The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 81: Cesarean Section (3)
Asella’s wand released golden mana in an odd, spiraling trajectory.
The five magic circles she drew formed an intricate sculpture—artwork woven through a rift in higher-dimensional space.
Ah.
Just as the casting seemed to proceed smoothly, the final circle shuddered and veered off course.
Was it because she was slightly too excited in front of Las?
Clairvoyance was a difficult spell to cast cleanly, even after repeated attempts.
―Huff!
Her vision was sucked inward.
And in the next moment—
―Whoosh!
The cold breath of winter vanished, replaced by scorching heat.
A blazing inferno erupted before her eyes.
The Gotberg estate was in flames.
Ugh.
A splitting headache struck Asella.
Unlike before, the casting was ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) unstable. She felt like her consciousness might snap loose at any moment.
It was like watching a reel of film—shredded, stitched together, and run on fast-forward through a projector.
Her mouth moved on its own, shouting words she hadn’t meant to say:
―"My house! My home!"
―"Neria! Sivers! Is no one here?!"
―"I am the son of the Marquess Gotberg! You, over there! Put out this fire right now!"
What...?
Asella was confused. That voice wasn’t hers.
But it was a voice she knew well.
Las. This is Las’s perspective.
Seymour’s advice had been spot on.
Clairvoyance cast outside the palace had given her a completely new kind of experience.
This must be after the Gotbergs were purged for treason.
But it was far from pleasant. Overwhelming despair pressed down on her like a crushing weight.
These were undoubtedly the emotions Las had felt.
He was screaming, hurling buckets of water at the blaze, doing whatever he could to save the collapsing estate.
But the tiny splashes of water had as much effect as scattering ashes into the sea—they evaporated instantly.
It was the moment the Gotberg family vanished from history.
―Fwoosh!
Her vision jumped again.
Same location. The Gotberg estate.
Or rather, where it once stood.
Now it was nothing but a barren, scorched wasteland.
―"Excellent land! Stupid Empire fools, leaving a place like this behind!"
―"From this day forward, the Thunder Tribe claims this territory!"
―"Follow the chieftain! Obey him! Praise him!"
The northern wall that the Gotbergs had long defended had fallen.
Massive warriors covered in fur and wielding axes surged in like a tidal wave.
Barbarians.
Also called Bavarians, they roamed the wild, uncivilized territories even farther north than the Empire’s own northern reaches.
Their forces, riding high on momentum, stormed toward the Empire.
The last Imperial citizens who remained in the North were mercilessly slaughtered.
That was the final fate of what had once been the Marquessate of Gotberg.
Watching in hiding, Las—now a noble without a home—fled.
His breath was ragged, a mixture of sorrow and isolation.
Then he tripped and collapsed onto the frozen ground.
His bloodied hands, covering his mouth, smeared red across his skin.
He clenched his fists in frustration, but reality refused to change.
Las’s anguish pierced Asella’s heart like a dagger.
The grief of losing his family, the regret of wasted years, the hatred toward the world—all of it washed over her in a flood.
Amid that emotional vortex, Asella made a vow.
This future must never come to pass.
She wouldn’t mind seeing Las cry and beg when things didn’t go his way.
She even wanted to watch him stumble once or twice for acting without her.
But she didn’t want him to fall so far that he could never recover.
His Majesty will die soon due to illness.
Even if he could be saved, someone would conspire to assassinate him.
In that future, all court physicians and healers associated with him were accused of treason and executed.
In the vision, Asella herself had ordered the executions as the newly crowned Empress. But even if not her, someone else would have.
Las must never be involved in this.
Otherwise, the North would collapse, and the barbarians would break through.
I can’t tell him. He wouldn’t believe me, and if he acted rashly, it could ruin everything.
This wasn’t a matter of years down the line—it could happen tomorrow.
I have to stop it.
That was the moment Asella resolved herself.
―Huff!
Her vision shifted again.
Huh? I’m back.
The Gotberg estate.
Everything was peaceful. The sunlight was warm enough to sting her eyes.
A soft breeze brushed across the blooming yellow rose garden, making a gentle rustling sound.
In the middle of the rose garden—
A woman stood with her back to her, basking in the full bloom of spring.
Her waist, wrapped in a plain dress, was slender.
The wind swept through her long white hair, strands fluttering like silver silk.
The sunlight made her hair shine so brightly it seemed almost metallic.
Who is she...?
Asella took a step toward the woman.
Just as the woman began to turn her head toward her—
―Fwhoom!
“Ah.”
Asella collapsed to the ground, struck by a powerful headache.
“Your Highness.”
Las was already there, supporting her, an arm around her waist.
Asella had dropped her wand and was breathing heavily.
“You overexerted yourself. That was a 5th-circle spell.”
“No... It usually works fine...”
“I’ll prescribe something for you.”
“H-Huh?”
Las knelt before her, visibly worried.
Meeting his face at such close range, Asella reflexively held her breath.
Las placed a hand on her cheek. His hand was bigger than expected—large enough to cradle her face completely.
“You have a nosebleed.”
“I didn’t notice.”
“Don’t tilt your head back.”
Las gently wiped her nose with gauze.
“The higher the circle, the more strain on the mana circuits. Practice is good, but don’t overdo it.”
“...Okay.”
Maybe it was because he was holding her face like that, but Asella felt like she had to obey.
“What kind of spell was it?”
“Hmm... A fun one.”
“Hah, didn’t look like it. One flash, and down you went.”
“Didn’t realize how it looked.”
“If it was a firework spell, there are more efficient ones at lower circles.”
“Yeah. Tons of them.”
Asella casually traced two fingers through the air and summoned a small flame.
“It’s warm.”
“Efficient, right?”
She giggled softly. The dried remnants of her nosebleed had begun to freeze, and she sniffled.
She recalled the scenes she had just witnessed through Clairvoyance.
“Las, what was your mother like?”
“I’m not sure. I have no memory of her.”
“Hm. I bet she had white hair like yours.”
“Probably.”
Could it be that Clairvoyance didn’t just show the future—but the past as well?
And it wasn’t limited to her own perspective.
That was something she hadn’t known until now.
Something she’d never have realized if she’d only practiced magic in the palace all her life.
And she realized something else too.
If Las were to vanish from her side, accused of treason, executed, left to despair—
...I don’t want that.
This man, just a little longer...
She wanted him to stay by her side.
“Las.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, do as I say.”
“Haha, as you wish.”
Las gave his usual foolish smile, unaware of how serious she was.
If not for Clairvoyance, she would never have seen this coming.
...She wanted to see more futures.
All of them, if possible.
That thought lingered in Asella’s heart.
“Shall we head back? It's cold out.”
“So soon? No thanks. Let’s walk a bit more.”
“You had a nosebleed. Absolutely not.”
“Hmm... then let’s go into the woods at least.”
She pointed to the willow grove on the estate. Las shrugged.
“Why not.”
He stood and reached for her hand.
Surprised by the sudden touch, Asella shot him a glare.
“Why are you holding my hand?”
“It’s cold. You were just casting fire—your hands are warm.”
“Am I a stove to you?”
“More like a heating pad.”
Asella scowled, scooped up a handful of snow, and stuffed it down the back of Las’s neck.
“I can’t believe it’s already been a month. Take care, Las.”
“I’ll be waiting, big brother!”
Vacation—brief as it felt—was finally over, and I was sent off by my father and Neria.
“Master, please let us know when you return next time too! And bring back snacks from the capital!”
Even Boris and the other knights and servants came out to see me off.
“It was nice to be back at the marquessate.”
That was Bruno’s comment.
“You two should take vacations more often.”
“I prefer overtime pay.”
Bruno was dead serious.
I personally preferred my current work-life balance, even if it meant less money.
He was right, though—it was a good break.
Just knowing I had a home to return to was comforting.
“I’ll protect the family no matter what.”
“A noble resolve, sir.”
Tanya, walking beside me, chimed in at my mutter.
She probably didn’t know what I meant by it.
It’s about time I prepared for the family’s downfall.
Even if it wasn’t tied to a bad ending, it was a crisis that had to be addressed.
The Gotberg family is destroyed on charges of treason.
My father is executed, the estate burns, and the marquessate is overtaken by barbarians.
When the family falls, I lose my position as Court Physician and get exiled from the palace.
I’ve changed history enough that my father’s involvement is less likely now.
On the day the Emperor’s condition turns critical, my father gets called in and, alongside Ambrosia, makes a mistake that results in the Emperor’s death.
Whether it was truly malpractice or not was impossible to prove at the time.
Years later, when Asella ascended the throne, it was revealed as an assassination, and everyone involved was executed for treason.
Even though I didn’t live it directly, the memory was branded into my body.
On execution day, I secretly hid in the capital square and watched it happen with my own eyes.
It was a bitter memory.
Tanya must’ve believed in my father until the end. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
We still had a few years before the Emperor’s condition worsened, but if the real culprit moved early, it might happen sooner.
The Imperial Court would react swiftly once that happened, so I needed to be prepared.
With that thought, I walked out to the main road, where Asella’s retinue was already waiting.
For some reason, I asked the princess in the carriage,
“Your Highness, the teleportation gate is right nearby. Did you really need the carriage?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
She poked her head out of the window and smiled slyly.
“We’re not going back to the palace.”
The chief maid handed me a document.
[First Princess’s Barbarian Subjugation Campaign – Deployment Order]
“Let’s go fight some barbarians.”
“Ah.”
Asella was always abrupt like this.
Barbarians, huh.
[No. 032: Contaminated Barbarians – 17%]
[No. 035: Barbarian Invasion – 8%]
We had a lot to talk about.
Without hesitation, I climbed into the carriage.
“This should be fun. Let’s depart immediately.”
“Huh? I thought you’d be scared.”
Asella tilted her head in surprise at how readily I agreed.
“Did you expect me to panic? Next time, try a more dramatic entrance.”
“Oh, please.”
She scoffed and turned to gaze out the window.
With the knights’ shout, the carriage began rolling west.
