The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away

―Swoosh!

The training ground was filled with a rich golden hue that could dye everything.

The magic circle drawn by Acella filled the sky and spun violently.

Out of nowhere, gray clouds formed and whoosh! a blizzard began to swirl.

Successfully casting the spell, Acella swung her wand to dispel the snowstorm.

“Phew.”

It was a difficult spell, consuming a lot of mana. Acella wiped the sweat from her forehead and breathed heavily.

“Blizzard casting is now perfect! I’d say it has reached the 5th tier.”

Seymour chuckled and flicked his beard.

“Really? Were there any shortcomings?”

“Hmm. From now on, it’s just a matter of practicing repeatedly. There’s nothing more to teach.”

“I still have a long way to go.”

Magic was the only field where Acella became genuinely humble. Her master, Seymour, had reached the status of sage and had made a significant mark in human history by reaching the 7th tier.

Though it was just one number, there was a tremendous difference in the rankings of magic.
To move from the 5th tier to the 6th tier required more experience and effort than climbing from the 1st tier to the 5th tier.
The same applied from the 6th tier to the 7th.

The realms of magic are never-ending.

“What I mean is, there’s truly nothing more to teach.”

“Eh?”

Acella felt a sense of discomfort at Seymour’s slightly different tone than usual.

“Acella, your specialties in space-time and ice magic aren’t my specialties. As you know, high-tier magicians cannot teach the same kind of magic unless they’re blood-related.”

“Well… that’s true. Because the structure of innate magical circuits is different.”

“No matter how much I teach you, I won’t be able to give you the dramatic help like I do now. I’ve stayed in the imperial court because I owe a debt to the emperor from the war. That was already 20 years ago.”

Seymour nodded and continued.

“It’s been a long time since I paid that debt, but I’ve been enjoying your company too much to leave.”

Teaching spells to that Gothberg friend was fun too, Seymour added.

“So, you’re leaving the imperial court?”

“I too need to develop my magic. The purpose of a magician’s life is just that.”

Acella fully understood his words.

“Is there anything you want to ask one last time?”

Acella bit her lip.

There would be a mountain of things she would want to ask him in the future.
But at her current level, she couldn’t even figure out what she should ask.

“Could you please see my magic once more?”

“That’s not difficult at all.”

Acella regulated her breathing.

She channeled mana into her magical circuit and focused on her wand to draw a circle.

“Clairvoyance.”

―Whoosh!

Acella’s vision and senses rapidly changed.

How many times had she cast Clairvoyance now?
Whenever she had some mana to spare, she always practiced Clairvoyance.
In the course of her practice, she had gathered quite a few clues about the imperial court. Most of the information was useless in the current situation, so the success rate was low.
Acella was pleased to see that no matter what future she looked into, she was always the emperor.

‘Where will it be this time?’

Her vision suddenly shifted.
In the next moment, Acella found herself in the imperial office.
It was a place she had seen a few times before. The Imperial Palace, where the emperor sat.
Acella was receiving reports through a crystal ball handed to her by her secretary.

The crystal ball displayed a vision.
‘An adventurer party, perhaps?’
In Acella’s eyes, a female warrior wielding a sword at the forefront was visible.
The holy aura surrounding her was unmistakable. In her lightly swinging wrist held a holy sword.
‘A hero.’

Acella saw through her identity.
‘The hero will soon appear.’
This information was a great gain.
Even in futures seen through Clairvoyance, a person of significance doesn’t just disappear.
If it were a person as important as a hero, their emergence in the world was inevitable.
If she could pull her under the Moonlight Palace first, it would immensely aid the growth of her faction.
With the hero leading, warriors, wizards, healers, and saints, four adventurers would join forces to defeat the demon race.
It was undoubtedly a hero party.

‘Oh?’

Acella thought that the healer, fiercely battling demons at the very back of the party, looked familiar.
‘Lars?’
Lars Gothberg was there.
Moreover, the saint was his sister, Neria Gothberg.
For some reason, he didn’t seem to have changed much from now. In fact, he looked even younger than what she had seen at a social gathering.
‘Why is Lars there?’

Acella’s curiosity remained unresolved. However, given that Neria was chosen as a saint, it was clear this future did not continue from the present.

―Cough!

Lars was rolling on the ground after being attacked by a demon.
Her heart skipped a beat, but only for a moment.
Seeing Lars darting around like a veteran adventurer casting healing spells, she felt relieved.

―Ugh, this is annoyingly slow!

Then, tired from it, he began to smack the holy scripture in frustration.
Watching that ridiculous sight made Acella snicker inwardly.
If she didn’t raise him, Lars would have to endure all sorts of hardships.
Satisfaction slowly filled her.

―Lars, over here!

But upon seeing the next scene, she felt somewhat displeased.
The hero stylishly dispatched the surrounding demons with fierce swordplay.

―Lars, are you okay?

―Thanks to you, I survived. You’re always so reliable.

The hero helped Lars up, her cheerful face filled with encouragement.
As if they were close friends, they threw their arms around each other and leaned on one another.
In a life-and-death situation on the battlefield, they called each other by name, trusting each other and relying on each other’s backs.
Of course, they were fellow comrades, but still.

‘The hero is a woman too, right?’

Acella’s concentration waned, feeling a twinge of irritation.
‘Ugh.’
Her vision distorted.
In the final moment, she saw herself, who had been gazing at the crystal ball, writing something on a piece of paper.
Instinctively recognizing that the content was significant, she wanted to confirm it. But whoosh, her eyes turned dark quickly.

The scene shifted.
“Your Majesty has collapsed!”
“Where is the attending physician?”

It was still the Imperial Palace. Seeing the red background, it seemed to still be the age of the current emperor.
‘This is… before I became emperor. Is this the assassination of my father?’
Acella judged that this scene took place a few years from now.
Ambrosia entered the emperor’s bedroom.

“It’s critical. We need a healer who has reached the next level more than ever.”

At her words, a young attending physician made a suggestion.
“How about Marquis Gothberg? There’s no other healer apart from those in the Inner Palace that could think of.”

“He’s also the father of a saint candidate.”

It seemed the story was leaning toward summoning Marquis Gothberg.
Fortunately, there was also a teleport gate set up at the marquisate. Marquis Gothberg could rush over immediately in such a critical situation.
‘Here, my father will surely perish. Someone is exploiting his illness to assassinate him. I see, that’s why Marquis Gothberg is involved.’

Her gaze, observing the attending physicians, drifted somewhere.
To the healer who first mentioned Gothberg’s name, with long hair.
‘I don’t know this face. Was there someone like this in the Inner Palace physicians?’
The fact that she was focusing on him meant he had some anomaly.
‘Those charged with rebellion were the attending physicians and Marquis Gothberg. I didn’t see this man.’

There was bound to be some conspiracy surrounding the emperor’s healing process.
And if there was a behind-the-scenes force orchestrating that conspiracy, it would highly likely be the long-haired physician Acella was watching now.
‘Wait. Lars isn’t here.’
This too was not a continuation from the present.
Then perhaps, if a similar situation arises in her reality,
Could it be that instead of Marquis Gothberg, Lars might be summoned to this place?
If that were to happen, Lars would take on the charge of rebellion for assassinating the emperor.
‘Ugh.’
Acella felt as if she had put a leash around Lars’ neck.
‘Lars doesn’t even know about this fact.’
If she didn’t share this clue with Lars, his life would be as good as gone.
Even if he survived, he would fall to commoner level and eventually be dragged to the front lines of battle.
Indeed, if she wasn’t around, this useless man would be lost.

The information about the complete annihilation of his family and his own doom was huge.
What should she demand in exchange for this information?
The irritation caused by the hero faded slightly.

Acella’s vision whoosh! returned to the present.

“An impressive casting! What did you see?”

Seymour praised Acella’s Clairvoyance.
Acella subtly raised the corners of her mouth.

“I found a clue.”

“Oh ho, seeing that casting means my thoughts weren’t mistaken.”

“However, Master.”

Acella bit her lip.

“My Clairvoyance isn’t perfect. I can’t choose the time period I want, nor can I see scenes outside the imperial court.”

“The realm of magic is something you will gradually elevate in the future. No one can assist you with that.”

Seymour bent over and locked eyes with Acella.

“Clairvoyance can change based on the location of casting, so keep that in mind. Try going outside the imperial palace as well.”

“Outside the imperial palace….”

Acella nodded at Seymour’s last piece of advice.

“If we meet again, you’ll surely be a great magician. I look forward to it.”

With their final farewell, Seymour handed Acella a small box.

“Master, what is this?”

“When you need help with magic, open it. You should do it with your betrothed as well.”

That day’s lesson finished, Seymour vanished from the imperial court without leaving any regrets.

‘Outside the imperial palace.’

In the newly set up office, Acella reviewed the documents.
She picked up a report on the movements of other factions.

[First Royal Princess Faction Barbarian Subjugation Deployment Plan]

“Your Royal Princess, I would like to apply for long-term leave.”

Just then, upon seeing the vacation request form Lars had brought in, Acella completed her outing plan.

*

“Welcome back, brother!”

As I stepped out of the teleport gate, Neria greeted me with a big smile.

“It’s been a while, Lars. I’m relieved to see you’re healthy.”

I was also reporting my return to my father, continuing on with the escort knights who accompanied the distinguished guest.
Without a doubt, Acella was following closely behind me.

“Your Graces, it’s an honor to have you visit our territory once again, Your Royal Highness.”

My father paid his respects to Acella. I, too, as a Gothberg, acknowledged Acella out of courtesy.

“I am honored to receive the welcome. I shall stroll on your land for a while, Marquis Gothberg.”

Unlike when Acella first came to the marquisate last year, she appeared with a confident stride this time.
Reaching up to me, she turned her head and glanced at Neria.

“You haven’t grown much here, have you?”

“Eh?”

Acella didn’t respond to Neria, who tilted her head, and continued her clack clack steps.

“Lars, the royal princess has become all the more majestic.”

“I agree.”

Perhaps due to growing a bit taller, Acella seemed to radiate more confidence.
Though there was still a disconnect, she was starting to resemble the Empress Acella I knew more and more.

“Will you need a separate guide for the mansion?”

“Well, I’m not sure. I’d like to take a look around again.”

As I entered the mansion with Acella attached to my side like her attendant, Cervus bowed his head.
Cervus seemed delighted to see me after a long time, but being in front of Acella, he couldn’t show it too much.
The head maid had heard from Cervus and conveyed it to Acella.

“Your Royal Highness, we have prepared a place for you to stay in the main hall of the marquisate. Please move there and take a rest for now.”

I thought it was the same room as last time.
However, Acella raised her chin and expressed her refusal at the head maid’s words.

“Why did you prepare a room?”

“Ah, we thought you would need a place to stay while at the marquisate…”

“I can just stay in the prince’s room.”

What?

What did she just say?
Everyone displayed a variety of reactions to Acella’s bombshell statement.
The head maid looked perplexed, my father gaped in surprise, while Cervus seemed overly excited, rubbing his hands together and twisting his body.
Neria covered her mouth with her hands and said,
“Brother, that’s impressive…”

I didn’t understand what she meant, but I could fully anticipate that this vacation wouldn’t be comfortable for me at all.

---