Episode 72
***
‘What question did Serena just ask?’
It was only then that Azaid realized Serena had been asking him something. He was trying to recall the question when Serena cautiously murmured, stepping back slightly.
“Of course, I might have pushed Your Majesty a little too hard, but it was all part of a treatment process rooted in affection.”
“…”
“Still, seeing how much you dislike it, I might need to reflect on that a bit… Oh!”
Serena cut herself off with a small gasp. It was because Azaid had suddenly pulled her toward him.
She didn’t resist and allowed herself to be drawn close, ending up right in front of him. The force was gentle enough for her to push back if she had wanted to, but the fact that she didn’t resist spoke volumes about how tolerant she was toward him.
“Your Majesty?”
Her golden eyes widened in surprise as she looked up at Azaid. Seeing those innocent eyes made him feel unsettled inside.
Here they were, in a quiet bedroom—just the two of them, a healthy man and woman alone. Did Serena truly not feel any awareness of the situation?
If so, perhaps a change in their relationship was in order. At the very least, he no longer wanted to be seen merely as a patient.
Once he realized his feelings, the desire to have a deeper relationship with Serena came naturally.
“What if I said I didn’t mind?”
“Pardon?”
“What if I told you that I don’t dislike your nagging at all—no, that I even enjoy it? Would you stay by my side?”
As he spoke, Azaid leaned closer, aligning their eye levels. He could sense Serena flinch, but he stayed close, waiting for her answer.
After a moment, Serena’s eyes curved into crescent shapes as she smiled.
“You enjoy my nagging? Your Majesty, you truly are unique.”
“…”
“If you want me by your side, all you need to do is say one thing.”
“What would that be?”
“Stay with me, Serena.”
“…”
“If you just say those words, I’ll remain as your personal physician for as long as you want.”
With that, Serena beamed, her golden eyes glimmering under the light.
The moment Azaid saw her smile, his heart tightened. A surge of impulse rose within him—an overwhelming desire to kiss those lovely lips.
‘For as long as you want to remain my physician,’ he thought to himself. He fully understood the meaning behind her words. The way his heart raced when she suggested staying by his side only to sink at her following explanation left him conflicted.
Did Serena know? That her words made his heart leap uncontrollably, only to fall again, repeating the cycle like an unhealthy rhythm?
“Alright.”
Azaid muttered briefly as if responding to himself. At the same time, he let go of her hand and grabbed a strand of her soft hair.
“Serena.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
Serena replied softly, her gaze fixed on the fingers fiddling with her hair. Judging by the faint smile on her lips, she seemed to have an inkling of what Azaid was about to say.
But she had no idea.
“Stay with me, Serena.”
She couldn’t possibly understand how deeply personal, emotional, and persistent a declaration this was—one laced with unyielding intent.
It didn’t matter what had prompted him to say these words. To Azaid, the reason was irrelevant.
He pressed a brief kiss to the strand of her purple hair in his hand. Meeting her eyes with a steady gaze, he continued.
“I truly need you by my side now.”
“…”
“So don’t go anywhere. Stay with me.”
Even if Serena didn’t yet realize the depth of his feelings, it didn’t matter. He would stay close to her, gradually earning her heart piece by piece.
Until she found her place by his side so comfortable that she couldn’t leave, Azaid vowed to give her everything.
“Hearing you say that feels like a huge responsibility.”
“So what’s your answer?”
Azaid leaned even closer, urging her for a reply. After a moment of contemplation, Serena smiled brightly.
“Well, I suppose it depends on how Your Majesty behaves.”
“Such a vague answer won’t do.”
“I’ve always been the one to trouble Your Majesty, haven’t I?”
“I’d like a clear answer to this at least.”
When Azaid pressed her again, Serena laughed. She patted his shoulder and replied.
“Alright. I’ll gladly stay by your side. So please stop eating my hair.”
“You promised. You said you’d stay.”
Finally, Azaid straightened up with a broad grin. Serena nodded in affirmation.
“Of course. Why would I do otherwise?”
***
Meanwhile, during Azaid’s absence from the imperial palace, the air within was quiet and oddly foreboding. As dusk painted the sky with hues of red, a figure cloaked in a deep hood cautiously slipped out of the palace.
Outside, an unmarked rental carriage awaited. The figure tapped the carriage’s handle three times. The door opened from within, revealing a pristine, luxurious interior that contrasted sharply with the worn exterior.
The figure entered to find Duke Greenwood sitting with an air of arrogance. Beside him sat a man who appeared to be James Greenwood, the newly titled young duke.
Surprised to see the duke accompanied by someone else, the figure hesitated but recognized James and refrained from asking questions.
“Come in.”
The duke greeted the man, who clumsily removed his hood, revealing graying hair and black eyes filled with subservience. It was none other than Sebastian, the palace steward. The duke glanced at him and spoke.
“You’re late.”
“I had to sneak out unnoticed. It took some time.”
“The emperor isn’t even in the palace today. Was all that caution necessary?”
“One can never be too careful.”
“Fair enough. It’s that caution of yours that makes you valuable to me.”
The duke laughed heartily, while Sebastian awkwardly chuckled and handed him some documents. As the duke skimmed through them, his expression darkened.
“This isn’t quite what I instructed.”
“Recently, one of the imperial physicians has been stirring things up in the palace. The emperor’s favoritism for her is so pronounced that proceeding as planned seemed unwise.”
“You mean Serena Vincent?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The Duke once again tapped his fingers on the window frame at the mention of the familiar name. If an intruding loach disrupted the ecosystem, the Duke’s approach was either to make it an ally or eliminate it.
“Sebastian, do you think that child is worth using?”
“They have skills, but they tend to be somewhat arrogant to work under anyone. That’s why we’re being cautious, as acting hastily might expose us.”
“Hmm.”
He recalled how even Nocturne favored Serena exceptionally. She seemed like a card that could be effectively used.
“Make contact.”
“Pardon?”
“Finding a weakness would be even better.”
At the Duke’s command, Sebastian hesitated momentarily before replying.
“Bring them to me before I regret placing you in that position.”
“…I’ll do my best.”
With his head bowed, Sebastian accepted the order, and the Duke continued.
“Also, find out if there’s an awakened one hidden around the Emperor.”
“An awakened one? Could you specify what you mean by that?”
Sebastian looked confused, but the Duke dismissed the need for further explanation.
“That’s for you to figure out.”
“…Understood.”
“I’ll contact you again.”
“Take care, Your Grace.”
As soon as Sebastian stepped down, the carriage began to glide away smoothly. The Duke closed his eyes with a cold expression, his brow furrowed.
Recently, unsettling events had been occurring one after another. Was it because the Emperor possessed unprecedentedly powerful abilities?
The Duke’s magic did not work well on him. From the start, the Emperor avoided direct contact, and inscribing the magic on him had been an arduous process.
Now, that magic had not only weakened but had reverted to its initial state, leaving the Duke frustrated.
“I ended up making a needless mistake because of this.”
The Duke frowned, recalling how he had annihilated the household of the manager in charge of smuggling magic stones.
Thinking the Emperor had caught on, he had cut off loose ends, but instead, it only aroused the Emperor’s suspicion—a troublesome situation.
Still, it did not seem like the Emperor knew everything about the Duke’s schemes.
While the smuggling of magic stones was part of the Duke’s illegal financial network, it was not directly linked to his other misdeeds. However, if the Emperor were to investigate further, it could become dangerous for the Duke.
‘I need to find the reason. Why my magic no longer works.’
To clear his cluttered mind, the Duke grabbed a bottle of vodka from the shelf and drank deeply.
The burning sensation in his throat felt like fire, but it brought a strange relief. Just then, James, who had been quietly standing nearby, spoke.
“I’d like to be of help, Your Grace.”
“You?”
“Yes. Convincing a young lady is no big deal for me.”
James responded confidently, a bold grin on his face. The Duke smirked.
James, newly titled as a viscount, was visibly brimming with pride. The Duke had delegated some of his tasks to him, and his eagerness to prove himself was almost amusing.
Still, he wasn’t quite on Nocturne’s level. The Duke clicked his tongue, thinking of Nocturne, but eventually granted permission.
“Do as you like. As long as I get the desired results, it doesn’t matter who does it.”
“Thank you for your trust. I will do my utmost, Your Grace.”
“Good. Don’t disappoint me.”
At the Duke’s words, James’s lips curled into a triumphant smile.
Later, the Duke’s carriage moved into the bustling streets. The sound of its wheels quickly blended into the noise of the city.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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