I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Episode 47

“I saw James handing it over to Patrick with my own eyes earlier. Let me know if you need a witness. This is evidence, so keep it safe.”

Ophelia responded curtly, glaring at Nocturne, who had suddenly appeared to help.

“I could’ve handled it on my own.”

“Really? Is that why you were rummaging through empty pockets, Ophelia?”

“You’re so insufferable.”

Ophelia muttered a low curse as she snatched the magic orb. While Nocturne chuckled leisurely, she examined the orb.

It was a fire-attributed magic orb, powerful enough to burn down an entire hall. James blinked in confusion, unable to grasp the situation.

Nocturne wasn’t supposed to be awake right now. He had seen with his own eyes that Nocturne drank the wine spiked with a sleeping drug…

Noticing James’ dazed expression, Nocturne spoke up.

“Are you surprised that I’m awake?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

James muttered softly, avoiding eye contact. Now that he was caught, he decided to deny everything and plan for the future.

But Nocturne deliberately provoked him, abandoning any pretense of politeness and aiming to get under his skin.

“You spiked my drink with a sleeping drug, didn’t you? I drank it on purpose, and you seemed so pleased.”

“You… bastard…”

“What’s wrong? Trying to act like an older brother and demand respect? Sorry, but I don’t know how to show respect to someone less capable than me.”

Nocturne’s mocking smile deepened, irritating James further. Flushing with anger, James trembled as he demanded answers.

“How did you know? No—why are you still fine after drinking it?”

Crossing his arms, Nocturne smirked as he recalled his earlier conversation with Serena.

“Are you telling me to drink the sleeping drug?”

“Yes. That way, they’ll let their guard down.”

“But wouldn’t that put me in danger? Is there some kind of solution?”

“Take this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a drug that neutralizes sleeping agents. If you take it, you won’t fall asleep even after drinking the spiked wine.”

“Why would you even create something like this?”

“Let’s just call it a hobby.”

The more Nocturne learned about Serena, the more fascinated he became. What kind of doctor was so passionate about creating antidotes for every conceivable toxin?

She could’ve focused on research that would make her more well-known in her field, which would have benefited her career.

It seemed likely that she had recipes for antidotes to all kinds of poisons, allergies, and illnesses. He couldn’t understand what practical purpose such antidotes would serve.

The only thing he was certain about was that Serena was dedicating all her efforts to saving the emperor of this nation.

“Stop grinning and just answer.”

“Who knows? Maybe my backers are better than yours. It’s hilarious that you thought you could deal with me using a cheap magic orb.”

Nocturne’s taunt caused James’ face to turn red with anger in an instant. Ignoring him, Nocturne walked past James and addressed Ophelia.

“I’ve detained Michael. Talk to him and handle it according to your family’s rules.”

“Then why bother involving me? You could’ve taken care of it yourself.”

Ophelia glared at him in irritation. Nocturne replied nonchalantly.

“Because I don’t want to meddle in the Greenwood family’s affairs anymore.”

“But you’ll always be a Greenwood, Nocturne.”

Ophelia’s binding words made Nocturne fall silent as he looked at her. She was nearly overwhelmed by his gaze when he murmured softly.

“I never thought I’d hear you say, ‘You’ll always be a Greenwood.’”

Before Ophelia could retort to his cold tone, a commotion interrupted.

“Stop ignoring me…!”

Crash!

Patrick, who had been swaying drunkenly, snatched a wine bottle from a waiter and smashed it against the wall. One side of the wall was stained red with wine, eerily resembling bloodstains.

James hiccupped in shock at Patrick’s sudden action. Patrick, normally composed, had never behaved so recklessly. It seemed the alcohol had emboldened him—a dangerous time to be so courageous.

“Yaaahhhh!”

Patrick let out a guttural yell and charged at Nocturne. If Nocturne had been alone, he could have dodged easily, but Ophelia stood next to him.

“Damn it.”

Cursing under his breath, Nocturne gave up dodging and shielded Ophelia. She stared at him blankly, stunned that he had stepped in to protect her. She had fully expected him to save himself.

“…Ahhhh!”

A terrified young lady nearby screamed as Patrick swung the wine bottle at Nocturne’s head.

Whoosh!

A wall of fire suddenly erupted between Nocturne, Ophelia, and Patrick. Unable to stop himself, Patrick plunged into the flames, rolling on the floor moments later, covered in severe burns.

“Aaaaah! My arm!”

Patrick’s anguished screams filled the hall. His hair was singed, and patches of his clothes were alight. James hurriedly splashed water on Patrick in a frantic attempt to extinguish the flames.

“Nocturne, the Isring I gave you was meant for moments like this.”

A calm, oceanic voice echoed through the hall. All eyes turned toward the terrace entrance, where Azaid leaned casually against the wall.

He was gazing in Nocturne’s direction with a serene expression, as if the act of nearly burning someone alive a moment ago was of no concern to him.

His demeanor was so intimidating that even the lady, who had been screaming, was left speechless, stammering incoherently. Azaid, observing Nocturne, Ophelia, and the man sprawled on the floor, quickly grasped the situation.

‘Those were the ones I saw in the library that day.’

Despite being preoccupied with Serena at the time, he hadn’t missed a word of what those people were discussing.

He had passed the matter on to Nocturne later, assuming it would be dealt with, but it seemed there were still loose ends. Ajade spoke next.

“I’ve told you countless times—if you’re going to get hit, you might as well hit back.”

At his reprimand, Nocturne finally let go of Ophelia and responded.

“I was just about to take care of it when Your Majesty appeared.”

“Spare me the theatrics.”

Azaid smirked faintly, waving his hand, and the wall of fire vanished as if it had never been there. The flames clinging to Patrick also extinguished entirely.

Nocturne and Ophelia, standing right in front of the wall, were unharmed—without even a speck of soot. The only one who bore burns was Patrick, who had caused the commotion.

The precision with which the magic had been executed drew murmurs of admiration from the onlookers.

James, overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation with the emperor’s arrival, bowed his head deeply, trying to hide his scrunched-up face. Frustration welled up within him as his plans unraveled.

This incident would surely reach the duke’s ears, and James was certain to face punishment. The scheme to publicly humiliate Nocturne had completely backfired on him.

Patrick, foaming at the mouth, had already fainted. Ophelia, as the reality of what had just happened sank in, swayed unsteadily.

As Nocturne sighed, a knight, having been alerted to the commotion, entered the hall. Taking over for the dazed Ophelia, Nocturne gestured toward James and Patrick.

“Take these two, along with the man tied to the pillar in the hallway, to that place.”

At the mention of that place, the knight glanced at Ophelia for confirmation.

“Do as Nocturne says,” Ophelia ordered weakly, and the knight quickly dragged the two men away. That place was a room where the young men of Greenwood were punished.

James disappeared while glaring fiercely at Nocturne, grinding his teeth. His stare was menacing, but underneath it lay palpable fear of what was to come.

Ophelia remained silent throughout, her face pale as she tried to steady her breathing. Azaid turned to Nocturne.

“The young lady of Greenwood seems deeply shaken. Escort her home.”

“Yes,” Nocturne replied curtly, extending his hand to Ophelia. She weakly reached for it, only to falter.

Even someone as proud as her had been clearly rattled by the chaos. Realizing her poor condition, Nocturne slid his hand under her knees and back, lifting her with ease.

“I can walk on my own!” Ophelia whispered fiercely, her words audible only to Nocturne. Ignoring her, he gave Azaid a slight bow and carried her away.

The wall, stained with wine, reeked of alcohol. At Azaid’s signal to the orchestra, the halted music resumed, gradually thawing the tense atmosphere.

While the attendants swept up the shards of glass from the floor, Azaid headed back to the terrace. With the commotion settled, it was time to return.

Serena was sound asleep, draped in Azaid’s coat like a blanket. Unaware of the disturbance outside, her sleeping figure looked childlike.

The moonlight, as if a spotlight, illuminated her pale face. Mesmerized, Azaid crouched in front of her.

Although the distance was quite close, Azaid didn’t seem to notice as he stared at her intently.

Her tightly shut eyes were framed by long, violet eyelashes, which fanned out like butterfly wings. They were so long they seemed almost cumbersome. Beneath them lay her straight nose and crimson lips…

“Ah.”

Azaid let out a soft exclamation, as if he had just realized something. It was the memory of her biting his finger earlier.

He gazed at the finger that had been bitten, where faint impressions of Serena’s teeth lingered. Absentmindedly, he touched the marks with another finger, lost in thought.

The vivid memory of the soft sensation kept flooding back, making his face heat up. His heart began to race, seemingly on its own.

Feeling inexplicably embarrassed, Azaid ran a hand over his mouth, not realizing it was the very hand that had been bitten. His other hand rested on his chest, tapping it aimlessly.

Thump, thump. Tap, tap.

Recently, every time he saw Serena, his heart trembled without reason.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

Azaid sighed deeply, convinced that something was wrong with him. His breath brushed against Serina’s face, making her stir slightly. At that moment, his gaze fixated on her.

“Your Majesty.”

Leonard, returning from his mission, approached. Startled, Azaid shot up as though caught in the act of mischief.