Chapter 253 - Sibling affection
The candles around the room flickered to life with a subtle flick of Scarlett’s wrist, their warm glow illuminating the prone figure on the bed.
Evelyne’s eyes widened slightly as they focused on her. “…Scarlett?” Her voice wasn’t much above a whisper.
Scarlett’s features hardened into a scowl as she regarded the injured woman before her. Evelyne’s face was partially obscured by thick bandages that extended over her left shoulder and arm, the latter secured in a sling. The bedcovers hinted at further injuries concealed beneath, painting a grim picture of their severity. Evelyne’s skin, where visible, was ashen and slick with a feverish sheen.
The anger simmered inside Scarlett as she watched the younger Hartford sister struggle to sit up, her movements punctuated by barely suppressed winces until she finally managed to lean her back against the headboard behind her.
“…Have you received proper treatment yet?” Scarlett’s question cut through the air, harsher than she’d intended.
Prominent lines appeared on Evelyne’s brow. “I…yes, I think a healer looked at me earlier.”
“You ‘think’?” Scarlett’s tone sharpened.
“I wasn’t fully conscious, but I’m fairly sure,” the woman admitted, her uninjured hand resting on the bedsheet.
Scarlett’s gaze drifted to the cluttered side table, littered with bandages and other medical implements. Were they talking about an actual healer or simply your conventional physician? Injuries like these usually required immediate attention for magic to work effectively, and Scarlett wasn’t certain how quickly Evelyne had been treated.
Maybe Rosa could help some. The bard was a capable healer in her own right. If that wasn’t enough, Scarlett also had her connection with Raimond, who might very well be one of the most powerful healers in the empire.
Returning her attention to Evelyne, Scarlett’s glower eased into a frown as she studied the woman. “…Why did you allow yourself to end up in this state?” The question escaped her lips before she had time to process it.
Confusion flashed across Evelyne’s face, followed by a flicker of marginal indignation. “It’s not like I chose to get hurt,” she murmured, her gaze moving to the corner of the room.