CHAPTER 333: THE DIVINE HEALER OR DIVINE KILLER?

The ministers weren’t just losing their minds, they were losing their hair from tension.

Could someone please explain why the royal prince was waiting with them for His Grace?

As fate would have it, the hedonistic Prince Nikolai had decided that today, of all days, was the perfect time to grace the northern court with his royal charisma.

And that had put the ministers in a tight spot. Just yesterday, His Grace had allowed Princess Bianca into the castle after making the poor girl wait for days.

They were still debating whether the Archduke was going to take another concubine so soon, and whether they should file a petition to protect their little lord Xion.

Why did no one warn them that the noble families from the capital were so free, they’d start arriving one after another? Don’t they have their work to deal with or something? Damned free loaders!

In the midst of all this confusion, dressed in a deep blue robe, Prince Nikolai sat comfortably on the special chair reserved for envoys and esteemed guests.

With golden hair cascading to his shoulders, he squinted lazily. He had the leisure to doze off while the ministers kept their dry eyes glued to the doorway.

When was their sovereign going to arrive for the morning court session—they meant the evening court session?

The said lord was walking calmly through the corridors of his dark castle.

A lazy smile tugged at his lips. Compared to the weary ministers, who had only left briefly for lunch before rushing back, His Grace looked well.

Darius was well-dressed, well-styled, and, more importantly, he was well-fed.

Even as he walked into the dim hallways, his thoughts were filled with the bright smile of his husband.

Xion looked breathtaking when pinned to the table, though truthfully, his baby looked pretty everywhere

Lying across the silken sheets with teary eyes or caught in moments of passion as those soft moans spilled from his red swollen lips... It was so, so adorable.

Darius wished to insert himself into his darling and become one with him. To the point that his sweet baby wouldn’t be able to live without him.

I will pamper you, Xion, I will shower you with everything you can think of.

Darius muttered to himself. I will lavish you with my love, with my need to possess you in every possible way.

Darius could barely keep his mind in the present.

Just be mine.

Either by love or by deceit, the Archduke was hell-bent on making those three enticing thoughts a reality. He would keep Xion close, and steal all of his breaths through kisses.

Then, he would watch his kitten’s eyes going glossy with lust. Ah, that was indeed a tempting dream. And he had succeeded in living until it became a truth.

It was the best wedding night he could have possibly asked for.

After all that, Xion was still curled up into the sheets, on his bed, dressed in the clothes he provided.

I want to go back, already.

With a glow that practically screamed seventh heaven, the Archduke finally stepped into the courtroom.

Sharp green eyes met golden ones and the smile on Darius’ face changed into a smirk.

"What is Royal Highness doing in my domain?"

There was no reverence, no formality required to receive the royal blood in his tone.

Even the title ’Royal Highness’ dripped with disdain, clear enough to make the ministers straighten their spines.

"Now that isn’t how you greet an old friend, my dear Darius," Nikolai replied as playful as ever.

Just hearing that name spoken aloud had the poor ministers sweating in cold dread.

Much to their surprise, the Archduke didn’t ignore Nikolai as he usually did. Instead, His Grace chuckled.

It was only a few low laughs, but they made Nikolai narrow his eyes in contemplation.

With Xion on the hunting list of all three guilds, shouldn’t this madman be anxious? So why does he look happy?

Before the prince could voice anything useful, Darius cut him off.

"Take a seat if you want. Or leave. Start the court."

That last line was thrown at the cluster of old and young ministers, who were huddled like nervous sheep.

Nikolai snorted before slumping back on the cushioned seat. As the meeting progressed, his thoughts started to wander.

Well, anything aside, this seat was quite comfortable. I should take it back with me, the prince thought while his gaze returned to Darius.

There really wasn’t a single wrinkle of worry on that damned face.

The royal prince tsked. He had come all the way from his warm palace to this cold northern cage, and what did he get?

A smiling Darius.

He preferred the former lunatic. At least then, they were both equally miserable.

Though, honestly, Nikolai doubted this demon even knew what unhappiness felt like. At most, Darius was bored.

And now, clearly, he wasn’t.

The only reason for Nikolai’s journey to the north and Darius’ smug glow, was the divine healer.

Xion Vaelis. Ah, maybe I should call him Xion Darkhelm now.

The very same boy who had managed to harm the core members of the royal family, and, as if that weren’t enough, created a cure for the plague—and sent it directly to the provinces.

It was common knowledge that everything should be tributed to the king before reaching the people.

But little doll had tossed the rulebook aside and moved on his own.

If one thought about it, wasn’t this a blatant threat to the new ruler of Eldoria Lunerith? It was as if Xion was saying that he refused to bow to His Majesty.

Well, if anything, the sight of Silas’ fuming face sure was amusing.

When he recalled the little doll, a smile appeared on his face. His fingers trembled with excitement.

I am going to see you soon, my muse.

All the major three guilds—North, East, and West—had all received an urgent summon to hunt the one responsible for killing a member of the royal family and a core person of the church.

North was under Berry’s control, so there was no trouble there. But the other two were hard to trust.

The Western guild had always remained neutral. The Eastern guild, situated in the capital city, however, had long lusted for power.

If it wasn’t for their despicable method to grab more than they should, Berry, who was the vice head of that guild, wouldn’t have left the headquarters.

In desperation, he had taken the offer to become a tutor for Raymond Eldritch.

Nikolai still remembered how little Ray had once barged into their hidden territory.

He, being the older one, had actually teased the little rascal Ray enough to make him cry. Ah, such good old days they were.

That was also when he met with the little lord of the north.

The master had come to save his knight. The whole thing had been both absurd and deeply fascinating.

Now... where was that rascal?

Nikolai’s eyes swept the hall, but there was no sign of Ray.

The golden hue in his eyes dimmed just a little.

Before he could spiral deeper, a voice snapped him out of it.

"Are you planning to sleep on my chair? Either pay rent, or I’ll have the guards throw you out."

The ministers had already started to urge their old legs to move faster. One lunatic was enough to deal with, they had no intention of adding a hedonistic prince to the list as well.

They all were well aware of the fact that their sovereign had despised the shameless ways of His Royal Highness Nikolai.

Old they may be, but they were sane enough not to stand and watch the spat between them.

Soon the entire grand hall was filled with only two figures, illuminated by the wall-mounted lamps.

"Ah, still so harsh," Nikolai sighed dramatically. "Why not offer me the best room in the castle so I can have a nice nap? Or better yet, give me yours."

A sly grin crept across his face, golden eyes sparkling with mischief.

But when Darius didn’t even twitch at his blatant provocation, Nikolai finally relented.

"Fine, fine. I’m here to talk about the Winter Ball," he said. "Father asked me to deliver some things to you. Oh, and Father has also sent you a letter. Have no clue what’s in that, though."

The winter ball, as the name suggested, was the special ball held in the north every once in a while. It was grand and lavish.

However, this was also the code name for the rebellion against the Valaria family. And the major force of that mutiny was the northern lord himself.

If it wasn’t for that, the prince didn’t doubt even for a second that Darius would have thrown him out already.

So, with the pride of a peacock, the royal prince stood up.

Dusting the non-existent specks off his cuffs, he said, "And to meet the divine healer. Or should I say..." He leaned forward, grinning like a cat who’d caught the scent of blood.

"The divine killer, no?"