The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

26 – 26. The princess’s magic (1)

Mentioning Asella’s debuff, her expression was clearly wary.

I wonder why she didn’t want anyone to find out.

But as a royal physician, I couldn’t pretend not to know, so I continued with my question.

“Your Highness, do you ever experience symptoms of abdominal pain or restlessness?”

“No.”

Wow, she’s quite firm in her answer.

Asella, who had already answered that there was no place that hurt, was expected to say that.

Whether she was showing off or if the pain had become so long-lasting that she got used to it, I didn’t know.

“Do you sometimes have severe episodes?”

“…Hmm?”

Pretending not to know seems like a show-off.

There’s no need to bother her and make her upset just because she doesn’t like talking about it.

“If that happens, please take this.”

I handed Asella a bottle of painkiller.

It was a small glass bottle meant to hold a small piece of magic stone. Quite sturdy.

“What is this?”

“It’s a painkiller. It will greatly relieve your pain when it gets severe.”

“Is that true?”

When Asella made a doubtful expression, Luci Sinyang intervened.

“Your Highness, may I offer a word of advice?”

“Go ahead.”

“In the test for royal physicians, when the teacher gave that medicine to the knight who had suffered a serious injury, he said that the pain disappeared.”

“Hmm…”

Asella tilted the glass bottle with her fingertips, and the painkiller rattled inside.

“Gongja, if you’re making wild assumptions, stop it because you’re wrong.”

“Your Highness.”

I leaned closer to Asella’s face with a slightly serious expression.

“As a royal physician, you must not lie to me. It is my duty to accurately understand Your Highness’s condition.”

Even though I was just a fake doctor, I stubbornly asserted myself.

Asella pondered over my words, maintaining an expressionless face for a moment, and then picked up the medicine bottle.

“First of all, I will keep this. However, Gongja*.”

“Yes.”

“There should be no baseless rumors about the lady circulating in the palace.”

An order mixed with seriousness.

It meant keeping his condition a secret.

To Asella, who genuinely aspired to the position of the next Emperor, his illness was a fatal weakness.

If that’s why Asella boasted, it could be understood.

“Of course. It is the duty of a physician to protect the information of the patient even if their own life is at risk.”

Asella seemed satisfied with my answer and nodded.

“I will conclude the morning examination with this. If there are no problems with the blood pressure, we can assume there are no abnormalities in the magic power. You may continue your activities.”

Asella mixed the remaining blood with the mercury prepared in advance and disposed of it.

As I prepared to leave with my bag, Asella called me.

“Gongja, you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

“Why would I lie to you? Of course not.”

“Have you obtained talent and can you know?”

Her sharp golden eyes pierced through me.

It was a question whether I could infer Asella’s pain since I had gained my illness as the price for talent.

“I’m not sure what you mean. The medicine was prepared through alchemy, but that’s all.”

Amidst silence, Asella’s gaze continued.

“Go in.”

After sending a respectful greeting, I turned and left Asella’s room.

“Phew.”

I lightly stroked the disguise I wore during the staring contest with the princess.

Now, the lie was not from a doctor but from Last Gotthberg, Asella’s husband.

It should be fine to some extent.

***

It has been a few days since I started my duties as the attending physician.

“I’ll go and enter the escort.”

Tanya, who had become proficient in her duties, reported from my office.

“Sir, do you need any cleaning?”

* Gongja: A respectful title for a court physician or medical officer.

“I know where everything is.”

The office was already cluttered with medical tools that had been prepared considerably.

Tanya seemed uncomfortable because the ground with foothold in sudden ambush situations had decreased.

During the day, Tanya escorts me. Bruno at night. They regularly switch shifts day and night.

Since there’s no weekend on a two-shift system and working hours are long, they told me to take rest when I’m in the palace, but they do not listen.

Tanya hoped to keep me close by her duty.

“There’s nothing unusual about Asela today.”

I make a record using a sheet.

Blood pressure and health conditions are still good.

I checked the diet, but the nutritional balance was off, so I’m thinking of suggesting a menu.

But I need more time since I have to consult with the royal kitchen.

Above all, Asela is such a gossip.

She grew up haphazardly like that, eating messily.

Not an elf, nor did she grow up eating mana.

“She’s probably bragging.”

It could be just for show.

If it fits, it fits, but as the patient’s doctor herself, I’m concerned.

I imagined things unconsciously.

A young princess born in the royal family.

It could’ve been when she was four or three years old, maybe even since she was a newborn baby.

She gained wariness by unlocking her magical talent.

That also involved a considerable amount of pain.

In an environment where etiquette and decorum must be maintained, one cannot reveal any signs of weakness.

Any member of the royal family’s faltering behavior could lead to a decline for the entire royal family.

Furthermore, even though they may be the weakest faction, they’re rightful successors.

Asela, who will be the next empress, is someone who is clearly not weak.

Furthermore, her mother, Camilla the Empress, has strong ambition for power.

In such a situation, shouldn’t Asela consider that she should not show any signs of pain?

Or perhaps she has accepted the pain as a natural occurrence.

It’s only natural for stress to accumulate.

“… So what does it matter?”

That doesn’t justify the heinous acts that Asella committed.

I won’t go as far as to say that I’m the biggest victim of her actions.

“For now, I am just fulfilling my duty as a physician.”

Finally, I have the opportunity to live as a doctor.

I didn’t want to be swayed by emotions and ruin it all.

I decided to postpone any feelings of resentment or pity towards Asella for later.

“Let’s say pain is the price for talent.”

It could be a debuff like an incurable disease.

But if it’s not.

If it’s a disease or symptom that I can cure.

By using medicine to eliminate the debuff of pain as I had originally thought, the magical talent would disappear along with it.

I could completely ruin the birth of the Golden Witch.

“It’s not just a trivial offense.”

What could Asella’s illness be?

Since the diagnosis is inconclusive, I still need to observe Asella more closely.

So for now, I’m watching over Asella’s every move and activity.

As a physician, it’s necessary work.

“Because she is my patient, for now.”

It’s the duty of a physician to make the patient feel comfortable.

“What if there are skills stronger than diagnosis?”

I check the status window.

——————-

○ Medicine D

A skill that treats targets based on modern medical knowledge.

· Diagnosis C

Partially assesses the patient’s condition.

· Prescription C

Improves the condition of the treated patient a little.

· Emergency Treatment Mastery D

Emergency treatment can be done somewhat quickly.

· Blood test D

Check the detailed information of the patient’s blood.

―――――――――――

The diagnosis and prescription have reached rank C.

It’s about time for new skills to be unlocked.

“Now, I have to choose a skill tree.”

When I touch the detailed information, the skill map opens up.

The initial basic skills given were three.

[Diagnosis], [Prescription], [Emergency Treatment].

Within these three, similar skills that branch out are waiting to be unlocked.

From Noble mtl dot com

[Blood Test] is a skill that branched out from [Diagnosis].

When the next skill is unlocked, there are two options to choose from: the [Diagnosis] route or the emergency treatment route.

There, it’s easy to tell because two squares remain unopened and shining.

“[Prescription] seems to be a skill related to the pharmacist, while [Emergency Treatment] might improve dexterity.”

Since the prescription side includes alchemy, it will be given a lower priority.

“Of course, for now, it’s best to start by unlocking the [Diagnosis] tree.”

To devise a plan accurately, Asella’s condition needs to be precisely understood.

“The blood test was CBC. It was a skill that required modern medical equipment.”

If it’s the most widely used testing technique.

“Indeed, it’s an X-ray.”

Will lasers come out of my eyes?

There don’t seem to be any giant monsters around.

A laugh escaped me involuntarily.

Well, X-rays have a shorter wavelength than ultraviolet, so they can’t be seen with the naked eye.

“Teacher, it’s about time for work.”

Upon hearing Tanya’s words, I got up from my seat.

***

The palace is a place where valuable resources are wasted in vain.

Asella’s slightest movement attracts dozens of people who come rushing with clattering sounds.

I stood by Asella’s side like a bodyguard. Asella also had a bodyguard, and Tanya was sticking to me as my bodyguard, creating a strange picture.

Come to think of it, it wasn’t entirely useless. Creating job opportunities is important.

“Asella, straighten your shoulders. Give your eyes as much strength as possible! Your focus has been scattered.”

But Asella’s daily life was unbearably dull, making it difficult to suppress a yawn.

After breakfast, Camilla Hwangbi would educate Asella.

Education continued after lunch.

And even after dinner? Of course, there was more education.

Imperial studies, politics, etiquette, dance, horseback riding, etc.

I don’t know where they plan on using all of this knowledge, but their enthusiasm for education could chase away rich ladies from Gangnam.

Was it Gangnam or Gangbuk?

It’s been so long that I can’t remember well.

It’s quite Spartan-like, leaving no room to rest.

After finishing the evening education, the teacher showed Hwangbi the answers to the test paper Asella solved today.

Hwangbi twitched her eyebrows and approached Asella, who had finished her tasks.

“Your achievements are a mess today. It seems like your vacation at the Marquis’s estate was too long.”

How much of a mess could it be?

When Asella glanced at the test paper she solved, she noticed that she got two questions wrong out of thirty.

…Isn’t that really good?

Though Asella maintained a blank expression, her throat twitched for a moment, indicating that she swallowed her saliva.

Come to think of it, among those she couldn’t confidently overpower, the only opponent Asella couldn’t use her strength against was Camilla Hwangbi.

Even after ten years and even now, I have never seen Asella leave in a submissive posture. However, in front of Hwangbi, she seems to be constantly tense.

As someone who saw this side of her for the first time, it feels refreshing.

“Everyone, leave. I will take Asella to the workshop.”

Upon Camilla’s words, the attendants and knights immediately turned their bodies and began leaving the room.

Only Tanya and I stood there, confused and dazed, unable to grasp the situation.

And then, at that moment.

[No. 058: Magic Aptitude 48% → 62%]

[In Flux]

The probability of a bad ending was increasing.

“So it’s you.”

Now, the numbers feel welcoming.

Yeah, I almost felt disappointed because you didn’t come.