I Am The Dying Emperor’s Doctor

“What are you doing?”

Astonished, Azeid’s blue eyes stared at Serena intently. The sudden closeness caught her off guard, making her flustered.

Serena’s gaze that had surprised him held no emotion whatsoever. She spoke coldly, pointing at his hand.

“This is asking you to let go.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Azeid finally release her hand belatedly. It was a natural reaction, realizing belatedly that he had been holding her without even realizing it.

Serena casually returned to her seat. Soon after, Leonard followed behind in the carriage. Azeid closed his eyes, not wanting to show his inner turmoil.

Leonard alternated his gaze between Azeid, who had closed his eyes, and Serena, who was looking out the window with a distant expression.

‘What happened between them?’

Then Azeid broke the silence.

“Let’s depart.”

“Yes.”

And so the carriage departed, and until they arrived at the palace, no one uttered a word.

* * *

After that incident, Serena became even more harsh and firm with Azeid.

In the mornings, she would silently undergo examination and quickly leave. When it was time for a walk, she asked Leonard to take her place, and she entrusted Anna with dressing him.

As the standoff between the royal physician and the emperor continued, those around them couldn’t help but feel uneasy. At the dining hall, Anna whispered to Marie.

“Why did they fight?”

Although no names were mentioned, Marie instantly knew who they were talking about. Marie sighed deeply and muttered.

“I don’t know. They’re not talking.”

“Everyone says lovers’ quarrels are like sword fights, but this feels like walking in ice.”

Anna grimaced, her body trembling. As the one in charge of running errands outside the emperor’s chamber, Anna felt the weight of their standoff on her shoulders. The longer it dragged on, the more unbearable it became for her.

Marie looked at the soft bread she had received with a dejected expression. Seeing the yellow cream, Serena’s eyes came to mind.

‘Ms. Serena, aren’t you sleeping?’

‘No. I have research to do.’

‘Are you searching for another remedy for His Majesty again? Please take a break. If not, you might go before His Majesty does.’

‘It’s okay. I might as well die.’

‘What are you saying!’

‘Ah, sorry. What was I thinking?’

Marie pitied Serena. Even saying she might die, it was clear how tough the standoff with the emperor was on her, even if she didn’t show it openly.

To love someone so deeply and be rejected, what could be more heartbreaking?

Trying to hold back tears, Marie whispered.

“Ms. Serena is pitiful. Why does His Majesty, who is so heartless, torment her every night without sleep?”

“Ms. Serena doesn’t sleep either?”

“She sighs deeply every night. It’s heartbreaking to watch…”

“That’s true…”

Anna nodded meaningfully, her eyes filled with understanding.

* * *

“Achoo!”

Serena shivered suddenly as a chill ran down her spine.

“Who’s talking about me?”

She felt unusually cold after staying up late last night.

‘I might catch a cold. I should keep myself warm.’

Fortunately, she had taken a leave of absence in advance, so she didn’t have to go see Azeid today. She had already undergone her morning examination, so now it was entirely Serena’s time.

Struggling to get up, Serena filled the fireplace with logs. The palace was tall and spacious, so it tended to be chilly inside.

Feeling unwell, she naturally felt even colder. Serena took something out of the desk drawer and settled into a comfortable chair, covering herself with a thick blanket.

“Ah, so warm.”

Serena made a lethargic expression as she stroked the book with her hand.

She had been so nervous last night, almost getting caught by Marie with this book. Fortunately, the scattered research books on her desk had helped her avoid the crisis.

The book cover read “Observations on the Emperor’s Health.” The “emperor” referred to here was obviously Azeid.

“Phew. I should lock this away or something next time.”

Serena sighed and opened the book.

[Emperor is such a xx.]

The diary entry from yesterday began with a strong statement, showing a lot of anger. Serena chuckled as she read yesterday’s raw emotions.

It felt refreshing.
* * *

Azeid was lying on the bed, gazing at the ceiling pattern. Leonard, who was standing by, asked him.

“How long are you going to keep this up?”

“What?”

Azeid shifted his gaze to Leonard, puzzled.

“Lady Serena,” Leonard said.

Leonard threw a direct question at Azeid, who seemed indifferent. Azeid, not wanting to answer, turned away from Leonard and lay down.

It had been about a week since Serena and Azeid entered a standoff. Serena took care of Azeid diligently every day, but she didn’t persist as stubbornly as before.

It felt suffocating whenever Leonard or a maid conveyed a message through them.

“Your Majesty, the Lady insists that you must go for a walk with Lord Leonard today.”

“Your Majesty, please make sure to go for a walk today.”

“I’ve already heard. Tell her that.”

“She has heard you.”

It was clear to everyone that asking someone to convey a message was a protest.

Azeid had indeed tried to reconcile, but Serena completely blocked him, which was bewildering.

Azeid never expected Serena to become so cold, perhaps because of his remark that day.

“Well, I am His Majesty’s physician.”

Serena’s expression seemed more distant than when they first met.

When Azeid saw Serena’s hardened expression that day, he regretted it. He almost impulsively tried to hold onto the distancing Serena.

But Azeid couldn’t hold onto Serena in that moment, and the situation became strained.

As time went by, Azeid felt increasingly uneasy. Being the one to set boundaries first and getting hurt in return was baffling.

Azeid was surprised at himself. While being distant and indifferent to others was his usual demeanor, he seemed particularly vulnerable to Serena.

Azeid still didn’t fully trust Serena. It wasn’t that he suspected her of receiving someone’s favor. It was just that he feared the sycophants who approached her knowing her position might change her mind.

In his life, trusting people at face value was a series of betrayals. The palace was a place where everyone gathered and dispersed repeatedly for their own gain.

Having survived and become emperor through his own efforts, Azeid still had to tread carefully around the high nobles.

When the Vincent Family approached Serena, Azeid had expected something like this.

Viscount Vincent was just the beginning. Even a common noble would approach showing such friendliness, let alone a high noble.

Perhaps now was the time for Serena to draw the line first, something Azeid had not anticipated.

But why did he feel so stifled and gloomy?

He had just become a lazy emperor again, indifferent and negligent in his duties. Yet, why did her words, her expressions, sway his mood so easily?

At that moment, Leonard asked cautiously, “What happened that day? Is it because of her unauthorized absence…?”

“Does she see me as someone so narrow-minded?”

“Yes.”

Without a hint of hesitation, Azeid jumped up from the bed.

Even a close friend like him was siding with her!

“Since when did you start siding with my physician more than me?”

“Long-lasting lover’s quarrels aren’t a good thing.”

Leonard shrugged, throwing out a strange remark.

“What? That’s nonsense!”

Azeid snapped, and Leonard maintained his indifferent expression.

“Lover’s quarrel? Me? With my physician?”

It was a moment of confusion for Azeid.

“I’ll be leaving first, Your Majesty.”

Someone entered and announced their presence briefly before entering the bedroom. It was the maid, Anna.

Anna came in, her head slightly lowered, and handed Azeid his medicine. Normally, it would have been Serena who brought it, but after their fight, he always asked the maid.

Although she had always come with Serena, Azeid sharply questioned her in her absence.

“Why are you here? Where’s Serena?”

Anna, seeing the emperor speaking to her for the first time, shrunk her shoulders.

“M-Ms. Serena asked me to bring the medicine instead.”

“But you always come together.”

“T-Today, she took a day off.”

“She took a day off?”

Does she not even want to see my face when it’s not for an examination?

Azeid frowned in frustration. As he did, Anna hesitantly continued.

“Um… She’s not feeling well.”

That unexpected revelation made Azeid’s eyes widen noticeably.

Serena is sick?