I Am The Dying Emperor’s Doctor

“What do you mean by something strange?”

“Well, I ended up trapped in a burning building…”

Serena began explaining the shock she experienced during the fire, but Eldah interrupted, grabbing Serena’s hands in alarm.

“Oh my, Rina! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

Eldah held Serena’s face with both hands, inspecting her closely to ensure she wasn’t injured. Serena, feeling embarrassed by the concern, gently shook her head.

“I’m fine. Really, no injuries.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Anyway, I fainted from the shock.”

“You fainted?! How is that fine?!”

“Oh, come on. Let me finish. As you can see, I’m perfectly okay.”

Serena tried to appear cheerful and continued.

“After I fainted, I had a strange dream. It felt so vivid, like a memory from my childhood.”

“A nightmare, perhaps?”

Eldah looked sympathetic. She knew all too well about Serena’s difficult childhood.

“No, it was too clear to be just a nightmare. It felt like a lost memory.”

“Sometimes, when we go through hard times, we have vivid nightmares. Don’t worry too much.”

Eldah patted Serena’s hand gently.

“So, Auntie, I used to spend a lot of time here at your pharmacy, right?”

“Yes, you often helped out. You were so adorable back then, like a little chestnut.”

Eldah chuckled, reminiscing about Serena’s childhood.

“Do you remember if there was a time when I stopped coming for a while? Or maybe came back hurt?”

Serena avoided asking directly if she had been kidnapped, hoping to get a clue instead.

Eldah scratched her chin thoughtfully.

“Hmm. It was so long ago, I’m not sure.”

“Even a small detail would help.”

“Now that I think about it, there was a time you were absent for about ten days.”

“Really?”

“I was worried and went to Viscount Manor. Your sister Lydia said you had gone far away. She wouldn’t say where and practically slammed the door in my face.”

“Lydia said that?”

Serena blinked in surprise. Since entering Viscount Manor, she hadn’t left the capital.

‘Far away? If it was a trip, I’d remember. And Lydia wouldn’t be left behind.’

If it had been a trip, Lydia would have accompanied her. Serena would never have gone alone.

“Yes. Her face was so pale. When I asked if you were sick, she snapped at me.”

‘That temper of hers.’

“Sorry about that, Auntie.”

“It’s all in the past.”

Eldah smiled warmly, pouring more tea.

“Anyway, you returned to the pharmacy like nothing happened after a while. When I asked where you’d been, you acted like you didn’t know what I was talking about.”

“So, I did go somewhere?”

“I can’t say for sure. It was so long ago.”

Eldah squinted, trying to recall more details.

‘At least it’s clear something happened that I can’t remember.’

Lydia seemed to know something. Serena had avoided going back to Viscount Manor, but now it seemed inevitable.

“Auntie, did I ever mention a boy?”

“A boy? Not really. You weren’t much of a talker…”

Eldah’s eyes unfocused as she tried to remember.

“You did often dress like a boy, so it wouldn’t be surprising if you played with them.”

“I did act like a boy back then.”

Serena chuckled at the embarrassing memory.

“Not just a little. You pretended to be a boy and fooled many people.”

“I didn’t like being underestimated as a girl. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Serena laughed awkwardly. After Lydia’s prank that left her hair chopped off, she began pretending to be a boy.

It wasn’t planned, but it amused her when people mistook her for a boy.

Eldah clucked her tongue disapprovingly.

“You used to be so rough. If you were my daughter, you’d have been scolded a lot more.”

“You did scold me plenty, Auntie.”

“Because you felt like my daughter.”

Eldah rolled her eyes playfully and changed the subject.

“You never talked about friends, but I do recall you coming here once after a fight. You looked a mess.”

“A fight?”

Serena widened her eyes, unable to remember ever getting into a physical fight.

Eldah grimaced as if recalling the shock.

“Yes! Your nose was bleeding, and your lips were cut. I was so worried!”

“…”

“And you boasted about winning the fight. I was so exasperated I just let it go.”

“Well, better than losing… Okay, Auntie. I’m sorry.”

Seeing Eldah’s stern look, Serena quickly apologized.

“You’re probably the only girl who fought like a boy. If it wasn’t for my pharmacy skills, you’d have scars all over.”

“Thank you for healing me, Auntie.”

Though you might have missed the scar on my forehead.

Serena kept that thought to herself, smiling sweetly. Eldah shook her head.

Eldah continued scolding her, and Serena’s mind wandered.

She had always been a fighter, with plenty of incidents in her past. Most troubles were instigated by Lydia’s friends, leading to verbal altercations rather than physical ones.

Who did she fight with?

Maybe it was some local ruffian.

Eldah added, “You were very odd after that. You kept apologizing to my pregnant belly, asking Lewin not to hate you.”

“I did?”

“Yes. You kept saying you were sorry for using something without permission.”

“What?”

Serena was overwhelmed by the new information.

‘Am I really that clueless about my past?’

She seriously wondered if she had memory problems.

“Thank you, Auntie. You’ve helped a lot.”

“No problem. It was nice to reminisce about the old days.”

After all the scolding, she must feel refreshed, Auntie.

Serena bit back her words and smiled. She changed the subject to avoid more scolding. They chatted for a while longer when suddenly…

Ding!

The bell rang, and the man Serena was about to visit entered.

“Well, well, who do we have here?”

“Oh, Mr. Jack! What brings you here?”

Eldah recognized Jack first and greeted him. Serena turned to see Jack waving.

“Are you slacking off? I should report this to the palace guard.”

“I have permission for this outing.”

Serena glared at Jack. Eldah looked between them and asked, “You know each other?”

“Yes, we do,” Serena replied.

“Likewise,” Jack added.

Serena decided to seize the opportunity.

“I was about to visit you.”

“Oh, about the payment? I was going to ask when you’d settle the balance.”

“Sorry. I was planning to, but something urgent came up.”

“No worries. Eldah, I need the items on this list by the end of the month.”

Jack handed a paper to Eldah. She glanced at it and asked, “You’re delivering to the Temple of Perianus?”

“Yes. It’s a personal order, not for the company.”

Eldah gave him a playful look.

“I thought it was a big order since you came personally.”

“Oh, Eldah. Greedy, aren’t you? Watch out, or you’ll turn into a pig.”

“Excuse me?”

Jack looked sheepish as Kenzo walked in.

“Did you hear that, Kenzo?”

“I did. Came in when I heard nonsense.”

“It was a joke.”

Jack winked. Eldah and Kenzo seemed unbothered, accustomed to his manner.

While they chatted, Serena suddenly clapped her hands.

“Oh! I remember!”