The Substitute Healer (BL)-Chapter 56: “My lord… how is she?”

During the four days that had passed, life in the encampment no longer felt as heavy as before.

The tension that once lingered after the battle had eased, replaced by a quieter, more watchful calm.

As someone as observant as Caelius, he could tell that something was changing especially in the way the Davenmores, and even the young prince Cael himself, regarded their healer, Soren.

Soren, who always seemed to find himself standing at the edge of danger, had gradually drawn the attention of all four of them, slowly but inevitably.

It was as if trouble followed him wherever he went, whether he wanted it or not.

’He must really be unlucky,’ Caelius thought. ’I wonder if he’s already awake by now...’

His thoughts drifted back as he remained on standby beside Melissa’s bed.

Time continued to pass, yet despite days of healing, her condition showed little improvement.

Her wounds only seemed to get worse, and her face grew paler with each passing day like a quiet but worrying sign that something was wrong.

"My lord... how is she?"

Hector entered the tent still clad in his armor, stopping the moment he saw Melissa. His breath hitched as he stepped to her bedside and brushed her hair back with trembling fingers before carefully taking her hand, as though afraid his touch might hurt her.

"I... don’t understand why she isn’t healing," Caelius said after a moment. "But the symptoms are familiar. It looks like an infection from the beast’s blood. Have you heard about the Young Lord of Davenmore?"

Hector’s fingers paused. He then lifted his head slowly, eyes flicking away for a second before meeting Caelius’s gaze.

"I, yes. I’ve heard the rumors," he answered, voice stiff.

Caelius nodded once. "It’s the same case."

Silence stretched between them.

"But my mana isn’t working," Caelius added. He folded his arms, gaze dropping briefly to Melissa before looking away. "No matter how many times I try."

Hector swallowed with his grip on Melissa’s hand tightened. "Then... then please try again, my lord" he said, the words coming out too fast. "I’ll do anything. Whatever you need it is, just tell me."

But Caelius didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he stepped closer to the bed while studying the darkened veins around the wound and the shallow rise and fall of Melissa’s chest. Unlike Lyric, Melissa’s symptoms are severe.

"We actually tried many times but it’s not working. Please understand."

Hector’s shoulders sagged. "But... you healed the young lord," he said quietly, as if it’s just a mumble while looking down on Melissa’s face again.

"I didn’t," Caelius replied. "Well, I tried but I failed."

Hector looked up with confusion crossing his face.

"It was Soren," Caelius continued. "He’s the one who succeeded. You know him, don’t you?"

Hector hesitated as his eyes drifted away, then back to Melissa. After a second, he let out a breath that sounded almost like a laugh.

"...Yeah," he said softly. "I remember him."

His thumb brushed over Melissa’s knuckles. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"You may already know this, but I’ll say it anyway," Caelius said. "Like her, Soren is still in a deep sleep. The Duke himself has been watching over him so if you plan to rush in there now... don’t. Not unless you don’t value your life. We have to wait until he wakes."

Hector didn’t reply.

He just lowered his head and gently lifted Melissa’s hand, pressing it against his lips then his shoulders trembled slightly, but he said nothing.

Caelius watched him for a moment before speaking again. "That said... if you really want to check on him yourself, I won’t stop you. What you do next is up to you."

Hector stayed still, as if weighing those words. Then, after a long pause, he carefully set Melissa’s hand back down and straightened. Without another word, he turned and left the tent.

’Why her?’ his thoughts spiraled as he walked. ’Why Melissa of all people? The others were injured too but they’re already back on duty. It should’ve been me. I would’ve taken her place without hesitation.

With gritted teeth, the cold wind bit at his face as his steps quickened.

’I never even told her how I felt. What if it’s already too late? What if she never wakes up?’

Thinking that possibility, his chest ached. ’I don’t want that and I can’t accept that.’

His hands clenched at his sides.

’I know it’s shameless, but... I hope that healer is awake. I wish Soren is awake now. Just this once, I hope he can help me again. Please...’

Minutes later, he stopped before the Davenmore tent where five knights stood guard outside.

Hector slowed his steps, drawing in a steady breath as he looked up at the entrance with uncertainty pressing heavily against his chest.

Inside the tent, Soren stirred awake as his puffy eyes slowly fluttered open. His head throbbed, and his body felt unbearably heavy.

"Hmm... w-where am I?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, uncertain and groggy.

He then lifted his gaze and scanned the room.

It was unfamiliar though, oddly enough, that feeling itself was familiar.

Whenever he lost consciousness, he never seemed to wake up in the same place. If it wasn’t his own tent, then it was the prince’s bed. But this time, it wasn’t either. The scent in the air was different as well as the interior.

’...Where am I this time?’ he thought while grimacing as he rubbed his temple.

He felt weak, drained to the point that even breathing took effort. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, his throat felt dry, and he barely had the strength to speak, let alone call for help.

’I really don’t want to pass out anymore,’ he thought again bitterly. ’Why is my body this weak when I’m a healer? What a cruel joke.’

Slowly, he pushed himself off the bed.

The moment his feet touched the ground, voices drifted in from just beyond the curtain. Now fully awake, Soren realized how thin the barrier was, only a curtain separating him from whoever stood outside.

What he heard made his heart race, each word dragging him sharply back to reality.

Just as he thought about stepping out, he glanced back at the bed when a sudden urge to tidy up took over. He folded the blanket neatly and smoothed the sheets with his palm, pressing out the creases until it looked as though the bed had never been used at all.

But before he could finish, a voice spoke from behind him.

"Uh... you’re awake now..."

Soren froze, his body stiffening in place.

"Ah, y-yes, my lord," he answered quickly, turning around and then bowed as a sign of respect.

It was Lyric.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you," Lyric said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just... noticed someone moving. How are you feeling?"

Soren hesitated and took a small step back, swallowing. ’What’s this? Why so many questions? He wasn’t like this before...’ Confusion flickered across his face as he struggled to respond.

Before he could say anything, the curtain was gently pulled aside.

"Oh. You’re awake."

Alaric stood there, his gaze instinctively settling on Soren. His long red hair was still messy, falling loosely around his shoulders. His eyes were puffy and unfocused, his expression dulled by exhaustion, and the robe he wore clung faintly to his skin, pale against the soft fabric.

’Now that I think about it... he really looks,’

Alaric’s thoughts cut off abruptly as his chest thumped hard, a sudden, unfamiliar beat echoing through him. He also frowned almost imperceptibly, unsettled by the reaction while Soren stood there, unaware of the quiet shift in the air.

Cael and Sylas, on the other hand, kept exchanging glances, their attention fixed on Lyric and Alaric, both of whom were acting slightly out of character. Alaric tried his best to keep his composure, hiding it behind a calm expression, but Lyric made no such effort, his interest was far too obvious.

"Are you hungry?" Lyric asked, staring straight into Soren’s eyes. The intensity of his gaze made Soren shift uncomfortably.

Seeing this, Cael’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. He then stepped closer, easily closing the distance between them.

"Now, now, let’s all calm down," Cael said lightly. "Soren can barely breathe with all of us crowding him like this. Why don’t we step outside for now?"

As he spoke, he shot Soren a familiar, cunning smile before gently placing both hands on his shoulders.

"Why don’t you change your clothes first and wash your face?" Cael continued smoothly. "Your eyes are so swollen you look like an id..." He paused, then waved it off. "Never mind. After that, I’ll take you outside for brunch. How does that sound?"

Soren, already overwhelmed, swallowed hard. He then stepped back while carefully avoiding Cael’s hand still resting on his shoulder. The brief rejection made something flicker in Cael’s eyes.

Noticing the shift, Sylas cleared his throat and awkwardly looked away.

’Huh... how amusing,’ Sylas thought, suppressing a chuckle. ’From what I’ve heard, no one ever refuses the prince. This commoner really is something.’

He couldn’t help but grin to himself and that was when Cael’s smirk finally vanished. He shot Sylas a sharp look, catching him mid whistle. Sylas merely shrugged, clearly enjoying the moment.

"I-I’m really sorry for inconveniencing you again, Your Highness," Soren said hurriedly. "I don’t know how to repay y—"

He stopped short. Only then did it fully sink in that this wasn’t the prince’s room. His gaze drifted around the unfamiliar interior, and Alaric noticed immediately.

"It’s my bed," Alaric said coldly. "You’re in my tent."

"Oh..." Soren stiffened. "I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Your Grace. I truly don’t know how to repay your kindness..."

’Pfft. Kindness, my ass,’ Sylas thought again while covering his mouth to hide his laughter. Lyric shot him a sharp glare, but Sylas only shrugged, as if to ask what was so wrong.

"Hah, enough already," Cael cut in, clearly losing patience. "Let’s go out. I’m starving after all this pointless talk."

As he turned to leave, Cael paused and cast one last cold look at Soren. The sudden shift in his gaze made Soren’s chest tighten.

He didn’t understand them at all.

One moment they were kind, almost gentle and the next, distant and cold, as if deliberately toying with his thoughts.

After making himself presentable, he stepped out of the tent and noticed that everyone was gone except Lyric.

"Well, shall we go?" Lyric said casually.

For a moment, Soren’s eyes widened in surprise. He took a step forward, about to walk beside Lyric when suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist.