Chapter 4
The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away – 4
EP.4 The Marquis Rascal (2)
As I rushed towards the large dog, chaos ensued around me.
“The rascal is strangling the dog to death!”
“He’s beating up a helpless dog!”
“Did he start drinking in broad daylight? Someone stop him!”
Oh, the people with such strong prejudices.
Let’s focus on the treatment.
I may not have a license, but can an unqualified practitioner handle this situation? Time is of the essence.
As I touched Max’s neck, I felt something solid.
It seems like a fist-sized object is stuck there.
Perhaps he swallowed a large tree fruit or a stone and got caught up in the respiratory gone wrong.
This is the problem in this world.
It’s common sense to heal pain with healing magic, and healing magic, regardless of trauma or illness, heals without discrimination.
As a result, identifying the cause of the injury is often put on the back burner.
The omnipotence of healing magic wasn’t always prevalent.
It arose because ordinary citizens, who didn’t learn about it, had to rely on healing magic, strengthening the power of religion in the process of governing the country through religion-based law.
It started as a custom in a country ruled by law through religion, and over hundreds of years, it deeply rooted itself in people’s minds.
The issue is, healing magic is not all-powerful.
It can fix any injury, but the efficiency is lacking.
Especially in cases like this.
Even if you fix a blocked air hole, healing the lungs or brain that can’t receive oxygen only prolongs the suffering until death.
‘Well, considering the era, it’s not entirely unreasonable.’
This is a time with no concept of hygiene or infection.
With no advancement in anatomy, no one understands the body’s structure.
‘It’s not healing but treatment that’s needed.’
First aid.
The method is simple.
I wrapped Max’s waist with both arms, lifting his hind legs to stand him upright.
“Young master! Please stop this immediately!”
The healer thought I was doing something crazy and went into a frenzy. My father, too, looked flustered, sweating profusely.
But one person.
Acella had a slightly different gaze for some reason.
Half confusion. Half anticipation.
Her expressions reveal curiosity about what I’m about to show.
I remain hunched over, embracing Max. I overlap my hands, gripping my left hand into a fist firmly. I slightly bend my knees to ensure effective force transmission.
I bring my fist to Max’s side and pull with all my might.
“Huk!”
Max’s growls grow louder.
I repeat the pressure five times, but there is no change.
The first attempt seems to have failed.
“Oh my goodness!”
“Young master is killing the dog!”
I immediately release the pressure on my arms.
I strengthen my grip again and pull with force at once.
– Kerlok! –
This time, Max spits out a large lump with a slightly different coughing sound.
Max hastily breathes in, panting. It appears to be a solid fruit he spat out.
Perhaps he hastily put the hard, sweet-smelling object in his mouth, causing it to block his throat.
Max finally stands on all fours, coughing a few more times towards the ground.
Then, with a nonchalant expression, he shakes his tail, as if asking what happened.
Well, not showing pain is also a characteristic of dogs.
Feeling drained, I sit on the grass. Max was so heavy that I was drenched in sweat.
My body is too weak. I need to exercise a bit.
Max comes over, nudging his face against mine, and I pet him.
“No, what on earth…”
“What is the young master doing now…?”
I respond to the perplexed healers.
“It’s called the Heimlich maneuver. It’s an emergency treatment for airway obstruction caused by foreign objects. It’s commonly used, so remember it.”
They only tilt their heads in confusion, not understanding my words.
Later, maybe gather them and try artificial respiration or give a lecture together?
Who knows? There might be someone to save me when I’m in a desperate situation.
“Wow, that’s impressive. I never thought of using such a method.”
Father exclaimed, folding the scriptures.
It must have been a fresh scene for him, who had used healing magic his whole life.
“If you hadn’t saved this puppy, it would have been a great disrespect to the Princess and even more to the Empress. It would have been a disgrace to the family. Thanks to you, son, we’ve overcome a crisis.”
Father patted my shoulder, supporting me as I stood up. I replied,
“I am the eldest son of the Gothberg family. Naturally, I had to do what was necessary.”
“Haha, when did our son become so reliable? Did you even study healing magic on your own?”
“Ah, it wasn’t healing magic.”
Father was taken aback by my response.
“Then what kind of magic was it?”
“Medicine.”
“Medicine… It’s not magic but a field of study.”
Father smiled happily, impressed.
A message appears in the status window.
[No. 004: Sweet Poison 71% → 0%]
[Updated]
[Ending has been deleted.]
‘Wow.’
One bad ending has been deleted. Unconsciously, the corners of my mouth lifted.
‘Now I remember. It was an ending where Acella used magic to eliminate the air, causing suffocation.’
Oh, it was a dreadful memory.
Here, Max didn’t die, and Acella didn’t have a lasting impression of suffocation.
It means my trauma has also disappeared somewhat.
Fresh air flows into my mind as if the oxygen has entered.
‘More than I expected.’
Erasing a bad ending… It might be amusing.
Max, who had been floating on my legs, hopped to the other side.
It was towards his true owner, Acella.
Acella, who was a bit bewildered a moment ago, returned to her usual cold demeanor.
Everyone in the room tensed at the intimidating aura emitted by the fourteen-year-old girl.
She flicked her fingers towards me.
“I’ll take him as physician.”
What did she say?
“Yes?!”
“Princess?!”
Acella’s statement shocked everyone present.
The serving maids, who also served as her attendants, were the first to try to stop the princess.
“Princess, just a moment…”
“I know that Master has almost never studied healing magic.”
“You might want to reconsider…”
When Acella glared and threw a sharp gaze, they fell silent.
Resistance also arose from our healers.
“L-Lady! The physician’s examination is still ongoing!”
“How can an opportunity to enter the royal palace…”
“If Young master becomes the Princess’s personal physician, it could lead to a significant problem!”
Father also seemed somewhat surprised by Acella’s statement. It was an attitude of caution about the speech.
Certainly, at that time, I was affiliated with the healer academy, but I hardly studied, and I was more of a troublemaker who enjoyed drinking.
Becoming Acella’s fiance was also due to political reasons involving the royal family and our house.
‘That’s your business.’
It’s not my side job.
‘But I don’t want to go.’
If I become the Princess’s personal physician at the palace, I’ll inevitably get entangled with Acella continuously.
Then, there might be more opportunities to erase bad endings.
Of course, my social status will also rise.
But having to see this woman every day? As a personal physician, I would have to check her magical power as soon as I wake up in the morning.
Is there a chance of cardiac arrest and fainting? If that’s the case, I wouldn’t have returned ten years ago.
‘Preventing the family’s downfall and succeeding here is the wise choice.’
Personal physician?
A personal physician who waits 24 hours in the adjacent room because it’s challenging to hand over responsibilities, also known as a lifelong job as a personal physician?
A personal physician practically equivalent to a political faction, so if the royal family collapses, the personal physician is executed regardless of their will?
‘Am I insane?’
The medical office where the palace’s personal physician enters is metaphorically like a university hospital.
The emperor lives with just three personal physicians.
Even distant relatives and in-laws of the emperor each have one personal physician, and they bring along a whole entourage.
It’s a place where healers show off and engage in politics.
It’s more profitable to be the director of a private hospital than a professor at a university hospital.
No political stress, no need to deal with…
Bad endings will occur ten years later, so I can erase them one by one whenever I get the chance.
Seeing Acella once a month is enough.
It would be even better if we break off the engagement after a year and never see each other again.
I need to organize the situation.
I spoke calmly.
“I’m grateful for the honorable offer, Princess. However, the healers also have a valid point. We are conducting a carefully selected examination to determine the most suitable talent for you from our family. Please wait, and we will present you with the best candidate…”
Unconsciously, I paused my words as cold sweat ran down my back.
The numbers in the status window flash ominously in red.
[No. 056: Villainess’s Hatred 21% → 64%]
‘Ah, damn.’
If you really don’t like it, just threaten with a knife.
I sneakily glance around, and Acella’s expression has become extremely menacing.
Everyone in the room senses the tension and remains silent.
She glares at me.
“You won’t do it?”
“…As you heard, I’ve hardly studied healing magic.”
“So?”
“I don’t know how to use healing magic.”
“Don’t want to?”
The probability is steadily increasing, from 64% to 72%.
She seems ready to slit my throat if I don’t comply immediately.
I need to buy some time, at least.
“Then let’s do it this way.”
As I take a step back, Acella subtly tilts her chin up.
“My biggest concern is my inexperience. I must not make mistakes on your precious body, Princess.”
Acella shows interest in my words.
With confidence, I declare.
“I will participate in the ongoing examination for the selection of the personal physician. If I prove my qualifications through fair competition, I will gladly accept the position as your personal physician, Princess.”
“Can you swear to sincerely carry it out?”
“I swear.”
Upon hearing my answer, Acella flashed a devilish smile.
“If you’re sincere, you’ll naturally be chosen, right?”
“…Yes?”
“If you fail, I will hold you accountable for the sin of lying to me.”
Acella gestured to the maid who also served as an attendant.
“Supervise the personal physician examination diligently from now on. Make sure there’s no cheating or favouritism.”
“I will comply, Princess.”
Hmm.
It just got more troublesome.
It was supposed to be an examination conducted by our family, so I thought I would perform reasonably well, but things took an unexpected turn.
I underestimated Acella von Württemberg, the strongest villainess in the empire.
Even when she was a girl, she was already above me in every way.
“Anyone dissatisfied?”
No one answers Acella’s question.
Of course not.
Who would raise their hand in response to a question like, “Who wants to try putting their neck in the guillotine hole?”
“Everyone else, leave. You, come to my room.”
“Why?”
As Acella points at me, I instinctively react with resistance.
She furrows her brow as if she doesn’t understand.
“I told you to come to my room earlier. Weren’t you on your way?”
Oh, right.
“Of course, as you say, Your Highness.”
I follow her, walking weakly. I seem to have become a figure escorted by maids.
Max has fully recovered, energetically wagging his tail beside Acella.
He seems excited, probably not knowing what’s happening. Indeed, dogs are creatures of simple joy.
After Acella entered her room through the terrace, she gestured for me to follow.
“Come in.”
I felt a bit awkward with her indifferent attitude.
Even though it’s a borrowed room and we’re engaged, is it usual for a man to enter a woman’s room?
Well, it can’t be helped. If she wants to criticize, let her.
I stepped into her room through the terrace.
What is happening, I have no idea, but Max is happily panting by Acella’s side.
Not knowing what’s going on, he’s just excited. Indeed, dogs are always in a good mood.