I’m the Dying Emperor’s Doctor

Episode 99

Azaid was utterly captivated by Serena’s adorable remark. How could his small, precious woman, who fit so perfectly in his arms, appear so dependable?

Suppressing the urge to pull her into his embrace and fully savor her scent, Azaid asked,

“How do you plan to protect me?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure.”

Serena fidgeted in his arms, delaying her response. No one could rival Serena’s talent for leaving him hanging in anticipation.

Azaid lowered his head even further, closing the distance between them. His warm breath tickled the tip of Serina’s nose, making her giggle as she lifted her head.

“Shall I start… by giving Your Majesty what you desire right now?”

“Do you really know what I wa—mm.”

A light kiss brushed his lips, silencing him.

She knew exactly what he wanted. Just as Azaid was about to seize her lips again, Serena whispered,

“Stay still.”

“Mm…”

Azaid halted his trembling lips with great effort. His jaw tightened as he barely managed to restrain himself.

Serena shifted her lips from his mouth to his jaw, then to his soft earlobe. Unconsciously, Azaid let out a heated breath.

“Ha…”

His hands holding her grew tense. Serina’s hands, exploring his body, became more urgent. Returning to his lips, she whispered sweetly,

“You want this.”

Each fleeting brush of her lips shattered Azaid’s remaining restraint.

With her consent, Azaid gently laid Serena down on the bed and climbed over her. Her violet hair spread out across the sheets.

The strands shimmered in the sunlight, reminding him of the violet curtains fluttering in the wind. Brushing a few stray strands from her cheek, Azaid murmured,

“Everywhere I go, this violet keeps catching my eye—it’s because of you, Rena.”

“Really? Lately, I’ve been enchanted by yellow—like these clear, beautiful blue eyes of yours.”

As Serena brushed her fingers across his eyes, he kissed her palm softly.

“Take them. They’re all yours.”

Lowering himself as if surrendering, Azaid’s lips brushed against the faintly blushing corners of Serena’s eyes.

Enjoying the ticklish sensation, Serena hugged him tightly.

That night, by imperial decree, not even an ant could leave the palace.

It was a measure to ensure that no one would discover that someone had been dragged underground. Azaid left Serena’s chamber and descended directly into the dungeon.

— Sebastian was secretly burning Your Majesty’s perfume.

— Perfume?

— It might have been a disguise for something else. That seizure Your Majesty had—it doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

— But there haven’t been any seizures since.

— That’s what puzzles me. I think we need to investigate further.

Azaid fiddled with the glass bottle Serena had handed him.

Even in such a critical moment, she’d been so resourceful. Remembering how she’d proudly boasted about securing two bottles made him wish he’d held her a little longer before leaving.

‘I wish she valued her life a little more.’

Of course, once Sebastian had caught her, there had been no better choice. Escaping with the bottles intact had been her only reasonable option.

Thankfully, Azaid had infused Izring with power, averting disaster. The thought of what might have happened without Izring made him scowl.

Gesturing towards Sebastian, who was tied up and suspended in only his undergarments, Azaid gave a brief command.

“Wake him.”

Leonard splashed water on the barely conscious Sebastian.

“Ugh!”

Sebastian groaned and lifted his trembling gaze. Once the gag was removed, he pleaded desperately,

“Y-Your Majesty… please spare me!”

“That’s not a request someone who attempted murder should make.”

“It… it was a misunderstanding.”

“Oh? So now you’re trying to sow discord as well? Should I pull out that tongue of yours?”

With a flick of Azaid’s finger, flames erupted, slithering like a serpent.

“Eek!”

Sebastian flinched as the fiery serpent hissed, flicking its tongue menacingly close to his face. Azaid shook the glass bottle in his hand and asked,

“You’ve been up to something amusing, haven’t you?”

“…”

“This is my perfume, isn’t it?”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

“Did the Duke order this?”

Sebastian’s lips clamped shut, but his trembling eyes gave him away. With an air of mock mercy, Azaid raised two fingers.

“You have two choices. One is to be tortured to death.”

“…A-And the other?”

“To confess willingly and die cleanly as a roasted corpse. In that case, your family will remain safe. The blame lies solely with you.”

“Gasp… Hah…”

Sebastian panted, unable to endure the oppressive situation. Despite the pitiful sight, Azaid forced the choice without batting an eye.

“Which one seems better to you, Sebastian? I think I already know.”

It felt as if a sharp blade was pressed against Sebastian’s throat. The fear was suffocating.

If he refused to confess, he would suffer like an animal before dying. If he confessed, he might at least die a quick death.

But for Sebastian, who had never experienced anything like this, the situation itself was hell.

‘Terrifying! It’s terrifying!’

Having already endured one round of torture, he felt he couldn’t take any more. Just as he was about to give up and open his mouth—

“I’ll tell you everything! The Duke… Ugh!”

Sebastian let out a pained cry mid-sentence. At the same time, a fleeting symbol flickered across his bare chest, and his body slumped lifelessly.

“!!!”

Azaid, who had been sitting leisurely, shot up from his chair. Leonard immediately approached and placed his fingers under Sebastian’s nose. But Sebastian had already departed from this world.

“…He’s dead.”

“Hah!”

Azaid let out an incredulous scoff. It was a curse. He didn’t know exactly what kind, but it was undoubtedly magical in nature.

The problem was that all they had seen was that fleeting symbol. There was no trace of mana flow from Sebastian.

A curse without any trace.

This wasn’t something achievable with a magical artifact—it would require a true Awakened sorcerer.

At that moment, Leonard spoke with a stiff expression.

“It’s the same as last time.”

“Last time?”

“When the administrator’s family in Greenwood territory died. They also died suddenly, just like this.”

“Ah.”

Azaid let out a faint exclamation. During the hunting festival, Leonard had secretly visited the administrator’s family.

But that day, the entire family had died suddenly, leaving behind no clues. If that death wasn’t a coincidence…

“Could it be… that someone’s hiding an Awakened sorcerer?”

Azaid clenched his teeth, recalling those associated with Duke Greenwood. Among them, there was no one known to use curses or similar magic.

After a brief silence, Azaid spoke.

“Leonard.”

“Yes. I’ll send a message to Lily immediately.”

Leonard promptly responded, carefully tucking the glass bottle Azade handed him into his coat pocket.

Shortly after the lockdown on the Imperial Palace was lifted, Nocturne was leisurely resting there, completely unaware of last night’s events.

For someone confined to the palace for committing a crime, he seemed more like a guest at a luxurious resort.

In truth, Nocturne was not being held as a criminal but rather under the guise of an investigation for his protection—from the potential claws of Duke Greenwood.

But Nocturne knew better. The Duke was not someone to let go so easily. He would come, and soon.

And Nocturne planned to use himself as bait. That morning, he awoke earlier than usual and stepped onto the terrace.

As the cold air brushed against his cheeks, fully waking him, he sensed a presence behind him. Familiar footsteps. Without turning around, Nocturne spoke.

“You’re here.”

“Young Master.”

A figure hidden in the shadows stepped closer to Nocturne. It was one of the shadows who carried out Duke Greenwood’s secret missions. His arrival meant the Duke had something to say to Nocturne.

“The Duke summons you.”

“Tell him I can’t leave. I’m under interrogation.”

His sharp reply made the shadow hesitate slightly.

“He said this would change your mind.”

The shadow respectfully handed something to Nocturne. Upon seeing it, Nocturne’s gray eyes dimmed.

[Let me tell you what you’re curious about.

Return to the castle.]

Just as Nocturne knew the Duke well, the Duke also knew Nocturne. The bait he had thrown was far too tempting. In fact, this was what Nocturne had been hoping for.

“Heh…”

A faint laugh escaped Nocturne’s lips, and the shadow stepped aside to clear the path.

“Let’s go.”

“One moment. At least let me leave a note.”

Nocturne walked over to the table and pulled out a piece of stationery. Under the watchful eye of the shadow, he wrote a brief letter.

“All done.”

After neatly sealing the letter in an envelope, Nocturne followed the shadow without resistance. As their figures disappeared beyond the window, the envelope left on the table glimmered faintly in the light.