The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 42: The Princess and the Personal Physician (3)

I jumped down into the arena and sprinted straight toward Asella.

Every time the enormous black death dragon above us flapped its wings, a sandstorm kicked up across the field.

Wilhelm, the Death Dragon. One of the Four Heavenly Kings.

There was no way I could be mistaken. No matter how dragon-like it was, I had seen that face hundreds of times.

We’d fought countless battles.

It wasn’t wearing its adamantium armor, and it was smaller than I remembered.

Still in its juvenile stage—before it rose to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

The reason it suddenly appeared must be...

I had a pretty good idea.

Asella’s Recall spell—magic that could summon a living being to the caster’s side.

Even ten years later, Asella remained the only person who could use it.

She must have continued developing Recall, raising its tier, and eventually used it to summon an entire dragon corps.

Someone just saw Asella’s spell and mimicked it immediately.

A mage capable of understanding a new spell on first sight and casting it with more power than Asella.

Seymour hadn’t shown up to the tournament—so that left only one culprit.

Empress Camilla.

I’d be sure to interrogate her later about what the hell she thought she was doing.

Asella mentioned Wilhelm before...

—Next is the death dragon subjugation, I believe. About ten years ago? I once crossed blades with that little black lizard. Had I known it would become a high-ranking officer in the Demon King’s army, I’d have made sure to crush its windpipe back then.

—What’s there to worry about? You had a Hero on your side. A monster like that should’ve been easy.

Easier said than done. I distinctly remember five full party wipes against Wilhelm.

So that “duel” Asella mentioned—that must be this moment.

And now I could see clearly that her earlier boast was pure bluff.

Even from afar, the way she stood was nothing like the image she’d painted ten years later.

Tense legs. White-knuckled hands gripping her staff. Teeth clenched so tightly they might shatter.

Her body frozen in fear, muscles locked in place.

Her upper body was hunched, instinctively guarding her abdomen—the kind of posture you take when the pain is too intense to stand.

What crushing its windpipe. You’re lucky you didn’t die.

[No. 101: Mana Rampage 4% → 71%]

[Fluctuating]

The probability of the Mana Rampage Ending—triggered by Asella’s death—was skyrocketing.

That death dragon was clearly a direct threat to her life right now.

I can’t just sit back and watch.

If she dies before I treat the cost of her talents, her mana will rampage.

It could wipe out the capital in a flash.

And I’d be caught in it too—not a chance I’d survive.

So this was, ultimately, self-defense.

It wasn’t pity.

It wasn’t some noble instinct to help a frightened girl standing alone before a deadly dragon.

Her entire royal family was too busy saving their own skins to care—what did that have to do with me?

She’s the one who killed me, over and over again.

If anything, I’m the one who deserves sympathy.

And I’m not some battle-hardened warrior—I don’t have the power to bring down a death dragon by myself.

Still...

It’s a physician’s duty to check on their patient’s condition.

Besides, I’ve received quite a bit of support from Asella since my regression.

Becoming the Imperial Court Physician made life a hell of a lot easier for me.

So for now...

No—until our contract is over, I should assist her as much as possible.

This is just payment.

“Your Highness!”

I’d almost reached her, but she didn’t even react to my voice.

She was that tense. Borderline panic.

In cases like this, an external stimulus was needed.

A slap would’ve been the fastest way—but I didn’t have the heart for that, so I grabbed her wrist and pulled.

“Your Highness.”

Finally, Asella looked up at me.

A swirl of golden mana turned in her eyes.

“Las.”

“Yes. It’s me.”

“...What are you doing here?”

Her voice was heavy with confusion.

“I told you—take this when you’re in pain.”

I pulled a vial from my coat pocket. The pills inside clinked as I opened it and took out a painkiller.

“...I don’t want it. It’s bitter.”

“Listen to your physician.”

I brought the pill close to her lips.

Just from touching her with my fingers, I could tell—her breath was ragged and hot.

She was struggling far more than I expected.

If she refused, I’d planned to force it in.

But Asella accepted the pill I placed between her lips without much resistance.

She swallowed it with a dry gulp.

“...Hoo.”

Her breathing began to stabilize little by little.

I gently dabbed the sweat beading on her forehead with a handkerchief.

“Feeling any better?”

“...My head’s fuzzy.”

“That’s the painkiller kicking in—and your mana’s depleted. Fortunately, I’ve got a mana replenishment shot as well. It’s single-use, but it should let you cast Recall about three more times.”

I took out a syringe-like injector from inside my coat.

Asella, dazed, didn’t recognize what it was and asked a nonsensical question.

“...Did you see my magic?”

“Of course. I watched it clearly from the viewing stands.”

“What did you think?”

“Elegant. Powerful. Brilliant.”

“...Right?”

Asella let out a silly, sleepy smile, her eyelids fluttering.

“Though it’d be a bit disappointing if that were your last spell.”

“Last? What do you mean—”

―BOOM!

A black orb exploded in the stands. A death dragon attack.

The knights stationed there were swept up in a curse and thrown into the air.

They’d tried to get its attention by throwing spears—and paid the price for it.

The dragon turned its glowing eyes toward us.

It seemed very interested in Asella.

“See that dragon? It’s about to unleash a massive curse on every human in this arena. Tough luck, Las.”

I smirked and stepped behind her, gripping both her shoulders.

“W-What are you doing?”

I gently pushed her forward, standing her tall and steady, facing the dragon.

“Your earlier ice spell just had poor elemental affinity. Wilhelm the Death Dragon isn’t that hard to take down.”

While I spoke, I discreetly injected the mana replenishment dose into her neck.

“Nngh, that stings.”

“Good. That means you’re ready to fight.”

Asella’s eyes went wide.

“Fight? You want me to fight that thing?”

“Of course.”

I answered without hesitation.

“You are the most powerful mage here, Your Highness.”

You’re the only one who can stop that thing.

So show me what you’ve got, Asella.

***

After the magical demonstration ended, the first emotion to flood Asella’s mind was confusion. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Her head was spinning with countless questions.

Why hadn’t her magic been recognized?

What was her place in the Imperial Family?

Had her mother truly given up on her?

Would becoming Emperor really fix all of this?

...But more than anything, the biggest question in her heart was—

Why was Las here?

No, if she thought about it, the answer was obvious.

Las had always been by her side.

From the very first time they met in the rose garden bursting with yellow blossoms.

Was it because he was her fiancé? Or because he was her personal physician?

Every morning when she awoke, Las was there.

Every night before bed, he was there.

And even now—

...Why is it that, at times like this, you’re always...

Right beside me?

She couldn’t bring herself to ask aloud.

Because if he ever changed—even slightly—because he realized her intent...

She felt like their delicate relationship would crumble.

Everyone who followed her had clear motives and was easy to read.

Loyalty came with sweet rewards.

No one in this age clung to honor without material gain.

Her attendants obeyed out of duty and for the stability that came with their post.

Her knights followed for the power and prestige of serving the future Emperor.

But Las was different.

He seemed loyal, yet always prioritized himself.

He seemed obedient, but constantly tested her limits.

He flattered well—but never until she told him to. Honestly, it felt like she had to beg for it.

He wasn’t clinging to her for money or power.

Then was he just some rotten delinquent trying to exploit their engagement?

If he were, it would’ve been easier to deal with.

She could’ve locked him up like a fool husband and roamed the social world in freedom.

But he was nothing like that.

He was diligent, always making new discoveries in medicine, crafting manuals like clockwork.

What exactly is this man after?

That question was what first sparked Asella’s interest in Las.

He was the first person she couldn’t read at all.

And his surprisingly normal appearance—so unlike the rumors—only made it harder to understand his motives.

So if she asked him the wrong question now—

If she said something like “Why did you come here to die?”

Or “Why go that far?”

Or even “Are you on my side?”

Then the strange, fragile balance they’d maintained until now might come crashing down.

She was afraid of that.

She didn’t even understand why she was afraid—perhaps due to her lack of experience.

But ironically, thanks to that fear—

I can fight.

Even as the death dragon bared its curses with dark energy swirling, she could grip her staff once more.

Her mind was foggy from the medication.

But Las’s voice pierced through, clear and unwavering.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

Asella shook her head.

It was a pain no healer had ever been able to fix.

Las had erased it with just a single, tiny pill.

If that wasn’t magic, what was?

His voice echoed through her mind.

“Listen closely, Your Highness. ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Elemental magic won’t work on the death dragon. Even though it’s a dragon, its nature is fundamentally different. It’s elementally immune—very high resistance.”

Las rattled off terms she had never heard before.

“Use a different element. Light, if possible. He’s still a juvenile. You can take him down.”

“With my magic? That dragon?”

“Of course.”

Las answered with firm conviction.

...Why was it?

Asella, who had lived her whole life as a princess, perceiving everything in the world with perfect clarity—

In that moment, saw nothing but Las’s face.

The face of her personal physician, who believed in her without an ounce of doubt.

“Hoo.”

Asella steadied her breath.

Four golden circles began to form.

One pierced through them.

They spun. They blazed.

She chanted in a calm, low voice.

“Recall.”

—FWOOOM!

One of Wilhelm’s massive wings suddenly vanished—

—BOOM!!

—and crashed to the ground behind them.

The dragon, having lost a wing, fell from the sky at the same moment.