[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 342: The Late Night Visit

The night market, which the system had described to Xion, was actually more dazzling than he had assumed.

He knew this side of the North, being closer to the Darkhelm Castle, had privileges that other sides didn’t.

If nothing else, the rowdiness was quite similar to Myrthiana, the royal capital.

Even though he was prepared, the intense cheering, the fire-lit stalls, and the loud shouts of hagglers still startled him.

His attention was soon taken away by the view.

Lanterns glowed as if they were miniature suns strung across the sky, bathing the streets in warm, golden hues. The air was filled with the scent of roasted meats and spices.

There were even game stalls, like those for shooting targets.

Darius, on the other hand, had no interest in the night market. None at all.

His entire focus was on the hyper kitten beside him. Wide blue eyes glowed with awe, darting from one stall to the next like he had discovered a new world.

It was rare to see Xion so excited after he lost his eyesight.

He was well aware that what he was seeing was far different than what Xion saw. Perhaps he couldn’t even properly make out what was being sold at the stalls.

"They are trading bracelets made from crystals for money or even food. And the left ones are rings."

Grabbing the delicate hand, Darius led Xion all the way, constantly naming items with such seriousness that it sounded like he was discussing national affairs.

Listening to the baritone voice near his ear, Xion’s lips curled up ever so slightly. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"They hunt during the day and come here to sell the meat," Darius explained, keeping their hoods drawn low.

If anyone recognized them, the scene would turn chaotic. The enchanted hoods kept them safe all the way.

Safety was important after all. Even for all the living beings surrounding them.

Precisely because of that, most people wouldn’t dare to enter the forests during the night. Hunting was reserved for the hours of sunlight. That left little time to sell the prey before the sun dipped below the horizon.

Hence, anyone who wanted to sell or buy the fresh meat would flock to these special markets.

Every night was like a lively occasion, except on nights when the snowfall became too heavy.

Darius, who had grown up watching all of this, found it bland. Only the radiating person beside him held his attention.

With a protective hand around Xion’s shoulders, he led him to a special restaurant.

The owner greeted them with utmost respect, which made Xion suspect their identities weren’t entirely concealed.

But it might be due to the heavy gold coin Darius flicked onto the counter that bought them this kind of consideration.

Soon, they were escorted upstairs to a private room with a wide window view. From here, Xion could take in the full beauty of the market’s shimmer and buzz without being disturbed.

"It looks so pretty, right?" Xion leaned out slightly.

His wide eyes reflected the yellow lights glowing at every stall below. They blurred into the smudges of color like a painting with water running in all directions.

It was messy, but beautiful nonetheless.

In an attempt to take a better look, Xion’s body was nearly hanging out of the window.

Darius hummed. Though his gaze was fixed not on the view, but on the man who made every second worth living.

As the night deepened, so did the noise on the streets. Xion couldn’t see the crowd clearly anymore, but he could hear bits of lively conversation.

The conversation was innocent enough, starting from which spices to buy to which meat was good, until Xion heard the familiar name.

"Did you hear? The Archduke hunted a beast for his lover!"

Xion raised a brow and turned to Darius. Resting his chin on his palm, he leaned forward on the wooden table. "You did that? When?"

Darius didn’t meet his eyes. "Nothing important."

Xion was never someone who was fond of shedding blood. He wanted to keep it that way. He could sock his entire being in crimson if that meant to keep his Xion away from any stain.

Just then, a few more voices chimed in.

"I’ve heard His Grace’s partner is an unparalleled beauty blessed by the goddess. Is it true?" Someone asked.

"Yeah, I went there with my master. His Grace, Xion, has black hair as dark as the night."

There were more murmurs before someone said with disdain.

"What do you know?" The young man had his hands on his hips as he announced loudly. "Don’t just look at the color. His Grace is the best healer in the world, and he can even kill people with a snap of his finger."

"Really? But I’ve seen him. He looked a bit..." The person found it awkward to voice his thoughts aloud. But it was true that Xion, with his slender frame, looked like a weak kitten.

"I’ve seen it with my own eyes! He was so generous to let someone like me travel with him. His Grace even gave me his own food to eat."

"John, is it true? Our new lord is that strong and generous?"

John, who still had his hands on his hips, snorted. With a haughty smile, he replied, "Or else? His Grace killed all those assassins like they were nothing but pieces of radish."

Xion pointed a finger at himself while staring at the person sitting opposite him in utter disbelief.

He was silently asking if they were really talking about him or not. Why didn’t he know he was so famous?

Darius couldn’t help but chuckle. "That’s the guy you allowed to travel with you when you entered the border."

"Ah," Xion finally recalled the shivering man who was sticking to the wall.

And now his voice was so loud that it was booming even on the upper floors.

"So... I’m actually super strong?"

"Yes, Xion. You are."

Darius doubted there would be anyone who could smile like that after losing their eyes. To Xion, losing his eyes meant losing his entire ambition.