The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

55 – Social Party (3)

“The notebook?”

I confirmed Asella’s question unconsciously.

She seemed suspicious of my attitude and emphasized it again.

“You wrote all these weird sentences. About destruction or death, you even drew a line and erased them.”

“No, have you seen it?”

“You should have been a guard.”

This was a bit of a setback.

Asella’s physical information and dietary restrictions were written in the notebook, so I always carried it with me and never lost it.

If I had to move on to the next volume, I would only transfer the necessary information and burn the previous one.

What Asella was talking about was probably the list of bad endings.

Come to think of it, I had written something like that.

The status window only displays the name of the ending without explaining the content.

There were times when I tried to remember exactly what happened in each ending and connected it to the current situation.

“When did you steal it?”

I didn’t feel good about it, but it wasn’t the time to ask.

If Asella knew the specific contents, it could inspire her to go straight to the bad ending.

When I realized the possibility, I realized how careless I had been.

Judging from what she said, she probably didn’t read the exact sentence.

I could still cover it up.

I replied to Asella with a wry smile.

“Oh, did you think I wrote a nightmare after seeing that memo?”

“So, what is it?”

“There’s a novel I enjoy reading these days. The ending is coming soon, but fans have a divided opinion on how it will end. I thought about it for a while, but I’m

“Was that a story from a novel?”

“Yes. It’s a story about a war between two families, and it seems like the protagonist either dies or the world comes to an end.”

Coincidentally, there was something that matched among the novels I had seen for leisure.

I had no choice but to push forward with this.

Asella slightly narrowed her eyes, looking suspicious.

“I didn’t know Confucius liked novels.”

“They are more interesting than I thought. If you’re interested, I can recommend a few volumes.”

“I don’t have time for that. I can’t believe I wrote so many novel stories. What was it? Something about magic going out of control or something.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“hahahaha, I wrote that kind of content too. I don’t remember it well…”

While making excuses, my eyes met with Asella’s.

Was it because we were too close, or was it because she directly heard about the bad ending from my mouth?

-Step aside! Move away from there! Goldberg!!

-Ah, why, why is Jim’s magic circuit…!

Asella leaped in front of me. The magic circuit engraved all over her body flashed like crazy.

Soon, mana uncontrollably flowed out from Asella, and my field of vision was dyed in golden light.

Bang! I heard a deafening explosion that made my ears ring.

The sensation of death vividly overwhelmed me, and my vision flickered.

“Oops.”

I couldn’t hold back the nausea and sat down on the floor in a miserable state.

“Gongja?”

Asella’s bewildered voice.

I clenched my mouth shut and immediately stood up like a spring.

Asella had a pale face and her lips were trembling.

It was understandable. If the doctor collapses before her, even if I’m a patient, I can’t trust her with my body.

I extended my hand and assured her that I was okay.

“You must have danced for too long. I feel a little dizzy. I’m fine now.”

“You startled me.”

Asella wiped her chest.

“You’re quite weak. How do you expect to endure in the royal palace?”

“hahahaha, I will strive to do my best.”

“Phew… Are you really okay?”

“Yes, of course. Dizziness is a temporary symptom. It will get better quickly with some rest.”

“Let’s go inside for now.”

Ashella and I finished the short reception and returned to the party venue.

***

The music from the chairman had changed to a soft melody. The lighting had also returned to its original state.

Taking a short break next to Ashella, I felt better and thought I could endure the rest of the party.

The nobles had moved beyond the greetings stage and were now gathered in small groups, engaging in light conversations accompanied by drinks.

“What’s going on?”

Lau was having a good time, laughing with the Grand Lady. Yeongsik and Yeonga were also there, along with about twenty other people. They must be the ace group in the social circle.

I also spotted someone diligently catering to the elderly’s tastes, as well as a few individuals huddled in corners, emitting a gloomy atmosphere.

No matter where you go in society, it seems the same.

“Gongja, I have to deal with the nobles again. Can you be by my side?”

“No problem. If I suddenly disappear, the painting would look even more peculiar.”

“…Alright.”

Somehow, Ashella seemed peculiarly kind.

But even if she is kind, it’s only because she doesn’t show her anger.

Nevertheless, she isn’t harsh even to the sick.

I should take advantage of her kindness when I want to take a vacation later.

“Phew.”

Ashella closed her eyes briefly and then opened them again.

Her expression once again exuded the charisma of the royal family of Hwangga.

From a distance, the Duke of Western Province noticed Ashella and approached with his escort knights.

He is today’s main target.

“Lady Ashella, greetings.”

The Duke greeted first, showing respect.

“Congratulations on the victory in the Central Gorge Defense Battle, Duke Schwartschwab.”

Indeed, it’s Ashella. She immediately uses informal speech to subdue her interlocutor.

Of course, Ashella may have a higher rank, but still, the other party is a duke and a war hero, so he should return the courtesy. Yet, there is no sense of distance.

Observing their exchange, it seemed that the Duke actually held Ashella’s confident attitude in high regard. He smiled and bowed his head.

“It is truly glorious under the fervent loyalty.”

“Thanks to your excellency, a hundred million citizens of the empire were able to welcome a morning free from external invasion.”

“The fluttering of the empire’s flag was thanks to the gallantry of the Silver Duck.”

After the formalities, Ashella got to the point.

“But your grace, how many knights retired due to injuries in this recent battle?”

In the social circle, all conversations have a political intention and purpose.

Although Ashella may be higher in rank than the duke, as a member of a powerful family, the duke’s power rivals that of a palace.

Meanwhile, Ashella’s Moon Palace is the smallest faction among the five succession contenders, and it is even his party.

In fact, the upper hand is with the duke.

Therefore, Ashella presented a unique topic that others had not brought up in order to win him over.

The duke showed interest in where the conversation would go from the topic that Ashella raised.

“If you mean retired individuals who cannot be healed due to serious injuries, then it’s about a hundred and twenty.”

“Wasn’t the Benelux Knights’ formation thirty-two men? It’s also noble’s merit to have achieved such results with only that much damage.”

Here, one could mention the grace of the goddess or the emperor’s favor, but Ashella chose to flatter the duke.

Unlike others, he clearly stated his intention to build a friendship with the duke.

He also proved his abilities by demonstrating his thorough understanding of the details of the battle.

“The grace of the princess, who operates the state for the empire, was helpful.”

Despite the fact that it was his first time meeting Ashella, the duke still extended his hand in friendship, shaking hands with Ashella.

All spoken sentences were packaged with courtesy, wasting not a single word and leaving no meaning behind the scenes.

Political eloquence is difficult.

Now that the duke has shown his favor, it is Ashella’s turn once again.

There is no friendship in politics that only goes back and forth with words.

A mutually beneficial relationship must be a prerequisite for a successful political relationship.

What will Ashella offer the duke?

One wrong word could turn the conversation into an empty candy shell.

“If we could reduce the number of retired individuals from a hundred and twenty to ten, it would have been a great help to the duke’s decree, but it’s a pity it didn’t happen.”

The duke raised his eyebrows expressing interest.

Ashella presented two options: one, to trade means to strengthen the military power of the dukedom, and two, to allow for an increase in the size of the knights’ order.

“In any case, the size of the army that a duke can possess is limited by restrictions from the imperial court. If the principality gains independence, the empire’s national strength weakens.

Asella proposed the most delicious food to the Duke. “If you ask me for a way to reduce retirees?”

The Duke asked for specific means.

Asella raised her chin and put that word into her mouth. “Have you heard of penicillin?”

Ah, she was going to do business with me from the beginning.

In the end, the Duke showed great interest in antibiotics and laid the groundwork for a cooperative system between Wolgwang Palace.

It is a reality that even minor injuries can lead to amputation of limbs due to additional infections such as tetanus.

Antibiotics are essential medical supplies that cannot be missing on the battlefield to prevent such situations.

Asella did a proper business. She lured the Duke with antibiotics that would be mass-produced when the business begins at the Goldberg family.

Of course, it will take several years for the business to become more advanced enough to produce antibiotics that can be used by large knights.

It is not a time of great war, so the Duke can wait patiently.

“This party was undoubtedly a blessing that the goddess gave me. I met an important nobleman than anyone else.”

The Duke seemed quite satisfied with his interaction with Asella.

If the Duke’s power grows, he could gain independence and there is also one more direct line to the succession of the imperial throne.

Of course, he doesn’t know that if Asella becomes emperor, she will quickly choke his breath away.

From the first social occasion, she has established an equal cooperative relationship with the Duke. Indeed, Asela is different.

“I want to raise a toast. Over there.”

When the Duke signaled properly, a servant who was wandering nearby brought a glass of champagne.

Asella also held the cup with the Duke.

It was just the right amount, low alcohol content, and looked good, so she’ll let herself have just one cup.

That was when she saw her status screen.

[No. 040: Poisonous trap 19% -＞ 86%]

[No.101 : Magic Rampage 4% -＞ 100%]

Asella acted before the flashback with memories of the poisoned trap she had solved.

-“Crash!”

I had just knocked the glass out of Assela’s hand before it reached her lips.

“Gongja?”

“You shouldn’t drink it, Your Highness.”

―Thud!

I heard a scream from the surroundings as I fell.

When I turned my head, I saw the Duke rolling on the floor in pain.

Impulsively, I had already consumed the poisoned drink.

“Diagnosis.”

[Injury status: Neural intoxication]

Was the target the Duke or Assela?

Or both?

I tried to poison them.

First, I need to seek treatment.

I unbuttoned my suit jacket.