[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 182: When Ray Met Little Darius

"If you save him..." Ray’s throat tightened. "My life is yours to take."

Xion’s teasing smile turned lopsided, weary but amused as he stared at the devoted knight.

"Do you have to be so dramatic?" He leaned down, staring straight into Ray’s tense eyes.

"What I meant was ... are you willing to help me with something?" And then, without warning, he flicked the knight’s forehead.

Ray winced, caught off guard.

"What am I supposed to do with your life, huh?" Xion huffed. "Stand up, Sir Knight Captain, we need to hurry back and look after his grace."

"Ah?" Ray muttered, looking utterly baffled. As Xion commanded, he was instantly back on his feet, walking at the pace of the other two.

However, his mind was still reeling with what just happened.

For Xion, it might have been just a casual question, but for Ray, it was anything but.

The Eldritch family was a prestigious lineage of knights and soldiers. Even their noble title of Earl was earned by their ancestors by doing meritorious deeds on the battleground.

Throughout the generations, the first thing they were taught after the basic morals was to be loyal to their lord.

Loyalty above all. It was their creed drilled into them from a young age.

And yet, Ray had not always been so loyal.

Raymond Eldritch was the third son of his family. With two older brothers and one eldest sister, he was the youngest of them all.

Since a young age, he had been a whirlwind of chaos. He was the little tyrant of the Eldritch family, adored by his household yet impossible to control.

Little Ray was the leader among his peers, always causing mischief wherever he went.

His family, worrying about his increasingly naughty nature, did not let him skip any of his classes.

Despite their strict teachings, Ray would always find a way to escape, to slip past tutors and even his knight training sessions.

One of the worst incidents was when he vanished for three days, throwing the entire household into absolute chaos.

Mother Eldritch ended up having a high fever due to all the crying while his siblings, though not openly crying like her, were not in a better state.

With the special help of Archduke Theodore, his father managed to gather clues.

Nervousness and fear gnawed at his senses as Sir Eldritch rushed to the border of the city. There was no time to rest, no time to eat.

How did my child get so far alone? Was he kidnapped? Hurt? Goddess forbid — was he being sold somewhere? Is he alright? He is strong. He will fight but .... what if they hurt him?

Many such terrifying thoughts circled in his mind as he entered the inn they had been looking for.

They indeed saw Ray in that inn. However, unlike their appearance of wet dogs tossed in the hurricane, little lord Ray was perfectly fine.

He was sitting atop a table, swinging his little chubby legs as he casually bit into a freshly baked bun. On the other hand, he held an unidentifiable drink.

Taking a sip, he casually commanded a boy who was clearly older than him. "Wipe properly there! What are you doing, being so willy-nilly?"

"Yes, big brother."

Even at the age of seven, Ray had somehow managed to make the older boy call him "big brother." Whether it was through charm or sheer willpower (definitely not brute force ... probably), no one knew.

Father Eldritch who was dying from worry, "..."

The tired and hungry knights, "..."

Apparently, this little brat used his charm and seduced the lady boss of the inn. No matter how rowdy Ray was he was still very respectful to his elders.

And now, before her own son, the lady boss actually gave more food to Ray.

As for how it happened, no one paid it that much attention.

Because, while they were rushing here without any food or rest, Ray was enjoying his holiday!

It was such an injustice!

Hence, Sir Eldritch decided that it was time for his little brat to learn the proper code of conduct.

When his furious father dragged him back home, Ray was already sulking.

But when they informed him that he would be taken to the archduchy to meet his future lord. His sulking turned into anger.

And when he finally met Darius? Yeah, it was till early for that.

"Stay here, and wait for me."

Sir Eldritch repeatedly told Ray not to mess around before rushing to do the emergency work.

Hence, the little Ray with his messy blonde hair stood in the hallway, his blue eyes blinking at the huge portraits of the ancestors of the Darkhelm kin.

However, all his attention was on the swords in their hands. They were really pretty, Ray nodded in appreciation.

Following the paintings, he moved forward until he came across a tiny child slowly walking in his direction.

Ray, being Ray, walked right up to him. "Hey, kid. Do you know where the little brat of His Grace is?"

Three-year-old Darius had to tilt his head as he took a proper look at the boy.

Then, without responding, he turned to the side. His indication to not talk was very obvious. Being the child of the archduke, no one would dare to stop him.

But Ray was not someone to be considered normal.

Ray grabbed his shoulder. "What’s your problem? Don’t you know you’re supposed to respond when someone greets you?"

Darius glanced at Ray’s hand. Mud-stained fingers were touching him.

His pale little face instantly twisted in disgust.

With barely contained revulsion, Darius flung Ray’s arm off. "Don’t touch me with your filthy hands."

Ray’s mind blanked.

Filthy? Filthy?!

A slow grin stretched across Ray’s face. "Oh? Filthy, huh? Then -" Before anyone could stop him, he threw his arms around Darius and yanked him into a hug. "What now? Not only am I touching you, but I’m hugging you!"

A strangled sound tore from Darius’ lips as he thrashed. His dull green eyes burned with fury.

The little boy who had been silent and detached only moments ago suddenly shoved Ray back with surprising strength.

Ray stumbled back and ended up crashing into the wall. His blue eyes widened in disbelief. A ’toddler’ had pushed him back?

No. That was unacceptable.

His pride as a future knight was at stake now!