“A victor has erged! I hereby declare that Third Princess Asella von Württempelt has triumphed in a rightful duel trial!”
Lauga’s voice rang out loud enough to shake the arena.
In front of , Georg, who had just co back from the brink of death, was gasping for breath and clutching his chest.
“This can’t be... I... I’m the master of Tojin Palace, the rightful next emperor—how could I...?!”
“You’re wearing triangle briefs, sir.”
“Silence!”
Georg flailed an arm at . He was stripped to his underwear thanks to Disarm, his face sared with snot and dirt—hardly intimidating.
It was a mild poison, just enough to weaken him, and I’d already administered the antidote, so he wasn’t in any danger.
Asella stepped forward, her chin raised as she stomped against the ground.
“Georg. Don’t think I’ve forgotten. You lost the duel—so you’re banned from the imperial palace for the next three years.”
“Don’t be absurd. Tojin Palace is mine. I’m a mber of the royal family! A successor! Who dares banish , and by what authority?!”
Georg jabbed a finger toward Asella, his voice rising in desperation.
“Go ahead and try! It’s still up to the Grand Justiciar to make the final ruling. You think anyone has the right to bind a royal like ?!”
He was starting to throw a tantrum.
Can’t bla him—he was about to get kicked out on the spot.
That’s when a voice, thunderous and clear, echoed in the arena.
“How disgraceful, Georg!”
The overwhelming pressure that surged through the air—like an electric current—ca from none other than the Emperor, who had risen to his feet.
His beard and hair were snow-white, but his gaze still had the intensity to give an entire army a heart attack.
It was the aura of a true war hero—the man who had led the Empire into its golden age.
“Y-Your Majesty...”
“Every mber of the royal family has witnessed the duel’s process and outco. Defeat is not shaful. Not knowing how to lose—that is the true disgrace!”
The strength drained from Georg’s shoulders. He must have realized there was no escape.
“Your Majesty, please take care of your health...”
At the royal physicians’ urging, the Emperor slowly returned to his seat.
Propping his chin in one hand, he looked straight at .
It felt like we locked eyes—though I wasn’t sure—so I decided to wrap things up with Georg.
“Now then, let’s proceed with the truth declaration. Prince Georg, you know who hired the assassin that used black magic to target Princess Asella and the Western Duke, don’t you?”
“Ggh... T-that...”
Georg visibly faltered.
If he said Camilla’s na, there’d be no saving him.
He was already being expelled. If Camilla were ousted too, their entire faction would collapse and Tojin Palace would fall to ruin.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t dare lie during a sacred duel trial.”
“O-of course not.”
He was calculating which outco would hurt him less, probably still shaken by the Emperor’s outburst.
At last, Georg slowly opened his mouth.
“...Let state first: I was not involved in this matter. I had no prior knowledge of any assassination plot. I bear no responsibility!”
“Whether you bear responsibility or not, we’ll take that into account.”
“I was told the one who hired the assassin is within Tojin Palace. That’s all I know.”
Georg averted his eyes.
So that’s how he wants to play it.
“So, the baron who was about to be executed—he was falsely accused?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
“Well then, it seems the real culprit has hidden themselves quite deeply. Even the prince who governs Tojin Palace couldn’t uncover their identity.”
“Th-that...”
“There are a lot of people in Tojin Palace, aren’t there? Visiting nobles...”
I subtly glanced at the Emperor.
“Even royalty, perhaps.”
The Emperor’s brow twitched.
He understood. That we’d brought this to a full-blown duel trial because we suspected Camilla was behind it all.
This was my ssage to him.
We’d stop pushing for the real culprit—so long as he kept Camilla under control. No need for reparations to the Duke. Just handle your own house.
With Georg gone, Camilla would be practically imprisoned in Tojin Palace anyway.
“Your Highness doesn’t even know if the true target was the Duke or the Princess, correct?”
“Th-that’s right...”
“That’s enough, Georg.”
Asella walked over, steady and stern, and stood before him.
“We’ve learned all we needed. Now get the hell out of the palace.”
Georg couldn’t even reply. He simply bowed his head in silence.
Asella turned to with a smile tugging at her lips.
“The truth has been revealed! With that, I—officiator Lauga von Württempelt—declare this duel trial concluded!”
Under the light applause of the royals, Asella and I exited the arena.
Back in the waiting room, soone was waiting for us.
“Asella. Gotberg.”
It was First Princess Heike. Asella scowled as soon as she saw her.
“Trying to enjoy my victory, and here cos the interruption.”
“Hm, still as sharp-tongued as ever. A good sign. Gotberg, impressive work.”
“Thank you.”
I gave a modest nod. Didn’t fully bow—Asella was watching, and last ti I got a talking-to.
“What do you want? If you’re here to poach my retainers again, you’d better be ready to duel yourself.”
“Relax. I ca to bring good news. Georg’s expulsion is good for too. As an ally of Moonlight Palace, I’d like to offer a congratulatory gift.”
With Georg—her biggest rival—out of the picture, Heike was making a calculated move to strengthen ties with our weaker faction.
It wasn’t a bad offer. We could probably squeeze quite a bit out of her.
“Can I get sothing too? I feel like I earned it today.”
“But of course, Gotberg.”
Heike acknowledged it coolly.
Seeing her attitude, Asella gave a sly smile. She was clearly plotting sothing wicked.
Just then, the head maid ca rushing in.
“Your Highness! His Majesty summons you imdiately.”
“I’ll be there shortly.”
“Ah—he asked for the physician to accompany you.”
...?
Asella and I exchanged a glance.
“Let’s talk later, Heike.”
An imperial summons wasn’t sothing you ignored. We left Heike behind and moved imdiately.
We climbed the stairs to the royal box overlooking the arena.
The Emperor, who had been chatting with a princess, turned toward us when his head butler whispered sothing in his ear.
As Asella and I bowed, he gestured for us to co closer.
“Asella. You’ve grown proficient in magic.”
“Your words honor , Your Majesty.”
The Emperor gave a rare smile at her graceful response.
Then he shifted his gaze to .
“You’re Asella’s personal physician. Gotberg, correct?”
“To have such a humble na rembered by Your Majesty is more than I deserve.”
“I hear you’re also her fiancé.”
“That’s correct.”
“The truth revealed in the duel trial is final. I shall accept it as law.”
That was his way of acknowledging my real ssage—and agreeing to keep Camilla in check.
I liked that.
“Was it you who spoke the truth, Asella?”
She hesitated for a mont before replying.
“Gotberg did.”
The Emperor turned to with a generous smile.
“A fascinating young man has arrived.”
I bowed and discreetly watched his expression.
He looked amused—but sothing about his smile felt unsettling.
Now I knew who Asella got her eyes from.
“I was childhood friends with Charlotte, you know.”
Charlotte—that was the na of the current Empress, the First Consort.
“I once thought Heike or Georg would be the first to take Gunther’s head. But now, who knows?”
So he’d only nad his eldest son as heir out of obligation to his first wife. He fully expected the others to fight over the real succession.
In truth, the war between his children was his doing all along.
This man... his way of thinking wasn’t sane.
Ah. So that’s why the royal family’s such a ss.
Hack, hack.
The Emperor suddenly burst into a fit of deep coughing.
Once the royal physicians tended to him, he resud speaking.
“I accept the truth of this duel. Gotberg, what do you think?”
Of course—thank you very much.
But given the way he asked, he was probably testing how I’d respond.
Even Asella seed nervous.
Let’s take a look.
I cast Diagnosis.
[Injury Status: Pneumonia]
[Injury Status: Hypertension]
[Injury Status: Osteoporosis]
...
Mostly age-related diseases. Lots of them.
“As thanks for witnessing the duel, I would like to offer Your Majesty a small gift.”
“Granted.”
I pulled a dicine packet from my robes.
“Take this after als, morning and evening. It’ll help with your cough.”
It was a cocoa-based cough suppressant—compressed and enhanced. Natural, but almost as potent as narcotics.
“You dare offer such a thing to His Majesty? This compound hasn’t even been verified!”
The Emperor’s own physician scolded . I replied calmly.
“It’s effective. Just as much as aspirin.”
“Aspirin may be—but this I’ve never even heard of...”
The Emperor raised a hand. The physician fell silent and stepped back.
“Hm.”
The Emperor examined the packet and handed it over to the physician.
“Gotberg. How would you rank your skill within the Imperial Clinic?”
I answered plainly.
“Far above any other healer, without comparison.”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes.
I added one more line.
“Except for divine power. That part still needs training. But honestly—it’s a bit of a pain.”
“Hahaha!”
The Emperor roared with laughter, then burst into another fit of coughing.
“I’ll hold onto it for now. If it proves effective, I’ll use it.”
Much more open-minded than I expected.
This was a great opportunity. If the Emperor used my dicine, it could accelerate the spread of modern pharmacology and stabilize the pharmaceutical market.
“Understood. I’ll return with results.”
“Haha, I look forward to it.”
The Emperor turned to Asella.
“Asella.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Let us et again.”
He smiled in clear satisfaction.
***
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· [Promising Newcor] Achievent Unlocked. The Imperial Family is eager to see what you do next.
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As I dismissed the ssage from my status window, Asella scolded .
“Why would you do that without consulting ? If that drug had any side effects, it’d be a huge scandal.”
“What, don’t you trust my skills?”
“That’s not the issue...”
On our way back to Moonlight Palace, Asella kept grumbling.
“Well, we won. You sure know how to stay alive.”
“I was a renowned fighter back in the marquisate.”
“Liar. Those aren’t the arms of a fighter.”
I chuckled.
[No. 012: Empire’s Fall 38% → 24%]
Maybe it was the victory, or the Emperor’s approval, but Asella looked pleased.
“You’re experiencing things you’d never get to otherwise, thanks to . Who else gets to trample a prince underfoot?”
“I thought I ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) was going to die.”
“If you’d stayed in the marquisate, you’d have drunk yourself to death.”
“Co on, that’s a little harsh.”
“Heh. They say ignorance is bold—suits you perfectly. I saw it with my own eyes...”
She trailed off mid-sentence.
“Your Highness?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
Asella grinned like a villain scheming sothing awful.
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