I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Episode 91

Lydia left the drunken and rambling Baron Vincent behind and stormed out of the castle. As she was about to board her carriage, she frowned.

A red notice had been pasted on the carriage. Lydia harshly tore it off and ordered the coachman,

“Take me to the Yungsa Crotan Branch Headquarters.”

“Ah, My Lady. If you tear it off like that…”

“Hurry!”

At Lydia’s sharp command, the coachman reluctantly began to drive the carriage. Lydia clasped her trembling hands together, trying to calm herself, but the storm in her chest wouldn’t subside so easily.

“Argh!”

Unable to contain her anger, Lydia stomped her boot against the carriage floor. The family’s downfall had begun the moment the Emperor set the Glass Garden ablaze.

Moreover—

— How do you expect to defeat His Majesty the Emperor?!

The Baron’s self-mocking cry only strengthened Lydia’s belief that this was all orchestrated by Serena.

— Lydia, the next time we meet, you’d better remember that day clearly. Who knows what I might do?

Serena had openly declared war just recently, determined to crush their family by force if necessary.

“Ungrateful wretch! After all we’ve done for her!”

The image of Serena’s smug face flashed through Lydia’s mind, and she gritted her teeth. The claim of not remembering was a lie. How could she forget that day?

The vivid memory of a knight suddenly appearing with Serena and almost making her faint remained crystal clear. She could still recall the cross-shaped scar on the knight’s hand.

As Lydia replayed that day in her mind, the carriage arrived at the Yungsa Headquarters. A secretary spotted her and hurriedly approached.

“Lady Vincent, what brings you here without notice?”

“I’m in a hurry. Is Mr. Marco inside?”

“Well… he’s currently meeting with an important guest. Please, come this way first.”

The secretary led Lydia to the reception room. At that moment, Marco appeared from a distance with Collin and a tall, refined gentleman.

“Miss Lydia?”

Marco spotted her, and the gray-haired nobleman beside him scrutinized Lydia intently. Collin leaned in and whispered to the Duke of Greenwood,

“She is Miss Lydia Vincent, Mr. Marco’s fiancée.”

“Vincent, you say?”

The Duke of Greenwood examined Lydia with keen interest. As soon as Lydia saw Marco, tears welled up in her eyes, and she rushed into his arms.

“Mr. Marco!”

“L-Lydia…”

Marco glanced nervously at the Duke as Lydia sobbed against him. The Duke, however, waved it off and handed Lydia a handkerchief.

“You must have been through a terrible ordeal.”

“Thank you, kind sir.”

Lydia froze momentarily as she accepted the handkerchief—it bore the Greenwood family crest.

“Uh… oh…”

She stared blankly at the Duke. Despite the Vincent family’s wealth, they rarely crossed paths with high-ranking nobles like him. Their world was entirely separate.

“Is this about your younger sister, by any chance?”

“You mean Serena Vincent?”

Lydia swallowed hard at the Duke’s courteous tone. Most high-ranking nobles were accustomed to speaking down to others.

But this man—this gentleman—was polite and composed, even to someone he’d just met.

She had come seeking Marco’s help, but now she found herself face-to-face with such a significant figure. Lydia forgot her original purpose and fumbled with her words. The Duke gave her a reassuring smile.

“I believe I may be able to assist you.”

“Y-Your Grace?”

“Yes. I happen to have a keen interest in your family.”

At his words, Lydia recalled the dire state of her family and quickly nodded.

“Please, help us!”

“Come, let us talk inside. This will take some time.”

At the Duke’s suggestion, Marco tactfully guided them back to the private reception room.

“Hey, shorty.”

Young Serena looked up at the boy who had casually called her. His face was obscured, as if hidden behind a fog, but his expression was clear.

Recognizing the boy, Serena slowly sat up from where she had been sprawled on the grass.

“Who are you calling shorty? Like you’re so tall.”

“At least taller than you.”

The boy chuckled softly and brushed the grass and leaves off Serena’s back and hair. Though his attitude was clearly that of an older brother, Serena didn’t protest.

“You’re late. I’ve been waiting forever.”

Serena grumbled, and the boy sat beside her, resting his elbows on his knees. He tilted his head and replied bluntly,

“It’s not like we made a promise to meet. Levin.”

“Do I have to say it out loud?”

“I came as soon as I could…”

The boy hesitated and asked,

“Did you wait long?”

“Not really. Do I look like I have nothing better to do?”

“You look pretty free to me.”

“I have cold hands, Zed.”

“You’re picking a fight again.”

The boy called Zed chuckled and ruffled Serena’s hair.

“Hey!”

As Serena squirmed in distaste, the boy mischievously messed up her hair with both hands.

“Stop it!”

“If you don’t plan on coming next time, just go inside. Standing out here for no reason will just get you sick.”

“Hmph. Do you think I’m just waiting for you? I’m busy too. Achoo!”

“See?”

When Serena sneezed, the boy quickly took off his coat and handed it to her. Despite their bickering, the care they showed each other revealed a close bond.

There was a sibling-like feeling between them, perhaps because of Serena’s short hair. As she clumsily put on the boy’s coat, she muttered,

“Well… I waited because I was worried you’d wander around recklessly again.”

“So you did wait for me, huh?”

“…”

The boy gently smoothed out her tousled hair, smiling faintly. His eyes, resembling the clear blue sky, sparkled briefly before being veiled by the mist of a dream.

“You…”

But before Serena could finish speaking, she was pulled out of the dream, as if she had been dragged from underwater.

“…”

Serena groped at the empty space beside her and opened her eyes. In Azaid’s bedroom, the canopy curtains were all drawn, and she was alone on the bed.

The dream scattered like an illusion, leaving only fragments drifting in her mind.

‘He definitely said ‘Zed’.’

Yet Serena vividly remembered the boy’s name. Her eyes widened as the image of Daniel’s apprentice, Zed, came to mind.

Azaid headed to the hidden base of the Gordon Merchant Guild early in the morning. Inside, Jack, Lucy, and Leonard sat with Azaid around a round table.

Lucy, already disguised as a man, made the group look like a scheming gang at first glance. Azaid was the first to speak.

“How did the analysis of the mana supplement ingredients go?”

“There were no problematic substances.”

“Really?”

“But someone else requested an analysis around the same time as us. Someone you know well.”

“Who?”

Azaid immediately questioned Jack’s words. He couldn’t think of anyone he knew who would dig into this matter.

It was then that Leonard spoke up.

“It was Miss Serena.”

“Serena?”

Azaid’s eyes widened in shock at the unexpected name. Serena had no connection to this issue, nor did she have any idea what Azaid was up to outside.

Sure, she might have suspected something based on rumors she overheard, but the affairs of Colin and the Mage Guild were a separate matter.

Leonard continued his report.

“Upon investigation, it seems she purchased a mana supplement at the auction that day.”

“She probably bought it out of curiosity, given her usual interest in medicinal ingredients.”

Azaid tried to dismiss it lightly, but Jack quickly pointed out a flaw in his reasoning.

“If that were the case, she would’ve gone directly to the imperial institution for analysis, not a private one.”

“Exactly. Unless she doesn’t trust the imperial institution, it’s odd that the palace physician would turn to a private analysis center.”

At Lucy’s words, the three exchanged glances. If Serena had nothing to hide, seeking verification from the imperial institution would’ve been the easier choice.

Breaking the tense silence, Azaid spoke.

“There must have been another reason. There’s no way she would collude with Duke Greenwood.”

“That’s just your wishful thinking.”

Jack’s sharp remark was followed by Leonard’s calm voice.

“It’s too early to suspect her, Jack. It could simply be curiosity, as His Majesty said.”

“Exactly. Miss Serena is innocent. People as precious as her need to be protected.”

Lucy added with nonsensical logic, causing Leonard to sigh deeply.

Azaid was displeased with the idea of Serena being under suspicion. After all, she was the one who had sworn to save him within a year.

If she were aligned with Duke Greenwood, she wouldn’t have put so much effort into her work—effort that was evident in the artificial mana core ring she had created after countless sleepless nights.

Fiddling with the ring Serena had given him, Azaid spoke with unwavering confidence.

“Stop doubting my woman.”

The expressions on the trio’s faces cracked in an instant.