CHAPTER 351: THE STROLL

The quiet of the afternoon draped the castle halls in a strange, almost sacred stillness.

Xion strolled the corridor at a leisurely pace, his fingers idly grazing the cold stone walls as he walked, feeling the faint chill seep into his skin.

It wasn’t often he found time to simply wander about without Darius’ company. The Archduke had started to hover over him more.

Darius now found the time to come back for lunch — something he’d never done before.

Xion was surprised. With the hunting going on, he was aware of how busy Darius must be.

Along with the long list of people to be invited, there were the trading routes of the neighboring countries that they had been discussing to open for the Northern borders.

So, Xion hadn’t expected Darius to start showing up for dinner earlier.

"We need to eat on time. That’s what you always preach to me on."

Xion had laughed at that. He had indeed been preaching to Darius to eat on time and sleep more. Though it mostly went on and off.

The Archduke would eat, but the timing would shift for hours.

Now, for some reason beyond Xion’s mind, Darius was always on time as if racing with the clock.

’What an adorable elf.’ He couldn’t suppress the smile spreading on his lips.

[Only you would say that.]

Xion ignored the sarcasm dripping from the system’s voice and focused on the delicately crafted patterns around him.

Silence.

This side of the wing had always been silent, so still it sometimes seemed as though time itself dared not disturb what these walls had witnessed.

The time when little Darius had quarrelled fiercely with Ray right here, or the later years when the older Darius had finally taken control over the place.

Everything seemed to be ensnared here for some reason.

Those thoughts inevitably led Xion to think of the other side of the castle. The Archduke’s own wing.

It still felt strange that Darius had chosen to stay here, in these rather modest

chambers.

Though Xion didn’t find them modest at all.

Even after their marriage, he’d never moved them to the main room that tradition dictated they should occupy.

There had been rumors about it too.

Xion had heard it more than once that he was being kept on this side because there might be another wife of the Archduke waiting to claim those chambers one day.

The servants could be cruel like that, especially those who were working in other wings of the castle.

Funnily, he’d always found such insinuations absurd.

He didn’t feel anger—not even a trace of bitterness—towards Darius for it.

Before he had even realized it, Darius had carved out such a place in his heart that Xion simply... believed in him.

He knew Darius would never let him down. Ah, there was another person like that. His little brother.

The clingy Noxian had been clamoring in his ears for hours, begging him to come out and visit the market, or perhaps wander into the city to see the spectacles there.

But Xion simply hadn’t had the energy to leave his little nest.

In the end, it was Serena who had come to his rescue and dragged Noxian out by the arm.

Scolding Noxian good-naturedly, she had paused just long enough to pat Xion’s hair in a gentle touch.

Even now, he could still feel that lingering warmth on his head.

Like the greedy person he was, he hadn’t even combed his hair, just to keep the sensation lingering a little longer.

With his tousled hair, he walked forward.

Soft footsteps echoed faintly as he wandered aimlessly until he found himself standing before a pair of closed doors flanking both sides of the hallway.

Most of them were empty, while some were being used for storing old treasures and trinkets like their wedding gifts.

After what had happened to him a few weeks ago, Darius had strictly forbidden him from touching any unidentified objects.

Not that he wanted to. But it was still a pity to destroy such a delicate lotus flower.

[Yes, you could have given it to me, host. Such a waste.]

The system clicked in annoyance.

’You want me to faint again?’ he shot back. One time was enough. He had no desire to wake up in the same place as Caspian Hale.

The system, as always, was quick to defend itself.

[How can you say that?! I have always prioritized your health above all. And it was only the wooden box that was contaminated—not the gift inside.]

Xion only shook his head at the grouchy grumble. Yet a soft smile curled on his lips.

Of course, the system prioritized him. But he knew it wasn’t purely out of concern. It had its own reasons.

If he died, the system would be forced to return to the upper realm, or whatever it was called, and start all over again with a new host.

Wasn’t everyone like that? No one invested so much time and energy into another person without expecting something in return.

But then... there was Darius.

That thought alone was enough to pacify him.

Darius had baffled him more than once. Still did.

Why is he so... consumed by me?

Xion wasn’t so naive that he couldn’t see it. He was slow sometimes, maybe even gullible at points—but not stupid.

The possessiveness in Darius’ actions was impossible to miss now.

’Is it a good thing or not? I’m not sure anymore,’ he muttered under his breath.

The system, naturally, had little patience for his doubts.

[Why is it a bad thing?] it said, clearly unable to fathom why anyone would turn their nose up at such power and wealth.

[Is the money not enough? Should we go on a treasure hunt, then?]

A soft laughter echoed in the hallway as he inched closer to the biggest room tucked at the far corner.

He really couldn’t decide anymore whether to scold his greedy system... or simply let it be.

’Yeah,’ he said with a teasing smile. ’Let’s go on a treasure hunt, but you won’t get anything from it.’

[Hey! That’s cheating!]

Ignoring the shrill voice ringing in his ears, Xion placed his hand on the door.

Just as he was about to push them, the guard who had been hidden until now sprang in front of him.

"Your Grace," the guard dressed in special armor, only allotted to the elite soldiers, bowed. "Please forgive me for my rudeness, but you can not enter."

Xion raised his brow. Was this a secret base or something?

[Host, I think we should check inside. What if there is some secret? Like the memories of the hidden first love of the Archduke?]

The system had been reading danmei from different words. Almost every novel had that kind of plot where the first crush of the male lead would come and disrupt the peace of the main couple.

Although, at the end, it was to push the two leads together, the system didn’t want its host to suffer at all.

[If it is a fake alarm, that is good, but just in case, we should be prepared, you know.]

For a second, Xion couldn’t decide if he should laugh or scold his system for its exaggeration. Prepare for what, exactly? Divorce?

Even if by some means Xion did feel like divorcing, he doubted Darius would really agree with him.

"Why?"

His question was directed at the guard. The tall young man looked a bit like Ray, but a mature version.

"I am afraid this is something I can not answer, Your Grace." The guard looked at Xion’s face before flicking toward the tightly shut doors. "It is an order from the Archduke."

Xion looked at the door and then at the knight. Normally, he would have let it go, but the system’s voice kept ringing in his ears like a siren luring him to commit crimes.

[Come on, host, don’t be a coward.]

"I will talk to Darius later. No one will blame you for not stopping me."

When he called the Archduke’s name with such familiarity, the guard hesitated before stepping aside.

Perhaps, he too was infected with the same energy as his system. When Xion pushed the wooden doors, his heart gave a little stutter.

They swung inward on silent hinges, revealing darkness.

The guard didn’t follow him. He didn’t even dare to take a look inside before shutting the doors behind Xion.

The low thud resounded in the room before the crystals flared to life, illuminating the huge room from all corners.

Xion stepped deeper, his gaze scanning the almost empty place.

The air was cool and faintly scented with something sweet. It was familiar, yet distant, like flowers pressed between the pages of a book.

[It is your body lotion.]

Xion’s lips twitched. ’Can you not ruin the atmosphere? I am trying to look around.’

[Oh...]

There was no more sound from the system until Xion walked up to the farthest wall and yanked the huge cloth covering the wall down.

His blue eyes widened into perfect circles in utter shock.