The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away

Even under the sun that was nothing short of brilliant, I felt as if I were wandering in dark clouds.

Across the tea time table, Acella shot me a cold glare, so it was only natural.

The person I should be conversing with here was Lady Freda, but instead, she sat practically glued to my side, pulling her chair close without a word.

So close! This woman.

Freda sniffled and said, “I still can’t forget how you saved my father’s life. He’s truly a wonderful person. I can’t even imagine how I would have lived without him.”

Even without the Western Duke, she lives quite well.

In the future, Freda would inherit her father’s position and rule the West.

While the Western Duke had shrunk under Acella’s ascension, Freda got along with Empress Acella quite well and expanded the ducal territory again.

I didn’t know her well, as I had no personal interaction with Freda.

All I heard was that she was the Mad Dog of the West.

“I wanted to send my thanks immediately, but that day was quite hectic for both you and His Highness. I ended up leaving the Imperial Palace without seeing you. But I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

With a soft, vanilla ice cream-like smile, Freda spoke.

To me, it tasted like muddy water.

Ding!

It has risen again.

Casting a glance, the golden mana was blazing, threatening to swallow her whites whole.

The Bad Ending of the Incarnation of Jealousy occurs when I betray Acella… I think.

Could it be that Acella instinctively senses Freda as a threat?

It was like when I was offered a job transfer to Heike’s faction, who is an actual big shot.

‘She might think I’m interested in the ducal family.’

The Moonlight Palace is the imperial palace, but it has been operated by Camilla, so it has no substance.

Only now that all power has shifted to Acella is it beginning to ignite and grow.

Two thousand gold coins is a considerable amount that even I, the imperial family’s attending physician, would have to work a lifetime to gather, but it’s the maximum amount Acella can loan me.

On the other hand, the ducal family instantly offered ten thousand.

Not to mention, there’s no interest and no contract.

It seems they’ve set their sights on me.

The ducal family knows that the core of this business lies in my medicine and skills. Perhaps they’re trying to sow seeds to snatch me away when the time comes.

Acella might be feeling a sense of crisis.

‘But does that mean she thinks I would betray her for money?’

I don’t know Acella’s true intentions, but if that’s the case, I’m a little disappointed.

After all, there’s been loyalty shown up to now.

‘But it would be a shame to turn down the ducal family’s gold coins outright.’

Neria’s words about establishing the initial foundation of the pharmaceutical factory as solidly as possible are also correct.

Without money, even the ongoing construction would halt.

Should I start a conversation with the lady?

“Your Highness, when it comes to the party venue, my thoughts were conveyed just fine. Please don’t worry about it.”

“How can I wipe my mouth clean with just words? I’m a woman of virtue, you know?”

“I understand your intentions. It’s an honor for me to assist someone as wonderful as Duke, but the goodwill you’ve already shown from the ducal family is sufficient.”

“Oh my, that sounds a bit hurtful, doesn’t it? Why do I feel like you’re drawing a line with me?”

Freda’s eyes narrowed.

Why? Because I feel like Acella might kill me.

Of course, that’s not the only reason.

Without a contract, should the ducal family later meddle with our enterprise using the initial investment as a pretext, it would lead to headaches in the future.

I have two options.

Either draft a clear contract with the ducal family or return the ten thousand gold coins altogether and pretend it never happened.

The latter is immediately impossible and could ruin the relationship with the ducal family, so avoiding it would be the best plan.

In other words, what I need is a document.

I casually smiled at Freda and said, “Drawing a line? I just worry that the overly generous return you’ve sent might become a burden.”

“Hehe, that amount of gold coins is only natural to provide in support, so don’t worry about it.”

“That’s still an excessively large sum. Just in case it might become a problem later on, how about preparing a receipt in advance?”

Freda’s expression turned slightly chilly.

She’s no fool; even if I masked it, she would understand my intention.

The document expresses the intent to repay the ten thousand gold coins later.

Hidden within it is the meaning to not meddle with our business further, and I figured Freda would catch on.

“Teacher, I know of a way that doesn’t require such documents.”

Then Freda proposed a third plan.

She gently laid her hand over mine on the table.

“Ha, what now?”

I could feel Acella’s heat melting me even without turning around.

Freda spoke in a teasing tone, “If the ducal family and the marquis family are blood relatives, we can proceed with trivial money or business without documents, right?”

Crash!

Acella jumped up from her chair in a huff.

Freda looked at Acella with amusement as if she found it funny.

It was clear the limit was close.

I had to diffuse this situation somehow.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had a younger brother, Your Highness. But my younger sister Neria is still far from finding her betrothed.”

“Really, Teacher. Are you going to keep pretending you don’t know?”

Freda leaned in, looking up at me with her eyes.

In that moment, the deep, shadowed crease of her bosom caught my eye.

Of course, I understood Freda’s meaning.

She wanted to politically use my medical skills under the guise of a betrothal.

Even so, it was clear I was betrothed to Acella, and she boldly challenged the imperial princess without hesitation.

Now it made sense why she was called the Mad Dog.

“Lady, you should choose your next words very carefully.”

Acella whispered in a low tone.

Freda, who had been half-ignoring Acella so far, responded defiantly.

“Why are you so worked up, Your Highness? I’m not touching someone who belongs to another, am I? The engagement between Duke Gothberg and the third princess is well known in the social circle for business purposes.”

“What?”

“I didn’t lie, did I? Just ask anyone. In fact, there are rumors that you spread the word that the prince is a fool to keep noble ladies away.”

As expected, Freda Schwarzschweik.

The one who would rule over the ducal territory was as formidable as Acella.

Though Acella holds a higher official rank due to her royal status, considering their social standings, they are effectively equals.

Freda acts without any fear against Acella, completely for her own purposes.

In the future, there would probably be scenes of them toasting together, but I’ve botched the first button.

The problem is that while they fight like whales, it’s my back that’s getting crushed.

“You’ve chosen war, Schwarzschweik.”

“If you keep getting so mad, it’s bad for your skin. You won’t even be popular with men.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll never have the chance to see this lady’s smooth skin.”

Mana swirled in Acella’s eyes.

The limits of patience were reached. She was poised to unleash her magic at any moment.

Just as I stood up to prevent the worst scenario, Acella froze and sniffled.

“Ha-tchoo!”

She sneezed lightly and sniffled.

Her face turned red with embarrassment for showing weakness in front of the enemy.

‘The wind is chilly after all.’

It’s that season again. Especially since we’re in the north.

I took off my coat and draped it over her shoulders.

“You’ve been out in the cold for too long. You might catch a cold, let’s go inside.”

“The conversation with this witch isn’t over yet.”

“Your Highness, what does your attending physician say?”

“…I should listen.”

Acella shot an annoyed glare at Freda.

As I rubbed Acella’s arm to warm her, she calmed down a bit.

For some reason, Freda’s smug attitude also faded away.

“Hmm. I suppose the princess, who lives only within the system, finds even this cold unbearable. What a shame that you always need your attending physician. Maybe you should exercise since you have such a fragile body?”

Freda crossed her long, sturdy legs and flaunted.

She’s still provoking. Either way, it’s me who’ll inherit Acella’s stress.

Though Freda lives in warmer climates.

However, contrary to my expectations that Acella would get angry, she responded with a relaxed scoff towards Freda.

“Is that really all it takes to seduce a mere prince?”

“Really now? More than you, Your Highness…”

“Let’s see later who wins.”

Acella lifted her chin and walked towards the terrace.

I gestured to Freda to stop poking Acella any further and followed behind her.

As we walked down the corridor, Acella spoke up.

“Prince, you think that plump one is prettier than me?”

Hmm.

It was a bit surprising that this topic came up when there were so many other things we could discuss.

Acella couldn’t stand it when her looks were poked.

Though right now, Freda is much more feminine, I know how Acella will grow.

“Of course, Your Highness, you possess the finest beauty under heaven, unmatched by anyone.”

“Hmph, isn’t that so?”

Acella seemed somewhat pleased with my answer.

“That lady is a good one at business. She likely sees potential in our pharmaceutical factory and wants to ride on our coattails. I thought of drafting a document to ensure they don’t meddle with us later, using the initial investment as a pretext.”

To my words, Acella looked slightly taken aback.

“You didn’t realize my intentions?”

“No, I noticed that, but right now I’m surprised the prince is much more foolish than I thought.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm… How did you interpret her proposal of an engagement?”

“She even used the term business engagement. That’s what it meant, right?”

“Did you not think of accepting it?”

“I have Your Highness, so why would I?”

With a business venture barely untangled, there’s no reason to add another.

Even if they offered me a hundred thousand gold coins, I would refuse.

“Hmph, hmm.”

After hearing my response, Acella slightly twitched her lips, as if trying to hold back a laugh.

Ding!

Thankfully, the probability decreased significantly.

Although it didn’t return to normal.

But let’s be glad I managed to avert an explosion in time.

“That girl is quite stubborn and a headache. In my heart, I want her to take responsibility for meddling with the initial business structure.”

“Let’s make her do it.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Who do you think I am?”

Acella flashed a devilish smile and pulled out a notebook and quill from her pocket.

“You carry a notebook with you?”

“Yeah. I thought it looked convenient for the prince.”

Acella started writing in her notebook.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to tell Daddy.”

Huh.

“To the Emperor? For something like this?”

“No.”

Acella seemed to be enjoying herself, chuckling softly.

“To her daddy.”

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