Rescue (2)
Whoooosh― The wind blowing through the valley crevices was still fierce. I huddled in a crack in the cave, sipping hot water to keep warm.
"Reminds me of the old days."
Such terrain was common in the demon realm, the land of the demons. Compared to back then, when I had to watch out for demons, this was far better. I filled a shallow depression in the rock with snow, boiled it vigorously, and soon it was steaming nicely. Generating heat wasn't hard. I gathered various stones, tweaked their chemical formulas slightly, synthesized them, and triggered the reaction.
"Hmm hmm hum."
No need to worry about prying eyes, so I found myself humming along with the wind without realizing it. What tune was that? Something from before I possessed this body? It had been ages since I'd had time completely alone like this. I'd taken a vacation just recently, but Asella had stuck to me the whole time. And at the Imperial Medical Office, forget it. Sure, it was nonstop busy, no real breaks.
"But it's what I wanted."
Even with the task of erasing bad endings, being a doctor was pretty enjoyable, wasn't it?
"I've already deleted quite a few."
The probabilities had dropped overall, especially those involving Asella.
...I wonder what Asella's doing right now. With her personal physician gone for so long, she might hand down some harsh punishment. I hoped there wouldn't be an attack. Chloe was with her, but without my diagnosis and emergency treatment skills, immediate response would be tough.
"Whoa, have I gotten too professional?"
Worrying about Asella even while resting alone. And she was the woman who'd tormented me endlessly and hated my guts. Still, becoming her physician had changed our relationship from the future timeline, I thought. At least she saw me as a loyal retainer now. There was still the Eastern Citadel subjugation ahead, but she wouldn't try to block Tanya's search for me, right?
...Would she really? That'd be bad. Please don't.
"I kinda miss you, Asella."
Me, of all people. My head must be messed up. Wanting to see the woman who'd killed me countless times.
How long had it been since that thought? I didn't have to wait as long as I'd expected. It was around sunset, so maybe four hours at most.
―Young master!!
A familiar voice rang in my ears. Tanya, as expected. It couldn't have been easy getting down here, but she'd already assembled a rescue team and found me.
"Whoops."
My butt numb from the cold, I decided to slip out of the cave. Squeezing through the crevice, I saw my footprints leading them here—she was already rushing toward me. But I couldn't help being a little surprised.
It wasn't Tanya standing before me.
"Your Highness?"
It was Asella, her nose red from the cold, lips trembling. White breath escaped her mouth. The rope tightly tied around her waist told me she'd climbed down the cliff herself. Her new gloves were already tattered. Her face was a mess, streaked with dried sweat.
"Hah, hah."
Asella approached me, too exhausted to catch her breath or speak, dragging her weary body. Crunch, crunch. With each step, her legs sank deep into the thick snow. She looked ready to topple over, yet she made it right to me.
"...Hah."
She reached out both hands toward my face. As if doubting it was real, not a hallucination, she groped around. Then she collapsed into my arms. Her arms wrapped around my waist, pulling tight as if determined not to let me escape. I was certain it was Asella. The feel was just like when we shared a bed.
"Your Highness."
Asella mumbled something. With her face buried in my chest, I couldn't make it out clearly. Maybe because I was a bit glad, a smile slipped out unwittingly. In response, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders.
"The messenger pigeon has arrived! From the 2nd Regiment!"
The communications officer relayed the news to Heike, who passed it on immediately.
"The 2nd Regiment has captured the Central Citadel. They've rescued the count, too."
"Finally."
The 1st Regiment's siege of the Eastern Citadel had dragged on for nearly half a day. Heike had positioned over a thousand troops narrowly along the ridge in a rotating strategy. But the knights' fatigue was accumulating, their combat effectiveness dropping.
"Asella, you've done it."
She'd prepared for a full day of battle. She'd doubted Asella, new to the battlefield.
"Move to the rear and form a defensive line."
"Yes, sir!"
Now the Eastern Citadel was the only path connecting to the enemy. The plan was simple: pretend to retreat, lure them out as much as possible. Use the court mage corps' grand magic to obliterate the entire Eastern Citadel. With the 2nd Regiment joining, they'd have overwhelming numbers. Encirclement would mop up the remnants.
"Victory is at hand. Draw your swords!"
The knights followed Heike's goddess-like, spirited command.
"Your Highness, the refurbished 2nd Regiment has departed for the Eastern Citadel," Ras reported, gazing out the window at the scenery.
"......"
But Asella, as if nothing else mattered, kept her arms locked tightly around Ras's waist, refusing to let go.
"Mm..."
Back at the Southern Citadel, Ras was perplexed. From the moment she'd rescued him in the valley, Asella had clung to him without letting go.
I didn't expect such an enthusiastic welcome.
When he learned Asella had come searching for him herself, Ras had been a little touched. It showed she valued him as an excellent retainer. But this was a bit much, wasn't it? She was the empire's princess and a battlefield commander—she had dignity to uphold. Ras was trying hard not to let the other knights see Asella draped around him like a belt sash.
"Your Highness, the command..."
"Heike's there. Leave it."
Irresponsible words. Even if Asella was overall commander, if it seemed Heike led on-site, her hard-earned merits might fade.
"It's your fault, young master."
"Me falling into the valley after the barbarians attacked?"
"Yeah."
I nearly died, and here she was. He hadn't expected gentle comfort, but this was Asella through and through, Ras thought.
"I sincerely apologize for troubling your precious body. But I didn't exactly choose to—"
"Payment. Endure it. And keep enduring from now on."
From now on? How long? Ras inwardly prayed for freedom before bedtime.
Well, maybe this is Asella's way of showing she cares about me.
Ras was getting used to her expressions now. She treated even her beloved Max this coldly most times. Grateful it wasn't hostile, he found himself chuckling at how approachable she seemed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing. My nose itched."
"...Hmph."
And of course, Asella couldn't read Ras's mind. She was quite angry right now. Reasons abounded. She'd been unable to command the successful subjugation to the end, shown her flustered side to countless people. Worst, she found herself thinking those trivialities didn't matter since Ras was alive.
And Ras is so nonchalant about it.
He didn't seem like someone who'd just escaped death. As if he'd died so many times it was no big deal, brushing it off. Acting like it never happened irked her.
I look like the fool overreacting alone.
She'd never seen Ras scared. Not when Camilla threatened, not hit by real magic, not when Georg lunged to kill, not even with an assassin's dagger at his throat.
It's scary.
Asella knew well how pain tormented people. Not death itself, but the agony leading to it—that was terrifying. An instinct all creatures had to survive. Overcomeable, but not defied.
Why isn't Ras afraid?
Even before her or the emperor, who could sever his head in an instant, he never lost composure. Asella's intel showed nothing special in his childhood: mother died in birth, little attention from the marquis, grew twisted. When had the infamous playboy learned medicine? Yet his notebook was filled with death notes.
Ras remained a huge enigma to Asella. She lifted her head and stared at him. His relaxed smile grated.
Without filtering, she blurted the sentence bubbling in her chest.
"Ras, are you hiding some secret from me?"
His eyebrow twitched at the question. Asella caught it.
"What is it?"
"Come on, how could I tell Her Highness something embarrassing?"
"Why not tell me?"
"To protect your ears. You don't want to hear about my bathroom habits, right?"
"Hah, you talked so casually. Now my ears hurt."
"Right?"
Ras deftly changed the subject. Infuriatingly so.
"Then, does Your Highness have secrets from me?"
Caught off-guard by the counter, Asella went silent.
Foresight visions must never be shared, especially with Ras himself. Hadn't she nearly lost him today, arrogant from glimpsing the future?
If Ras knew, he'd bungle everything worse.
Nosy even unasked, he'd act even more if it involved his family.
"None."
Asella answered flatly. Ras accepted it easily.
"Please keep it that way. A personal physician must always know their patient's condition accurately."
"Personal physician..."
For some reason, the words felt oddly uncomfortable to Asella. Irritated, she headbutted his chest.
"Ow, why?"
"You're my personal physician, but also..."
Today, the next words stuck in her throat. Thump, thump. Her heart raced. Afraid he'd notice, she pulled back slightly—but her arms stayed around his waist.
"Young master."
"Yes."
Asella hesitated, then asked.
"That fat girl said something."
"Lady Frieda Shvartsshubaiku? What about?"
"...That you and I are politically engaged."
"Oh, right."
Asella bit her lip, avoiding his eyes.
"...Do you think so too?"