The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 59: Trial by Duel

Clank, clank.

The heavy plate armor of the Moonlight Palace knights clattered loudly as it echoed down the corridor.

Naturally, leading the procession with firm, confident steps was the mistress of Moonlight Palace herself—Asella.

Unlike usual, the knights were in full plate armor with even their banners raised high.

They looked ready to march off and slay a dragon.

BANG!

As the attendants flung open the doors at the end of the corridor, Asella stepped into the courtroom.

I quietly positioned myself at her side.

The courtroom was built symmetrically.

On the right side sat rows of spectators, including several members of the imperial family.

From the other side, another group of knights entered with strong, synchronized strides.

At their front, his golden hair gleaming, was none other than Second Prince Georg.

Asella and Georg met at close range in an instant.

The air was thick with tension.

“Asella, you dare drag me into a trial and waste my precious time? Shouldn’t there be a shred of courtesy for your brother, who is as lofty as the sky?”

Asella crossed her arms and glared sharply at him.

“No room for words. Draw your sword.” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

“You really don’t know your place. You claim I tried to assassinate the Duke of the West? That’s baseless slander with no proof. Utterly absurd.”

Georg scoffed and shook his head in disbelief.

“Well, we do have evidence.”

“What?”

Georg’s brow furrowed at my words.

“There were two assassins who attacked the ballroom. The rogue was killed on the spot by the knights. The dark mage was captured alive and is currently in Moonlight Palace custody. Turns out he’s quite a talkative one.”

Georg bit his lips and glared at me.

Of course, the captured assassin had actually been magically silenced with a black magic gag curse. We couldn’t dispel it, and he was barely alive.

But Georg didn’t know that. The fear that the truth had leaked meant he had to shut down this trial at any cost.

Asella raised her hand and pointed at Georg.

“For endangering my life—and beyond that, threatening the safety of the imperial family and many nobles.”

She spoke clearly, pronouncing each word with calm venom.

“You will pay with blood, Georg.”

“Urgh...”

Georg’s brow twitched for a moment, but he quickly regained his bluster.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Framing me with baseless lies—you’re the one who’ll pay dearly for this, Asella!”

“Let’s proceed with the trial, Your Highness. The truth won’t reveal itself just by shouting.”

I pointed to the left.

Asella and Georg stood across from each other at the centerline that split the courtroom in half.

Following that central line led to the judge’s bench, where the presiding magistrate sat.

“Do you, Prince Georg von Württempelt, and Princess Asella von Württempelt, agree to settle this through a duel trial?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve been waiting for this.”

The two declared their agreement without hesitation.

“Bring forth the observers.”

“Me, me! I’ve always wanted to try this!”

Lauga bounced forward eagerly.

She wasn’t allied with either party and was herself a successor, so she was a suitable neutral observer.

“Let’s see. We need a devout attendant, too. Court physician Boishu, come forward!”

“At your command, Princess.”

Lauga’s court physician, Boishu, stepped forward. I’d seen him a few times at the Imperial Clinic.

A short, baby-faced young man—he looked like a boy at first glance. Standing next to Lauga, he almost looked younger than her.

Lauga would oversee the process and outcome of the duel, while Boishu, through faith, would provide it divine legitimacy.

Boishu explained calmly in a soft, youthful voice.

“In a duel trial, the victor’s claim is deemed true. For it is only right that the Goddess grants victory to the one who speaks truth.”

That was why duel trials were viable in an empire dominated by goddess worship.

It didn’t make logical sense to me, but hey—when it’s useful, you use it.

Instead of a military clash between factions, we could flip the balance of power through a one-on-one duel.

“Then please declare before the Goddess. What truth does the Second Prince assert?”

“Asella slandered me without cause, and she must be punished for that. I demand compensation from Moonlight Palace.”

“And what truth does the Third Princess assert?”

This part, I handled.

“That Prince Georg knows the identity of the true culprit behind the attempted assassinations of Princess Asella and Duke Schwarzschweik.”

“There’s a true culprit behind the assassination?”

“So that’s Moonlight’s main accusation, huh.”

The audience began murmuring.

“As for compensation, we consider it sufficient if Prince Georg reveals the true culprit and lives outside the imperial palace for three years.”

“What did you just say? Are you saying you’ll banish me from the palace?”

Georg clearly hadn’t expected that and faltered.

There were several reasons why I reworded the charge to say he “knew the culprit” rather than “was the culprit.”

In a duel trial, the victor’s statement becomes truth.

If Georg wasn’t the actual assassin but merely gave the order, then the existence of a mastermind could be erased.

Also, this would frame the assassination as internal strife within the royal family—something the Emperor would hate.

The Emperor’s word was absolute. If he voided the duel, everything would fall apart.

The real culprit was probably Camilla, anyway.

“Plenty of nobles come and go from Tojin Palace. If one of them was the true culprit, and Your Highness covered for them, then a three-year exile seems like an appropriate punishment, doesn’t it?”

“Hah! You dare presume to punish me?! You lowly court physician!”

“I’m not the one delivering judgment. This is a trial.”

Georg clenched his fist, his face reddening.

“Your insolence pierces the heavens. You think I, of all people, would lose? Do I look like some frail weakling to you?!”

Shrring!

Georg drew his sword from his waist—a gaudy greatsword gleaming with jewels.

“I’ve trained under a Swordmaster of the Imperial Knights. It’s obvious who’ll win this duel between me and Asella!”

Honestly, his confidence wasn’t unfounded.

He was a sword user who’d received formal training. Probably on par with a mid-level knight commander.

And while Asella was a skilled mage, in a one-on-one duel, a melee class overwhelmingly favored over a ranged one.

Once the distance closed, she’d have no means of defense.

“You guys aren’t seriously going to fight to the death, are you?”

Lauga asked, sounding worried. Georg and Asella both snapped back.

“I’m dead serious! I won’t take this insult lying down!”

“The insulted party here is Moonlight Palace. I’ll rip Tojin Palace up by the roots.”

Lauga shrugged and nodded, catching the mood.

“Got it. A proper live duel between Asella and Georg, then.”

“Princess Lauga, as witness, please confirm Rule 6 of the duel trial regulations.”

“Rule?”

At my request, Boishu opened a lawbook.

“Rule 6: In duels between a male and female combatant, the male side receives a handicap.”

“What the hell is that?!”

Georg protested, but the presiding judge solemnly agreed.

“It is as stated. This rule exists because women are typically at a disadvantage in terms of strength.”

“That’s a regulation from before magic became mainstream!”

“Tradition is tradition. In some precedents, the male participant fought with his lower body buried in the ground. What shall we do?”

Asella tilted her chin up and replied coolly.

“In duels, participants may carry one weapon and a set of armor. I wish to add one more item.”

“An additional item... That has precedent. What do you say, Princess?”

Lauga nodded.

“It’s not unheard of. As observer, I approve!”

“Already scheming, are you...”

Georg looked uneasy.

He realized—the duel had already begun, Georg.

You should’ve read the regulations ahead of time.

“What item do you wish to bring?”

Asella answered flatly.

“A retainer is property of their lord. They should serve as shield or weapon. I will bring one of my retainers into the duel.”

“Th-that’s absurd! I refuse to accept that!”

Georg blew up. He’d realized our intent.

Naturally, we were planning to send in Tanya. As an Expert, she could subdue Georg instantly.

“Forget the handicap! Let’s make it honorable—a pure one-on-one duel with no outsiders!”

“And you think it’s honorable for you to go full force against a girl eight years younger?”

“You bastard...!”

Georg ground his teeth at me.

“We’re simply invoking established regulations. If that displeases you, feel free to admit the accusation and flee.”

“You... You’re behind this, physician!”

Georg swung his finger at me.

“Fine. If you are the extra item, I’ll accept. I’ve lost count of the times you’ve disrespected me. If I get to cut your head off, I welcome it!”

The courtroom buzzed with tension.

In a duel, killing your opponent was legal. If Georg killed me, I’d have no right to complain.

He probably assumed I was a noncombatant, dead weight, no threat to his chances of victory.

If Georg refused the trial, we couldn’t exile him from the palace.

I looked at Asella.

Even she hadn’t expected things to go this way. She hesitated.

[No. 012: Fall of the Empire 30% → 38%]

Asella’s hatred for the imperial family was slowly rising.

No wonder—this was revolting.

We had a chance to get rid of Georg. Since we’d come this far, we had to make the duel happen.

“Very well. I’ll participate.”

At my answer, Georg smirked confidently, certain of victory.

“Then the terms are agreed. The Goddess shall grant her blessing to the one who speaks truth.”

Boishu invoked divine power to conclude the process.

Clap! Lauga clapped her hands together.

“As official observer, I hereby declare the duel trial between Georg and Asella established! The match will take place in two weeks!”

Asella lifted her chin arrogantly, looking down on Georg.

“Tch! What a revolting woman.”

Georg spat a curse and turned to leave the courtroom.

We, too, exited back into the corridor.

“Lord Gotberg, what the hell are you thinking?”

As expected, Asella scolded me right away.

“Georg was supposed to back out or push for favorable terms. What are you going to do now that you’re entering the duel with me?”

She was really pissed.

“Don’t worry. We’re going to win this duel.”

“Georg isn’t some pushover. He’s a proper swordsman. You really might... die.”

“He may talk tough, but Georg can’t just try to kill Your Highness in plain sight. With this much spectacle, His Majesty will be watching. He won’t take kindly to a successor setting fire to the palace.”

“That’s not what I meant... Argh, forget it.”

Asella crossed her arms, clearly still annoyed.

“Whatever. I’ll make sure we win decisively. Are you going to practice swordsmanship, at least?”

“As much as I can. Please focus on your spellwork, Your Highness.”

“Do you have a plan?”

I shrugged and made a request.

“Just lend me the knight order. I need manpower to gather materials.”