[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83: The Handsome Escort

Xion subconsciously chewed on his lower lip, his finger curling into the bedsheet beneath him. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t even notice the knock or the arrival of someone in his room.

"You might have died at least five times by now." Raymond Eldritch stood there, dressed in a blue knight’s uniform that made him look all the more handsome. Even the sword hanging on his waist added to his striking presence.

"Hi, Ray." Xion waved listlessly. "What are you doing here? What about Rael... I mean, His Grace?"

Ray sighed lightly. This kid hadn’t changed one bit. He directly slumped onto the bed next to Xion, the mattress bouncing under his weight.

"His Grace is busy. As for me... I am here for you, little rabbit."

Xion, copying Ray’s actions, lay beside him. Both of them stared at the pale-yellow ceiling. Unlike the painted one back at the Marquis’ mansion, this one was unadorned, devoid of color or decoration. _{frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓}

"Why do you call me that?" Ray had called him that when they first met. It felt like a lifetime ago, even though only a month or so had passed.

A month...

But how could Eli change so much in just that little span of time? It was baffling, to say the least.

"You look like one, and you act like one too."

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts of Eli, Xion focused on Ray. At least the knight was a good distraction.

"How so?"

Ray tilted his head to look at the healer, dressed in a white suit.

There were delicate little buttons on the tiny vest he had been wearing over the silken shirt with a blue sapphire brooch attached to his pocket. Albeit only a bit, it matched his eyes.

This suit, along with others, was meant for the Archduke. Duke Nocturne had gifted it upon their arrival that morning. It was one of the most expensive garments, but His Grace had refused to wear it.

"White matches Xion, not me." That was all Darius said before tossing it back to Lady Nazia.

Later, she hurriedly asked a seamstress to stitch it according to Xion’s measurements. Now that he looked at Xion, Ray had to admit Allen had a good eye for sizes.

"Rabbits get happy when they get carrots. You get happy when you see patients." Ray laughed when Xion scrunched his nose at him.

"It’s not just that. They hide in burrows, and you are always looking for a way to hide too. They forget they might be eaten by a hound when the said hound offers them his tail to play."

Xion scoffed. "I don’t play with hounds. I simply run away from them."

Ray didn’t reply. Instead, a teasing smirk crept onto his face. Who could be the most terrifying hound other than his grace?

Xion poked his forehead before standing up. "You look creepy. Stop smiling like that."

He smoothed out the barely-there wrinkles on his suit, his face etched with visible tension. "Can I not go?" he asked helplessly.

Ray, now sitting on the bed, shook his head. "No can do. Duke Nocturne has a good relationship with the Archduke. It would be too rude not to go."

It was not just that. His Grace needed the relic from the duke. Since Brairhold was right next to the royal capital, anything that happened there would fall under royal jurisdiction.

Even this banquet was only possible with His Majesty’s special permission. Otherwise, they would have been rushing to the capital to meet the royals, as stated in the letter.

Ray had wondered why they were in such a hurry. It wasn’t until he learned the Crown Prince would be present that he understood the urgency.

Who would dare to make the royal family wait? Ah, except for his master, of course.

Under such circumstances where so many powerful people were present, making a mistake would only put them under scrutiny.

"Don’t worry. I’ll be your handsome escort," Ray teased, deliberately emphasizing the word. "I’ll protect you, and you just have to show your face, tell them you’re His Grace’s adviser, and we’ll leave. How about it?"

It was better to go early, Ray thought as he led Xion through the long corridors. Other than taking Xion there, he also had to bring him back before he caught the eye of the archduke.

In fact, none of them had told His Grace that Xion would be at the banquet. The Archduke was a bit too protective of Xion, and both Ray and Nazia knew that Darius might disregard the importance of the relic if it meant keeping Xion out of sight.

However, as His Grace’s loyal ministers, if there was one thing they would never do, it was let their master suffer. Their priority was always Darius. Anything else was secondary.

Even if it meant receiving punishment, Ray was more than willing to follow Duke Nocturne’s orders to bring the member of the Vaelis family.

They were far from their territory and had little manpower with them.

Hence, they could not afford to lose Duke Nocturne’s support. Not when he had half of the royal capital in his pocket.

That was especially true now, considering what had happened at Ferni.

Ray looked at Xion’s thin back. This tiny boy had managed to make His Grace act like a tyrant just for his sake while knowing nothing about it.

With the way His Grace was indulging Xion, if the boy were even a bit greedy, he could ask for anything, and Darius would give it without hesitation.

Ray let out a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

That was not a good sign. Not at all.

Xion, on the other hand, was blissfully unaware of the political struggles between the nobles. He was busy thinking of ways to slip away before midnight.

Even if he knew Eli was hiding something, he had to meet her. It was better to deal with it now than leave a hidden knife waiting to stab him in the future.

Besides, he would not be stupid enough to go to the garden alone. He’d take Ray with him.

He had seen enough anime to know that anyone who asked to meet in the middle of the night was either a lover or an enemy.

And in this case, the latter was the only option.