I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Chapter 11

“What? But…”

Ophelia faltered, unable to continue her sentence.

“My physician advised me to avoid sugar for the time being,” Azaid curtly cut her off, using Serena as an excuse to refuse. He was preemptively blocking any further insistence from Ophelia.

Her expression shifted when she heard the word “physician,” though she still looked somewhat flustered as she glanced up at him. Perhaps she was annoyed by the Emperor’s consistently cold demeanor.

“Ah, I heard you’ve recently hired a new physician. And, from what I gather, it’s a woman.”

“And?”

“I also heard she’s an illegitimate child of the Vincent family. One who was expelled from the family at an early age, no less.”

Ophelia casually criticized Serena, her tone indifferent yet laced with malice. It seemed she had already completed her investigation into Serena.

Azaid let out a long sigh, turning his back to her. He forced a strained smile.

“What exactly are you trying to say, Lady Greenwood?”

“I’ve heard that lately you’ve been keeping that palace doctor unusually close.”

“Listening to you, one might think you live in the palace. Just who’s been feeding you these rumors?”

“Does that even matter? The issue is that Your Majesty is associating with someone of such low birth.”

Ophelia retorted shamelessly, shaking her head in apparent disapproval before continuing in a tone heavy with feigned regret.

“Those born impure never know their place. You never know when they’ll become a burden to you.”

For a brief moment, a crack appeared in Azaid’s composure. The phrase “born impure” hit too close to home, as it also applied to him.

Of course, Ophelia hadn’t thought that far. Her intention had been merely to disparage Serena in front of him, but her malice had overstepped its bounds.

Azaid strode toward her, and Ophelia blinked in surprise. As he leaned in to meet her gaze, his voice turned icy.

“Lady Greenwood, you don’t seem to know your place very well yourself.”

“W-what?”

“By your logic, wouldn’t I, too, be someone of impure and low birth?”

“Ah…! N-no, that’s not what I meant…”

Realizing her mistake, Ophelia paled, finally recalling Azaid’s origins. Azaid, now feeling the onset of a headache, pressed a hand to his forehead.

Suppressing his anger had left his clenched fists aching. Just as he sank into his chair, Leonard entered the study.

“Your Majesty, the palace doctor is waiting outside to conduct an examination.”

“It’s already that time? Let her in.”

Azaid let out a quiet sigh of relief at Serena’s timely arrival. Then, he turned to Ophelia.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said earlier. Now leave, Lady Ophelia Greenwood.”

“Let’s go, Lady Greenwood,” Leonard said politely, extending a hand toward her.

Ophelia, who had been frozen in place, abruptly stood as if she might kneel any second.

“Y-Your Majesty, wait, please, I must…”

She was about to kneel at Azaid’s feet when—

Crash!

Her voluminous dress swept across the table, toppling the tea set to the floor. Hot water splashed onto Azaid thigh.

“Argh!”

“Aah!”

“Your Majesty!”

Azaid groaned in pain, followed by Ophelia’s startled scream and Leonard’s urgent reaction.

Though the water had cooled slightly, it was still hot enough to burn. Azaid bit his lower lip, trying to endure the searing pain. At that moment—

“For heaven’s sake, can’t I leave you alone for a second?”

A familiar voice rang out from the hallway, and Serena stepped in, immediately assessing the scene.

“Everyone, leave. I’ll handle the treatment.”

Serena, Azaid’s physician, had arrived.

Serena scanned the room: the shattered tea set on the floor, Ophelia pale as a ghost, Azaid clutching his thigh, and Ophelia’s cumbersome dress.

‘The dress caused it.’

Accidents like this were common among noblewomen. Crinoline dresses were cumbersome and difficult to move in, often causing mishaps. The low height of the table in Azaid’s study made it especially vulnerable.

Serena shook her head inwardly and calmly spoke.

“Everyone, leave. I’ll handle the treatment.”

Ophelia frowned.

“What right do you have to tell me to leave?”

“I’m Serena Vincent, His Majesty’s physician. Exercising my authority as his doctor should suffice, no?”

“…Oh.”

“Your presence is disturbing the patient’s peace. Please leave.”

Serena didn’t even glance at Ophelia as she spoke, focused instead on Azaid’s injury. This wasn’t the time for arguments.

Ophelia, however, felt humiliated and retorted sharply.

“He’s hurt because of me. Isn’t it proper for me to stay by his side?”

Serena turned to face her directly.

“You’re the one who hurt him.”

“It was an accident!”

“Then I suppose it’s fine if I accidentally slap you.”

“What?”

Ophelia’s eyes widened in disbelief. Serena’s expression was so calm that Ophelia wondered if she had misheard.

Azaid’s muffled laughter from behind confirmed that she hadn’t.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say that out loud? I meant to keep it to myself…”

“Pfft!”

Leonard stifled a laugh, leaving Ophelia’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She tried to maintain her dignity, fanning herself as she replied.

“Do you even know who you’re talking to?”

“Aren’t you Lady Ophelia Greenwood?”

“Yes! And yet, you dare—”

“Fine, stay if you want. But are you sure you can handle it?”

“Handle what?”

“Well, I’m about to remove His Majesty’s trousers.”

“!!!”

Ophelia’s eyes went wide as saucers, and Leonard, who had been trying to hold back his laughter, coughed in shock.

Azaid had already frozen in place. Only Serena remained unfazed. She addressed the stunned trio matter-of-factly.

“Though, I suppose I could just rip them apart if necessary.”

Leonard mimicked the motion of snipping scissors as a playful gesture, which caught Serena’s attention. He asked with wide-open eyes, “Did you mean because of the injury?”

She replied calmly, “Would there be any other reason for me to say that?”

Ophelia, realizing the double meaning of “removing,” shot up from her seat, flustered.

“Ahem! Your Majesty, I beg your pardon. I know the only way to take responsibility for causing Your Majesty harm is to accept death. But please, grant me your boundless mercy and forgive me.”

“……”

“Then I will take my leave, assuming Your Majesty’s permission.”

As Azaid remained speechless, his face frozen in confusion, Leonard followed Ophelia out.

“I’ll escort you, Lady Greenwood.”

“Thank you.”

With Leonard’s assistance, Ophelia quickly departed. Before long, only Azaid and Serena were left in the quiet study.

After the commotion died down, the silence in the room felt even more profound. Azaid stared blankly at Serena.

She instructed a maid cleaning up the broken glass to bring some cool water. Then, she retrieved a portable water bottle from her bag and approached Ajade.

“Let me take a look at your injury.”

“…You’re not seriously planning to strip me, are you?”

Azaid eyed her warily, his expression full of suspicion. Serena responded matter-of-factly, her tone unbothered.

“I can’t treat it over your pants. And the location is too awkward to just roll them up.”

“Just tear it, then.”

Azaid muttered under his breath, covering his face with his hands, his ears reddening. He looked deeply embarrassed. Serena glanced at him with amusement and chuckled softly.

“Of course, I was planning to cut it anyway.”

Without hesitation, she pulled a pair of scissors from her bag and roughly snipped away the fabric around the injury.

Thankfully, the burn wasn’t severe. There were no blisters, just some redness and minor swelling. Although the affected area was somewhat broad, it seemed manageable with proper care.

As Serena cooled the burn with flowing water, the maid returned with a bowl of fresh water. After pouring water over the injury several more times, it became clear that the heat in his skin had diminished.

Next, Serena retrieved some ointment from her bag and began applying it carefully to the affected area.

“This might sting a little.”

With that warning, Serena gently applied the ointment to Azaid’s thigh. She could feel his muscles tense under her touch, his thigh hardening noticeably.

Though he flinched every time her hand brushed against him, he didn’t let out a single groan, showing considerable self-control.

‘Not even complaining about being touched anymore,’ Serena thought, finding his cooperative attitude during treatment rather curious.

After a short while, she finished by wrapping the wound with a clean cloth. Looking up at him, she commented, “Fortunately, the wound isn’t too deep.”

Pleased, she offered him a compliment, to which Azaid replied nonchalantly, as if brushing it off.

“It was just hot water.”