[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 275: The Royal Decree

The vast courtyard outside the main courtroom was silent.

Not that it was usually loud. But there were always a few muffled voices of the ministers, walking down the yard’s big garden, discussing the welfare of the people or the strategies to bring their enemies to their knees.

Now, there was nothing. Not even the wind dared whisper.

Ray could hear his own footsteps colliding against the wooden bridge as he crossed the nearly frozen pond.

Just ahead stood the grand courtroom doors, flanked by guards and vassals alike, all stiff, unmoving. Not a single breath was out of place.

As he approached, many nervous eyes turned to him. Then, as if on cue, they bowed and mouthed silently, "Knight Commander."

Even their greeting didn’t carry a sound. That alone was enough to tell how bad His Grace’s mood must be.

Then again, the letter that arrived this morning had shattered the fragile peace they’d fought so hard to maintain over the years.

No matter how superficial, no one dared to poke the Archduke—especially this Archduke, who had severed most of his ties with the royal court the moment he’d taken power.

And yet... Thinking about the contents of the letter, Ray shrugged his shoulders. The old crown was really poking its crooked nose where it didn’t belong.

Unlike the ministers, who were still shrinking away like whipped dogs, Ray stepped forward and knocked firmly on the door.

Might as well get it over with. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

If he was going to be scolded, better to do it fast. What was the point of dawdling? Hiding wouldn’t win him any mercy.

From the ministers’ eyes, he must have looked like a brave hero marching to his noble death. The glint of hope in their eyes was practically overflowing with gratitude.

Ray’s lips twitched. Without saying another word, he stepped through the now-open doors.

The inside of the hall was deathly silent.

The few ministers present were standing stiffly, trying hard to blend into the dark walls.

Even the maids didn’t dare breathe too loudly, at least not if they wanted to avoid the brunt of their sovereign’s wrath.

Ray bowed before the majestic throne, carved from the bones of an ancient beast.

It was said that the beast had been so massive it almost wiped out the entire army of the second-generation Archduke during a royal hunt.

The white, eerie hue of the bones strangely complemented the oppressive darkness of the courtroom.

The massive white jaw curved over the back of the throne like a crown of death—glistening pale against the pitch-black of the courtroom. But even that wasn’t the most frightening thing in the room.

That honor belonged to the man who sat on the throne.

The sovereign of the North.

Draped in crimson attire, skin pale as frost, and with a crown braid no hand dared touch. No one was allowed near His Grace let alone his hair.

Everyone was aware of the rules. Yet the fact that he wore it styled today...

It was like seeing a sword drawn before the battle had even begun.

And then there was the letter.

Then their eyes flicked to the royal decree lay open on the stone pedestal beside the throne. Blue silk inked with golden characters had arrived with ceremonial fanfare.

The imperial letter announced that the emperor, impressed by the Archduke’s service and unwavering loyalty, had decided to reward him.

By gifting him a princess.

A princess!

Everyone in the hall knew of Lord Xion. The genius healer and a supposed being blessed by goddess Myrthia.

They weren’t sure about the blessing part, but this youngster was the pearl of His Grace’s eyes.

Because of lord Xion, no one had the guts to talk about concubines in recent years. The fate of those who dared was warning enough to keep every mouth shut.

And now, after Lord Xion had finally returned... there was suddenly a concubine?

Ah, no—not a concubine. A main wife.

Because Lord Xion and the Archduke weren’t even officially married!

Sure, there were rumors that they were husbands, but clearly, the crown hadn’t taken that seriously.

It was written plainly in the letter: the imperial court hoped that the Archduke’s first wedding would be grand, and had blessed His Grace with wishes for a long, happy life with many children.

Honestly, that wasn’t what most of them cared about.

What really sent a chill through the ministers was the second half of the letter.

The part that delicately outlined the difficulties faced by the capital city, and its increasing inability to sustain itself without the help of purified mana crystals.

They were willing to trade a few tons of grains for it. The grains were of inferior quality. That was how it had been for years until they started buying high-quality ones from the special channel of merchants.

According to the style of the court, and the fact that they had been unable to buy the grains for almost two months now, the situation was worrying.

In short, the delicate letter was a threat wrapped in polite language. They wanted the North to hand over their crystals for free.

Ray, angry at the greed of the royals for trying to leech off the North, waited in silence, kneeling with his head bowed.

After what felt like an eternity of ice settling into his bones—though it had only been a few seconds—a cold voice echoed from the throne.

"Rise."

And so he did.

Ray hesitated only a moment before delivering the words.

"Your Grace, they want you to take Princess Bianca Nocturne as your main wife. And... they expect us to offer a ’gratitude’ in return."

That wasn’t all.

The crown was shameless enough to ask for a thousand soldiers from the Northern army to serve as a supportive unit for the royal guard.

If he hadn’t led his team to the imperial hunting grounds. If they hadn’t crossed paths with the royal commander. If they hadn’t won that damned hunting match, outclassing the imperial forces on their own turf...

Then perhaps none of this would’ve happened.

Who would have thought his careless showoff would result in such a mess?