The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 69: Sleeping Together (3)

—Fwoosh.

I heard the sound of Las blowing out the lamp beside Asella’s ear.

The last flickering light that had been casting a soft, large shadow vanished, and darkness settled in.

Only the silhouette illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window gave a vague idea of where Las was.

Rustle.

Asella pulled the blanket up to her chest.

With her vision gone, the other senses seemed to become more sensitive.

Sounds were louder, and even the feel of fabric on her fingertips—oddly... sharper.

Was it always this soft? freewebnσvel.cøm

For some reason, she didn’t want Las to hear the sound of her breathing, so she covered her mouth with the blanket.

“Then, Your Highness, sleep well.”

That voice came, and she heard him rustling around on the floor.

What is he doing?

Asella, puzzled, lifted her head.

“Sir, why are you over there?”

“Pardon? I’m getting ready to sleep.”

“Sleep... on the floor?”

“Yes. Ah, I have a sleeping bag.”

Before she knew it, Asella frowned.

This man was clearly making fun of her.

When did he start planning this? From the moment he suddenly came in tonight for that emergency examination?

Otherwise, there’s no way he’d be doing something so infuriating.

“Huuu....”

Asella took a deep breath, holding back her anger. If she raised her voice now, she’d only disgrace herself.

...No, wait.

Why am I even angry?

Because I thought we’d be sharing the bed, and yet he just lay down on the floor like it was the most natural thing in the world?

That alone wouldn’t have made me this upset.

Ah. Maybe it’s because I imagined his calm, composed face saying, “It’s standard protocol,” as he looked at me like I was the strange one—if I made an issue out of it.

Or maybe... because I was the only one who assumed we’d be sleeping in the same bed?

Wait, really? Was I the only one who thought that?

No way. We’ve already shared a bed twice.

I even let him be my substitute cuddle doll.

Isn’t it only natural to assume we’d sleep together?

He’s the weird one, right?

Asella started hurling questions at herself—questions that would never be answered.

And the more she did, the more irritated she became.

Eventually, worn out by her own thoughts, she slapped the blanket down with both hands—whap—and closed her eyes.

‘Let’s just sleep.’

She couldn’t even hear his breathing—whether the man was alive or dead.

She had noticed it before, but this man had an eerie ability to erase all presence when he slept.

As if he didn’t exist in this world.

‘What’s going on in his head right now?’

Lately, what made Asella increasingly angry with Las... was simply the fact that she couldn’t understand what he was thinking.

Sometimes he acted like she was the center of his world—then the next moment, he’d be busy with something else, barely sparing her a glance.

When she first became slightly interested in him, she had never imagined it would come to this.

She had thought that if he proved useful, she’d wield him with her power, treat him like any other vassal beneath her feet.

But now... it feels like our roles have reversed.

He would’ve been a wreck if not for me.

How infuriating.

Infuriating enough to make her want to scream.

Asella closed her eyes, feeling a chill seep into her empty arms.

***

“The glorious Emperor of the Great Empire now reveals his majestic presence! Show your respect!”

Asella flinched at the blinding light that filled her vision.

But only for a moment—her body began moving on its own, stepping forward.

—Ooooooh!

—His Majesty the Emperor!

—A new age for the Empire!

She had walked out onto a high platform connected to the Imperial Palace, overlooking the central plaza of the capital.

Countless imperial citizens cheered at her arrival. Asella’s name echoed in every direction.

‘I... became Emperor?’

The era name had changed.

It was right after Asella’s enthronement.

A slow, creeping joy began to rise.

‘No.’

Asella almost let herself get swept away by the flood of satisfaction—but quickly came to her senses.

Five magic circles floated in the sky above the capital.

It was the magic of Heaven’s Eye.

A dream? Or an unconscious activation?

Whichever it was—this wasn’t real.

Asella was not someone who found meaning in illusions. If it wasn’t reality, it didn’t matter.

Her head cooled instantly.

This was nothing more than a possibility.

It was not a future that would inevitably come to pass.

She understood that clearly, and instead of basking in dopamine, she began tracing clues.

There might be useful material to bring back into the real world.

Secrets of people. Their actions. Changes.

Economics, public sentiment—everything was a clue.

Even if it was only one possibility, if she could repeat the experience and assemble the data, she might be able to infer reality.

That was the potential Asella saw in Heaven’s Eye.

“Bring forth the traitors!”

She was now in the center of the plaza, where ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) executions were taking place.

Only one executioner. Surrounded by a ring of knights.

She was seated, as the previous emperor had done, presiding over the execution and projecting imperial authority to the people.

‘Traitors, huh.’

Asella found the keyword intriguing.

A good opportunity to identify future enemies in advance.

The traitors were dragged in, bound in ropes.

When she saw their faces, her brows furrowed slightly in shock.

They were all familiar.

‘The Emperor’s personal physicians...’

Ambrosia among them, and two others.

Even more behind them.

‘Marquis Gotberg...?’

Baldur Gotberg.

That man—Las’s father.

‘Why?’

Asella couldn’t grasp what was happening.

Before she could even hear his charges in detail, the execution began.

‘Wait. What treason did he commit?’

She tried to stop the execution, but she had no control within Heaven’s Eye.

She could only watch and feel what her future self saw and experienced.

At that moment, a disturbance broke out at the edge of the plaza.

“Stop! It’s all a lie! The current Emperor framed them all!”

A group of knights began forcing their way toward the center of the plaza.

Leading them—none other than Tanya.

“Marquis Gotberg did not assassinate the previous Emperor! We have evidence! It’s all false!!”

The clash intensified.

Imperial Knights swung their blades mercilessly at Tanya’s group.

Tanya resisted stubbornly, but overwhelmed by sheer numbers, she couldn’t dodge a strike.

A longsword pierced her left eye, sending a spray of red blood.

The documents she had brought scattered through the air, only to be trampled and torn apart beneath armored boots.

The chaos didn’t spread—became no signal fire. The crowd never even saw it happen.

—Slice!

And then, the Marquis Gotberg’s head fell.

The people of the Empire erupted into cheers.

At last, the traitor who slew the former Emperor had been punished. The long-vacant throne had been filled. Emperor Asella ushered in a new era.

‘Urgh.’

Asella’s heart trembled violently.

If she could move, she would’ve turned away from the horrific sight.

But the future version of herself—seemed determined to savor this scene for as long as possible. Her eyes and ears refused to leave the execution.

She slowly turned her head.

Her gaze landed on a full-length mirror set against the palace wall.

Had she come of age? Asella saw her fully grown self.

‘Why.’

And the most horrifying scene of all wasn’t the severed head or Tanya’s collapsed body.

It was inside that mirror.

‘Why are you enjoying this?’

The Emperor Asella in the mirror stifled a laugh, lips curled like a demon in a grotesque grin.

‘What’s so funny? You destroyed Las’s family... trampled on Lady Tanya...’

Even within the illusion of Heaven’s Eye, Asella clenched her teeth so hard blood leaked from her gums.

‘Am I going to become like this?’

No.

This isn’t what’s going to happen.

This isn’t even Heaven’s Eye anymore. It’s a nightmare. One of those sickening dreams that pop up now and then.

“No!!”

Asella screamed.

Her breath came in gasps.

The blanket, once soft and comforting, was now soaked in sweat and clung to her skin unpleasantly.

No, no...

Muttering unconsciously, wandering in the dark—

A voice whispered in her ear.

“Your Highness, it’s okay.”

“Ugh, hngh, Las...”

Without thinking, Asella grabbed a fistful of his robe.

Las didn’t resist—he moved in closer.

Asella slowly wrapped her arms around him.

Like hugging a beloved plushie. Like how she used to hold Max when her doll was missing.

“Haa, haa... hhh...”

Her breathing gradually calmed.

The dream faded like an illusion from her mind.

“Las...”

“Yes, Your Highness. I’m right here.”

Hearing his voice brought her relief.

No matter where or how much it hurt, the royal physician who could heal her was right beside her.

Asella realized something.

The first time she went to his room, she’d thought it was because the assassin had shaken her judgment.

The second time she hugged him, she’d blamed it on the haze of medicine.

But now—she was certain.

In fact, those were the correct decisions.

Only when she hugged Las could she fall asleep without worry.

Even if her reason rejected it, her instincts already knew.

It had been instinct all along.

“Las.”

“Yes.”

“If you commit treason, you die.”

“Come on, that’ll never happen.”

“I mean it.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Asella breathed in the scent of Las’s skin and quietly drifted off again.

***

Compared to before, it was easier to sleep with Asella.

She didn’t have the best sleeping habits. Tossed and turned a lot, breathed irregularly when alone.

But I’d discovered that if I held her, she became as quiet as a doll.

A little bothersome, sure—but it worked. She settled down like she did when sleeping alone.

She had a low body temperature, too. Hugging her was like clutching a high-end bamboo bolster.

I’d slept well. Felt great.

Though I was a little startled when I woke up to find her staring right at me.

Still... within tolerable limits.

After sending Asella back to her room, I got ready, finished my morning rounds, and headed to the Imperial Clinic.

First person I needed to see—of course, Falkenhain.

I stepped into the first floor office used by the Georg faction.

For some reason, it was quiet. Few healers around. Maybe late shifts, or a group vacation?

I went all the way to Falkenhain’s office and knocked.

“Ah! Dr. Gotberg!”

He greeted me with an exceptionally bright expression.

Honestly, considering it was me and Asella who brought Georg down, I expected him to resent me. But surprisingly, no.

“Long time no see, Lord Falkenhain.”

“Indeed! Now, look at this!”

Falkenhain excitedly yanked off the zucchetto he’d been wearing.

A few months ago, his scalp had been completely bare—but now, faint wisps were sprouting from the top of his head.

“My hair—my hair is coming back!!”

Watching Falkenhain beam like a child, I had a strong feeling:

This negotiation was going to go very well.