The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 71: The Princess’s Meal (2)

The match with Simon was officially established.

Right after the audience with the Emperor, I stood beside Simon in the Sun Palace’s reception room, listening to Ambrosia explain.

“The time limit is one month. The girl shall act as judge. As this is under imperial decree, I guarantee a fair and just evaluation.”

Ambrosia struck the floor with a relic, thump thump, as she declared this.

“Simon will use healing spells, and Gotberg will use medicine. Aside from routine checkups and emergency care, neither of the two personal physicians may administer any additional techniques to His Highness.”

“How will the prince’s condition be assessed?”

“Good question. Prince Guenter, Princess Asella, if you would step forward.”

Summoned under urgent imperial command, Guenter and Asella came to the front.

“To think my mealtime was stolen over some petty squabble between physicians—how insolent.”

Asella, clueless as to why she’d been summoned, puffed out her cheeks in protest.

“Please bear with it just a little. It’s a chance to expand our faction.”

The winner’s faction would absorb Georg’s, which was teetering on the brink of collapse.

While most of his personnel had already defected to the First Prince’s camp, the Second Prince’s faction still held valuable assets—particularly artifacts and rare supplies.

And more than anything: the office.

A 200-pyeong office on the first floor—that alone was worth coveting.

“Master, your decision was the right one. Better we scrape up everything Georg left and bring it to Moonlight Palace than let someone else take it.”

“Then why are you angry?”

“Because today’s snack was cheesecake!”

Ah. Cheesecake. A legend in the royal kitchen.

So that’s what she’s mad about.

But if I remember correctly, didn’t she have it with Tanya just yesterday?

“I told you to only eat cheesecake once a week.”

“Yesterday marked the end of the week. Today’s a new one.”

“And you think that makes sense?”

“Why not? If I declare today a Sabbath in Moonlight Palace, then it is.”

She was being absurd—like a child throwing a tantrum.

Asella didn’t digest dairy well, so ideally, she should avoid it. But communication with the royal kitchen was still lacking.

“Now, about the judging method.”

Ambrosia opened the holy book and gave a grand swing of the relic in a wide arc.

Standing on tiptoe, she swung it with all her might—but she was short, and it barely reached Guenter’s chin.

“Oopsie. Pardon me.”

It must have been too heavy—she nearly lost her balance and stumbled.

Smack smack. Ambrosia clicked her tongue and smacked her lips.

She had just demonstrated her dignity as the Emperor’s top physician.

—Hwaaak!

Her divine power bloomed cleanly, forming a glowing sphere that enveloped Guenter and Asella.

Soon, in front of each of them, a holographic image of tree-branch-like veins appeared.

“Oho.”

Simon let out a small breath of admiration. The skill she had just used was quite high-tier for a divine spell.

“As expected of Sister. You’re able to use [Circuit Projection]. You must have tremendous divine power.”

“Ahem. The girl is somewhat mighty.”

Puffing out her chest, Ambrosia beamed at my compliment.

Healing spells generally refer to acts of restoring people using divine magic.

They belong to the same family as other divine spells—just as fire magic falls under elemental spells.

Even blessings, which grant beneficial buffs, are part of the divine branch.

Ambrosia’s current spell was from the utility line of divine spells. Since it’s not combat-oriented, I’d never studied it.

It consumed considerable divine power, and I had no doubt she truly was the best in the inner palace.

The spell even worked on Asella—which meant Ambrosia’s divine mastery surpassed Asella’s current magical skill.

That wouldn’t last much longer, though.

“What you’re seeing now are the mana circuits of Prince Guenter and Princess Asella.”

“Hmph.”

Asella’s mana circuits covered her body in an intricate, densely woven pattern.

But there were several blockages and clots where mana didn’t flow smoothly.

“I seem to have fewer...”

Guenter’s circuits were noticeably thinner and more fractured than Asella’s.

It was a sign of poor magical aptitude.

“I have just recorded the current state of mana flow in both Your Highnesses’ circuits. One month from now, at this same time, whichever circuit shows a more improved mana flow will determine the winning physician.”

“I understand, Sister.”

“No objections here.”

Simon agreed as well.

“Simon, Gotberg—our deputy physicians here will verify the objectivity of all records. Trust us to ensure fairness.”

“There’s no doubt about it. Your character and your position atop the inner palace make your judgment trustworthy.”

“Hehe, excellent. Just out of curiosity—what methods do you two plan to use?”

“Divine spells aren’t limited to healing alone.”

Simon stepped forward and confidently clenched his fist.

“I was recruited to the inner palace because I’m a top-tier inquisitor proficient not only in healing but in all divine spells.”

“I remember. Alberich brought you in.”

“Demons, heretics—when struck with sacred flame, they burn to death. The same goes for disease. Ailments that harm mankind are no different from devils.”

—Hwaaak!

Simon ignited divine energy in his hand.

“And if illness is burned away, it will surely vanish! If we eradicate the devil tormenting His Highness, he’ll gain newfound confidence!”

“Uh... huh?”

Guenter flinched and shrank back at Simon’s proclamation.

It seemed Simon intended to give him a massage using anti-demon spells or something equally insane.

“Simon, is that really okay?”

“Just trust me, Your Highness.”

“...I guess?”

Guenter tilted his head, clearly unsure but unwilling to object.

He was a man with no backbone.

“Hm, an unexpected approach. I’ll look forward to it. Gotberg?”

“As an apology for disturbing Princess Asella’s snack time, I plan to prepare a formal dinner myself.”

“Oh-ho? A formal dinner?”

Even Asella, who had been bored until now, raised her eyebrows with interest.

“If you’re curious, Sister, would you care to join us? Please grace Moonlight Palace with your presence tomorrow evening.”

“Hmm. That would be right around shift change. If you’re extending the invitation, I shall stop by.”

Thump thump. Ambrosia struck the relic on the floor again.

“Then let’s reconvene in one month. Prince Guenter, Princess Asella, I wish you good health.”

With Ambrosia’s formal declaration of the contest, the assembled participants began to disperse.

As Asella turned toward Moonlight Palace, she glanced back at me.

“Master, you can cook?”

“What do you think?”

She tilted her head, then looked up at the sky, as if picturing something.

“It suits you.”

“What does?”

“You’re going to make something tasty, right?”

“Just wait and see.”

Asella gave a casual nod of her chin and walked off gracefully.

I turned to my faction members who had been waiting nearby and clapped once.

“You all heard, right? Let’s get started immediately. Chloe, can you cook?”

“U-uh... d-does sprinkling salt on bread count?”

“If you can bake bread.”

“I can’t...”

“You’re on dishwashing and cleaning duty. I’ll write down the ingredients—gather them by noon tomorrow. Start with an order to the Schupre Company, then collect the rest with the knights.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Chloe nodded so hard her bangs flopped like curtains.

“Hugo, what about you?”

“I’m pretty good with baby food. I had to cook for Eri and feed her.”

“Perfect. You’re my assistant. We’ll practice together. Tanya.”

“Yes.”

“You snack with Asella often, don’t you?”

“Her Highness calls me at least once a week.”

They’re practically best friends now.

“Then you must know her palate well.”

“Of course.”

Tanya answered confidently.

The Asella I knew ten years from now enjoyed cheese and wine above all else.

But her tastes would be different now. Tanya’s help was essential.

“You’ll be in charge of taste-testing. Sample ingredients in real time and give us feedback.”

“Leave it to me. But I do have one question—can food really improve the Princess’s mana flow?”

It was a valid point from Tanya.

In this world, knowledge of nutrients didn’t exist.

People only understood eating by instinct: food gives strength, hunger leads to death.

“That’s why wheat and meat are the preferred ingredients.”

The common folk ate wheat. The wealthy, especially royals, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° ate meat.

Even I was served steak, salt, and butter with nearly every meal.

“Mana circuits are like blood vessels. If nutrients are evenly distributed, they improve.”

“Nutrients! Like vitamins and minerals?”

Chloe, already learning medicine from me, understood immediately.

“His Majesty, for example, has sky-high cholesterol. At his age, a meat-only diet is bound to cause issues.”

I’d long wanted to correct this, but royal meals were overseen by the imperial kitchen, delaying adjustments.

Using this imperial decree as cover, I would finally establish a proper diet for Asella.

“What kind of meal do you plan to serve Her Highness?”

“Asella needs to eat more greens.”

“Greens... you mean vegetables?”

Hugo tilted his head.

It made sense. Common vegetables like carrots and onions were mostly used as animal feed and avoided by wealthy nobles.

The reason was simple—they weren’t tasty and didn’t provide noticeable strength.

Nobles preferred expensive ingredients for status, too.

“Will Her Highness even like them?”

“We won’t know until we try. That’s your job, Head Tester—taste it and decide.”

I patted both Hugo and Tanya on the shoulder.

“All right, let’s get moving. We don’t have much time.”

The next day.

Thwack!

A loud smack echoed across the imperial kitchen as someone slapped a table.

Busy cooks turned in shock.

In the corner—at a countertop borrowed by Moonlight Palace—Tanya, looking more serious than when facing a dragon, raised her voice.

“Healer Hugo! Are you really planning to serve this dish to Her Highness? This salmon is so raw it could leap back upstream if you let it near a river!”

“Teacher, didn’t you say ginseng or whatever was supposed to be a healthy food? I spat it out the moment I tasted it. Was that supposed to mean the ground gets healthier?”

Las pursed his lips at Tanya’s scathing remarks.

‘Tch. It’s not that bad...’

Las had been trying to make nourishing medicinal food for Asella’s health, but he’d hit a wall.

He had barely gathered the ingredients, and most medicinal recipes required fermentation or aging—processes that took time.

Without that, the food tasted awful.

And Tanya, surprisingly, had an accurate palate.

She did snack with Asella constantly.

‘Tch. Guess I’ve got no choice.’

Las grimaced and activated a skill on the bitter, bland ginseng roast.

“Property Shift: MSG to maximum.”