The Imperial Princess's Personal Physician Wants to Run Away

A refreshing autumn breeze gently flowed into Asella's room. The temperature and humidity were perfectly comfortable, but my head felt a bit dizzy, as if I'd had a little too much to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drink.

Was it because of the way Asella had been staring at me so intently? Or maybe the fragrance wafting from the table.

Flower scent?

As I spaced out, something wet and damp brushed across my hand.

"Hah hah."

It was Max's tongue. That eased my tension a bit. Dogs are great like that—if you treat them well, they love you back honestly, and that makes you love them too. A little petting, and Max lifted his upper body, begging for more affection. What a cute guy.

"Max, come here."

Asella called, but Max just clung to me, refusing to budge.

"Max?"

This was getting awkward. Hey, your owner is calling you. Look at that face—she's not pleased. You're gonna get me killed, Max.

Huh? If that's the case, she doesn't seem that angry. In fact, the probability of the ending where Asella flies into a rage has dropped a bit.

"Max!"

At Asella's louder call, Max finally returned to her side and sat down. She gestured to me from her chair.

"You, come here."

I took a few steps closer and saw it: the yellow roses she'd picked from the garden earlier. She'd gathered a ton—easily over a hundred.

The numbers in my status window shifted slightly.

So the flowers are key, huh.

Suddenly, Asella whipped her head around without warning, glaring at me with terrifying eyes.

Whoa, that scared me. My heart nearly stopped.

She was pretty when she stayed still, like a doll.

"Did you bring the knife?"

"Yes, for now."

"Cut off the thorns like before."

"Got it."

I stood by the table, drew my dagger, and started tapping off the thorns from the rose stems.

"Why are you standing there?" Asella asked.

I had no idea what she meant, so I blinked in confusion. You told me to do it.

"...Because I'm cutting the thorns?"

"There's a chair right there."

"You want me to sit?"

"Do I have to spell that out too?"

"Of course not."

I immediately pulled out the chair and sat. It was at a right angle to Asella. Was this consideration on her part? Nah, probably just telling me to stay put and not distract her.

I kept working. Scratch, scratch—the only sound was the stems being trimmed. Asella rested her hand on Max's head, watching me like a hawk.

...Time passed.

Repeating the same motion relaxed me a little. As my mind wandered for a moment...

"...Ow."

Asella's short groan snapped my eyes open. She was holding a rose—on the side where I hadn't removed the thorns yet.

"It won't come off easily. Why is this thing such a pain?"

A dark red drop of blood trailed from her index finger gripping the stem.

Ah, crap.

I should've kept that away from her. What a curiously meddlesome princess.

My image was already shaky enough. If someone saw and thought I'd hurt her, it'd be a headache.

"Come to think of it, she's only pretty up top anyway. No need for the bottom."

With that, Asella snapped the flower head off the stem. The yellow rose was stained red with her blood.

Based on what I'd seen before...

The more negative experiences Asella has, the higher the probability. The stronger the impression she has of me, the easier it'll be for her to commit atrocities using that memory later.

I figured treating the wound might fix it.

"Your Highness."

"What?"

I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and grabbed her wrist. It was thin and pale, with a faint pulse—life felt distant.

"...What are you doing."

"If you're hurt, treat it. Simple as that. No need to rip off the flower."

I dampened the handkerchief with water from the teapot nearby and wiped the blood. I cleaned around the wound carefully to prevent infection.

"Here..."

There was a linen scarf in the room. I sliced it thin with my knife into a strip. Instant disposable bandage.

I wrapped it around her injured index finger, not too tight.

Asella tilted her head.

"What's this? Healing spell?"

"Not healing—treatment. Blood clots naturally like this, so it'll heal on its own. Using a healing spell would make it worse."

I smiled lightly.

"Your Highness has a constitution that doesn't respond well to healing spells."

"...Hmph, true."

Asella examined the bandaged finger closely, turning it this way and that. Her curious eyes slid toward me.

"Did you treat Max like this too?"

"Just basic first aid like now. Part of treatment."

"Medicine, right."

"Yes."

"I like it. Got more?"

"Pardon?"

"Anything else?"

Her devilish giggle begged for more fun.

What should I say?

The probability plummeted noticeably. Good. I could really do without a beheading. Time to push it lower.

My words had gotten through—she didn't need to remove the flower heads. I could build on that.

"Also, roses are prettier with their stems."

"Why?"

"Watch."

Interested, Asella shifted in her chair to face me. I picked up an untrimmed rose.

"As you see, roses have thorns."

"Yeah. Thanks to you, I got hurt. Yet you say the stem is pretty."

I tucked the thorny rose into my inner pocket. No more accidents if she grabbed it carelessly.

"The prettier the flower, the sharper the thorns. The more beautiful the being, the more enemies want to claim it—so it protects itself."

"Hm. And?"

Asella lifted her chin, waiting for more. I bent the stem in my hand slightly. It was fairly pliable. These yellow roses were a unique variety in this world. I'd confirmed it while researching medicinal plants before.

This'll work.

"What I'm about to show you can only be made with stems intact."

I arranged the trimmed roses neatly. Then folded one stem horizontally, wove it, and repeated.

"...Heh."

Asella watched my hands move, reacting with wonder.

Soon, a rose crown sat finished on the table.

"Can't make it without the flower heads."

Asella carefully lifted the crown, turning it over.

Does she like it? Her face gave nothing away.

"Why a ring shape?"

Ah, she didn't know it was a crown. I gently placed it on her tiny head.

"It's a head ornament, worn like this."

Asella blinked her big eyes a few times, clearly not having thought of that.

"Does it suit me?"

"You're the most beautiful in the world."

Please don't let that be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wrong.

"Got it."

Asella replied. It was so out of left field I had to ask.

"What?"

"Keeping them on is better."

Huh? Did she just accept my opinion?

I sneaked a peek at her. Her golden eyes were lost in the crown, carefully avoiding mine.

Quite unexpected. She'd never listened to me before. Ten years ago or not, maybe she was just in a good mood today. No point overthinking.

I checked the status.

Like walking on thin ice.

She bought it, but the ending isn't gone. The changes are slowing—this probably isn't the main event.

Still, huge drop from the start. I wondered what the real trigger was, the one that would inspire her.

I asked Asella.

"By the way, Your Highness, what do you plan to do with these roses?"

"Hm..."

Her lower lip puffed out slightly.

"Secret from others."

"Of course."

"Gonna give ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them to Mama later."

"...A gift?"

"Yep."

She confirmed it flatly. Wait, why pick flowers from someone else's garden for your mom? Like, steal from your fiancé instead of buying? Our mindsets are worlds apart.

Well, she's the princess, future emperor. The empire will be hers soon enough. Totally valid.

So the flower issue ties more to the empress than me.

As I sorted my thoughts, Asella said,

"Gotberg young master."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Do well on the personal physician exam."

This lone wolf really wants me as her doctor.

"Why me?"

"I like you."

Guess she took a shine to medicine. Saving Max probably helped. She's a tyrant who bulldozes her whims. Refusing now might invite who-knows-what revenge.

No half-measures possible anymore. Anyway, I have to erase all her bad endings. Sticking by her side for now would make that easier.

To rack up achievements, I need higher social status too. Even if I pivot later, her offer is a solid stepping stone.

...Decision made. Become the imperial personal physician.

But better attach favorable terms.

"If I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠selected as Your Highness's physician."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I mainly use medicine. You'll need to provide an environment for medicine-based treatment."

"Fine."

"As the eldest son, I must tend to my family. I'll be absent sometimes—need your understanding. I'll train a nurse to attend you then."

"That works too."

"Finally."

I took a letter envelope from the room, wrote inside, sealed with wax, and stamped my seal.

"If I render great service as your physician, you must fulfill the demand in this envelope."

"What'd you write?"

"Nothing unrealistic like 'hand over the empire.' Something simple you could grant now."

"Alright, if it's that."

As she reached for it, I pulled back slightly.

"I want a firm oath."

"Bold, aren't you? Want a geas?"

"Yes. Verify with magic or an artifact that I'm not lying about it being minor."

Asella smirked at my attitude, daring me to try any petty scheme.

She traced a circle in the air with her finger. Golden mana leaked out, shimmering like heat haze.

Her clear voice rang out, vibrating the magic circle.

"In the name of the great sage Delipacus."

Flash!

Light burst from her hand like an explosion. The contract was sealed.

"Now I'm really curious what's inside."

"You'll be pleased too, Your Highness."

Pleased? You bet. I know how much you hate me.

I've gotta have insurance like this to get home in one piece, right?