I Am The Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Nocturne flinched when he saw the person before him. Someone who was supposed to be in the confinement room was strolling around the main residence.

“You look surprised.”

James grinned at Nocturne. Unlike before, James now had a sinister air about him.

“I thought you were in the confinement room.”

Nocturne replied nonchalantly, but inside, he was keenly observing James’s behavior. The confinement room was a place where one would be locked up for at least a week. Yet, James had come out in less than three days.

Nocturne scrutinized James with suspicion.

“I’ve been thinking.”

James began, locking eyes with Nocturne.

“Why does His Grace favor you so much? Why are you no longer sent to the confinement room?”

“Did you come to a conclusion?”

“I did. Quite clearly.”

James smiled brightly. As soon as Nocturne saw that smile, he realized the truth.

‘He opened the door himself.’

Duke Greenwood enjoyed ruling over and manipulating people. The confinement room was one of his games. The door wasn’t always locked; it would open once someone was completely broken and rendered helpless. Those who opened the door themselves were acknowledged by the Duke.

It was a test of mental strength. Those who emerged received rewards—power.

The Duke’s methods were always a clever mix of carrot and stick. While Nocturne had awakened to the Duke’s manipulations, James seemed to have chosen to lie low and enjoy the power.

After all, the reward was incredibly enticing.

“You must have enjoyed seeing the frightened faces of those brothers entering the confinement room.”

“Not particularly.”

Nocturne responded curtly to James’s taunting and tried to walk past him. But James grabbed his arm roughly.

“Because of you, Patrick was disowned.”

“How is that my fault?”

Nocturne stopped in his tracks and stared coldly at James. He no longer felt the need to be polite. James flinched as Nocturne shook off his hand and rebuked him.

“That’s because Patrick was incompetent.”

“What?”

“If you lack guts, you need to at least have situational awareness to survive.”

“You heartless bastard.”

“Are you in any position to call someone heartless?”

Nocturne smirked, mocking James, who scoffed in response.

“Enjoy your arrogance while you can. Once the successor announcement is made today, you’ll be beneath me.”

It was true. Those who emerged from the confinement room earned the right to become the successor.

To be the Duke’s loyal dog, taking on the dirtiest jobs behind the scenes while outwardly holding the most prestigious position.

Nocturne had rejected that position, but James had eagerly grasped it. James raised his chin arrogantly, waiting for Nocturne to react.

Nocturne lowered his head for a moment, then his shoulders shook. Moments later, he burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! James, you’re still just a wildcat in the confinement room. Flaunting a position I discarded.”

“You bastard…!”

James fumed at Nocturne’s provocation. He had been promised the title of viscount by the Duke after the hunting festival.

Holding that title meant James would have the world in his hands. It was the coveted position that all the brothers desired but never attained.

Yet Nocturne’s smug expression ignited a burning rage within him, a deep-seated inferiority complex rearing its ugly head.

‘Who are you to call me a wildcat? I’m not some lowly creature like that!’

James couldn’t contain his anger and reached out to grab Nocturne by the collar.

“You still don’t get it, do you… Agh!”

Whoosh-!

A fierce flame blocked his hand. Unlike the hesitation at the previous party, this time Nocturne moved swiftly. James screamed and recoiled as Nocturne coolly warned him.

“The only one who can stand above me is His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…”

“So, don’t even think about challenging my position.”

“You…!”

“Don’t be complacent just because you’ve taken that spot. It’s only the beginning, and His Grace can replace you at any time.”

Nocturne added unsolicited advice before walking away. James shouted curses at him, but he ignored them.

Nocturne’s expression was colder than ever, but inside, he was seething with anger. Watching those under the Duke grovel and vie for power disgusted him.

A passing maid saw Nocturne’s icy demeanor and held her breath. Normally, he would have smiled charmingly, making the maids blush, but today he wasn’t in the mood.

He walked aimlessly, not knowing where he was going.

“Nocturne?”

As luck would have it, Serena spotted him and called out. He wanted to avoid her, but they were face-to-face, so he had no choice.

Nocturne composed himself, smiled, and greeted her.

“Are you on your way to the library?”

Nocturne’s gaze fell on the book tucked under Serena’s arm. She nodded and replied.

“I have a book to return. Why were you looking so scary, Nocturne?”

“Me?”

Nocturne shrugged as if he didn’t know what she was talking about, but Serena stepped closer.

“Oh dear, did I say something wrong?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“But I could feel the tension from a distance. It was hard to ignore.”

“You’re very perceptive.”

Nocturne smiled faintly. Serena asked him to wait and rummaged through her pocket.

“Could you hold out your hands like this?”

She demonstrated cupping her hands together. Nocturne, a bit puzzled, mimicked her gesture. Serena poured a handful of candies into his palms.

“What is this…?”

“I found these hidden in His Majesty’s bedroom.”

“What?”

“He must have thought he could hide them in someone else’s house without getting caught. But I know all of his habits by heart.”

Serena complained lightly about Azeid’s bad eating habits, clearly more of a venting session than genuine anger.

She talked so animatedly that Nocturne couldn’t help but be entranced. He looked at the candies in his hands, recalling memories he’d rather forget.

Before he was adopted by the Greenwood Duchy, Nocturne had been raised by his deceased mother’s sister.

As the unwanted child of an unknown father, he was lucky to have a home, even if he was treated poorly. But that day when he ate a bag of candies left on the table, everything changed.

The sweet candies were actually the most painful poison, revealing his true place in the family.

Her son had cried, and she had looked at Nocturne with cold eyes, as if to say, “How dare you take my son’s share?”

He had been beaten for the first time, and despite the pain, the sweetness of the candies in his mouth made him cry even harder.

After that, the relationship soured, and he was sent to the Greenwood mansion, losing contact with his aunt’s family.

Even though she never bothered him again, that memory haunted him. Nocturne stared at the candies, lost in thought, until Serena asked,

“Do you dislike candies?”

Nocturne shifted his gaze back to her and replied shortly.

“No, I like them.”

“Should I give you more? I actually have plenty left…”

Serena pulled out more candies from another pocket, offering them to him. It seemed her pockets were enchanted to hold more than they should.

“Does he like sweets that much? If only he liked walking as much…”

Serena muttered to herself, her complaints about Azeid never-ending.

“Pfft.”

Unable to contain himself, Nocturne laughed. The thought of Azeid hiding so many candies and Serena finding them so easily was amusing.

Serena looked at him in surprise, but Nocturne continued to laugh, his shoulders shaking. Worried the candies might fall, Serena grabbed his hands.

“Why are you laughing all of a sudden?”

“I just thought you and His Majesty get along very well.”

“His Majesty and I?”

Serena blinked, then quickly denied it, her expression hardening.

“The rumors aren’t true.”

“Oh, I just meant you two make great friends.”

Nocturne clarified with a friendly smile, and Serena pouted. She stuffed the candies into his bulging pockets and thanked him.

“Thanks for the candies.”

“Sure. Enjoy them. You look much better when you smile.”

“I always thought I smiled well.”

“It’s just that you usually only smile with your mouth.”

Serena mimicked a fake smile by lifting her lips with her fingers.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

Serena hurriedly said goodbye and walked away. Nocturne watched her go, a lingering smile on his face.

Suddenly, he felt a prickling sensation on his back. When he turned around, he saw Azeid leaning casually against a pillar, staring at him.