I Am The Dying Emperor’s Doctor

“Oh, I should go in.”

Serena quickly closed the door and looked at Azeid. The table was full of steaming stew, freshly baked bread, and neatly deboned ribs.

Ophelia must have woken up early to prepare all this.

“How thoughtful.”

Serena admired the meal as she approached the table, and Azeid gestured for her to sit opposite him. Once she sat down, Azeid instructed a nearby servant to bring new utensils.

“Lady Greenwood brought this, but can I eat it?”

“There’s too much for me to eat alone anyway.”

“Won’t Lady Greenwood be upset if she finds out?”

“She gave it to me, so it’s fine.”

Azeid replied nonchalantly, while the servant from Greenwood’s house clenched his fists.

Serena glanced at the servant, who was glaring at her with fierce eyes, as if to say, ‘Just try eating it.’

As Serena hesitated, Azeid served her some stew and ordered the servant,

“You may leave now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Call me if you need anything.”

The servant reluctantly responded and left. Alone with Azeid, Serena felt less pressured.

Picking up a spoon, Serena said,

“I think this household has really marked me. You know it’s your fault, right?”

“My fault?”

“Of course! It all started when I became your partner. If I’m found dead later, please investigate it as a murder.”

Azeid paused his eating and glanced at her. Serena seemed unaware that he was silently supporting her from behind.

The moment she entered the palace as the emperor’s partner, she became a target for high society. Especially in Greenwood’s territory, where Ophelia was the socialite queen.

The nobles couldn’t touch the emperor but might target someone from the palace. Azeid had already assigned a secret bodyguard to her.

If she was in danger, the guard would protect her and report to him immediately. However, he didn’t plan to tell Serena about it.

She might feel overwhelmed and hide in her room if she knew. Azeid smiled and replied,

“That won’t happen.”

“You’re too carefree.”

Serena grumbled as she took a bite of the stew, her eyes widening.

“Wow, this is really good. What is this dish?”

“It’s a restorative meal from Greenwood.”

“No wonder. I feel energized already.”

Serena continued to eat the stew, making appreciative sounds. Watching her, Azeid asked,

“Serena, be honest.”

“About what?”

“You’re using the morning check-up as an excuse to come for breakfast, right?”

“Of course. Eating well helps me do my job better. The food here is always delicious.”

Serena waved her spoon as if it was obvious.

“If you say so.”

Azeid chuckled and pushed the ribs he had prepared toward her. Serena accepted them without hesitation and began to eat with a fork.

Azeid watched her eat with fascination. He had lost his appetite earlier, but seeing her enjoy the food made him hungry.

Maybe that’s why breakfast with Serena was always delicious. Azeid took a bite of the stew and muttered,

“It’s good.”

“Eat plenty.”

“Don’t act like you cooked it.”

“You’re so petty.”

Serena pouted and focused on her food again. That day, Azeid finished a bowl of stew. Serena finished two.

* * *

Before the ball, Azeid had a meeting with the duke and left. Serena, finding herself alone, decided to pack her things and head to the library in Greenwood’s main estate.

She planned to gather and summarize the books she needed over the next two weeks. Showing her pass, she entered the library and was amazed by the sight.

The rumors were true; the library was vast, more like a grand library than a personal collection.

Shelves filled the space, with ladders to reach the higher books. The nickname ‘Duke’s Jewel Box’ seemed fitting with the immense collection.

Books were neatly organized by category, reflecting the duke’s personality. Rare and out-of-print books were also present.

Serena, her eyes sparkling, headed to the section on ancient magic, marveling at the treasures.

‘How could he keep all these to himself?’

Coming from a family of scholars, the library’s reputation was well-deserved. She forgot her original purpose, exploring and leafing through various books.

Realizing her distraction, she started looking for the books she needed and placed her hand on a sturdy wooden ladder, unlike the usual mobile ladders in libraries.

The ladder had a space behind it, big enough for someone to hide. It would be a perfect spot for hide-and-seek.

Halfway up the ladder, she heard whispers from the other side of the shelf.

“Did you get it?”

“Of course. With this, that blue-haired bastard won’t be so arrogant.”

“Just thinking about what he did to us… He’s just cocky because he’s trusted by the emperor.”

It wasn’t just one voice; there were at least three people.

A conspiracy? Serena held her breath, noting that they mentioned the emperor.

“Half-breeds sticking together.”

Some nobles secretly criticized the emperor’s lineage. The higher the status, the more enemies one has.

Many nobles sought any opportunity to undermine the emperor, but with Azeid’s power, they couldn’t act openly.

‘Is this just gossip? They seem to be plotting something suspicious.’

Remembering past incidents, Serena cautiously descended the ladder and hid behind it.

Pressing her ear against the wall, she heard a voice,

“What are you doing here?”

“!!!”

Serena was startled and looked up to see Azeid, who had crouched down to see her.

He must have come looking for her after his meeting with the duke. Hearing Azeid’s voice, the whispers stopped.

Serena, fearing being caught eavesdropping, quickly pulled Azeid behind the ladder.

“What are you doing?”

“Shh! Be quiet!”

She hushed him, her hand covering his mouth again.

Ignoring his frozen state, Serena pulled him close to avoid being seen. The narrow space was cramped with Azeid’s large frame.

Her view was filled with Azeid, and he must have felt the same.

Pressing herself against the ladder, she signaled him to stay quiet.

Footsteps approached. One of the three men came to check the noise.

Serena’s heart pounded. Her hand on Azeid’s lips grew warmer.

Peeking through a gap, she saw the face of one of the men who had tried to harass Nocturne. They were likely seeking revenge for being humiliated by him.

“I don’t see anyone. Oh… it was just the librarian.”

The librarian had greeted her earlier, a kind elderly man who had helped her with a pamphlet of the library’s catalog.

Maintaining the library’s order must have been thanks to him. The other two men joined in, complaining.

“The librarian must be muttering again. That old man’s constant mumbling is creepy.”

“No footsteps, just like a ghost librarian.”

Their conversation shifted to criticizing the librarian, filled with unpleasant content that made Serena want to cleanse her ears. They stood by the ladder and resumed their plotting.

“What about doing it at the ball tonight? Perfect for embarrassment.”

“Wouldn’t it ruin the ball? It’s the start of the hunt festival.”

A timid voice expressed concern, but the loud one shouted,

“That’s the point! Let’s make sure Nocturne never sets foot here again.”

Grinding his teeth, he smacked his fist into his palm. A tall man held up a crystal-like object.

‘Is that a magic orb?’

She recognized it from books, a rare item with special abilities, valuable to wizards.

Usually, it shattered with the beast’s death, making intact ones rare. The orb they held seemed flawless.

‘They’re planning something dangerous.’

Serena listened intently to their detailed plans before they left the library.

She waited until their footsteps faded before turning to Azeid.

“Sorry, did I scare you…”

Serena stopped mid-sentence, realizing how close Azeid was.