing it was just another lie.

Just the thought of it made his throat go dry.

He gulped, trying to force his guesses down his throat. Anyway, he was always wrong when it came to such things. He had such a bad luck, right?

"C-can you give it to me?" Xion’s voice was quivering, and his raised hand was not in any better condition.

Darius looked at Xion and then at the locket. It was the force holding up his life together.

If it were anyone else, Darius would have kicked that person away without a second thought.

"Here," Darius didn’t ask any questions. He simply pulled it over his head and placed it in Xion’s hand. "If you need anything else, just ask."

After all, Darius knew Xion far too well — his stubbornness, his tendency to overthink, and most importantly, his soft heart.

If there was one thing Darius could trust so easily, it was this silly kitten.

But what Darius didn’t know, what he couldn’t have predicted, was that this very trust would soon turn against him.

Because, as always, fate had its own twisted sense of humor.

And his kitten... his sweet, foolish, soft-hearted kitten... Was going to betray him.

And this very moment would soon return to haunt him, night after night.