The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 56: Assassination (1)

VIP lounge on the upper level of the ballroom.

Camilla stood by the curtain, looking down at the nobles dancing below.

Her black eyes were filled with open disdain.

“So this is where you’ve been, Your Majesty the Empress.”

A voice, familiar but flippant, called out to her. Second Prince Georg entered the lounge with his escort knights in tow.

Camilla greeted him warmly.

“Georg, I take it the negotiation is concluded?”

“A lady who was just a common count’s daughter before her father died last year—do you really think she can manage the position of house head? That mining right belongs to Tojin Palace now.”

“Truly capable as always. There’s no doubt in my mind now—Georg, you are the only heir fit to be the next Emperor. I grow more certain each day.”

“Well, thanks to the groundwork you laid, Your Majesty, it was an easy job.”

Georg took a seat and picked up a glass of wine.

“You really do have an impressive network. After that monster outbreak near the mine, the count’s house came running to me, begging for help. How did you manage that?”

“Heh. Could you even begin to comprehend my magic?”

“Haha, I wouldn’t presume. Weren’t you the only mage ever to wield duplication magic?”

Duplication Magic.

A spell that conjures a being entirely identical to the caster.

Illusion magic can mimic appearances, but Camilla’s duplication creates a perfect clone—superior and unique.

The duplicate can also use the same spells, learn new knowledge, and accumulate experiences.

When reabsorbed, all that growth transfers to the original.

“I’ve never seen you use it in the palace. Is it difficult?”

“Very. But now I have apprentices, so there’s no need.”

“Thanks to your apprentices, Tojin Palace saved face. Court mages are rare, after all.”

“They were ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) even rarer when I first entered the palace. His Majesty only began embracing mages because I persuaded him. Thanks to the Teleport Gates, the Empire’s reach is now swifter than ever.”

“And yet such a brilliant Archmage is kept tucked away in that rustic Moonlight Palace. His Majesty’s priorities baffle me.”

Camilla wrinkled her nose ever so slightly.

“Ah, don’t be angry. Unlike His Majesty, I am very mage-friendly. The more soldiers with skills, the better, wouldn’t you agree?”

Georg laughed heartily.

“When I ascend the throne, I’ll grow the mage corps just as extensively as the knight orders, per your vision. I honestly don’t get why His Majesty is so wary of magic.”

“To him, it must have seemed like an unknown force. He even intended to continue his conquest campaigns until he had Asella.”

That had been the reason Camilla was pushed out of court—because the Emperor decided to halt wars and suppress magic instead.

“Wasn’t it your ambition to spread magic widely?”

“It still is. Georg, your policies align perfectly with my ideals.”

“Must be upsetting, then, that Asella grew into such a disobedient brat.”

“Asella.”

Camilla’s brow twitched faintly.

She inhaled through her nose in silence, contemplating Asella. When she finally spoke, her tongue carried a cold, simmering wrath.

“I told you, Georg. To create magic for the mage armies, we need the soul of a grand witch.”

“Can’t we just break her down eventually?”

“There’s no time. If Asella fully masters it, we’ll never get it back.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“There’s a simple method.”

Georg chuckled at the hidden implication behind her silence.

As expected, mages possess an abnormally intense obsession with their art.

But surely, this would be a last resort. After all, Asella was her own flesh and blood.

With a hint of jest, Georg asked:

“What, have you scheduled her assassination or something?”

Camilla responded with a twisted smirk, lifting only one corner of her mouth.

***

“Kyaaaa!!”

“What happened?!”

“The Duke—His Grace has collapsed!”

The ballroom, moments ago filled with music, erupted into chaos.

The escort knights, until now only on alert, drew their swords and formed protective circles around their lords.

“Doctor!”

Tanya, who had been shadowing me at a respectful distance, rushed over immediately. Asella’s three escort knights followed.

“Protect Her Highness first!”

“Yes, sir!”

Asella looked visibly shaken. Her chest rose and fell rapidly—she was breathing hard.

As her physician, it was important to check on her.

But the Western Duke, now convulsing on the floor, was both a national hero and the first political ally Asella had secured.

If he died, the consequences would be dire.

Hyperventilation, muscle spasms. Classic neurotoxin symptoms.

Exactly as the diagnostic skill reported.

Basically, it’s like he swallowed an entire bottle of pesticide.

A cursed liquor brewed with black magic.

The [Poison Trap] bad ending percentage had spiked earlier.

It was the same ending where the world fell because Asella’s black mages had poisoned the court.

“Your Grace!”

The duke’s knights clanked and rushed over.

“Is there no healer? We need a healer!”

“Already summoned one!”

They paled when they saw the duke writhing on the ground.

“It’s black magic! A necrotic curse—it’ll kill him in under a minute! How long until the healer gets here?!”

“At least three minutes...!”

“This can’t be!”

The knights broke into a sweat. Nobles around us gasped behind their hands.

“Why today, of all days?!”

“How did a black mage infiltrate the palace?!”

“We have to get out of here!”

The ballroom descended into mass panic like a runaway truck.

I focused solely on the patient.

If it were gaseous, treatment would be harder. But these symptoms could be addressed directly.

Inside my suit were two syringes.

Antidotes.

“Wait, what are you doing?! Step away from His Grace!”

As I crouched next to the duke, one of the knights moved to block me in alarm.

But Tanya’s eyes blazed with fury, and her voice cut through.

“This man is Gotberg, royal physician to the House. If you want to keep your lord alive, stand down.”

“You’re... the chief physician? Please—help him!”

The knight stepped aside immediately.

I was already ready.

First Aid C activated

My body moved on its own. I ripped the fabric of the duke’s suit trousers at the thigh.

First syringe—atropine. I removed the cap and positioned it vertically.

Click. The needle popped out, and the liquid was injected.

I continued until the fluid reached the marked dosage line.

“What is he doing?”

“There’s no divine power in his hands...”

I ignored the nobles and knights murmuring.

Work...

“...Haa... Haa...”

The duke’s breathing began to normalize.

His muscles, stiffening into rigor, started to relax.

Atropine reduced symptoms enough to buy time.

Immediate death has been averted. Now for the real treatment.

I pulled out the second syringe.

Obsidoxin. Pressed the button—administered it the same way.

Antidote delivered. I waited.

The status window pinged.

Prescription C activated

The efficacy of my treatment had risen.

Confirmed—Obsidoxin was breaking down the toxin.

“...Phew.”

Only now could I wipe the sweat from my forehead.

“Huff... Huff... Ugh... what... what happened...”

The duke looked up at me, barely conscious, and muttered.

“The worst has passed. You were lucky.”

“You’re... Her Highness the Third Princess’s physician...”

“Yes, I am. You—get him to a proper resting place.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

His knights quickly lifted him up.

The summoned healers arrived and began chanting their spells over the duke.

“Is His Grace okay?!”

“The chief physician saved his life!”

There were no other casualties in the ballroom.

“I repeat: do not consume any liquid in this venue!” fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Once treatment concluded, I stood up and issued a warning to everyone. Then, with Tanya, I returned to Asella.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Y-Yeah. And you...?”

“Treatment was successful. He’ll be fine. But you may have been exposed to the poison. I’ll disinfect you now.”

I took her trembling arm.

She flinched slightly when the alcohol touched her skin.

“This place is no longer safe. You should evacuate, Princess.”

“...No.”

Asella bit her lip, but her voice was firm.

“This was an attempted poisoning inside the Imperial Palace. If the royal family flees first, what message does that send? I have to stay until the other nobles evacuate.”

“That’s not necessary...”

“The steward who served me the drink—have they caught him?”

Asella’s resolve was already set.

This was a public assassination attempt on both a duke and a royal successor.

To preserve the Empire’s honor, they would need to uncover the truth and punish the culprit without mercy.

“I understand how you feel, but Your Highness, your safety must come first.”

“Don’t argue, Young Master. Tanya, Slan—track down the steward who brought me that drink.”

Tanya looked to me for guidance. If she left, I’d be without protection.

Still, two of Asella’s knights remained, so it was manageable.

“Neria needs looking after too. Go join Boris. Tanya—do as the Princess commands.”

“Understood.”

The knights left. I turned to Asella.

“Why are you being so stubborn?”

“‘Stubborn’? Everyone’s watching. What else should I do?”

“We still don’t know if the target was the duke or you. If it was you, then you’re still in danger.”

“I’m a member of the royal family. I can’t just hide behind safe walls. Even Heike fights on the frontlines.”

“She doesn’t lead the charge swinging a sword. Recklessness and courage aren’t the same. You need to protect yourself.”

“Why do you keep treating me like a child?!”

“Because I’m your physician! I care!”

I raised my voice without meaning to.

Asella pursed her lips, clearly taken aback.

I hadn’t expected it either. I’d let my emotions spike.

Crap. She’s mad now.

“...I don’t think I’m the target.”

She mumbled, unsure of herself.

“If I was, they wouldn’t have chosen this venue. The duke, out of his territory and in contact with many outsiders—he was the better target. A rival noble probably smuggled in a black mage...”

Then my status window lit up with a new alert.

No. 086: Assassin in the Shadows – 37% → 75%

“No. The target is you, Princess.”

“...What?”

I grabbed her wrist.

“It’s okay. I know how to avoid this ending.”