Darius entered the small room, followed closely by Berry. His brow furrowed in dissatisfaction as soon as he looked around.
Hadn't I specifically told them to find a decent place for Xion? His gaze skimmed over the cramped, poorly lit room.
A few shelves lined the walls, making it clear that this was not a suitable environment for someone stupidly bright like Xion.
Suppressing his rising irritation, Darius reminded himself that there was a far more pressing issue to address.
Noxian, biting his lip, was trailing behind Uncle Berry. Luckily, he found the older male just around the corner.
In his anxiousness, he did not care if he would be punished for his rash behavior.
He had simply run to the archduke and fumbled out Sir Allen's situation.
And now he was craning his neck to see more. The sight made him halt in his steps.
The young master was on the floor, his mouth gagged with cloth, and Sir Allen was pressing him down with alarming force.
Noxian did not get the chance to properly look as Berry took a step further and yanked Allen off Xion's body.
In an instant, Xion spit the cloth out and ran to Darius' side. Panting, he pointed toward the struggling Alchemist, "He has gone mad!"
Darius glanced at two struggling males and then at the dagger. The blade was smooth, with a rounded tip that appeared sharp enough to penetrate even the thick skin of a level three orc.
The hilt was weathered, the polished wood long since eroded by time, revealing deep grooves and cracks. Yet, despite its age, the ruby set into the pommel still gleamed.
It cast a faint red light that matched the anger surging within Allen.
A thin layer of mana circled around the dagger which pulsated with its owner's rampant emotions.
How foolish, Darius mused his green eyes narrowed at his always steadfast Alchemist.
"He will be fine soon enough." Darius turned to Xion who was standing in a tattered robe with a little boy patting his back.
There was no robe to cover his doll-like face and Darius could see the tears swirling in those oceanic eyes.
Perhaps it was his unnaturally flushed face, or it was the evening light playing the trick, Xion's parted lips looked redder than usual.
"What the heck is wrong with him? He suddenly wanted to cut me!" As if finding someone to rely on, the coward little Xion gained his confidence.
Even though the said person was almost five years younger than him, he still shamelessly complained to the culprit's master.
Xion could hear Allen yelling at Berry to let him go and that he needed to do a blood ceremony of sorts.
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Xion barely turned his head when, without warning, the dagger shot toward his face.
For a moment, time seemed to slow. His breath hitched in his throat, and for the briefest instant, Xion thought this was it. I don't want to die like this!
The pointed tip reflected in Xion's wide eyes when Darius flung a thin twig.
The dagger went flying back from where it came. It struck into the wall, leaving a bloody gash on Allen's right cheek.
"Allen."
Darius' cold voice made Alchemist jolt back to his senses. From the corner of his eye, he noticed his dagger merely inches apart from his stinging cheek.
One look at his master, and Allen knew he had made a huge mistake. His head bowed in submission, ready to accept any punishment, but much to his surprise, His Grace only sighed.
Darius looked at the silly healer and for a moment, he could not decide if Xion's eyes were wider or his open mouth.
"Come with me."
Xion instinctively shut his mouth, though his gaze lingered on the sharp dagger edged into the wall.
He sneakily glanced at Rael's thin arms and at the broken twig which lay on the floor like a sacrificial weapon.
Darius had already turned around and that filled Xion with an instant shot of worry.
For someone, who was used to living in a peaceful world (well, if he ignored the few heavy beatings from his family which nearly sent him in emergency) the sudden, almost intimate encounter with the killing weapon, was a bit much.
Xion wanted to follow Darius. Staying with Rael or cooking both seemed like good options. Still, the most he wanted to do was just smother himself into the soft mattress of his room.
But then, he glanced back and wanted to face-palm himself. How could he, a dedicated doctor, leave his patient in such a vulnerable state?
Perhaps his gaze toward the curtained bed was too direct, Darius spoke again, "Allen will keep an eye on him."
"Yes, your grace," Allen still did not raise his head. This time, those words sounded more eager to escape his lips.
How could he not be this desperate when he knew this was his punishment? His Grace was generous enough to give him a chance and Allen jumped on it.
With Allen in the clinic, Xion did not hesitate anymore. A relief swarm his chest as he followed behind Darius. The said relief lasted only until he reached the door.
Xion, "!!!"
He blatantly realized that he was not hiding his face!
Even the little Noxian now knew what he looked like.
How the heck do those characters and villains manage to stay hidden until almost half of the novel?
It was really beyond Xion. Sighing, he simply followed Darius into the carriage which was parked just outside the clinic door with Ray in the seat of the coachman.
Black Box-
Xion, a cultivator, stood in an ornate red wedding robe beside his soon-to-be husband.
He vowed, "In life, I shall face all with you; in death, I shall be your shadow."
The mystical red thread bound him to his towering spouse, whose face was veiled due to some custom, or so he thought.
With a soft rustle, the veil fell.
"D-Demon Lord?!" Xion stumbled back, horror-stricken.
Darius smirked, "My queen, your destiny awaits… and it's by my side."
Moments later, Xion found himself in the demon lord's chambers, fumbling for a spell to escape.
But before he could act, Darius easily broke his spell. The demon lord pushed the trembling Xion onto the bed and kissed his forehead. He lay down, cradling his new spouse tenderly.
"If you run away, I'll tie you to my bed," Darius murmured before drifting off to sleep.
Xion stared helplessly at the peacefully slumbering demon. Well... at least he looks better than my original arranged spouse.