I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Episode 66

Jack swallowed hard at Serena’s chilling smile.

It was a smile he had seen before—the same one she had given when she blocked his attempt to leave the inn despite his injuries, her sharp gaze insisting on complete rest.

Of course, this time it was even more frightening, to the point that Jack almost felt a little sorry for Azaid.

“Speak up already. My patience is running out, Your Majesty.”

“……”

“If you’re thinking of brushing this off, you’ll find it’s not that easy.”

Azaid felt a cold sweat run down his back under Serena’s icy glare.

He hadn’t expected her to get this angry.

Serena was far more furious than he had anticipated. In fact, he had hoped she’d never find out about today’s events, and even if she did, he hadn’t expected this level of anger.

What was stranger still was that, despite her fury being over his safety, he didn’t entirely dislike it.

‘Don’t entirely dislike it?’

Azaid found himself bewildered by his own feelings.

“If you’re hiding anything and it comes to light later, I won’t let it slide.”

The more Serena grew angry…

“Your Majesty, are you even listening to me? This kind of silence won’t do.”

…and the more she pressed him…

“Your Majesty? You’re not fainting with your eyes open, are you?”

…the more the gloom of the day seemed to lift.

What was it about her?

As Azaid wrestled with his confusion, Serena was on the verge of losing her mind.

‘Why isn’t this man answering me? It’s making me anxious!’

Serena was frustrated by Azaid, who only stared blankly at her without responding. His dazed expression made him seem not entirely in his right mind.

‘Surely he hasn’t gone mad? That would be a real problem!’

Azaid’s lack of resistance caused Serena’s anger to subside slightly.

‘Right. What am I doing, yelling at a patient? It’s not like my anger will change anything.’

She quickly regained her composure. If this impulsiveness arose whenever a certain date came around, it was a serious issue. After all, a sane person would hesitate to harm their own body.

‘There’s nothing to gain from pressing him further. Let’s stop here.’

Serena stopped her questioning and touched Azaid’s cheek, which felt slightly warmer than usual. Worried, she asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“…If anyone’s unwell, it’s you, Serena.”

Azaid finally responded, brushing lightly against her neck.

“Ow!”

Serena winced, a sharp pain catching her off guard. Right, the patient wasn’t him but her. Azaid spoke softly.

“A doctor who doesn’t take care of herself but fusses over me as if I’m her own—don’t you think that’s ironic?”

“And isn’t it ironic for you to say that, given that you’re the one who caused these injuries?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Azaid lowered his eyes, as if just realizing he had caused her injuries.

He looked so pitiful that Serena felt a pang of guilt, as if she were the one in the wrong.

“I didn’t mean for you to apologize… And besides, what kind of emperor apologizes so easily to just anyone? Hold your head high.”

She straightened his slumped shoulders, not liking how defeated he seemed. The light scolding she added was her way of breaking the awkward mood.

Azaid chuckled softly and reached for a fresh bandage.

“I’m a merciful emperor when it comes to my people.”

It seemed he intended to bandage her himself. Remembering the overly tight wrapping the priest had done earlier, Serena made a request.

“Don’t wrap it too tightly. It’s not a serious wound.”

“It’s serious enough.”

Azaid was unexpectedly firm on this point, silencing Serena.

“Wait, who hurt who?”

Jack, who had been watching from a distance, exclaimed in alarm.

“You’re still here?”

Serena looked at him with a disgruntled expression. Ignoring Jack, Azaid carefully unwrapped Serena’s bandages and began reapplying them.

“Azade—no, Your Majesty—what’s Azaid on here?” Jack asked, fumbling with his formal speech as he stepped closer.

“It’s a bit late to start being polite now, Jack.”

“Regardless, did you really hurt Serena? Is it true?”

“…It was an accident,” Azaid replied slowly, casting Jack a sharp look. If Jack had warned him earlier, he wouldn’t have done something as foolish as drawing a sword on Serena.

Jack, feeling guilty, averted his eyes.

“We’ll talk later.”

“I don’t have anything to say…”

“But I do.”

“Fine. My bad, Azaid,” Jack muttered, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

Azaid continued wrapping the bandages carefully, just tight enough to be secure but not uncomfortable. When he was done, he addressed Serena.

“It seems Jack lured you here on purpose. You should go back now.”

“No.”

“What?”

“After hearing something like that, you expect me to just leave? You clearly don’t know me, Your Majesty.”

“There’s nothing for you to worry about—”

“No. Way.”

“…Haa.”

Azaid sighed heavily, clearly exasperated.

But what could he do? The one patient he couldn’t cure had chosen today of all days to push his limits.

Serena patted Azaid’s shoulder and gave him a bright smile.

“I’ll see for myself whether there’s anything to worry about.”

“Don’t you think you’re being overprotective?”

“You’re a patient worth protecting. Watch and see—no matter what you say, I’m staying by your side today.”

“All day? You’re not planning to follow me to my bedroom, are you?”

“Who knows what you might do alone at night? Of course I can’t leave you.”

“What? What nonsense are you spouting? Absolutely not!”

Azaid’s alarmed refusal was firm, but Serena wasn’t the type of doctor to back down so easily.

“Don’t worry. Whatever you’re imagining won’t happen.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about—!”

Azaid felt like he was going to lose his mind. Serena was utterly fearless in the strangest ways.

Did she even realize that Azaid was a man, and an emperor at that? Who else would dare to meddle so boldly, even going as far as to stake a claim on his bedroom?

Azaid hesitated, his lips opening and closing as he struggled to decide what to refute first. Seizing on his momentary hesitation, Serena smirked and asked,

“Since we’ve already been in and out of each other’s bedrooms several times, wouldn’t it be fine for me to act as your night watch?”

“Wait, wait. That kind of misleading remark is just—!”

“What’s this? What’s going on with you two?”

Jack interjected with a sly grin, but both Serena and Azaid completely ignored him. Serena firmly declared,

“This is something both Your Majesty and I are already accustomed to. Besides, I’ve noticed you tend to dwell on gloomy thoughts when you’re alone.”

“……”

“I don’t know what regrets are eating away at you, but I hope you can at least recognize that there are many vassals who care deeply for Your Majesty.”

Serena had no intention of backing down. She couldn’t leave Azaid alone and simply return to the palace.

It wasn’t because she thought he might end his life but because she was genuinely worried about him. He was no longer just a troublesome patient to her.

From the day he saved her during the hunting festival, Serena’s view of Azaid had begun to change.

No longer a nuisance, he had risen to the position of someone worthy of her service and loyalty.

Azaid opened his mouth to speak but hesitated before cautiously asking,

“You… care about me?”

“Yes, far more than Your Majesty realizes.”

So please, don’t think you’re alone.

Serena knew all too well what it was like to be alone. How isolating it could be. Of course, Azaid must feel an even deeper, more piercing loneliness after losing his mother, who had been his pillar of support.

“That’s why Your Majesty can rely on me a little more.”

“……”

“Oh, oh, Serena. Are you confessing right now?”

Jack, utterly oblivious, muttered cheekily while whistling. Serena glared at him and snapped,

“Jack, shut your mouth.”

“Wow, look at how she talks, Azaid.”

“Indeed, Jack. It’d be best if you stayed quiet.”

“Azaid, not you too!”

Jack looked deeply offended, clearly displeased that even Azaid sided with Serena.

Still, he took comfort in the fact that Azaid no longer looked as lifeless as he had when he first arrived at the temple.

See? Everyone should be thanking this Jack for his efforts!

With such trivial thoughts filling his mind, Jack snickered inwardly.

Suddenly, the infirmary door burst open with a loud thud! and Nocturne and Leonard stormed in.

“Azaid!”

Nocturne called out with a startled expression, scanning the room. Leonard quickly joined in, shouting,

“We’ve been looking everywhere—! Wait, Serena?”

“Hello, Mr. Nocturne. Sir Leonard,” Serena greeted with an awkward smile.

“What’s Serena doing here?” Nocturne asked, his eyes wide with confusion.

The priest standing behind them, drenched in sweat, stammered,

“Ah, well, I told them to wait and hear us out…”

It was the same priest who had treated Serena in the infirmary earlier. It seemed that as soon as he left, he had informed Nocturne and Leonard of Azaid’s location.

However, in their haste to rush over, he hadn’t had the chance to mention that Serena was with him.

As the priest nervously explained, Nocturne and Leonard’s expressions grew blank. Meanwhile, Jack, leaning against the wall, raised a hand nonchalantly and said as if he were the main character,

“Well, took you long enough to get here.”