I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Episode 33

“……”

“Is my personal physician cursed to die if she doesn’t work for even a single day?”

“……Your Majesty.”

Serena stared at Azaid with a bewildered expression.

Why is the emperor here?

She had been planning to go and apologize, but the victim himself came to her. Judging by his expression, though, he didn’t seem particularly angry.

Was it a dream? Or not?

Serena still couldn’t distinguish between reality and her dream. But given the strands of Azaid’s hair on her bed, this felt real. Yet his demeanor was anything but.

“Uh… Good morning?”

Serena cautiously greeted him, gauging his expression. Azaid chuckled softly.

“It’s already noon, Serena.”

“Oh.”

Serena faltered and instinctively took a step back. Something about his smile seemed off—unnervingly so.

And calling her “Serena”?

Usually, if she didn’t correct him, it was always “Hey, you” or “You there.”

This sudden kindness was terrifying.

Serena suspiciously eyed Azaid, then widened her eyes as she processed his words.

“Wait a second, did you say noon?!”

Serena darted toward the window. Sunlight streamed in, warmly embracing her.

Wow… When was the last time I slept until noon like this?

She was someone who rarely slept and had trouble falling asleep. Even the faintest noise would wake her, but last night, she had slept soundly without waking up once.

No wonder I feel so refreshed.

Just as Serena was basking in that revelation, Azaid had silently approached and bent down, bringing their eyes level.

Feeling his sharp gaze on her, Serena turned her head slowly. She was met with his piercing blue eyes.

Startled by how close he was, she flinched instinctively. Marie, ever perceptive, had vanished long ago.

Azaid had worn a sly smile as he passed her earlier, and now Serena felt the urge to clutch the back of her neck. Any will to clear up misunderstandings had already waned.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for oversleeping.”

“Didn’t the maids inform you? I gave orders for you to rest today.”

Azaid gently placed his hands on her shoulders, effortlessly guiding her back to the bed. Though she followed him compliantly, Serena’s heart pounded with unease.

Why is he acting like this? I’d rather he just got mad.

If she could only clearly recall whether last night was a dream or reality, she wouldn’t feel so anxious. Serena unconsciously sat on the bed but suddenly grabbed Azaid’s arm.

“If you’re using my health as an excuse to skip your walks or medicine…”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, and Azaid chuckled in response.

“I couldn’t do the morning checkup because someone didn’t show up, but I took my medicine and even went for a walk earlier.”

“……”

“I even came to report this in person, thinking you’d be worried, but now you’re treating me as if I’m lazy.”

“Well, Your Majesty, you do have a record…”

Serena averted her eyes, rolling them guiltily. The thought of a diligent Azaid was so outlandish that she couldn’t help feeling awkward.

Azaid placed his large hand lightly on her head. Unlike the time she was caught hiding in the reception room, his touch was much gentler.

Feeling like a pet being humored, Serena looked up at him with a disgruntled expression. For some reason, there was a satisfied smile on his face, leaving her even more confused.

Muttering to herself, she said, “I must still be dreaming.”

“Dreaming?”

“If this isn’t a dream, there’s no way Your Majesty would act so… kind.”

“It’s not a dream.”

Azaid chuckled softly as though he’d heard something ridiculous. His hand, brushing through her hair, felt warm.

She found herself relaxing despite herself when he suddenly withdrew his hand, meeting her gaze.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.”

“Forgotten what?”

“Surely you don’t mean to claim you don’t remember anything.”

Azaid tapped his hair playfully, a mischievous smile on his lips. Serena, who had been feeling groggy, was suddenly struck by a mental sledgehammer.

“Uh… Surely not.”

“What was it like, grabbing the emperor’s hair, Serena?”

Azaid smiled brightly, but what did that smile mean? Was it a silent threat to end her, or an invitation to grovel at his feet?

Serena’s eyes trembled violently. Faced with this unbelievable reality, she instinctively tried to back away, but stumbled.

Azaid steadied her naturally, keeping her in place.

“Oh dear. It seems you’ve overexerted yourself.”

Azaid’s gaze flickered toward her side. Confused by his cryptic words, Serena asked, “What do you mean, overexerted?”

“Do you really not remember what happened last night?”

Azaid tilted his head slightly, his expression one of mild irritation.

Did I do something even crazier than grabbing his hair?!

Alarm bells blared in Serena’s mind. She needed to figure out his intentions quickly—should she beg for forgiveness, or not?

She was frantically racking her brain when she suddenly froze.

Wait a second.

Serena looked suspiciously at Azaid, who was uncharacteristically kind today.

His excessive kindness since visiting her room last night. The abrupt cutoff in her memory and the strange pain in her side. And the fact she had slept in so late without waking.

“!!!”

A dreadful realization struck her, leaving her mouth agape. Moments later, wearing a mournful expression, she asked, “Your Majesty, I need to ask you something, just to be sure.”

“Why are you dragging this out?”

“Well… Did I, by any chance, do something else besides grab Your Majesty’s hair…?”

“What? Stop stuttering and just say it.”

“Well, what I mean is…”

Serena bit her lip, unable to continue. She couldn’t bring herself to outright ask, “Did we… sleep together last night?”

It seemed ridiculous, but when she pieced together all the clues, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.

Azaid blinked, not understanding her hesitation. But only for a moment.

“…!”

His body stiffened as realization dawned. He flinched, instinctively stepping back as heat flushed his face.

Staggering, Azaid retreated further from Serena, then abruptly spun around, staring up at the ceiling as he muttered.

“Ha, seriously. I can’t follow this train of thought.”

Azaid covered his eyes with one hand, his face burning. His ears, now bright red, betrayed his flustered state.

Seeing his reaction—his reddened ears and nervous demeanor—Serena came to a startling conclusion.

It happened. It really happened!

Betrayal flickered in her eyes.

Wow, so much for the “chaste emperor.” How could he take advantage of someone who’s unwell…

Her expression darkened as she glared at him, and she spat out a single word.

“Pervert.”

Azaid’s shoulders twitched at her accusation. After a moment, he turned back with an expression of pure indignation.

“…Hey.”

“It’s Serena.”

“Right, Serena.”

Regaining a measure of composure, Azaid took a step toward her, intent on explaining. But Serena flinched and raised a hand to stop him.

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

She instinctively grabbed the blanket, pulling it up to her neck like a shield. Azaid let out a breathless laugh, stunned by her behavior.

“No wonder my side felt cold.”

Serena glanced down at her side, her expression turning resentful. She was clearly convinced he was guilty. Azaid ran a hand down his face, letting out a deep sigh.

How far is her imagination going?

“…It’s not like that.”

“Then why does my side hurt? And why did you ask if I overexerted myself?”

“That’s because…!”

Azaid snapped but immediately caught himself. Denying it too strongly would only make him seem more suspicious.

With a resigned sigh, Azaid crossed his arms, giving up on approaching her. Instead, he adopted a haughty tone in an attempt to regain control of the situation.

“First, you grab the hair of the one who saved your life, and now you’re accusing me of being a pervert?”

“Wait, saved my life? What are you talking about?”

Serena blinked, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. Azaid exhaled deeply, tapping his side with a finger.

“The pain in your side isn’t because of… that. It’s because your mana core is awakening.”

Azaid, clearly reluctant to even mention “that,” mumbled the words awkwardly and averted her gaze. His ears threatened to turn red again, prompting him to rub his face in frustration.

Serena stared at him blankly, not grasping his explanation right away. After a few moments, the blanket she had pulled up fell limply to her lap.

“Really?”

“Why would I do something like that to a patient?”

Azaid snapped, rushing through the phrase “something like that” as if it were offensive to even say. Serena ignored his exasperation and pressed further.

“Really? Nothing happened between us at all?”

“Yes, nothing! So stop looking at me like I’m a degenerate.”

“Oh.”

Serena quickly averted her gaze, then cautiously looked back at him.

“So, the pain I felt yesterday was because of my mana core?”

“That’s what I’ve been saying—how many times do I have to…!”

Azaid began, annoyed, but abruptly turned his back to her.

Serena, seemingly unfazed, had casually lifted her shirt in front of him to examine her side.