The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 34: Cold Medicine (3)

“Trolling?”

Lauga tilted her head, unfamiliar with the term.

“Yes. To put it simply—mutual destruction. A strategy where even if we can’t win, we can still block the enemy’s victory and enhance the entertainment value of the match.”

At my explanation, Lauga's lips stretched into a wide, wicked grin.

“I knew it. You’re a nasty piece of work, aren’t you?”

“Perish the thought. It's all in service of an exciting tournament. The martial arts competition is a fine dish on its own, but wouldn’t it be even better with a little seasoning?”

“Heh... I like spicy developments too. Have you read that romance novel that’s trending in the capital lately? The twists are crazy.”

Lauga started tapping her fingers on the desk—tatatat—already off on another tangent.

And just like that, I could feel the early tremors of a headache. I’d need to take an aspirin later.

“Huhu, this year’s flower-viewing is going to be so much fun!”

Even now, right to the end, she was looking forward to the flower festival more than the actual tournament.

Still, that was how our little transaction was finalized.

***

Two days after I made the mask for Lauga, strange whispers began spreading through the capital.

“I swear, I can’t leave the house without a mask anymore.”

“Look at how sharp my jawline looks! Why didn’t someone make these sooner?”

“They say it helps prevent illness, so why wouldn’t I wear it? It’s less suffocating than a corset, honestly.”

“It was invented by the royal physician, so I trust it.”

Masks were quickly becoming the hottest fashion item among noblewomen and young ladies in the capital.

Since they were made of linen, they weren’t too suffocating, and women who had lived their entire lives with corsets clearly found this level of discomfort more than manageable in the name of beauty.

Any noblewoman who set foot near the palace was wearing a modern-style mask now.

Apparently, every clothing merchant had copied my design, and people were buying them by the drawerful.

“Doctor, weren’t those masks your original invention? Is it really alright for just anyone to produce them?”

Tanya, who had been watching the trend unfold, voiced her concern.

Fair point.

“Medicine should be made available to the people.”

That was the spirit, at least in theory.

“But in this world, nothing comes free. I ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) should at least get royalties, shouldn’t I?”

I stepped out of the office, still in my physician’s coat.

***

Thanks to Lucie, Asella’s head maid, who executed the day’s tasks with her usual precision, another full day had flown by.

She remained by Asella’s side at all times.

Her expression seemed a little uneasy.

I could guess the reason.

After their last clash, Queen Camilla had begun to distance herself from Asella.

A cold war, essentially.

Still, Asella stuck to her schedule, carrying out every lesson as planned.

Even if the queen had ordered it, Asella herself had a strong will to become the next emperor.

Though that determination may have been implanted by the queen in the first place...

Lucie, who had watched her for years, thought so.

Even if she rarely showed it, whenever Asella successfully cast a higher-tier spell, she couldn't help but smile.

A hunger for mastery. A drive to climb.

It was a common trait among the imperial bloodline. Perhaps something engraved in their very DNA—an obsession with reaching higher, possessing more.

The current emperor himself had once been a battle-hardened warlord who expanded the empire through endless campaigns, driven by insatiable ambition.

But even if Her Highness reaches new magical heights, no one ever praises her for it.

It was the kind of thought that should cost a servant her head for treason. But what else could she do?

Lucie had never thought of Queen Camilla as a good mother.

Asella had already crossed into the fifth magical rank—an inhuman realm that only those with both talent and relentless effort could hope to enter.

Even though Asella could already wield third-rank magic at her age, Camilla never once showed surprise. She simply demanded more.

To Camilla, it was basic magic, so basic she expected Asella to perform it with ease.

But for anyone else, casting third-rank spells as a teenager would be a feat worthy of legend.

In a mage tower, she’d be hailed as a once-in-a-century prodigy.

Her master, Seymour, was already being called a historic great mage and sage.

Which only made the comparison worse.

Her Highness doesn't deserve to be treated like this, Lucie thought.

To Camilla, Asella was a tool. A means to seize power.

She only gave birth to her so she could enter the palace.

Lucie wasn’t even sure Camilla saw Asella as her real daughter.

And no one else in the royal family supported her either. They either wanted her gone or were trying to use her. All her half-siblings were rivals or vultures.

Maybe that’s why she wants to become emperor. Maybe she just wants Camilla’s approval.

Lucie suspected as much.

“I’ll see you next lesson.”

“Leave.”

The private tutor, a former professor from the Hero Academy, departed. Asella didn’t bother showing respect.

Lucie, hoping her lady could rest even just a little during this short break, served the tea she’d carefully prepared in advance.

“Your Highness, refreshments.”

“Pour.”

Seeing Asella sip her tea like a squirrel, Lucie felt slightly relieved.

The royal physician had said she should drink plenty of warm liquids while colds were going around.

At least she listens to him, Lucie thought.

Thanks to the physician, she’d been able to worry less in recent weeks.

Ever since he arrived, Asella had looked noticeably more at ease.

Even if another attack came at night, Lucie had the confidence that he could handle it.

“Asella. Are you there?”

A voice shattered the peace like a hammer falling onto glass.

A sudden, unannounced visit.

Queen Camilla had arrived at Asella’s study, flanked by her knights.

Lucie immediately dropped into a bow as Camilla stood before Asella’s desk.

“Mother.”

Camilla skimmed over the textbook Asella had been reading, then looked down her nose at her daughter.

“Still pretending to study, I see. Like you'd accomplish anything without my supervision. You can never stay focused.”

Asella said nothing, just silently listened as the queen unleashed her scathing tirade.

“Do you really think you’ll inherit the throne without me? I kept wondering when you'd come crawling back, but I see you’re still hiding. That delinquent’s been poisoning you with black thoughts.”

As soon as she mentioned me, Asella’s brow twitched.

“You have no idea how important this martial arts tournament is. His Majesty might not live much longer. You need to steal the throne before that brainless First Prince gets appointed!”

Lucie wanted to bite back. She knew better than anyone how hard Asella was preparing for the competition.

Even with her schedule packed with lessons, she never neglected managing the knights, never stopped practicing magic for her performance.

“If you keep defying me, I’ll cut off your support. Second Prince Georg asked if my mages could perform in his faction’s demonstration.”

“You’d lend your disciples to another faction?”

When Asella finally reacted, Camilla smiled smugly.

The confidence of someone with the upper hand.

“Prince Georg has always been close to us. No reason to treat him like an enemy.”

“You know exactly why he wants our support. He’s not an ally—he’s a rival for the throne.”

Asella lashed back, clearly furious.

Lucie could guess why.

The Second Prince and First Princess Heike were the main contenders for succession.

Whoever could control Asella—arguably the imperial family's strongest magical weapon—would hold serious leverage.

Georg’s support wasn’t born of kindness or familial affection.

He only approached because he saw Asella as a tool without rights.

“Asella, what have I always told you?”

“You told me to become the next emperor.”

“You misheard.”

Camilla’s gaze turned icy.

“I said I need an emperor. If you’re not on my side, you’re useless.”

Lucie found the words cruel.

Come back to me—or I’ll throw my weight behind the Second Prince instead.

It was no different from a threat.

Even if Asella acted cold, Lucie knew she had a deep attachment to anything she considered hers.

That’s why she never treated her knights or attendants with cruelty.

Her commands might be demanding, but they were never irrational.

Everyone in Moonlight Palace was loyal to her.

Camilla, too, saw Asella as her possession.

But unlike Asella, Camilla had never shown a shred of affection—not that Lucie had ever witnessed.

Only seduction disguised as love.

“Do you really think you can win over His Majesty without me? With your pathetic training?”

“...That’s...”

Asella bit her lip.

No matter how hard she tried, the odds were stacked against her.

Her knight order was too small.

And Camilla wasn’t wrong—her current training might be laughable compared to the others.

The Second Prince and First Princess were undoubtedly planning far more elaborate strategies.

“Do you finally see reality? Without me, you’re just a clueless little girl. Bow down. Beg. If you agree to special training, I might forgive that little incident—”

—Bang bang.

The door burst open with firm knocks.

“Your Highness, Doctor Gotberg reporting.”

Camilla’s head whipped around, her face twisting with irritation.

“You—! Can’t you see I’m having an important conversation? Do you have any idea where you are?”

“And what is an outsider doing here?”

“What did you just say?!”

I ignored the seething queen and handed Asella a report.

“I’ve temporarily reorganized the Moonlight Palace knight order for the martial arts tournament. With your approval, we’ll proceed.”

Asella flipped through it.

“One hundred and forty?”

“Yes.”

The number made Camilla’s eyes bulge.

“One hundred and forty?! What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Ah-ah, this is a classified document for Her Highness. Let’s not peek, even if you’re the queen. Some boundaries must be respected.”

I turned my back toward her, shielding Asella from view.

She unconsciously lifted the corner of her lips as she flipped to the next page.

“What’s this?”

“A patent application for the mask. With your authority, it should pass instantly, right?”

I gave her a small nod.

“The royalties will go into Moonlight Palace’s budget. I’ll... take a little for myself, of course.”