The thin lips parted to let out a single word. "Noisy."
Georgie Maximus, who was just about to spiral into a bolt of anguished screams, hastily slapped a hand over his mouth.
His tear-filled eyes locked on the silver sword inching ever closer. He was certain that if he made another sound, he’d lose his tongue too.
Savages. Nothing but bloody savages! Monsters who deserved to be stoned to death! He roared internally, biting his lip to bear the pain spreading from his hand like wildfire.
"Tell your master that I am in a good mood today. So, I will forgive his insolence. And next time you need help, learn how to beg for it properly."
Darius didn’t spare the royal minister or his trembling servants another glance. He stepped past them with indifference.
If it weren’t for the sacred law forbidding harm to emissaries, he would have silenced this noisy idiot long ago.
Ray flashed all his teeth in a dazzling smile aimed at the envoy. Even his golden hair seemed to glimmer under the court lighting. Watching this snobbish person in this state made his breathing easier.
"Good day, Mr. Maximus," he greeted with a proper salute. "Have a nice journey back."
Then, without waiting for the reply, he stepped over the small puddle of blood on the polished floor and followed after Darius.
If eyes could kill, Ray would’ve dropped dead instantly. Georgie’s glare was aflame with rage, but he still kept his mouth clamped shut, terrified of what might happen if he made another peep.
He didn’t have the courage to provoke this devil anymore.
The said devil was exhausted by the king’s endless attempts to suppress them. That was why Darius had quietly begun stockpiling grains and dried rations a few months ago, though not many ministers were aware of it.
But even if he managed to prepare for this year... what about the next? And the one after that?
Breaking off completely from the capital would spell disaster if not done with precision and with backup.
As for the purified crystals—if he bowed his head now and handed them over, it would become an eternal precedent. A tradition that the North would have to follow from then on. And that was something he would never allow.
There was so much to deal in the royal court. Yet even amidst all this, the royal family had the audacity to try forcing some noble lady on him.
Did they think he was a fool? That he’d let a spy into his homelands again?
That fake saintess was already his limit.
Thinking of the royal decree and its arrogance, Darius’s mood darkened further. The cold aura surrounding him deepened until the very air turned heavy.
The ministers trailing behind him swallowed hard. None dared speak. All they wanted was to get out of the courtroom alive without any more surprises. Please, goddess, no more chaos.
Just as the massive courtroom doors opened and the sunlight beyond, shone like salvation on them, they heard it.
The loud thumping of feet falling on the floor. Someone was actually running through the hallway!
Which idiot is so eager to meet the King of the Underworld? they all thought in sync, necks craning toward the sound.
Darius paused after crossing the threshold. His dark eyes narrowed toward the commotion. But then, the moment he caught sight of the figure charging toward him, his furrowed brows shot up in surprise.
The gloom in his expression melted like frost under the sun, replaced by unmistakable tenderness.
Xion came flying down the hall, a wide grin splitting his face. He barreled toward the Archduke, completely oblivious to the stunned, horrified expressions of the nobles behind his lover.
Well, technically, it was Darius’ fault for looking so handsome that he couldn’t tear his gaze away.
So, silly Xion was actually innocent this time.
However, the people who heard his call didn’t think so.
Which cursed thing was it who dared to call His Grace by his name?!
Was it an enemy? An assassination attempt? A runaway criminal from the dungeons? If anything went wrong, someone was going to lose their head. Possibly several at once!
The castle’s security minister felt his legs wobble, cold sweat soaked through his robes. His entire body shivered as air swished past him.
Only Raymond Eldritch, whom everyone expected to jump in front of their lord, was silently standing at the side, staring at the criminal running in their direction with a goofy smile.
Xion skidded mid-run, nearly crashing, but before he could fall, he was caught in a familiar embrace.
Big blue eyes, wide with excitement, stared up at Darius. A lovely pink blush dusted his cheeks from the run, making him look like a sweet, sugary pastry.
Darius let his lips curl slightly, his tongue licked over the sharp canine. "Why is my baby running in the cold?"
"Oh, Darius," Xion said breathlessly—and that voice, that tone, was far too reminiscent of how he had moaned Darius’ name last night.
This silly kitten had spent nearly thirty hours locked in the lab, tirelessly working on the antidote. If it wasn’t for the system’s reminding him to drink the nutritional solution he might have fainted.
Ah, he really ended up losing consciousness later. When he woke after a few hours of rest, he panicked.
However, just as he stepped back inside the room, there were no traces of anyone entering the room.
It should be around four hours in the real world, so why was Darius still not back?
Instead of waiting anymore, he used the system’s map and dashed straight here. The silly kitten was far too eager to share his good news to consider the consequences of disrupting the court in session.
Even now, standing outside the room full of horrified witnesses, Xion didn’t notice a thing out of place.
"The antidote is ready!" he declared proudly. "We can save all the sick people now!"
And without hesitation, he grabbed the Archduke’s collar, yanked him down, and planted a loud, exaggerated kiss on his cheek.
Then, with sparkling eyes, he looked up and asked, "Am I awesome or am I awesome?"