The final selection exam to determine Asella's personal physician.
I faced quite a challenge.
"Hah."
I sighed as soon as I saw the Emerald Dragon hatchling that was presented as the test subject.
Dragons are magical creatures with an affinity for spells and incantations.
Even the flames breathed by fire dragons can be considered a type of magic.
They prefer food rich in mana, which is why about five clueless mages who wander near dragon nests get devoured every year.
Emerald Dragons have the peculiar characteristic of consuming healing spells.
Even for a hatchling, the Imperial family certainly lived up to their reputation by somehow acquiring a dragon.
"This isn't exactly a welcome development."
This creature isn't sick—it just wants to devour healing spells like a hungry pig.
Greedily, endlessly!
The problem is that Gis and I had made a wager before the exam.
"Young Lord will naturally only use medicine as you demonstrated in the practical exam, right? Since you're in a different league from us!"
Provoked by his challenge, I confidently answered.
"Haha, of course. I'll pass using only medicine."
Having made such a declaration, it would be quite embarrassing to use healing spells now.
Behind the screen, a physician from the Imperial court is probably evaluating me.
I can't give up here, but what should I do?
"Hey."
When I called to the hatchling, it glanced at me with indifferent eyes and then let out a belch.
It seems to have already digested the spells it consumed from previous candidates. The smell was absolutely foul.
"Well, it might like this too."
I offered the hatchling a rose candy.
Sniff, sniff. The creature twitched its elongated snout to smell it, then—smack!
It raised its sharp claws and knocked the candy away.
This is maddening.
Do you know how precious that candy is?
"Come on, just try it. Hey, try, try, okay?"
I grabbed the hatchling's neck, opened its mouth, and placed the candy on its tongue.
—Kieek! Kraeek!
Now it's throwing a tantrum. I'd prefer otherwise, but this must be an expression of refusal... right?
Wasn't this dragon language? Or is it just that sensitive to rose scent that even honey couldn't mask it?
Eventually, a senior healer intervened and reprimanded me for my approach.
Wait, it might like other medicines.
As I tried to continue the examination, an argument broke out, and in the end, the hatchling escaped from my hands.
"Hey, wait a moment."
Crash!
While trying to catch the hatchling, I knocked over a stand, and made direct eye contact with the people behind the screen who were evaluating the test.
Next to my father was an elderly man who appeared to be the supervising physician.
Both were staring at me with their mouths agape.
"Um, hello."
An awkward greeting was exchanged.
"White hair... could this candidate be... no, is this candidate your son, Lord Marquis?"
"Hmm."
Father pressed his temple as if troubled. Naturally so, since the exam was supposed to be conducted anonymously for fairness.
Well, is this how my chance at becoming a court physician slips away?
It would be a shame to fail at the final selection exam because of the testing method.
"I've seen him before. He's Falkenhain, the Imperial physician."
If my opponent is this man, I have something I can use.
Tap, tap.
As I was thinking, the sound of sharp heels echoed through the room.
The sound, which had started from the corridor, caught everyone's attention. The door opened immediately.
Asella surveyed the examination room with a displeased expression.
"Princess."
Falkenhain greeted Asella.
His greeting didn't seem particularly respectful, but considering he was assigned to the Second Prince, his attitude was understandable.
Asella looked at me with lowered eyes and spoke to Falkenhain.
"Lord Falkenhain. What was your intention in not inviting me to the selection of my own physician?"
"That is..."
Falkenhain showed signs of confusion at Asella's direct expression of anger.
My father answered on his behalf.
"Princess. To ensure fairness in the selection of your physician, Lord Falkenhain prepared the test content, and it was being conducted as a blind test."
"That's exactly what I'm complaining about. Shouldn't I be the one to choose my own physician? Isn't that the natural order?"
"However, Your Highness."
Falkenhain countered with a rather serious face.
"As you well know, an Imperial physician holds power beyond merely being Your Highness's personal doctor. It's the highest position in the Imperial Medical Office, which consists of over two hundred of the Empire's finest healers, and involves managing an entire faction of healers."
Falkenhain was simply stating facts to Asella without any ulterior motive.
"Therefore, as the senior physician, I need to verify the candidates. While we trusted the Gotberg Training Center to select the finalists, if the chosen physician has any disqualifying factors that would lower the dignity of the Imperial Medical Office..."
"What else does my physician need to do besides attending to me?"
Asella raised her head and glared at Falkenhain.
Intimidated by her intensity, he closed his mouth.
"Handle your internal affairs at the Imperial Medical Office among yourselves. I'll manage my own physician. And there's only one person I want to select from the finalists."
With a swift motion, Asella raised her arm and pointed her index finger at me.
"Lars Gotberg."
Silence descended. Even the other candidates and the senior healers who were observing the selection process felt a chill from the heavy tension.
The first to speak was Falkenhain.
"So it was the Gotberg family's son after all. Is this the candidate you wish to select, Your Highness?"
As he asked this, his expression was strangely relaxed.
No, beyond that, he was the only one with a broad smile on his face.
What's going on?
"Just a moment, I cannot accept this!"
Gis, who had been observing the situation, stepped out from behind the screen.
"The Young Lord just failed to show any results with the task at hand! He even ruined the exam that was supposed to be conducted anonymously. If the successful candidate was predetermined, what meaning does this selection have?"
"I agree!"
The third candidate also raised his voice.
What was his name again? I forgot.
Strictly speaking, their opinions aren't entirely wrong.
I can understand why Gis might feel wronged.
But having come this far, I don't want to back down meekly either.
Asella glanced at the other candidates.
She walked up to Gis and asked in a cold voice.
"You, do you want to be my physician?"
Gis, startled by Asella's approach, shifted his body slightly backward as he answered.
"O-of course."
"I'm asking if you're prepared to pledge lifelong loyalty to me, Asella von Württemfelt, Princess of the Empire."
"...That too, of course."
Gis's voice grew increasingly subdued under Asella's pressure.
Asella openly snorted at Gis and cast a spell.
"Ice Shard."
Three magic circles instantly formed above Asella's raised right hand.
The air seemed to melt and condense, quickly taking the shape of a sharp spike.
Seeing this, Gis gulped. It seems he finally realized what position he was aspiring to.
But what Asella did next was somewhat unexpected.
Slash!
Asella flicked her right hand, cutting her left arm with the sharp ice spike.
Everyone in the room froze as solid as ice at this sudden turn of events.
Drop by drop, bright red blood trickled down Asella's snow-white forearm.
"Heal it."
Asella commanded in an emotionless voice.
Gis, his face turning pale blue, slowly raised his trembling hands.
"I pray to the merciful Goddess."
Gis began casting a healing spell. Divine power leaked out and enveloped Asella.
At that moment.
—Crack!
The pure white divine power distorted as if crushed in a fist, turning golden—Asella's color—in midair.
"W-why..."
"You try too."
Asella gestured to the other candidate.
He also attempted a healing spell, but the result was the same. The healing magic didn't work.
Asella's powerful magical energy was instinctively rejecting and destroying the low-level spells.
Finally, Asella looked at me.
"Quite the tyrant, aren't you."
I shrugged and walked toward Asella.
I took out a handkerchief from my pocket.
Carefully, I wiped away the drops of blood that had already flowed down to her elbow.
"This might sting a bit."
I took out some antiseptic and applied it to the wound after cleaning the blood. I felt Asella's arm twitch slightly, but her face remained completely still.
The wound wasn't that deep.
Just a light cut.
It probably wouldn't even leave a scar.
I took out a linen bandage and applied first aid.
A knot was tied on Asella's left arm.
"It's done."
Asella's arm took on an orange hue.
It meant the treatment was taking effect.
Asella tilted her head back to look at Falkenhain.
No further words were necessary.
Falkenhain jumped to his feet and clapped his hands.
"That was an excellent demonstration. Despite some issues with the process, this outcome is certainly acceptable."
He turned to my father and said.
"It seems the Princess's physician has been decided. Congratulations, Lord Gotberg."
"Thank you."
The senior healers also began to applaud, signaling the end of the selection.
I looked at the other candidates.
Gis was gritting his teeth in frustration but nodded at me in acknowledgment.
At least he knew how to accept defeat.
"Young Lord Lars."
Hearing the sharp voice in my ear, I quickly turned to respond.
"Yes, Princess."
"You don't look very happy."
"How could that be? I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to serve Your Highness."
Asella's golden eyes looked up at me.
Well, this is quite intimidating.
She slightly raised the corners of her mouth and, with an expression perfectly befitting a villainess, commanded me.
"I'll show you the Imperial Palace. Follow me."
Next