I'll Confess First
"Wow."
Ras swung his staff in admiration. It was 7th Hierarchy magic, the supposed limit of what living beings could achieve. The sight of seven enormous magic circles rotating and glowing was awe-inspiring in its sheer majesty.
―Kwaaaaa!
The great fire spirit that Ras had summoned unleashed a massive conflagration from its gigantic body. Sparks flew in all directions. But Asella felt only a gentle warmth from the flames that touched her—a trait of spirits that were lenient toward allies. It felt just like Ras's body temperature.
"Young master, you contracted with an ifrit?"
"Yeah, I didn't expect it to be this impressive."
It was one of the great spirits governing the four major elements. Asella stared in awe at its massive form, brimming with the origin of fire.
'Master was a spirit mage, after all.'
The field Seymour had devoted his life to was spirit magic. Even as a parting gift for his beloved disciples, though, 7th Hierarchy was overkill—way overkill.
"――――!!!"
Camilla, unable to even scream in the unimaginable heat, crumbled into ash and vanished. The tentacles summoned by high-hierarchy black magic decomposed down to the last sucker, returning to nothingness.
In the midst of it, Camilla mustered her final strength, clenching her nails into her palm.
―Whoosh!
A magic circle formed, and magic bullets fired.
"Not on my watch."
―Clang!
Asella reacted instantly, erecting an ice shield in front of Ras to block them.
"Phew, quick hands as always."
Despite his nonchalant tone, sweat beaded on Ras's brow. The borrowed magic circles and mana aside, the contract with the great spirit was with Ras himself. It was obviously taking a toll on his body.
'Ras, you...'
Asella bit her lower lip. Had she been wrong to doubt him? For the first time in her life, she began to question her own judgment. Maybe he was the one person she could truly trust. He'd always come running like this.
Was it her selfishness that she needed to hear his thoughts directly from his mouth to feel at ease?
'...No.'
Seymour's advice echoed in her mind: Try talking to him. Come to think of it, she hadn't been honest about her own feelings either. It was only natural that Ras wouldn't know her heart.
"Hoo."
Ras's arm drooped wearily. What a frail guy. Even that little staff was too much for him to handle without swaying.
Asella silently stepped beside him and supported his arm.
"Your Highness, please step back. I'll take over."
"It's fine. You're just worried I'll get distracted by Mother, right?"
"Well..."
Asella finally steeled her resolve—for real this time. To sever ties with the only family she'd ever known, a family that was nothing but evil.
'It's okay.'
The man before her would become her new family. If he didn't love her as much as she loved him, she'd make him. That was Asella von Württemberg's way.
The mana in the storage orb ran dry. Once it ended, the 7th Hierarchy spell would drain all of Ras's mana. She'd finish it before then.
"Ifrit!"
As if responding to her determination, the fire spirit intensified its blaze. Their overlapping hands were engulfed in radiant light.
***
"It's over."
The emperor declared softly. The battle was finished. No trace of the black mage Camilla remained. After a brief moment of silence to honor his wife, he shouted vigorously.
"The subjugation operation is terminated! Withdraw!"
At the emperor's command, the knights straightened their formation. Healers tended to the wounded. Amid the bustle, Asella met Ras's eyes.
"Young master."
"Good work, Your Highness. Let's rest for today."
"Yeah."
No matter how villainous she was, it was still the day she'd lost her birth mother. Ras suggested something to spare Asella's feelings.
"How about playing with Max when we get back to Moonlight Palace?"
"Why Max?"
"Animal therapy's great for times like this. Throw a frisbee, and you'll have fun."
"Max is too fat to catch it properly."
"That's what makes it funny."
"Pfft, true."
Asella pictured Max and let out a small laugh.
"I'll do it if you join me."
"Me? Running around isn't really..."
Was this guy oblivious or teasing her? Seeing Asella pout, Ras looked troubled.
"Alright, I'll join."
"Yeah."
Asella's mood lifted, her lips curving unconsciously.
'...Playing with Ras sounds nice, but...'
After this subjugation, they'd planned to go out—just the two of them. A secret time for only them, unknown to anyone. She'd ordered him to tell her his true feelings about her.
'...If Ras keeps hemming and hawing...'
I'll say it first. Asella von Württemberg—not anyone else—loves... no, likes you. He'd be thrilled. Even if he felt ambiguous now, he'd fall head over heels in love instantly. Honestly, she was far more beautiful than Heike or Rauga. Beauty mattered. Yeah. Ras must have feelings too. They'd already kissed... Yeah, no doubt. She was overthinking. Why was she fretting so much over Ras of all people? ...Still, she wanted to hurry back. Her mind swirling with thoughts, Asella quickened her pace without realizing. Matching her stride, Ras made her feel subtly happy again.
That was when it happened.
"Teacher!!"
Tanya reacted first, shouting urgently. Asella and Ras looked down at their feet in unison.
―Thud!
Before they could react, a jet-black aura surged up and struck Ras, sending him flying.
"Young master!"
The black aura enveloped Asella's panicked face, tearing, shattering, burning, melting, dripping in gruesome ruin.
―Asellaaa...!
Camilla's soul-form stood before her. Soulwalk—a forbidden spell allowing the dead to move as vengeful spirits.
―If you'd just listened...!
Terror flooded Asella's face.
―You could've become empress and spread black magic...!
She swung her staff to draw a magic circle, but it was grabbed.
―If I can't have it back, I'll destroy it...!
Camilla clawed at Asella's abdomen. Black mana blasted out.
"Ugh...!"
Pain exploded through Asella's belly like a disaster without warning. She clutched it with a short groan but kept her legs from buckling, clinging to consciousness.
"You witch!"
In that instant, the emperor and Tanya's swords pierced Camilla simultaneously. The black soul collapsed in a splatter, melting into the ground and vanishing.
"Your Highness!"
Ras rushed to Asella and supported her. Only then did she relax, leaning into him.
"...Ras."
"Yes, I'm here."
"...It hurts."
"Honest this time. I'll treat you right away."
Ras spread his robe and pulled out a syringe.
***
"How do you feel?"
"Not a bit of pain. Just dizzy."
Asella, sitting on the bed, took the glass I offered and gulped it down.
"What happened?"
"The black mage subjugation was a success. His Majesty will bestow great rewards on Moonlight Palace, along with the surgery and true culprit capture."
"Good news."
Clink. Asella slammed the glass down irritably.
"You don't look happy."
"Camilla pisses me off. We were gonna play frisbee, so why am I stuck in bed on this nice afternoon?"
"Uh... Frisbee was with Max, right?"
"Oh, I was gonna make you and Max compete over who catches it better."
"Aigoo, if it'll make Your Highness happy, I'll get on all fours and run."
Asella's mood improved at my response, and she giggled softly.
[No. 101: Mana Rampage 11% → 13%]
Regardless of Asella's attitude, the mana rampage probability crept up.
Not that she was in immediate danger, but her debuff was genuinely more likely to go berserk. Camilla's final trick.
'Precise scan's done.'
I'd just confirmed the curse in her abdomen had changed via mental MRI. The black mass had been 7.2cm wide by 3.8cm tall. Now it had expanded by about 0.2cm each way. The noise range had widened too.
'Camilla was trying to kill Asella.'
Probably thought, I'm done for anyway, might as well go out swinging. Black mages, man. Lesion expansion was a very bad sign—especially in this unique case where scans were unreliable.
'Gotta keep monitoring and logging changes.'
Best would be to cut her open right now. But...
'Too risky.'
Experience from the emperor's surgery gave me confidence. But even then, the curse had flared, forcing partial liver resection. Lucky it wasn't worse—if it spread through the whole organ? No chance to act; Asella dies. Capital explodes, world ends. And knowing this curse had killed Camilla in the original history made it even less appealing. Healing spells don't work on Asella anyway—probably nullifies divine power. As a doctor, I don't want to see a patient die on the table.
'No, more than that...'
For some reason, I just didn't want Asella to die. Life's full of surprises.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
Asella tilted her head at me. Sitting by the bed, I leaned forward and replied.
"Your Highness, I made a promise once."
"No idea which. We've got tons."
"Haha, you remember them all? Forgetting a couple's fine."
"I remember every debt you owe me."
That's kinda scary. "The one about going out? We can even tomorrow."
"Let's postpone. You need absolute rest for now to monitor your condition."
"...Fine."
Asella couldn't hide her disappointment.
"Not that. The one where I promised to definitely cure you."
"Yeah."
I reaffirmed it to myself as much as her.
"I'll definitely do it. Soon."
"Of course."
Asella smiled without a shred of doubt, her eyes crinkling long.
"You're my personal physician when I become empress."
No joke, pure sincerity. Well, not exactly a favor picking me, but her solid trust in my skills felt pretty good. I stood.
"Medicine'll kick in, so nap. Call if pain hits. You can sleep till night."
I blew out the candle to leave, but Asella called hesitantly.
"Young master."
"Yes."
"...Now, um."
"Hm? What?"
Turning, I saw her pulling the blanket to her mouth, avoiding my eyes. Her improved diet had hit puberty's growth spurt; she'd matured fast lately. Why the thought? Her blushing cheeks looked more woman than girl.
She whispered shyly.
"...You can sleep together now."
First time seeing pubescent-girl Asella. Shocking, but I shook it off.
"Haha, great for my memoirs. 'The empire's 7th emperor slept with a security blanket.' When's graduation?"
"Shut up."
Asella buried her face in her knees but reached for me. Fun after so long. I got in bed and patted her back till she slept.