Chapter 419: What’s Wrong at the Border?
The higher places were both lofty and cold.
Xion had never liked the cold, yet with time he understood he was bound to remain in it.
It wasn’t just the snow drifting outside the window that made him think so, but also the behavior of the people around him.
Regardless of whether they were his former students, friends, or even someone he was accustomed to joking with, they had begun to maintain a respectful distance from him.
Bard, old man Berry, Allen, and even Ray, all of them would carefully ponder over their words before answering him, fearing that they would offend him.
Only Noxian still clung to him, still called him ’brother’ without any restraint.
Xion, on the other hand, had become a name reserved solely for Darius to call.
Even Bard no longer addressed him as ’young lord,’ as he used to do back in Faymere, but as ’His Grace.’
"If you continue to joke with them, they’ll treat you as their friend, Xion. And that would blur the boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed."
Darius had his arms wrapped around him as they admired the rare starry sky.
Months had passed since they’d last shared such stillness.
Xion couldn’t blame Darius. There was far too much to organize.
Letters arrived daily from neighboring territories, and Xion had assumed they must be for the delayed Winter Ball.
Darius had decided to delay it until the end of the year. And yet they still could find where Michael.
Xion had continued to think that it was all because they couldn’t get anywhere with their search until a few days ago.
The panic on a guard’s face was far too clear, even if they quickly masked it before greeting him with a stiff bow.
It was unnerving.
"Don’t you feel lonely? Like, ever? They treat you with so much respect... and fear. Even Ray is afraid of you."
Darius’ arms tightened around his small bundle of joy. He kissed Xion’s cheek, lips curving in a smile that Xion could feel against his skin.
"Why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong?"
"Not at all, my love. But how could I ever be lonely, when I have you?"
So... was all of human connection meaningless compared to what they shared?
Xion snorted. "Sweet tongue."
"I don’t know. How about you taste and confirm it?" Darius had buried his head in the crook of his neck. Hands slid under his shirt, cold fingers tracing his stomach.
It took nearly three months for some flesh to grow back on his body.
And now Darius’ close confidants were aware of his good health.
The news somehow brought a new wave of joy to their eyes, which Xion found weird.
Why were they so glad?
While Xion contemplated, Darius didn’t stop his wandering hand, and soon they traveled up.
Xion yelped, smacking it away. "Hey! Stop it!"
The Archduke chuckled low, utterly unrepentant. "Ah, but I rather like hearing that sound from you."
"Pervert." Xion buried his red face in the furs.
The Archduke hummed in agreement, pulling him close until no draft could slip between them.
Darius just couldn’t keep his hands to himself when Xion was so close.
He just couldn’t. Not when this was the first time he finally held Xion in his arms after weeks.
Xion hesitated, then finally asked, "What’s wrong at the border?"
The wandering hand stilled before a sigh brushed his ear.
"Nothing. Just... a few tribes making trouble."
"Taking care of tribes doesn’t send soldiers into panic. Nor does it keep you this busy. Be good, Darius. Tell me, or I’ll get angry."
This time, he was serious. He didn’t want to be left in the dark anymore.
Xion was silly and even slow to comprehend the situation.
However, that didn’t mean he didn’t feel the ominous aura covering the entire castle.
The hallways were filled with more guards than before.
"...It’s Silas."
The name made Xion bite his lip. "Why? Why now? We didn’t harm him or the nobles that support him."
Then it struck him — Zen.
Yet it had taken so long to affect him and Darius, and only to a degree where they ended up having a fight.
Keeping that in mind, Xion had assumed Zen would take real effect after months, or maybe even a year.
In the meantime, Silas making mistakes was expected. But a direct invasion? That wasn’t in the plan.
"...He’s just mad."
"Darius," Xion turned his body so his legs were now on the side. In this position, he could properly look at those pale green eyes. "You’re still hiding something. Spill it."
A brief silence only made Xion’s heart jolt.
"...It’s me. Isn’t it? I’m the reason."
The Archduke seized him, hand still beneath his shirt, palm soothing along his spine.
"It isn’t your fault, Xion. Never was. Talia tried to harm you and others. You fought for your life. Whatever story Silas spins, that remains the truth."
"I sent Zen to him," Xion whispered. "I thought... Gods, what have I done?"
"Silas attacked us first. We’re merely retaliating. And you don’t have to worry. Nikolai is at the front. With his rank and our strength, Silas can’t win."
But Xion wasn’t naïve enough to believe so easily.
Silas Valaris might fall, but war still burned, and the longer it dragged on, the more lives it would consume.
This attack wasn’t just a simple raid. It was an invasion with a trained army, something that would have killed many people already.
No wonder the warriors had looked so relieved when they realized his sight had returned.
With war came injuries, and they needed healers on the war front.
"I’ll be leaving in two days for the border, Xion. I want you to take my place until I return."
Xion laughed. A mocking laughter that made Darius’ grip tighten on the healer. "So this was why I haven’t seen you for weeks. You were preparing to leave me behind all along."