Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress-Chapter 685: Real Extent of the Injury

"Arabella, I... I can explain. I didn’t mean to..." Ferdinand glanced at Benjamin.

[Wait! Was it that bad? I don’t think I broke his arm. I flipped him and sure he got hurt but his bones didn’t break. Why does he have his arm wrapped thickly like that as if the injury was so bad? Or, did I accidentally put more strength than I thought?]

Ferdinand frowned as he eyed Benjamin’s cast and bandages.

’Huh? What’s going on? Why would Ferdinand flip Benjamin? Did they fight?!’

Arabella was horrified at the thought since she already knew Ferdinand was so much stronger than her brother.

[Why is her expression like this?! Did she conclude I hurt her brother on purpose?!]

"Ferdinand-" Arabella was about to ask what happened but Ferdinand’s attention was caught by something behind her and he was wide-eyed.

[He just stuck out his tongue at me while everyone was not looking!!] Ferdinand thought and Arabella quickly glanced at her older brother to see it, but Benjamin was smiling like usual.

[Bleh! It’s your fault for not telling her immediately. Haha. Look at the expression on his face. I knew it.]

’Huh? What did Ferdinand not tell me?’ Arabella’s gaze was on Ferdinand once again. ’And why did he not summon Alwin to heal it immediately? What if my brother ends up unable to use his arm?! He won’t be crowned king!’

Even if Benjamin had built his reputation, Arabella knew from experience that people’s opinions could be swayed so easily. And she knew they would abandon a ruler with such an evident weakness.

Ferdinand should have understood that much since he had asked Alwin to heal Icarus when he broke the latter’s arm, but Icarus refused for some reason.

"A-Arabella, it’s not what you think... I didn’t do it on purpose..." Ferdinand said with a panicked look on his face.

[So he was the one who hurt Elder Brother?!!!]

Arabella’s younger siblings whom she had worked hard to convince last night that Ferdinand was a kind and gentle person once again eyed her husband with suspicion. She could already hear her efforts crashing to the ground and breaking apart.

Lei walked to Benjamin’s side and inspected his bandages, "Elder Brother, have you seen a doctor? This looks so painful."

Nicholas and Eloisa also went closer to see Benjamin’s bandages.

"Yes, don’t worry, Lei. It doesn’t hurt that much," Benjamin patted Lei’s head and Lei did not scold him this time for ruining her hair.

[Sister said her husband is gentle and kind. He gave us such nice gifts too. But how could he hurt Elder Brother like this on his first visit here with Elder Sister?] Lei eyed Ferdinand suspiciously and the latter stiffened.

[Her younger siblings are frowning at me! How can I explain this?! Will Arabella believe me?! I didn’t mean to hurt her brother at all.] Ferdinand was at a loss for words and eyed Arabella in panic.

"It’s okay, calm down. Tell me what happened." Arabella held Ferdinand’s hand and relief visibly washed over his eyes.

[Arabella!]

Ferdinand was touched and sighed in relief. He held her hand and squeezed it. He was happy she did not go to conclusions nor scolded him immediately.

"You’re Elder Brother and I sparred for a while last night before we moved to hand-to-hand combat. I flipped him over in the process and he was injured," Ferdinand clarified.

[And I don’t think it hurt him to that degree. But how should I explain it without making them think I am taking their brother’s injury lightly when he’s about to be crowned...]

Ferdinand once again glanced at Benjamin and frowned.

[He’s doing this on purpose! His posture would not look like that if the weight of his arm was truly supported by the sling on his shoulder. There should have been more pressure on his clothes where the straps of the sling were.]

’What?! Is Elder Brother framing Ferdinand?’

"I see. Has Alwin returned here?" Arabella inquired.

"Yes," Ferdinand nodded.

[I asked him to return early in the morning, so I could have him heal her brother immediately. But his injuries were not supposed to be this bad, and last night, he refused it when I said I would summon Alwin to heal him. He said it was just a minor injury so he could wait until morning. Even when I insisted, he quickly left instead. I knew it! I saw a mischievous glint in his eyes last night. I thought it was overthinking again.]

"Then, let’s call him to heal my Elder Brother’s injury," Arabella said while observing Benjamin’s reaction.

"It’s alright, sister. It’s not that bad. It’ll heal in no time," Benjamin refused the offer.

"Elder Brother, you should not endure the pain. Just accept Elder Sister’s offer," Lei innocently implored with worry.

"Brother, you have a lot of work to do. You will have much difficulty working on one hand," Eloisa added.

[What should I say? I noticed he’s faking it. Why is he doing this?] Nicholas thought and Arabella stopped herself from smiling.

"See, Brother? You should have it healed. Everyone is worrying about you," Arabella added.

[Tsk. From the look on her face, Ella seems to have noticed. What gave way? I thought my acting was perfect.]

"Alright. Alright," Benjamin finally agreed when he realized Arabella already knew.

Ferdinand then summoned Alwin.

[Remove the cast and bandages to show the real extent of his injury before healing him.] Ferdinand instructed Alwin.

"Please allow me to remove the cast and bandages," Alwin said Benjamin simply nodded.

Lei covered her eyes not wanting to see it but her curiosity won her over so she peeked from the gaps in her fingers anyway.

"Heavens!" Eloisa gasped and Lei looked like she might faint at the sight of blood when the bandages on Benjamin’s hands were removed and revealed his bloody and wounded hands.

It looked like some medicine was applied but the wounds had begun bleeding again.

’It must hurt a lot!’ Arabella blinked repeatedly. She then turned to her husband.