I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Chapter 76

Serena, unaware of Azaid’s growing unease, began to speak.

“I’m fine, but I was worried it might cause a misunderstanding. Especially with Carter…”

Just as she was about to mention Lady Carter, Azaid suddenly stood up from the sofa, placing both hands on the table.

The distance between them naturally closed, and as Serena gazed at him in confusion, Azaid spoke.

“Let me call you that.”

“Uh…”

“Hmm? Serena, if it makes you uncomfortable, then at least let me do it when we’re alone.”

Something in his pleading tone caught Serena off guard.

Why was he acting as if the world was ending over a simple term of endearment? Serena rolled her eyes before nodding slightly.

Well, as long as he doesn’t use it in front of Lady Carter, it should be fine.

The moment Serena gave her permission, Azaid visibly relaxed, leaning back into the sofa with a satisfied smile.

“So, what brings you here, Rena?”

Azaid smiled brightly as he pronounced the nickname clearly. He looked so boyish in that moment that it was, admittedly, a little endearing. Serena let out a small laugh and replied.

“I wanted to request a half-day off on Friday.”

“A half-day?”

“Yes. The Medical Association is hosting a social gathering, and I’ve received an invitation.”

“I see.”

Azaid’s demeanor grew serious, contrasting with his earlier relaxed expression. Serena, fearing he might refuse, looked at him anxiously. However, he readily agreed.

“Take the morning off instead, and then attend the gathering.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary…”

“I’ll also be out that day, so don’t worry and take your time.”

“Understood.”

Serena felt slightly deflated at the prospect of a free morning. Being a workaholic, she found it more satisfying to finish her tasks before heading out.

Still, she couldn’t argue with the emperor, especially when he mentioned having personal matters to attend to. She briefly considered asking if he was planning to meet Lucy Carter but decided to keep her thoughts to herself.

Unbeknownst to her, she had already begun associating Azaid’s every move with Lucy without realizing it.

***

When Friday arrived, Serena finished sorting through documents and left the imperial palace. The papers detailed items scheduled for auction that the palace might consider purchasing within its budget.

She changed into a dress suited for the social gathering—one she had bought using the maintenance allowance allocated to palace physicians.

Her usual neatly tied hair was styled into a braided updo by Mary. She also temporarily removed the artificial mana core bracelet she wore for stability checks, opting instead for a simple communication stone bracelet. As always, the violet Isring ring adorned her finger.

Taking a rented carriage, she headed to Greenwood Manor, the venue for the gathering. The Greenwood family had supported the Medical Association since its founding and had ties across various sectors, making it hard to find any group they weren’t involved with.

The gathering was held in the annex of Greenwood Castle. When Serena arrived at the entrance to the annex, a gatekeeper greeted her.

“May I see your invitation, please?”

Serena handed over her invitation. After verifying the seal, the gatekeeper gave her a key.

“You may use Room 3 on the second floor to store your belongings.”

“Thank you.”

As expected of a large event, the organizers provided rooms for the guests. With the auction scheduled for later that night, attendees would need a place to rest.

Some would mingle all day in the hall, while others might prefer a nap.

When Serena reached Room 3, she couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“Wow.”

Though it was merely an annex to Greenwood Castle, its scale was impressive. Drawing back the curtains, she could see the circular hall below and the numerous rooms arranged above it, going up to the sixth floor.

The faint silhouettes moving behind other curtains indicated a high attendance. It was evident that the building was designed specifically for events like auctions and charity functions.

“Greenwood certainly lives up to its name. The scale is remarkable.”

After closing the curtains, Serena organized her belongings and lay down on the bed. With some time left before the party began, she thought she might take a quick nap.

Just as she was drifting off, a knock at the door interrupted her. She waited silently, curious about who it might be.

“Miss Serena, it’s me, Sebastian.”

Meanwhile, in Room 7 on the sixth floor…

This floor, reserved for high-ranking individuals, hosted an unexpected guest—someone who had entered discreetly.

“Isn’t this poorly made? The texture feels strange,” Azaid complained in a dissatisfied tone.

Lucy replied calmly, “It’s still a bit damp because we had to rush. You were the one who decided to join at the last minute.”

“It’s uncomfortable…”

Azaid groaned as he adjusted himself, studying his reflection in the mirror.

As Lucy had pointed out, Azaid hadn’t initially planned to attend. He’d commissioned a custom mask for future use, intending to wait for an appropriate occasion.

But upon learning that Serena would be attending, he’d changed his mind.

Wearing a still-drying mask, Azaid’s impulsiveness once again demonstrated how far he’d go when it came to Serena.

There might be pests buzzing around her.

In the mirror, Azaid looked like a completely different person. His usual golden hair was now black, and his blue eyes appeared slightly grayish. Even his facial features were altered, giving him the appearance of someone wearing another’s skin.

“Don’t you think the face looks too artificial?”

“That’s what we call a golden ratio,” Lucy quipped.

“It seems like this face will stand out. Couldn’t you make it a bit more ordinary?”

“What do you mean? I can never tolerate anything less than beautiful in my dictionary.”

Lucy drew a firm line, declaring her philosophy. To her, obsessed with beautiful faces, an ordinary mask was unthinkable.

Leonard, standing nearby, shook his head in disapproval.

What is she trying to achieve, being this obsessed with faces?

At least publicly, she hid her bizarre hobby, so everyone thought of her as just a normal young lady. In reality, though, she was a pervert who grinned while displaying human face masks in her room.

Disguised as a man, Lucy spoke to Azaid.

“I’ve helped you, so now you must keep your promise.”

“As long as you’re not planning to roam the streets with my face.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll cherish it at home.”

Lucy responded slyly, grinning.

“I’d never leak it to the public. My prized possessions are for my eyes only.”

“That’s unsettling in its own way.”

Azaid grimaced, and Lucy giggled.

Lucy, who had always been intensely interested in Azaid’s face, had now gotten the opportunity to create a mask of it thanks to this recent turn of events.

Just imagining preserving the long-desired face as a mask thrilled her. Whenever Lucy encountered someone with a beautiful face, she would first build a rapport with them and then politely ask for their consent to make a mask.

Despite her eccentric hobby, she wasn’t deranged enough to secretly replicate someone’s face.

Her skills, honed over years of secrecy, allowed her to disguise herself with almost professional precision. Without the use of magic, she could convincingly transform into another person—a skill likely unique to Lucy in the entire empire.

In an era where polymorph magic had long been abandoned, Lucy stood unrivaled as an expert.

Even Azaid, after experiencing the mask firsthand, couldn’t help but acknowledge its effectiveness. Even if he met someone he knew, they wouldn’t recognize him.

I wonder how long Serena will stay in her room.

Thinking about the possibility of running into Serena, Azaid couldn’t help but smile.

She wouldn’t recognize him because of the mask, but at least, for a brief moment, he could escape the usual dynamics of patient and doctor, emperor and subject.

If we keep bumping into each other like this, doesn’t it mean we’re destined?

Azaid  indulged in such thoughts, conveniently ignoring the fact that he had tracked Serena’s whereabouts deliberately.

If they ran into each other, would Serena recognize him? Probably not. Pretending to be someone else and greeting her to see her reaction could be amusing.

At that moment, Lucy interrupted his thoughts.

“Oh, by the way, Your Majesty. About that person we encountered the other day…”

“No.”

“I haven’t even said anything yet.”

Lucy stared at Azade with a pouty face, while Azade, now serious, responded firmly.

“You’re thinking of making a mask of Serena’s face, aren’t you?”

“Wow, spot on.”

“Absolutely not.”

“That’s so unfair! Why are you stopping me? I haven’t even asked her yet!”

Lucy stomped her foot like a child throwing a tantrum, her male disguise making the scene all the more grotesque.

Azaid pinched the bridge of her nose, groaning. He had been careful all this time to avoid letting Lucy and Serina cross paths, knowing full well what could happen.

But that day, he had no choice but to call Lucy to test out a prototype mask, as only the creator herself could properly attach it. Unfortunately, Serena had arrived at the study unannounced, leading to an encounter.

Serena is undeniably beautiful. I knew this troublemaker would react, but…

To think she would blatantly request her face.

Serina is in danger.

Grinding his teeth, Azaid agonized over how to protect Serina (and her face). The thought of Lucy grinning while gazing at Serena’s mask in her secret room was horrifying. Once this ordeal was over, perhaps he would need to ban Lucy from entering the palace.

Lucy might kick up a fuss, but that would be Leonard’s problem to handle. While Azaid was lost in such thoughts, Leonard spoke up.

“They’ve arrived.”

Leonard, peeking through the curtains, confirmed the arrival of the doctor who had been using the smuggled mana stones from the Greenwood family.

Azaid and Lucy’s attention immediately turned to Leonard. Azaid moved closer to the window to check the person’s face.

As he scanned the crowd, his gaze stopped at a familiar face in the hall, making him tilt his head in confusion.

“Why is she here?”