Claimed by the deranged Archduke of the North

Plan to run away

Xion felt his legs aching again. This was another problem he had to bear. A 24-year-old Xion was freshly graduated from college.

Despite being used to hunger and beatings, he was blessed with a healthy body unlike now.

He glanced at his legs which looked too white even for his own eyes. The tender fairness irked him. He was a healthy male, and now he had become a tender little chicken.

Xion tsked. He was a medical student so he was used to sitting for longer spans of time to study. However, now, whenever he took more than a few steps his new legs would start aching.

There was something wrong with his body and his dear dad did not even bother to send in a doctor.

The little Xion was happy to find his father. He thought he would not have to starve in the orphanage.

Just because of this saving grace, little Xion had listened to every order, every command of his father, Marquis Roberto Vaelis.

Little Xion even hid all the scars he got from Soren, for he did not want to bother his father.

How could the adult Xion not see that the Marquis had been keeping little Xion as a useful pawn?

If there was something that was in his favor, it was the intact memories of little Xion, still alive in his mind.

The original Xion was very afraid of people. He stayed in the wooden shed when the banquet was in full swing. He would satisfy his hunger by eating the apples hanging from the nearby tree.

Something happened on the third and the last night of the banquet. Some dignitary was poisoned in the middle of the night, and the whole Marquis mansion was in uproar.

They checked every nook and cranny for the culprit. It was at that time, that the soldiers burst into the wooden shed. They dragged the poor Xion in front of everyone.

The already dizzy Xion almost fainted from all the pushing and pulling.

Marquis Roberto Vaelis hastily stepped forward to save him, and the poor Xion felt that his father was a very good man.

Due to the intense interrogation that followed him, little Xion fell sick. It took him almost a week to recover from the fever.

Another day passed peacefully, until the doll like boy turned sixteen. Instead of receiving any gift from his respected dad, he, himself, was given as a gift to the child of Viscount Hale, Caspian Hale.

Caspian Hale being the supporter of the future crown prince, could get away with almost anything, including his nasty hobbies.

Marquis knew well about the sadistic tendencies Caspian had for the pretty faces.

Time seemed to be in Marquis Roberto's favor when the soldiers dragged the poor Xion out of the shed only for Caspian Hale to take a liking to his sick paler face.

Then the real hell started for little Xion. After being physically and mentally tortured by Caspion for almost a month, little Xion committed suicide.

Stay away from the wooden shed.

Stay away from the people in the banquet.

Run away while Marquis Mansion is busy with the banquet.

These were the three goals Xion had set for himself.

He got up from the bed, slowly dragging his body out of the broken shed. The moment the warm sunlight hit his face, Xion felt his stiff muscles loosening in comfort.

A tremor ran through his body, reminding him that he was still dripping wet. Xion bent down to pick a sturdy-looking long branch from the ground.

It must have fallen from the trees surrounding the broken shed. With the new support, he slowly made his way toward the back door of the mansion.

Eli gasped when she looked at him. The freckled lady in her late teens hurriedly brought him a warm blanket which he was grateful for.

This was one of the maids who helped Xion. If not for these good-hearted people, Xion might have died long ago.

"You... Was it the eldest young master?" Eli asked while helping the trembling boy up the stairs.

Xion did not speak. He did not need to. Both of them knew that there was only the eldest young master at home, who could do this.

The second young master and his twin sister were both away at the moment due to their classes. They were supposed to arrive in the evening.

If Soren had a twisted desire for his body, the twin brother and sister straight out hated him. They did not have thoughts like Soren which actually made Xion's life a little easier.

The twins would shout at him whenever they saw him wandering around. As long as little Xion was careful not to be seen by them he was fine.

Even the beatings he received from the twins were less painful than the mind games Soren played.

Soren liked to watch little Xion struggle to escape from his grasp. More miserable Xion, more happy Soren.

The servants followed the lead of their lovable eldest young master and there was nothing good for the little boy in this entire mansion.

While Xion recalled these things and sighed, Eli helped him into the room. She secretly placed a basket inside before closing the door.

Xion looked at the food hidden in the basket. A slight smile graced his face. This must be the food Eli stole from the kitchen.

With a smile, he walked toward the bathroom. The temperature was on the rise so he happily went to take a bath with the cold water.