The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away

The head maid who returned from slaying demons could only leave after discussing the supervisor role for the attending physician’s exam with the senior healers.

She hurried her steps due to the fact that Acella had collapsed that morning.

“Did the royal princess head to the prince?”

Hearing a report from another maid, she moved again.

It looked peculiar to roam around someone else’s mansion alone without her lord, but there was no time to care about appearances.

She joined the guards of Acella but only received the response that she had not entered or exited Gothberg’s prince’s room.

As an hour, two hours passed, and her lord still did not come out until sunset, anxiety grew.

Gothberg was already well-known for carrying all sorts of bad rumors.

He neglected his studies and was always involved in drunken violence, so much so that rumors of him being half confined within Gothberg’s estate reached the academy.

As the only son of the Marquis, one would think he would have countless marriage proposals from infancy, but it was evidently bizarre that Acella was his first match.

No head of a family wanting to preserve their political power would wish to marry their daughter to a beast who might kill her in a single night.

In that regard, Camilla, the third empress, was certainly someone with a strong desire for power.

‘What if that miscreant harbored malicious thoughts against the royal princess and even laid hands on her?’

The head maid unconsciously bit her lip.

What could an insignificant maid like her possibly do about it?

The guards and maids were all waiting for Acella.

Her lord’s commands must be obeyed without fail.

‘Still, if I hold on to hope…’

In today’s practical exam, Gothberg’s prince was not as disastrous as expected.

No, in fact, he was rather exceptional.

He was gaining the trust of the knights and drew jealousy from other healers with his impressive skills.

Throughout the process, there were no signs of cheating or favoritism whatsoever.

On the contrary, the head of the Gothberg family and the senior healers from the academy seemed to ensure that Lars did not take advantage of his privileges and conducted everything with utmost fairness.

‘Could it be that the rumors were incorrect?’

While the head maid was lost in confusion, Acella suddenly appeared from the annex.

“Your Highness.”

The head maid expressed her respect alongside the knights. Acella raised her hand and signaled them to rest.

“It gets chilly at night.”

The head maid promptly prepared an outer garment for Acella.

Without a word, Acella draped it over herself and confidently proceeded.

“Where shall we go?”

“Let’s go have a meal.”

“Meal… what?”

It was the first time the head maid had seen Acella express a desire to eat first.

As someone who never knew when stomach pains would hit, Acella typically lacked an appetite even in front of a grand feast.

“Right. The prince told you to eat properly. It’s for your health, he said.”

“What did you talk about with the prince?”

Acella gave the head maid an intense glare.
The head maid realized she spoke frivolously; a maid’s role should be to exist like a shadow.

Under normal circumstances, Acella would have hurled a remark at the head maid for her mistake, but today’s reaction was a bit different.

She responded with a derisive smirk, not losing her malevolence.

“Lars, is he clever or stupid? I can’t fathom why he acts so contrary to my expectations.”

The head maid felt puzzled.

For some reason, Acella seemed clearly amused.

‘Since she wants to appoint him as her attending physician, she must have genuine interest in him.’

They had gone out together, and as soon as he returned from the dangerous demon-slaying, she had rushed outside to greet him.

Then, she spent several hours with him in his room and returned happily.

‘…Could it be, no way.’

Knowing Acella’s personality well, the head maid shook her head.

Just like how she cared for Max because she liked him, perhaps she wanted to nurture the prince too.

“Ah, take this and put it in the storage.”

Saying that, Acella handed something to the head maid.

The head maid accepted it with reverence and examined the item.

‘…A lollipop?’

It was even a half-eaten one.

*

In front of the Gothberg estate, there was a warp gate.

It wasn’t an easy gate for anyone to use.

The high teleportation spell, which transfers someone, is a high-tier magic of level six.

The warp gate serves as a checkpoint, remembered by high-tier wizards capable of casting high teleportation.

The actual transfer is carried out manually by the wizards.

Thus, it is almost never used unless for the movement of important high-ranking individuals.

“The gate is opening; it’s arriving.”

The precious warp gate was operating as a blue portal opened.

Baldur, the head of Gothberg, awaited in front of an altar made of granite.

After the guards stepped out from the portal first, an elderly gentleman walked out gracefully under their protection.

Dressed in white, he carried the mark of a healer.

The emblem on his chest and shoulders indicated he was the imperial court physician.

“Welcome to the Gothberg estate, Falkenhayn.”

“Ah, Gothberg. It’s my pleasure to finally meet the master of healers. Thank you for the warm welcome.”

The two healers exchanged handshakes.
The head of the estate and the imperial court physician from the inner palace.

Their social rank was roughly similar.

As their fields of expertise were the same, Baldur used honorifics as a sign of respect to the elder Falkenhayn.

In aristocratic society, titles and terminology are important.

In this case, with both being healers, Baldur’s use of honorifics did not imply he was in a subordinate position.

Baldur then guided Falkenhayn into the mansion.

“The air is fresh here. The academy’s sky is always cloudy and filled with the residue of magic and machinery.”

“When you have time, I recommend a leisurely ride to explore the area.”

“Haha, the inner palace physician has no time for that. Looks like a physician is finally born in Gothberg. We have many of the academy’s graduates in the inner palace.”

“Indeed.”

“I hear it was the empress’s will to choose from newcomers?”

“Yes.”

“Good thought. In fact, it’s ideal for a physician to be of a similar age as their patients.”

“Lord Falkenhayn, you are the physician for the second prince, right?”

“Indeed. He’s a vigorous one, which makes for many worries. I’d like to find a successor soon.”

Though he said so, Falkenhayn had no immediate intention of quitting his position as physician.

Not only was it difficult to quit voluntarily, but it was also hard to free oneself from the sweetness of power.

“Now, let’s head to meet the new young physician. The selection method is as I previously conveyed.”

“You mentioned the assessment would be based on a healing spell cast on an emerald dragon hatchling.”

“That’s right. Emerald dragons notably consume healing spells, you see. It’ll be conducted as a blind test for fairness.”

That was the formal reasoning presented.
However, Falkenhayn had another purpose.

‘Currently, the number of court physicians in the inner palace matches the number of imperial family members: 21. Among them, the ones with the most power are the emperor’s and succession claimants’ physicians.’

Including himself, the physicians of the succession claimants numbered four, with one for the emperor.

As the imperial household was divided into factions, so too was the inner palace based on its physicians.

‘If one more is added this time, there will be a total of six. If I can pick someone I want to establish as a subordinate, I can effectively strengthen the influence of one of those two factions. This is not something to be overlooked.’

Falkenhayn’s aim was to expand his influence in the inner palace by selecting a young physician of his choosing.

‘A useful one is typically a young person who only studies at a desk. I should choose the one with the highest faith. Fortunately, I have an eye that can ascertain faith.’

The stigma inscribed in his left eye. The ability to see faith was the talent bestowed upon him.
‘Baldur Gothberg, this man’s faith is quite substantial. An overwhelming aura is visible. He seems not to understand politics, yet his abilities as a healer are genuine.’

Wiping his left eye with the back of his hand, Falkenhayn stepped into the examination area.

Bam, the lights turned on.

Behind the translucent curtain, the silhouettes of three healers could be seen.

‘Let’s see, the candidate with the highest faith….’

As he glanced between the three, suddenly thud! he toppled from the chair and landed on his backside.

“Lord Falkenhayn? What’s the matter?”

“N-no… I’m fine.”

Falkenhayn wiped the cold sweat off his brow and blinked multiple times.

…No matter how many times he looked again, there was one candidate.

Every time he focused on him, the aura radiating from him filled his left eye with light, obscuring everything else.

‘This faith… could it be a saint has descended?!’

Falkenhayn swallowed hard and asked Baldur, “Is there, by chance, a female among the candidates?”

“All are male.”

‘Not a saint, but a saintly being! Good heavens.’

At that moment of witnessing the aura, all political thoughts faded from Falkenhayn’s mind.

Only a solemn reverence remained, washing away all turmoil.

‘I cannot let such a person slip away from the inner palace. Even if he’s not on my side, I must ensure he is chosen.’

With this level of faith, there’s no doubt he will excel in the emerald dragon healing task.

The examination proceeds.

Finally, it was that candidate’s turn.

‘I wonder what kind of healing spell he will demonstrate!’

He scratched his head and let out a sigh.

Eek! Eek! Eek!

The hatchling’s screams echoed.

The candidate was forcibly prying open its mouth to shove something inside.

“W-what on earth is happening?!”

The senior healers supervising rushed to intervene, appearing frantic.

The silhouettes fluttering around looked as if performing a pantomime.

Ultimately, a voice full of rage pierced through from behind the curtain.

“Let’s do another task instead of healing spells! I came here to heal people, not to tolerate reptiles?!”

Falkenhayn froze with his mouth agape.

Slowly, he turned to look at Baldur.

Baldur, too, seemed unprepared for this turn of events, pressing at his temples.

“It seems that candidate may have a tough time, indeed. I was informed he intended to choose a method other than healing spells before the exam, but considering the emerald dragon is the assessment subject….”

“W-what do you mean it’s not a healing method?”

What on earth was that supposed to mean?

I need him to pass!

Falkenhayn dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief.

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