I Am The Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Serena, a genius doctor, was chosen as the Imperial Palace Physician at only 19.

Her fame stemmed from her flawless record and her innate ability to detect the pulse of illness since childhood.

Her love and respect for patients surpassed all; she frequently provided free treatment to the underprivileged.

But even she faced challenges.

“I won’t take it.”

It was all because of the stubborn emperor before her.

He lay in bed, utterly idle—a portrait of laziness!

“Your Majesty, I heard that you had a fever again yesterday. So I brought medicine to bring it down.”

Serena presented the medicine with a business-like smile.

Reflecting on past encounters, she had a fair notion of Emperor Azeid’s mischievous tendencies.

Stay calm, stay calm.

If she couldn’t please the capricious emperor again and he refused the medicine, it would be over.

I don’t wish to perish once more.

Serena desperately hoped that the Emperor would take the medicine soon.

Emperor Azeid was far from ordinary—a constantly evolving eccentric who never failed to astonish Serena.

“It tastes terrible.”

The Emperor wrinkled his nose and turned his head away from the medicine.

This time, he seemed to use the excuse that children often used, “It’s too bitter, I can’t eat it!”

‘Ugh, I can’t simply ignore this…’

A crack appeared in Serena’s smile. She wanted to grab his face and force-feed him.

He says I should live…which is true, but it’s better for both of us if he lives too!

Suppressing her boiling emotions, Serena mentally repeated ‘patience’ ten times.

Soon after, Serena’s smile returned, almost as though she had foreseen it all. She took out a glass jar filled with candies.

“I prepared the candy because I knew this could happen. If you eat the medicine first and then eat a candy, the bitterness might lessen.”

Azeid responded to Serena’s smiling words.

Tilting his head and fixing his gaze on her, his clear blue eyes gleamed.

After a while, he reached for the medicine, and Serena’s eyes sparkled with hope.

But his hand moved away from the medicine and towards Serena herself.

“What’s your name?”

“Pardon?”

Surprised by the question instead of an answer, Serena replied with a question.

“You’ve been acting suspicious.”

“….”

Serena discreetly rolled her eyes. But that seemed to raise more suspicion as Azeid looked at her sharply.

“Why do you keep insisting that I take this medicine? What’s your motive?”

“Because if you die, I die. And what’s suspicious about a doctor taking care of her patient?

Feeling on the verge of explosion, Serena screams internally. But outwardly she remained calm.

“I am here at the Imperial Palace to prioritize Your Majesty’s health.”

“I am prioritizing my health.”

Azeid chuckled, eliciting sighs from the maids behind him.

It appeared that even a handsome man could be entertaining.

Yet, Serena remained unaffected, despite the charm of that laughing, handsome face.

To her, he was simply a handsome yet troublesome patient, nothing beyond that.

“Of course. So, would you like to try the medicine after considering the sincerity of this girl?”

Serena smiled gently as she offered the medicine again. Azeid, however, declined with a tone of mockery.

“Your expression betrays deceit.”

“Um…”

“How do you know if this is poisonous or not?”

“I…”

“I trust no one. Leave, my body is mine to know.”

Azeid covered himself with a blanket, seeming annoyed.

He was a lazy man, seldom leaving his bed—a remnant of his decadent past.

Bubbling frustration.

‘Ugh, this paranoid patient… why won’t he just take it once!’

She felt like steam was about to burst from her head.

She struggled to contain her mounting anger.

The person who melted the maids’ hearts with his fever nearing 40 degrees last night was now refusing medicine.

Despite her brilliance, how could a doctor save an Emperor who defied medical counsel?

‘Is he so bent on dying? Should I simply allow it? No, even if I leave him alone, he’ll probably die on his own.’

Serena thought to herself, her mind racing with intense thoughts.

No, he must not die.

Another failure means facing death once more!

Masking her frustration, Serena spoke with a smile.

“If you’re anxious, I’ll check your condition.”

“By yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Go ahead and try.”

As the Emperor turned his body to the side, propping himself up with his arm, he stared intently at Serena.

Naturally, his vulnerability was briefly revealed in his chest.

She couldn’t comprehend why pain seemed to humble his arrogance. The maids blushed and coughed nervously.

Despite his slightly disheveled appearance, his face retained a touch of elegance.

But Serena didn’t bat an eye and proceeded to check his condition directly. Only then did the Emperor reach for the medicine.

However—

*Cough!*

Azeid coughed up blood before he could even take the medicine and collapsed. As a consequence, Serena faced a death sentence for attempted regicide.

This was already her second death.

Upon her third reincarnation—

“Argh! Damn Emperor!”

Serena, her purple hair in disarray, opened her eyes with fury.

Upon her reincarnation, she resolved.

She decided to confront that cursed Emperor head-on, even if it meant her death.

***

Serena suppressed her excitement and delved into introspection.

What does a genius doctor do?

When a patient refuses treatment.

Regardless of their title, that accursed Emperor cannot be saved.

“I pitied the Emperor’s misfortune all this time, and what did he give me in return, shit twice over?!”

Trembling with rage, Serena cursed vehemently.

***

Azeid Kan Kroten.

The only direct descendant of the Imperial Family of the Kroten Empire, who was once a worthless maid’s illegitimate child left in the Star Palace before ascending to power.

In contrast to other Imperial Families with red eyes, he bore blue eyes. Red eyes symbolized the Kroten Empire’s power and might.

The potency of the Kroten royal family’s power amplified with the strength of their red eyes.

This led to the neglect of Azeid, born with blue eyes, and he was abandoned at the Star Palace soon after birth.

Lacking any notable power, other Imperial Families disregarded him as well.

Whether he lived or died, no one cared. Without the ability to wield the power of fire, one could not become Emperor.

Later, when the reigning emperor fell ill and death seemed imminent, a power struggle erupted among the empire’s princes and princesses.

Amidst the bloodshed, no clear heir emerged.

No one cared about the abandoned prince who was Azeid.

The problem was that during this chaos, all the Imperial Families perished. Thus, the nobles reluctantly turned to the abandoned prince, Azeid, as the last option.

Though powerless, he still had royal blood, so they sought to continue the lineage through marriage.

But the newly crowned Emperor Azeid revealed his true colors. He had inherited the Kroten royal family’s power, surpassing even the former emperors in strength.

His blue eyes were not a sign of weakness.

Blue fire was stronger than red fire.

The previous emperor failed to see this.

Azeid’s mother, Medea, foresaw this and concealed his power to avoid conflict.

With no other choice, they planned to marry him off to ensure succession.

Yet, Emperor Azeid revealed his true nature. His power was greater than any before him, verging on tyranny.

Acknowledging his overwhelming strength, the nobles realized they had replaced a figurehead with an uncontrollable tyrant.

Fortunately, he suffered from an inexplicable illness, which kept him from using his power freely. He also detested being controlled due to his humble origins.

There were no wild beasts under his rule.

Serena speculated that his illness might correlate with his blue eyes, unlike the red-eyed Imperial Families.

But even forming such a hypothesis was impossible without proper research.

The accursed Emperor hindered any attempts to examine or even touch him, rendering the identification of his illness impossible.

“Why even have an Imperial Palace? Why not keep a fortune-teller nearby and ask for blessings?” Serena bit her lower lip in frustration. It seemed like the Emperor had no intention of managing his condition properly.

His forgotten memories seemed to have deeply traumatized him.

Up to now, Serena had endeavored to persuade Emperor Azeid with utmost kindness.

In the first attempt, she was overwhelmed by fear due to his status as Emperor and failed to respond properly, leading to her death. By the second attempt, she had gained some experience.

She tried to manipulate and appease the Emperor, feeling relieved when he lived longer than the first time.

However, Emperor met his demise once more, and Serena faced the same fate with her throat cut. This marked her second resurrection, not akin to a phoenix, but merely a cycle of death repeating!

For how much longer must she endure the Emperor’s caprices before facing death anew?

Recalling her past struggles, Serena trembled with clenched fists.

“That accursed Emperor… I should have torn his head off and welcomed death.”