The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

15 – Test of the main doctor (1)

Chief Physician finished preparing himself to receive his lord as dutifully as the dawn.

The imperial family under the emperor’s authority was not merely ordinary humans like commoners. They were a superior breed.

If one of the imperial class took a step forward, countless attendants prepared for that purpose had to move together with them.

Knights, secretaries, sijongs (the lowest rank of officials), and chief physicians.

There were more than twenty holjuks (members of the imperial aristocracy assigned to serve the imperial family) who belonged to the Imperial Palace Guard.

Even the professional staff required to watch over them is several times larger than their number.

The imperial knights are the empire’s most capable forces, and the naeuiwon (Imperial Hospital: the place where chief physicians and clan healers gathered) are equally powerful and authoritative.

The successor has a special position even among other imperial clansmen. Even factions within the imperial family are divided by the name of the successor like the first prince faction, the first princess faction, and so on.

Although Acella is the youngest among the successors, she has been gradually growing her power since she entered the knight order.

There was a special reason why there was no chief physician.

Sinjang, who had taken care of Acella since she was a child, knew the reason well.

It was because the clan healers could not withstand Acella’s magical power and became sick.

‘Even if you pick out the best healer from the famous Gotberg, it won’t help the princess at all.’

Moreover, for some reason, Acella secretly wished to be chosen.

When Sinjang heard rumors about it, he was disgusted with Acella even though he patronized her.

‘I have an important mission to supervise the test. Even for the sake of the princess.’

Sinjang was determined not to blink an eye during today’s practical test.

Thinking that way, Sinjang waited in front of the first floor arcade where Acella stayed.

Guarding the front of the room before his lord awakens is the most fundamental duty as a servant.

She had never been late once in eleven years when she worked as Acella’s maid with professionalism that strongly followed her job’s conscience.

But, thud!

A dull noise came from Acella’s room.

Sensing something was wrong, she confidently opened Acella’s room immediately.

“Princess, excuse me.”

Sure enough, Acella had fallen off her bed and was lying face down on the floor.

Sweat dripped down her forehead while clutching her stomach. Her half-opened eyes kept a blank expression while her breathing was rapid.

“Princess!”

The Seonjang hurriedly approached her, cautiously reaching out his hand.

Ashella curled up like a turtle when he tried to hug her. It was an expression of refusal. Her movements were hesitant because the pain would worsen if she moved her body recklessly.

In the end, Seonjang had no choice but to support Ashella’s head so that she would be slightly more comfortable.

‘Another incident like this…’

It had occasionally happened since she was young.

Ashella lived with constant abdominal pain.

They called it the price for having the “gift” of magic, but Seonjang, who didn’t have such a thing, couldn’t possibly understand how it felt.

Sometimes, when the pain became severe enough to last through the night, Ashella would wake up and remain in this state until morning.

Seeing Ashella unable to utter a word and writhing on the floor, the immense pain was evident.

What Seonjang found most pitiful was that Ashella had never once screamed or cried out.

So Seonjang also couldn’t know Ashella’s condition until morning.

‘When will this end…’

Many healers had tried to alleviate Ashella’s pain, but all their efforts were in vain.

That’s why Ashella never had a personal physician.

‘Lately, the occurrences have been more frequent.’

Seonjang understood why Ashella’s tone was gradually becoming aggressive.

It was hard not to be annoyed when a fourteen-year-old girl was always in this kind of state.

Even Camilla Hwangbi, her mother, only demanded that Ashella endure it, saying it was only natural for someone with a gift.

The situation was frustrating for Seonjang, who could only watch.

That’s why he had high hopes for this appointment of a personal physician.

He hoped that a skilled healer could be selected as the personal physician and cure Ashella.

‘But if that rascal gets chosen…’

Seonjang wondered if Hwangbi had intentionally created this situation for political reasons.

After about thirty minutes, Ashella’s breathing returned to normal.

Only then could Seonjang lay her back on the bed.

“Rest a little more, Princess. I will inform Hwangbi that you will start your duties slowly today.”

“But then she’ll scold me.”

Ashella struggled to move her lips and replied with difficulty.

“Your health comes first. But why did your condition suddenly worsen like this… did you happen to go out for a survey?”

Ashella fell silent at Seonjang’s question.

“It was the day to meet Master Gottberg. It was my fault.”

“That’s irrelevant.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“But It was fun.”

“Fun?”

Shinoyang was quite puzzled.

Asella went on inspections whenever she had the chance to see the citizens of the empire.

However, every time, the citizens showed a disappointing attitude, and Asella never said that she enjoyed it.

“Yeah, it was fun. Coffee was savory, there were several types for commoners, and Ras Gongja …”

Asella stopped talking as if she cherished her words.

Shinoyang, who knew her position well, did not ask any more questions.

“Director, please come back.”

“Yes.”

What Asella wanted from her was the result of the practical test by the chief physician.

Shinoyang left other maids and headed toward the north gate of the mansion.

***

“Father, the unit has been finalized.”

Tanya reported to her father.

Her father nodded and checked the status. There were thirty knights from Condenbourg Order, with six teams of five people each.

He looked around the healers, including me, and stated,

“The two candidates will be placed in each team. There will inevitably be injured in subjugating demons. We will evaluate your response abilities and choose the final candidates.”

Father was very serious about this.

Not a single one of the healers showed any sign of relaxation.

No, there was one exception.

“I’m not an adventurer or demon hunter, tsk.”

One healer grumbled to himself.

Father immediately refuted him like a ghost.

“The chief physician must be able to heal the lord under any circumstances, even in the middle of the battlefield being attacked by demons. If you don’t understand the test method, just leave, Lucio!”

“Oh, no!”

The healer who was named responded quickly and stood at attention.

“Then let’s form squads based on the written test scores and average them out with the knights. Tanya, bring them over.”

“Yes.”

Tanya began allocating twelve healers to the squads.

They were talented individuals from the Marquisate who only had one thing left before graduating from the Training Grounds.

“Even if they are healers in front of a desk.”

Whether they had devoted their lives to studying and nurturing their faith, or challenged themselves to become royal physicians rather than adventurers or private healers.

They had no intention of serving warm positions where the sun of power shines down or catering to spoiled nobles.

“The young lord will accompany us.”

Tanya gestured to me. The squad led by Tanya was waiting for me.

“Hmm! It seems like a satisfactory arrangement.”

There was also one person who gave me an irritated look.

Max, the ace of the Training Grounds.

He was the foolish guy who was dumbfounded when Max choked.

“You find it satisfactory?”

“Yes. Didn’t you suddenly intervene in the physician examination without any qualification, as the princess’s fiancé? I thought there must have been some sort of deal.”

From Noble mtl dot com

Max’s intimidating gaze at me is unsettling.

It seems like he has already unfolded various imaginative scenarios. What a tiresome way of living.

“But if we’re in the same team, anyone can see the difference in skill between you, the young lord, and me, so I have no complaints. There won’t be any unjust failures.”

“hahahaha, of course that won’t happen.”

I chuckled and replied to Max.

“I’ll make sure to convince you completely and bring you down without any hard feelings. I’ll show you the difference in skill directly, which is easy to perceive.”

“Ugh…! Have you ever attended a lecture or a ceremony? I’ve been breaking records every day in this generation of the Training Grounds!”

Max objected, hitting his chest.

What he possesses isn’t self-confidence but arrogance. I trained for actual combat at the Training Grounds without any exceptions. How can you, who were always negligent, think of defeating me?”

Ah, so it’s about actual combat training.

I’m getting bored of this now.

Perhaps in the future, if there’s a vacancy in a hero party, I should actively recommend him.

“Disorder during the operation will not be tolerated. The two of you are assigned based on the written test scores. Max, as the top healer, and the young lord who skipped the written test, is assumed to be the lowest.”

“That’s how you even out the average. It doesn’t matter who our squad members are.”

-Rustle.

I take out honey candies from my pocket.

I carefully unwrap the packaging, afraid that the sweets might break, and a sweet fragrance spreads.

As I put it in my mouth, my energy starts to recover, and my head feels refreshed.

Hmm, my mood has also improved.

Now I can be more generous.

“It’s just luck that my comrades in the same unit are fortunate. Don’t worry about getting injured, just fight.”

“I will do my best for the mission. During the operation, I am in charge, so please strictly follow orders.”

Even when I make a joke, Won Tanya reacts seriously, making me uneasy.

“Of course. As you say, there is no need to worry. I will confidently take on the rear guard with the honor of the Healing Division!”

After tapping his chest, Kise nonchalantly raises his holy book and joins the knights.

He seems to be in his early twenties, and his confidence exudes from head to toe, probably because he is about to graduate as the top healer at the Training Center.

He is the type who becomes energetic before the usual social debut and exhausts those around him.

Hmm, troublesome.

But I feel benevolent as I eat the candy. I don’t feel the need to raise my voice unnecessarily.

As I’m about to walk away, Tanya lightly grabs my shoulder.

“My lord, I rely on you more than any other healer.”

Tanya’s gaze towards me is quite passionate.

It’s burdensome when it suddenly comes up like this.

Tanya steps forward and delivers the message to the knights.

“Recently, monsters coming down from the northern forest have been causing damage to our territory. Reports say that the villagers and merchants beyond the city walls have been attacked.”

Aside from the physician’s examination, monster subjugation is a task often carried out by the knights.

This is because monsters tend to appear in large numbers depending on the type.

“What kind of monsters?”

I asked, and Tanya answered.

“Goblins.”

“Just goblins?”

“They’re not a difficult opponent.”

“Will we have any healing duties?”

The healers, who are unfamiliar with monsters, began to relax.

I applaud and wave my hands to freshen up the atmosphere.

“It’s just a situation where a knight order is needed for mere goblins. At the very least, they’ll be acting as a group, centered around their leader. Do you think you can underestimate them and not get seriously injured?”

Even in the face of my warning, the healers didn’t seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

It was understandable since they had no practical experience.

“You’re right, my lord. Although goblins may have the intelligence and physical strength of young children, when they gather in groups, they can easily tear you apart. Our destination is the battlefield. Stay alert!”

Thud! Tanja rolled her foot, startling the healers as they swallowed nervously.

“In particular, healers have no combat abilities, so be careful. I believe that healing ineptitude will lead to injuries before the knights fighting at the front lines.”

The healers noticed Tanja’s gaze.

Bang! Tanja unsheathed her sword and turned her body.

The immediate goal was the distant swarm of goblins.

“Let’s go!”

Following Tanja’s signal, the knight order and healers formed ranks and began to move.

Behind them were the father who evaluated the test, the nurturing center healers, and the escort knights.

And one more person, Ashella, who took charge as the supervisor of the examination room.

“Goblins, huh?”

I knew well the method of dealing with them.

Compared to the demon army, they were nothing but immature monsters.

Of course, I had no intention of fighting them directly. This was a test for healers, not knights.

Still, I must protect my own body.

Instead of holy scriptures, I wielded my sword.