I Am The Dying Emperor’s Doctor

“Azeid’s perception that Serena was calm was actually a misconception.

Serena felt both cool and anxious about the Emperor coming to apprehend her.

Since it was her mistake to stay out overnight, she was prepared to face any punishment. Azeid stared blankly at Serena.

Same clothes as yesterday, same appearance.

And a strange inn room.

He couldn’t explain why he felt so uncomfortable. Then a shaky voice called out to Azeid.

“You’re here?”

Here? Nonchalantly here?

Azeid turned his head towards the bed with widened eyes, startled.

“!!!”

Jack, at a glance, looked like a patient. Bandages wrapped around his abdomen were visible through his open shirt, and one of his eyes didn’t look well.

Chapped lips and sharp eyes despite his smile.

Azeid’s gaze, which until moments ago seemed like he was going to kill Jack, wavered with uncertainty.

“Why do you look like this?”

As soon as he saw Jack’s injured state, his face turned pale. He seemed deeply shocked by Jack’s condition.

Serena entered with a fierce demeanor but suddenly looked puzzled as she glanced at Azeid’s frowning face.

‘I asked for an explanation about his condition.’

Serena briefly glanced at Jack. The Emperor was attached to his people dearly, though he didn’t keep many around him. Especially the Four, who had been close since childhood, were particularly special to him. How surprised would he be to see one of them, Jack Gordon, in such a state? Serena approached Azeid calmly.

“It’s okay. We found Jack Gordon injured yesterday by chance. Although his left eye was too late to save, we managed to save his life.”

“…What happened? Who did this to you?”

Azeid asked Serena in a trembling voice. His downcast eyes looked pitiful.

His blue eyes shone with a stormy confusion. He cautiously held Serena’s sleeve, urging her to explain.

Serena tried to reassure him by holding his hand back and explaining.

“It’s just… We came across Jack Gordon after he was attacked. His left eye was already lost, but we saved his life.”

“…Injured? By whom?”

Azeid asked Serena with a dazed look, unlike the one who just called Jack as if to kill him. His face looked like it had lost its soul.

It was understandable; to see one’s closest friend become half-blind overnight was shocking. Serena tried to answer, but Jack shrugged and said,

“It was an ambush.”

“Surely not because of my orders…”

“Your Majesty.”

Leonard interrupted Azeid’s words and shook his head. It was because of Serena.

“Right.”

Azeid was quite surprised. Serena, looking worriedly at Azeid, asked,

“Are you okay?”

“Hmm.”

Azeid let out a dry sigh and refused Serena’s support, slowly approaching Jack. He looked down at Jack and asked,

“Didn’t I tell you to stay out of danger, Jack Gordon?”

Serena was taken aback by Azeid’s tone. It was the first time she had seen him so angry.

She had only known him as someone who would lazily lie on the bed. Jack stopped laughing and said,

“I apologize. I let my guard down.”

“…Stay out of it from now on.”

“But…”

As Jack raised his voice in protest, Leonard stepped in.

“Your Majesty, since Jack’s condition isn’t good, it’s better to talk about this later.”

“Leonard, don’t interfere.”

Azeid’s cold voice made Leonard purse his lips. Serena looked concerned about Azeid’s increasingly tense mood.

In fact, she had suspected something dangerous when she saw Jack injured.

She judged that such a skilled person wouldn’t have suffered such a fatal injury from a street thug.

But now it seemed like it was related to Azeid’s orders.

‘What exactly is he doing behind the scenes?’

It seemed she had been too simplistic in her judgment of Azeid.

She had thought of him as a lazy Emperor, but perhaps he was fiercely fighting behind the scenes. Serena was worried about Azeid. His complexion was not good, and she doubted if his blood circulation was functioning properly. Leonard politely said,

“Lady Serena, I’m sorry, but could you leave for a moment?”

“Oh, sure…”

As Serena tried to leave, Azeid grabbed her hand.

“You don’t need to leave.”

“Huh?”

“Jack, you’re going to stay sober from now on. Don’t leave your mansion.”

“Azeid!”

Jack Gordon’s angry voice echoed, but Azeid didn’t listen. Holding Serena’s hand firmly, he pushed her into the carriage. Despite his authoritarian words, his gentlemanly gesture confused Serena a little.

It seemed like Azeid was afraid of this situation itself. Serena, sitting in the carriage, asked him with her hands clasped together.

“Are you trying to escape right now?”

“…”

Azeid widened his eyes at Serena’s direct question. In the confined space, their gazes clashed closely. Serena lightly squeezed his hand and said,

“I’m not saying you’re trying to escape. I’m just worried about you, Your Majesty.”

“…”

“Your hand is cold. Are you very surprised? Don’t worry too much about Jack. Nowadays, there are various magical items, so he can get an artificial eye.”

Serena calmly tried to reassure him.

“Of course, it might be a bit uncomfortable, but it’s better than dying.”

If only I had known you would react like this, I would have given you a heads-up while waiting outside. Serena felt sorry and guilty as she looked at Azeid.

Then Azeid, with a vacant look, asked softly,

“…Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you worried about me?”

“Well, that’s…”

Azeid’s gaze shifted towards Serena. She blinked slightly at this unfamiliar sight.

His pupils seemed to be on the verge of shedding tears at any moment. His long golden eyelashes trembled as if trying not to catch tears.

His eyes contained a mix of caution, expectation, and emotions that Serena couldn’t quite grasp.

He pulled her hand closer, narrowing the distance between them. Serena’s violet hair cascaded over her shoulders. Azeid looked at her and growled,

“Who are you to worry about me?”

His grip was firm. He stared fiercely at Serena as if he were a wild beast baring his sharp fangs.

The intense gaze made her feel overwhelmed. In the past, she might have trembled and kneeled, asking for forgiveness in such a dominating presence.

But Serena felt more hurt than scared. Still, she thought Azeid was less guarded against her than before.

However, that was just Serena’s hasty judgment. Azeid still reacted sharply towards her.

Especially in the face of a friend’s crisis, he showed his true self to her. Perhaps he didn’t even realize he was reacting sharply because he felt embarrassed revealing his weak side.

‘So what?’

Is it fair to lash out with sharp words defending yourself against someone who is worried sick?

Especially someone who is anxiously standing by your side?

Serena bit her inner lip softly. When she recalled the reality in front of her that she had overlooked, her mind went cold.

The Emperor’s gaze looking at her was still as chilling as ever.

Cold and distant.

She had secretly thought he had softened a bit, maybe because he had grown closer to her.

‘So what? Why am I worried about you?’

Serena responded calmly with an emotionless gaze.

“Because I’m your personal physician.”

That’s right. This was Serena’s role. She couldn’t interfere in his affairs beyond treatment.

Whether she treated Jack Gordon or even cured Azeid’s illness, that was all there was to it.

Azeid slowly retorted to Serena’s straightforward and firm voice,

“…It hasn’t been long since you’ve known me.”

“Human connections don’t always correspond to the time of acquaintance.”

‘And I’ve known that from before I died twice.’

Azeid scoffed at Serena’s bold answer.

“Are you implying that you’re my fate?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

Serena didn’t know the reason for her reincarnation. She just kept coming back in front of him after death.

Was it a joke by the gods, or was it the guidance of destiny?

Regardless of what it was, Serena had no intention of being dragged around. Serena tugged at Azeid’s arm firmly. As a result, the already close distance felt like their foreheads were about to touch.