[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 167: A Cursed Relic’s Punishment

"A subject who talks bad about his lord should be punished. Right, ’sweetheart’ ?"

Darius’ breath ghosted over Xion’s cheek. His words were deceptively gentle. But those venomous green eyes betrayed his real intentions.

Xion had called him an antique artifact, of all things. An ominous, cursed relic!

Oh, he’d show Xion exactly how dangerous a "cursed relic" could be.

Leaning down even more until his nose touched the warm skin, he tilted his head to a perfect angle, letting his lips hover over Xion’s soft, milky cheek.

He could feel the warmth radiating off his healer’s face. His sleeping form was utterly defenceless. Xion was both fragile and helpless.

What a little fool. The archduke mused, But my fool, nonetheless.

Then, he sank his teeth in.

It was not a hard bite that could break the skin and draw blood, but it was still enough.

Enough to make Xion stir slightly in his sleep, enough to leave a perfect imprint of his teeth on that tender face.

He ground the soft flesh between his sharp canines a little longer before finally letting go.

However, like a wild animal, he could not suppress the urge to bite again. Harder, even.

Anyhow, this time, he settled for something different.

He let his lips brush over the tender mark he had left behind.

Once, twice ... Until he was satisfied with the way his kitten was so docilely staying perfectly still for him to shower him with affection.

Darius chuckled lightly at his thoughts.

Affection. It was the same word he had so fervently denied before. He had claimed that there was no way he had any such positive feelings for Xion.

And yet here he was, agreeing wholeheartedly that he indeed seemed to have affection for this silly kitten.

He was pleased by such discovery, but there was someone whose heart was leaping out of his chest.

Allen froze mid-step. From where he stood, it looked as if the Archduke was... kissing Xion.

Except... there was no ’as if’.

The kissing was real, and the gentleness flowing from those always scary eyes was also so very real.

No wonder, his grace did not reply when he asked for permission to enter.

The parchment, which was so crucial that he had rushed in alone without hesitation, was now crumpled beneath his tightening grip.

Allen turned on his heel without a word, heading for the exit. While he moved away, he made sure each step was heavy.

The sound of his boots pressing into the ground was louder than necessary. Almost like ... he was intentionally trying to wake a sleeping guy.

It was a silent act of defiance, a subtle protest against his lord.

Darius, on the other hand, did not even bother to look in the direction of the alchemist.

All his attention was fixed on a ring of faint marks blooming on Xion’s cheek.

The red marks, milky white skin... the sight was strangely beautiful to him. Morbidly so.

He suddenly wondered how Xion would look if he were drenched in blood.

Not his of course.

Darius was not someone who liked his things getting broken, and in Xion’s case, it was even more true.

As he settled back on his chair properly, Darius rested his chin on the back of his knuckle. He liked this new way of looking over at Xion.

His free hand cupped Xion’s cheek. His thumb gently rubbed over the indentations. He wanted to soothe what he had done.

However, there was a strange flutter of excitement dancing wildly in his chest. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

My mark.

He exhaled through his nose. Although a bit regretful over his absurd actions, the edge of amusement still lingered in his gaze.

"For now," he murmured. His low voice sounded dangerously fond as he tapped on the sleeping beauty’s face, "This will do."

Xion’s frown twitched as if he could somehow sense the injustice done to his sleeping self.

Darius chuckled. He ran his fingers through the healer’s messy black hair, resuming the slow, absentminded petting he had started earlier.

But this time, he did more than stroke his pet.

He hummed softly. It was not just any tune, but the lullaby Xion had taught him.

The melody was the same, but the notes were different at some points.

Ah, it was the devil archduke’s own version of the lullaby.

The great, terrifying Archduke was singing his healer to sleep.

If anyone heard about such an incident, they would call it ludicrous.

Xion, unaware, curled up even more.

He pressed himself further into his grace’s stomach, instinctively looking for the warmth without realizing it.

Darius’ smile deepened.

After all ...

Cursed artifacts, no matter how dangerous, still needed their chosen caretakers.

And Xion was perfect for such a role, was he not?

Despite his chaotic thoughts, his actions were so very delicate.

Xion’s frown smoothed out entirely. His breath evened, and the small sigh he let out was one of pure contentment.

Darius watched him while making his future plans. He should keep Xion closer to him. And what was the best way to do other than let Xion live in the next room?

All the rooms on his floor were left empty. Darius loathed it where the foreign presence lingered around him more than necessary.

Ray, Allen and even Nazia were no exception.

Howbeit, it seemed now was thetime to redecorate the room according to Xion’s fancy.

His lips curled into a soft smile.

Regardless of the soft arc of his lips, his pale eyes held something else entirely, something dark and twisted that his grace himself had no clue what it was.

But after Xion had unknowingly used him as a bed, Darius realized one thing. He was far more possessive over his healer than he had ever expected.

Xion’s perception of him mattered more than it should. His reactions, his thoughts ... Darius wanted control over them all.

"Be good boy, and stay safe." Darius waved his hand and a thin duvet directly floated toward his hand.

He draped it over Xion’s shoulder.

After making sure that even his face was hidden, he called Allen inside.

There were a few things that could not be delayed any longer. For example, blowing a certain place.