I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Episode 30

“What are you doing?”

Startled blue eyes stared up at Serena, looking flustered by the sudden proximity.

Serena’s gaze, however, was void of any emotion as she coldly pointed at his hand and spoke.

“I’m asking you to let go of this.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Azaid hurriedly release her hand, belatedly realizing he had been holding onto her without even noticing.

Serena nonchalantly returned to her seat. Shortly after, Leonard joined them in the carriage. Azaid closed his eyes, unwilling to reveal his unease.

Leonard alternated his gaze between Azaid, who had his eyes closed with a disgruntled expression, and Serena, who was gazing out of the window.

What on earth happened while I was gone?

It was then that Azaid broke the silence.

“Let’s move.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With that, the carriage began moving again, and not a word was spoken until they arrived at the imperial palace.

After that incident, Serena became even harsher and more resolute toward Azaid.

In the mornings, she performed her checkups without a word and left immediately afterward. During their designated walk times, she would ask Leonard to accompany him instead, and she delegated the task of assisting Azaid with his clothing to Anna.

As the silent standoff between the royal physician and the emperor dragged on, those around them grew increasingly anxious. One day, in the dining hall, Anna whispered to Marie.

“Why do you think they’re fighting?”

Although Anna didn’t specify names, Marie knew exactly who she meant. Letting out a long sigh, Marie muttered under her breath.

“I don’t know. Neither of them is saying a word about it.”

“They say lovers’ quarrels are like cutting water with a knife, but this feels like they’re slicing through ice,” Anna remarked, shivering with a grimace.

As the attendant assigned to run errands outside the emperor’s chambers, Anna was bearing the full brunt of their cold war. The longer it dragged on, the more anxious she became.

Marie, sulking, stared at the soft bread she had been given. Its yellow cream reminded her of Serena’s eyes.

“Lady Serena, aren’t you going to sleep?”

“No, I’ve got some research to do.”

“You’re working on His Majesty’s treatment again, aren’t you? Please take it easy. At this rate, you’ll wear yourself out before you find a cure.”

“It’s fine. I can handle it. Dying a little is no big deal.”

“What?! Don’t say such things!”

“Oh, sorry. That came out wrong, didn’t it?”

Marie couldn’t help but feel sorry for Serena. For her to say something so absurd-it was clear that the cold war with the emperor was taking a toll on her, even if she didn’t show it outright.

How much must she love him to forgo sleep night after night searching for a cure?

What could be more heartbreaking than being rejected by the person you love?

As tears welled up in her eyes, Marie suppressed them and muttered softly.

“Lady Serena is so pitiful. Why does she stay up every night, unable to sleep, because of such a cold-hearted emperor?”

“Lady Serena isn’t sleeping?”

“She sighs deeply every night and seems so distressed. It’s hard to watch…”

“I see…”

Anna nodded meaningfully, her eyes gleaming with an air of intrigue.

“Achoo!”

Serena shivered and rubbed her shoulders.

“Is someone talking about me?”

Having stayed up late the night before, she felt chilly all over.

At this rate, I’ll catch a cold. I should warm up.

Fortunately, she had taken leave in advance and didn’t have to see Azaid that day. With the morning checkup already completed, the rest of the day was hers.

Dragging her tired body, Serena added logs to the fireplace. The imperial palace, with its high ceilings and vast spaces, was perpetually cold, regardless of the season.

Feeling unwell, the chill seemed even more biting. After tending to the fire, Serena retrieved something from her desk drawer, settled into an armchair, and wrapped herself in a thick blanket.

“Ah, that’s better.”

She sighed contentedly, a soft smile on her lips as she caressed the book in her hands.

The night before, she had narrowly avoided getting caught with it by Marie. Thankfully, her research materials scattered across the desk had saved her.

The book’s cover was emblazoned with the title: Diary of a Difficult Patient.

Naturally, the “difficult patient” was Azaid.

‘Whew. I’ll have to remember to lock the door next time.’

Serena let out a long sigh before opening the book.

‘That bastard Emperor.’

The bold opening line of her most recent entry radiated with anger. Serena couldn’t help but chuckle as she read through her unfiltered thoughts from the previous day.

It was cathartic.

Meanwhile, Azaid lay on his bed, staring at the intricate patterns on the ceiling.

Leonard, who had been standing nearby, finally spoke.

“How long are you going to keep this up?”

“What do you mean?”

Azaid turned to Leonard with a sullen expression.

“I’m talking about Lady Serena.”

Leonard bluntly confronted Azaid, who was feigning ignorance. Azaid, seemingly unwilling to respond, quietly turned his back on Leonard and lay down.

It had been about a week since the cold war between Azaid and Serena began. Though Serena still took care of Azaid daily, she no longer behaved as persistently as before.

To make matters worse, whenever she relayed messages through Leonard or the maids, Azaid found it unbearably frustrating.

“Sir Leonard, please let His Majesty know that he must go for a walk today.”

“Your Majesty, she insists you go for a walk today.”

“Tell her I’ve already heard.”

“He said he has already heard”

Anyone could see that asking others to pass messages while the person in question was right there was a clear act of protest.

In truth, Azaid hadn’t avoided reconciliation. It was simply that Serena had completely shut him out, leaving him feeling helpless.

Azaid had never imagined that their awkwardness would last this long, and he found himself increasingly bewildered. The reason for her sudden coldness was likely due to something he had said that day.

“Well, I’m Your Majesty’s physician, after all.”

Serena’s expression that day was colder than it had been when they first met.

The moment Azaid saw her hardened face, he realized his mistake. He had nearly reached out to stop her as she walked away.

But he didn’t. And so, things escalated to this point.

The more time passed, the more restless Azaid became.

‘To think I drew the line, yet I’m the one getting hurt,’ he thought, feeling both exasperated and baffled.

Being curt with others was something he’d always done, but for some reason, he found himself weak only when it came to Serena.

Even now, Azaid couldn’t bring himself to fully trust her. It wasn’t that he suspected her of taking orders from someone else.

Rather, he feared that the opportunists surrounding her, who sought to manipulate her, might lead her astray.

Azaid’s life had been one betrayal after another, too much to trust people at face value. The imperial palace was a place where alliances were formed and broken purely for personal gain.

He had survived in that environment, rising to the throne through sheer effort. Yet even now, he couldn’t ignore the eyes of the grand nobles.

When the Vincent family approached Serena, Azaid wasn’t surprised.

Baron Vincent was merely the beginning. If a minor noble tried to flaunt familiarity, wouldn’t the grand nobles also make their moves?

Perhaps this situation, with Serena drawing the line first, was what Azaid had wanted all along.

So why did it feel so suffocating and melancholic?

He had simply returned to being the indifferent, neglectful emperor who distanced himself from others. So why did her every expression sway his mood so much?

Just then, Leonard asked him cautiously,
“Did something happen that day? If this is about her unauthorized absence…”

“Do you think I’m that petty?”

“Yes.”

Azaid bolted upright from his bed at Leonard’s unwavering response. Even his closest friend was taking her side!

“Since when did you side with my physician over me?”

“Dragging out a lovers’ quarrel doesn’t do anyone any good.”

Leonard shrugged and offered a ridiculous remark.

“…What? What nonsense are you spouting?”

Azaid flared up, only for Leonard to look at him blankly.

“A lovers’ quarrel? Me? With my physician?”

Azaid was about to lose his temper when-

“Your Majesty, may I come in?”

Someone knocked briefly and entered the chamber. It was Anna, one of the maids.

She bowed her head as she approached Azade with a medicinal decoction. Normally, Serena would have brought it herself, but ever since their fight, she had been asking the maid to handle it.

Still, Serena would usually accompany Anna, so her absence made Azaid sharply inquire,
“Why are you here? Where’s Serena?”

Startled by being directly addressed by the emperor, Anna shrank back.

“L-Lady Serena asked me to deliver this in her stead.”

“She always came along, though.”

“T-That’s because she took the day off today.”

“She took the day off?”

Was she saying she didn’t even want to see him outside of their medical sessions now?

Azaid frowned, frustration evident on his face. Then Anna hesitantly added,
“Well… It seems she’s feeling unwell.”

Her words were unexpected, and Azaid’s eyes widened noticeably.

Serena is… sick?