I Am The Dying Emperor’s Doctor

“Marie, was it always possible to get here this quickly?”

“Right? The portal is really amazing…”

“Magic is truly fascinating the more I learn about it.”

Since meeting Nocturne, Serena had moved away from amateur magic and started following a formal path.

The recommended books and advice from Nocturne, who graduated top of the academy, were incredibly helpful to Serena.

‘I wonder if combining magic and medicine could cure previously incurable diseases.’

There had never been a doctor who mastered both magic and medicine. No one with magical abilities had a reason to study medicine.

Medicine and magic had developed separately, without intersecting.

Serena aspired to become the first doctor to use magic in treatment, utilizing her brain and non-functional mana core.

‘I heard Greenwood has many ancient texts.’

Serena smiled meaningfully. Following Azeid wasn’t just to protect him but also to access the library at Greenwood’s main house.

Nocturne mentioned that the Duke had many personal magic books not available in the city library.

With Azeid’s permission already secured, she planned to thoroughly explore the library during their stay in Greenwood.

“The accommodations are nice and clean too.”

Marie had already unpacked and was smiling. Greenwood lived up to its reputation with its serene beauty.

The Duke frequently traveled between his main house and the city villa using the portal, renewing the usage rights annually.

“Indeed. The lake in front and the open garden are truly beautiful.”

“It’s probably because it’s near His Majesty’s room, so the view is even better.”

Marie was right. As the Emperor’s physician, Serena was given a good room to ensure she could attend to him promptly.

The medical team, crucial to the Emperor’s health, was generously treated in Greenwood.

If the Emperor were to be injured in Greenwood, the Duke’s family would bear the responsibility, so they couldn’t rely solely on their family doctors.

‘They said someone got injured before. Who could it be?’

Since it wasn’t Azeid, Serena hadn’t been concerned about who got injured. Now, she was curious purely as a doctor.

Serena was someone who couldn’t ignore an injured patient. At that moment, Marie hesitantly spoke.

“There’s a ball tomorrow evening to officially start the hunting festival at Greenwood.”

“Really?”

Serena replied nonchalantly, and Marie mumbled with a disappointed look.

“Yes. According to tradition, His Majesty’s partner will be the daughter of the hosting family.”

“So, Lady Ophelia Greenwood will be His Majesty’s partner.”

Ophelia was the only legitimate daughter of the Greenwood family, making her the obvious partner for Azeid at the ball.

Serena replied vaguely while looking for something. Marie sighed heavily.

“Ugh! What kind of tradition is that? I was hoping you’d be His Majesty’s partner again.”

“Marie, as I’ve said before, His Majesty and I are nothing more than doctor and patient.”

“Then, are you and His Majesty still in a ‘some’ relationship?”

“Some?”

Serena tilted her head, puzzled. Marie, hands on her hips, explained.

“Nowadays, people call the stage before a relationship ‘some’.”

Serena’s eyes narrowed. Explaining seemed pointless, so she responded flatly.

“Well, I’d say His Majesty and I are in a ‘quarrel’ relationship.”

“What?”

“He keeps avoiding me. So, we’re more like on the verge of a fight.”

What kind of lovers avoid each other?

Thus, Azeid and Serena’s relationship was more ‘quarrel’ than ‘some’. They were always at odds, like people about to fight.

Marie clapped her hands as if she’d realized something.

“Oh! So, you’re playing hard to get?”

“Marie, before I throw you out the window, can you stop?”

“Eek! Scary.”

Marie chirped away cheerfully and left the room. Serena sighed deeply and walked to the window.

The view outside was beautiful. The castle in the middle of the forest looked like something out of a fairy tale.

The shimmering lake, reflecting the sunlight, was dotted with swans gracefully swimming.

As she gazed outside, she noticed Nocturne. Three men surrounded him, arguing by the wall near her window.

‘Hmm. Are those the brothers he mentioned?’

Serena rested her chin on her hand, watching them. The Greenwood family was known for producing scholars for generations.

How could only such intelligent people become the family head?

The reason was simple. The Greenwood family had a unique selection process for the family head.

Anyone with Greenwood blood, whether direct or collateral, could become the head if they were superior to the others and recognized by the previous Duke.

Those who met these criteria would become the next Duke. Therefore, many young Greenwoods were tested from a young age, enrolled in the main house, and competed with each other.

Nocturne, despite being an illegitimate child, was recognized for his abilities and competed with other young nobles.

He was considered a strong candidate for the young duke but suddenly received an earldom and left, so the family’s children likely resented him.

‘I shouldn’t get involved in family feuds.’

Just as Serena was about to close the curtain, Nocturne looked up as if sensing her gaze. He nodded slightly in greeting when their eyes met.

The three men also turned to look up.

“!!!”

Serena ducked down quickly, her heart pounding as if caught spying.

‘Why did he greet me so casually?’

She almost got caught by the three men. Serena, too embarrassed to look outside again, stayed hidden.

After a while, she peeked out and saw that the three men were gone, leaving Nocturne alone, staring at her.

‘Was he waiting the whole time?’

Feeling awkward, Serena spoke up.

“Are they gone?”

When she leaned out, Nocturne smiled and nodded, then gestured for her to come down.

“Want to take a tour? There’s a beautiful spot to see at this time.”

Ah, he’d been waiting to say that.

Serena nodded, spreading her fingers.

“Okay. Give me five minutes.”

She quickly closed the window, grabbed her coat, and headed outside.

* * *

As soon as Serena disappeared from the window, Nocturne’s expression turned cold. His gaze shifted to a corner of the bushes.

The three brothers who had been bothering him were tied up there, out of sight from Serena’s window.

The smell of burning filled the air. They were surrounded by flames, their faces smeared with soot.

Nocturne planned to remove them before Serena arrived. He snapped his fingers, and the ropes binding them disappeared.

“Playing childish pranks should have ended in childhood. This is why you fail in competition.”

“Ugh… you wretch.”

“You shouldn’t speak ill after being beaten by a wretch.”

“Using Izring is cheating! Without it, you’d be nothing…!”

“With or without Izring, you can’t match me.”

Nocturne smirked and pointed somewhere.

“Leave now. If you don’t in three minutes, I might burn your beloved silk clothes.”

His smile was unsettling, and the flames he pointed to blazed a narrow path.

The brothers hesitated, and Nocturne warned them with a smile.

“If you don’t hurry, the last one might get burned.”

“You… you… despicable… hey, wait!”

As one of the brothers tried to confront Nocturne, the other two started running.

“Move! I’m going first!”

“Hey! Don’t push!”

The last brother hesitated before running after them, cursing. Nocturne taunted him with a smile.

“Too late. Unfortunate.”

“Damn it!”

Cursing, the last brother ran after them, all three tripping over each other in their haste.

Nocturne watched them with disdain until they disappeared, leaving only the smell of burning behind.

“Am I late?”

Serena arrived with a cheerful smile.

“No, you’re right on time.”

Nocturne smiled warmly at her, the coldness from earlier completely gone.