[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 420

Chapter 420: The Best Season To Attack the North

The best seasons to attack the northern border were winter and early spring.

During the winter, the common people would often close their city gates and stay in their homes.

It was far too risky to go out hunting, and even more terrible if they accidentally got injured. And if somehow they managed to survive that, frostbite was the silent killer.

Precisely because of this, the women tended to get pregnant during these times.

The moment the early spring arrived, they would be quick to leave their homes to search for work and hoard food for the next winter.

The cattle, sheep, and even the beasts were famished during this time. It left them in a weakened state.

The horses were too weak to even run. If this war were somehow prolonged until spring, it would only bring more disaster.

Famished, weak, and enraged, they were the perfect blend for internal riots.

If Darius hadn’t prepared for warm clothes and food in advance, the situation would have been much worse already.

Considering that Darius had to personally leave for the borders, Xion didn’t find it reassuring.

If only his system were there, he could have used the map to track the enemies.

"How confident are you in winning the battle?" Xion suddenly asked.

"About 85%."

With Darius’ lowered gaze, it was hard for Xion to see what kind of emotions were swirling in those eyes.

"I am coming with you."

Before Darius could begin to argue, Xion pinched Darius’ cheek in anger.

"Stop treating me like some fragile glass. I am not that weak anymore, nor am I a coward. I also want to do something for this place."

Darius’ eyes hardened, though his thumb still stroked his wrist as if to soothe him. "You are fragile, Xion. You nearly died. I won’t risk that again."

The words stung more than any wound. Xion ripped his hand free, anger rising like fire in his chest.

"I healed! I fought to stand on my own two feet again. Don’t you dare dismiss me as weak and go there to fight alone."

"You don’t understand," Darius growled, voice slipping from calm to raw. "Silas isn’t after the border. He’s after you. Every soldier knows it. That’s why they’re tense. That’s why they panic."

"I know," Xion felt rage bubbling inside him like lava. "Isn’t that the whole issue here? He wants me, and I want to deal with him personally."

"You’re his excuse," Darius spat, his grip tightened on the thin wrist.

"Talia failed to destroy you, so he wants to do it himself. If you step onto that battlefield, he’ll tear through entire armies just to get to you."

The Archduke’s breathing had gotten heavier. "Why do you think he is so obsessed with killing you? Because you are the only reason for me to stay sane, Xion. You are my reason to live!"

Xion blinked, caught between fury and something that twisted deeper. Darius’ breath was hot against his cheek, his grip trembling though he tried to hide it.

And yet Xion pushed back against his chest.

"Three? Wasn’t it two?"

Noxian shook his head. "No. We were just keeping it from you because of your health. When you lost your eyes, the army was at our border. Silas had only arrived five weeks ago."

Xion didn’t say anything. He had been kept in the dark for so long. Perhaps that was why Bianca looked so drained when she returned.

"Brother, let me get this straight. Can you kill innocent people?"

"What?" Xion was startled. "Why would I kill innocents? What the hell is happening at the border?"

"Exactly that." Noxian sheathed his sword before picking up the dagger to polish it.

"For some absurd reason, people have been acting strangely. They would attack the soldiers, bite them to death. The one who survived got sick. Terribly sick, and no matter how Uncle Bard tries, he hasn’t found any cure to save them."

Bard was one of the best healers Xion knew. He had personally trained Bard, though him the things that sounded too far-fetched and even ridiculous for this age.

If even he couldn’t figure it out, that only proved one thing.

Xion needed to leave for the borders as soon as possible.

"The worst? They’re not strangers, brother. They are just normal people who had no idea what they were doing. Even after being interrogated, we found nothing. And now... There is only one option."

The option that everyone knew Xion wasn’t capable of doing.

"No matter how innocent they are, we have to kill them."