[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 261

Chapter 261: The Most Beautiful Fool

"Xion!"

Xion’s vision was blurry. His ears were ringing, and somehow, when he heard the familiar voice, he didn’t even have the urge to scold his system for its mischief.

His mana was slowly replenishing, knitting his frayed energy back together, but it was agonizingly slow. At this rate, it would take him another half an hour just to push this ugly, grey monstrosity off his body.

"Xion, are you okay? Hey, Xion? Love?"

That voice was closer now. Desperate. Frantic. Very low as if afraid to disturb his rest.

He almost scoffed. Since when did his system get so dramatic? But then again, it had started acting weird since it got in touch with other systems.

Maybe I should stop that system forum?

Xion didn’t open his eyes. Well, he didn’t have extra energy to waste on the system’s antics.

The ache in his ribs felt sharper with each breath and he suddenly wondered if they were broken. Maybe fractured?

He could certainly taste the horrible taste of iron lingering in his mouth.

The crushing weight over his chest suddenly lifted, air rushing back into his lungs with a harsh gasp. He instinctively dragged in a breath only to cough violently, the force rattling his ribs.

"Xion? Look at me..."

The voice was familiar, but the pleading? The system was overdoing it now.

Forcing his eyes open, Xion blinked away the fog. Through his muddled vision, he saw it. That familiar silhouette crouching near him, those long silver strands were spreading over his head like a canopy.

His attention and his breath were taken away by those wide green eyes.

Is it possible to hold so many emotions in one glance? he mused as he leaned into the warm touch over his cheek.

Xion could comprehend some of them if not all. There was so much hate in it. Yes, hate, blended with worry and concern. There was a clear murderous urge, forcing Xion to swallow hard.

However, a thick layer of love wrapped all of them inside.

Like the sun on a crisp winter morning, so deceptively inviting, luring others to forget how easily it could burn if they ventured too close. A fool would even yearn for it, crave it on his skin.

And Xion was such a fool.

His hand moved before his brain could catch up, his trembling fingers grazing over Darius’ face. Cold. It was so cold.

"So beautiful..." he muttered in a daze.

The way the Archduke’s lips trembled, his expression wavered between joy and agony, how he didn’t dare to move Xion recklessly — it all made Xion’s heart warm.

Darius’ hand, big and calloused, came up to cover his frozen ones, pressing them tighter to his cheek. Xion could even feel the tremor in them.

"X-Xion..."

Xion smiled weakly, the first smile since he had left Darius. "I’m fine... just tired."