[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 324: Giving Gift Gone Wrong

A gold chain decorated soft raven-black hair, a single blood-red bead dangling on his pale forehead. The stark contrast made his face look even more delicate—almost ethereal.

Not that he was in the mood to appreciate it.

Xion glared at the length of the red silken rope as if it had personally insulted him.

"This looked easier in the system preview," he muttered, twisting his arms into a second failed knot. Somehow, both his elbows ended up behind his back, his wrists caught in a loop that refused to budge.

[Host, I did say left over right—not around your thigh.]

"Why would I tie my thigh?!" he hissed.

[You tell me. You’re the one trying to cosplay as a sacrificial virgin offering to your lord.]

Xion, "..."

Sweat beaded at his temple as he struggled to get rid of the ribbon, but his movements seemed to further tighten it.

Not to mention that he was having trouble with his dress as well. The purple silken robe was full of shiny jewels and gold chains that clung to his frame.

As he moved to get rid of the restraints, the bells tied at his ankles jingled softly.

Though the system had generously gifted the outfit without asking for merit points, Xion felt... conflicted the moment he put it on.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t worn swimming shorts before. So, showing skin was fine. But this robe was designed to amplify the charm of wearer’s body in an innocent way. freёnovelkiss-com

Or at least, that was what the system had said before forcing him to change.

The artful layering of sheer silk both obscured and exposed him in equal measure.

But instead of looking elegant as planned, the nearly transparent fabric clinging to his stomach and thighs made him resemble a seductive boy toy.

[You look good, host. Trust me and use that ribbon. I bet your lover will fall for you all over again.]

Xion hesitated before proceeding with the red ribbon. It wasn’t like he could switch it.

Due to buying two destructive weapons just after their probation period, the system was forced to go offline. And even now, his Merit points were blocked.

He had no idea when he would be able to buy things again.

The good thing was that the plague was being dealt with and there was no need to worry about anything for now.

So, taking a deep breath, he tried to make a simple bow on his wrists only to be interrupted by the system’s instructions.

[No, Host! Now loop under—no, not that—why are you bending your knee again?! You are ruining the back!]

What back? There wasn’t even one to begin with. Thin golden chains held the fabric together from slipping off his shoulders. The cold air kissing his bare skin made him shiver and yet he persisted.

He’d spent ten minutes trying to pose like those suggestive AI-generated models and now looked more like a very confused spider in lingerie.

’This is impossible. I can’t do it.’

Just when he was about to give up, and change his clothes back to normal ones, the door creaked.

His heart thudded loudly in his chest, warning him.

The dress and chains had taken all his attention that he didn’t even notice the time!

Without thinking much, he wiggled under the covers, desperately trying to hide himself.

However, even after kicking the duvet in a frenzy, his bare feet didn’t quite make it under the covers before the door fully opened.

He curled into himself, only letting his big eyes peek at the tall figure standing at the doorway.

None of them spoke for what might either be a couple of seconds or minutes. Xion couldn’t tell.

Then, in one swift motion, he buried his head and feet completely into the makeshift duvet burrow. He was now just a trembling lump of silk and shame.

[Alright, Host. My work here is done. Remember the word I taught you, okay?]

’Shut up!’

It was all because he listened to the gibberish of this system, and ended up in such an awkward situation.

What am I going to tell Darius?

[Oh no... I’m being abandoned. Just like every tragic helper AI. Humans discard what they’re done with. I’m so sad.] It sobbed pitifully.

Before Xion could respond, it added with a cheerful tone, all the sadness gone. [I’ll leave before they send me to the Black Room. I don’t want to watch educational videos. Good luck~]

Xion, "..." Come back and I promise I won’t beat you to death!

But his focus was pulled back by the slow footsteps approaching the bed.

"Xion?" Darius asked after hesitating. "Why are you hiding?"

Xion didn’t reply. His entire body had gone stiff under the covers. Maybe if he didn’t move, Darius would think of it as a little hill of pillows and sheets.

It sounded absurd even to his desperate mind.

"I-I am sleeping."

Xion wanted to facepalm himself right then and there.

The bed beside him dipped and a weight settled over him. Darius was patting his back.

"Really sleeping?" There was a slight hint of amusement in Darius’ words, something which had been missing for so long. "Then I suppose you won’t mind if I lift this duvet and take a good look at what kind of dreams you’re having."

Xion curled up tighter, making a strangled noise somewhere between a whimper and a threat.

Darius chuckled softly. "No objections? That doesn’t sound very asleep to me."

Xion held his breath until he felt a hand sneak beneath the covers. The moment those fingers brushed his ankle, he jolted like a startled cat.

"Stop! Let me explain!"

Darius obeyed as he always had, and as he always would.

So, when Xion slowly peeled the duvet down to reveal his face, he wasn’t surprised to find Darius smiling. That quiet, dishonest smile had always made Xion forget how to be embarrassed.

It gave him enough courage to speak.

"Umm... You see, I wanted to give you a gift. And someone told me I should, uh, dress up a bit."

Darius was lounging beside him, one arm tucked beneath his head, the other resting easily between them.

He looked devastatingly relaxed—barefoot, with silver hair cascading on the white sheet, green eyes dark and hooded with unreadable warmth.

His long fingers reached over to nudge the gold chain in black hair, straightening the blood-red bead that had slipped to the side.

"And then?" he asked, his voice low and languid, laced with a lazy kind of warmth that accidentally dripped with unintentional, yet maddening sensuality.

Even through the blur of flickering shadows, Xion could sense that gentleness. That dangerous, unwavering care that made it hard to think straight.

If Darius told him to drink poison in that tone, silly Xion might have done it. Not out of devotion. But because he’d be too drunk on that voice, that warmth, to even register the words.

Damn me, the kitten thought helplessly. And damn that voice.

What else could Xion do... but surrender?

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