The Substitute Healer (BL)-Chapter 45: “Hmm, go on.”

By six in the morning, the temple grounds were already awake despite the early hour. The sky was pale and gray, and light snow drifted down quietly, settling on the marble steps and stone pillars.

At the entrance, the High Priest stood with several important temple figures who are all dressed in thick ceremonial robes layered with fur-lined cloaks to protect them from the cold.

In front of them, the carriages of Cael and Alaric were lined up with their dark wooden frames dusted with snow. The horses also wore heavy leather harnesses and wool coverings, steam rising from their breaths in the freezing air.

"It’s truly a shame, my son," the High Priest said as Soren stepped forward.

He wore pristine white robes embroidered with silver thread along with a long fur cloak draped over his shoulders. His smile looked warm and sincere to anyone watching. "If you ever change your mind, the Holy Temple will always welcome you. Please remember that."

Hearing that, Soren lowered his head politely.

He was dressed in simple traveling clothes with dark wool layers beneath a plain cloak and a scarf wrapped neatly around his neck to keep out the cold. "I’ll keep that in mind, Your Holiness. My apologies."

"Oh, it’s quite all right," the High Priest replied with a soft chuckle.

"Still, I must admit I felt a little troubled. I asked to see you before, yet you never came." He sighed lightly. "However, His Grace and His Highness explained the situation to me. And since the Duke’s sponsorship of you has not yet ended, even if I wished to keep you here in the Holy Temple, there is really nothing I can do about it now."

As he spoke, the High Priest reached out and patted Soren’s head, his gloved hand cold against Soren’s hair.

Soren stiffened for a brief moment but did not pull away and Thalric, a bishop of the temple, noticed the gesture immediately.

He was dressed in layered ceremonial robes beneath a heavy fur-lined mantle with the silver emblem of his rank resting against his chest. His expression tightened, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the High Priest’s pretentious touch.

Behind Soren stood Cael, Alaric, and Caelius, all wearing thick winter coats suited for travel with dark fabrics trimmed with fur their swords secured at their sides beneath their cloaks except Caelius who was a healer.

Though their expressions remained calm, none of them missed the meaning hidden behind the High Priest’s gentle words and overly familiar gesture.

Then, the High Priest withdrew his hand at last with his never fading smile, as light snow continued to fall quietly around them.

’So, His Highness and His Grace really did speak to the High Priest about me. Figures. Having my identity known would affect them as well, but with their high status, it probably wouldn’t even matter since it wouldn’t even probably leave a dent. I didn’t understand why they bothered, though. Maybe I’m still useful in the camp. Either way, it didn’t really matter.’ Soren kept his poker face firmly in place while in his thoughts.

When they finally rode inside the carriage, Soren found it hard to stay awake since he hadn’t slept well at all. His eyelids felt heavy, and his face looked a little gaunt, but he forced himself to sit straight and alert.

"Did you not sleep well?" Alaric asked.

He sat across from Soren with arms crossed over his chest and eyes fixed on Soren’s stiff posture and strained expression.

"Uh, it’s not that, Your Grace," Soren replied quickly. "I slept well."

Alaric narrowed his eyes. "You’re a terrible liar. Just sleep. It’s not like you have anything to do in here."

"I’m really all right, Your Grace," Soren insisted.

But as he said it, his mind flashed back to the time he had shamelessly fallen asleep on the duke’s lap. Knowing how much the duke hated unnecessary contact, Soren was certain that if it happened again, Alaric might truly cut his neck this time. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

That thought alone was enough to keep him painfully awake.

"Tch, fine. Do whatever you want."

As the carriage continued forward, Soren found himself on the edge of sleep despite his efforts to stay awake.

In another carriage, Cael sat across from Caelius with his mood visibly sour. The tension was so thick that Caelius found himself breathing carefully, sitting straight and composed, afraid of provoking the young prince in any way.

"That old geezer..." Cael muttered under his breath with a crooked smirk forming on his lips. "Hah. He’s really testing my patience, isn’t he?"

Despite the smirk, the irritation in Cael’s eyes was impossible to miss.

Caelius had no idea what Cael was referring to and honestly, he didn’t even want to know. He chose to remain silent, sitting upright with practiced elegance.

"Hey."

Caelius flinched at the sudden call. He then quickly turned away from the carriage window to face Cael, swallowing hard.

"Y-yes, Your Highness?"

"What’s your name again?"

For a brief moment, Caelius felt a sharp pulse of anger rise in his head. His nerves screamed in protest, but only in his thoughts. On the surface, his expression remained dignified and calm.

"It’s Caelius Rennovar, Your Highness."

"Right. Right," Cael replied flatly. "I don’t care."

’Then why did you even ask?’ Caelius cursed inwardly, but he maintained his noble composure. After all, he was speaking to a prince.

"Anyway," Cael continued, "did that old geezer ask for you too? The High Priest, I mean."

"Uh, yes, Your Highness."

"And what did you talk about?"

"His Holiness asked about Soren’s healing ability, Your Highness."

Cael’s gaze sharpened. "That’s all? Wait, you didn’t tell the High Priest about that commoner’s real status, did you?"

’That commoner...’ Caelius repeated silently. ’I thought His Highness saw Soren as someone at least worth respecting or someone worth calling by name. After all, rumors said the prince had even shared his bed with him.’

"O-of course not, Your Highness," Caelius replied quickly. "How would I dare?"

"Right, but what else did you talk about? Tell me honestly and don’t leave a single detail."

’What the heck am I supposed to tell? It’s about Soren, I already told you!’ Caelius screamed silently in his head. ’Wait... what exactly did His Holiness say again?’

Thinking back about it, Caelius’s fingers twitched against the edge of his cloak.

He then shifted slightly in his seat, pressing his knees together and curling his toes under the folds of his coat to keep himself steady. His back remained rigid, but his shoulders lifted almost imperceptibly with tension.

"Uh, actually, there’s something, Your Highness," he said, his voice measured but tight.

He adjusted the clasp of his cloak with a small in a jerky motion, as if anchoring himself against the prince’s penetrating gaze.

"What is it? Go on and just tell me the important details."

’Damn... you just said not to miss any detail, Your Highness. I really can’t understand him,’ Caelius thought while glaring at the prince only in his mind.

His jaw tightened, and he subtly pressed his fingertips together, trying to stop the slight tremor in his hands. He tilted his head just slightly, careful to maintain a dignified composure.

"He told me to bring Soren to him, despite you and His Grace being against it, and he even promised that he would grant me an important position in the temple in the future if I just brought Soren to him unharmed."

"Hmm... that geezer, really..." Cael muttered, lips curling slightly in irritation.

"Y-your Highness, may I say something bold?" Caelius asked, his fingers tightening around the edge of his cloak.

He shifted slightly, pressing his knees together, and ran a quick, nervous glance at the prince before forcing his shoulders back and lifting his chin.

"Hmm, go on."

"Seeing that even His Holiness was quite interested in Soren, I... I think Soren wasn’t just any ordinary healer, Your Highness," Caelius said, his hands fiddling subtly with the folds of his cloak.

He swallowed hard, forcing his voice steady. "I also know that he only had a contract with His Grace Davenmore during his term here in the north, but... I think the High Priest won’t just stand by after that."

"Hah. You’re quite clever," Cael said, smirking.

"That’s right. That geezer won’t just stand idle after seeing a diamond tossed on the ground. If he sees it can still be useful, he’ll take it even if it’s just a leftover..."

"S-so, Your Highness, are y—"

"Stop. I don’t care much about that commoner, nor do I care about what that geezer will do."

Caelius’s eyes widened for a brief second, his fingers tightening so sharply that his knuckles whitened. ’He doesn’t care about him... hah. Soren, how unlucky.’

"But... if that geezer really does take that commoner, I’m sure it’ll be quite... entertaining, yes?" Cael added, tilting his head slightly, eyes glinting with a dangerous amusement.

Caelius pressed his palms lightly together, his body stiff while subtly rocking forward on the carriage seat. He then forced a faint nod, careful not to betray the mix of fear and disbelief swirling inside him. ’Fun... entertainment... the prince really has no mercy.’

When Caelius fell silent, Cael still smirked, though a strange throbbing stirred in his chest. What he told Caelius was true. He didn’t really care about Soren or what the High Priest might do. Yet, unwilling to admit it, the thought still bothered him.

He just thought that if Soren were really taken away, there’d be no fun left...

’But... what is this strange ache?’ he thought, masking it instantly with his usual irritated, calculating glare.

Just like that, the carriage continued to roll its wheels with the whole entourage back to the northern fortress.

Back at the northern fortress, Lyric was carried on a stretcher, severely wounded. His left shoulder barely hung on after a beast attack, and only Soren could save him.

"Fuck! Stay with me, bro! You’ll be fine!" Sylas panicked, gripping his unconscious brother as blood loss took its toll. He then glanced at the knights around him, fury and fear in his eyes.

"Damn it, send a letter to His Grace, now!" he shouted.