Serena could not logically understand this magical phenomenon.
‘Why do I keep coming back to this point?’
She thought that this time she was really dead. She thought that God finally had mercy for her and ended this relentless cycle. But after starting her life again for the third time, she could clearly see that she’s been cursed.
A curse that kills her and revives her if she fails to save the emperor.
She also couldn’t run away from her fate because it always brought her back to when she was already appointed as the imperial physician, waiting to enter the palace. Only death awaits for a doctor who defies imperial order and runs away.
“No matter what, I’m dead!”
When Serena was just about to scream, someone knocked on her door.
Serena squinted her eyes at the door as she already knew who it was.
“Serena Vincent, get yourself ready and follow me.”
As expected, this person came to take her to the palace.
‘I’m not gonna die this time! I’ll treat the emperor and save him.’
I’ll give it my all.
After all, Serena is just gonna be revived again if she doesn’t try.
* * *
Emperor Azade, seated on the throne, looked down at Serena.
Still dressed in loose clothing.
It seems like he ate tomato soup this morning as there were sauce stains on the front.
He must have refused to let the maid change his clothes and yelled at her. He doesn’t know the servants’ sincerity to serve him so he constantly rejects them.
Azade asked casually, leaning his upper body against the backrest, scratching his untidy head.
Fortunately, she was good at washing herself, so she didn’t look dirty at all.
“Are you Serena Vincent, the one who’s rumored to be capable of saving a person on the verge of death?”
He looked like he was annoyed and dying to get over with this.
He’ll surely want me to request a proper appointment next time.
‘What am I afraid of?’
She replied, with her back upright.
“That’s right.”
“Then you can cure my illness.”
Ajade smiled and swept a hand through his hair.
Blonde hair fluttered under the light. His blue eyes resembled the cold winter sky rather than the autumn sky.
There was a smile around his mouth as if his life was a joke, but his eyes were cold.
The first time I met him, I was overwhelmed by those eyes and made a series of mistakes, but not now.
Serena was determined to do well before coming here.
If I don’t save the emperor, I’ll die. Fighting with the emperor will also give the same result.
‘It’s better to say everything I want to say than to die unjustly!’
Serena said, with a determined face.
“No, that depends on you.”
“What?’”
The emperor took off his chin, which was resting on his hand, at Serina’s perverse demeanor and straightened up his posture. He didn’t expect her to answer like that.
His blue eyes widened. The servants standing nearby glared at Serena with bright eyes.
This was because she, a lady from a viscount family who was kicked out from her family, dared to speak up to the dignified Emperor.
The aristocrat who brought Serena came a step forward and tried to say something, but the emperor raised his hand and stopped him. The aristocrat recoiled and stepped back.
Azade looked at Serena with curious eyes.
Her golden eyes didn’t look frightened at all.
People usually only trembled near him, who’s known as a tyrant.
So he was amazed by her boldness and wanted to see how much bolder she could be.
Meanwhile, Serena did not see him in the same way. She has already died twice, so the emperor before her was not new.
She had already lost any sympathy and respect she had for him a long time ago.
‘I’m going to rehabilitate the Emperor and leave the palace alive.’
It didn’t matter what the emperor said, even if he died here.
If I’m going to die and come back to life again, I might as well say whatever I want.
Then Azade muttered coolly with his head tilted.
“It depends on me?”
“Yes, the patient’s treatment depends on the patient as well. No one can save a patient without their will.”
“Are you making excuses because you are unable to cure it?”
“No, I can cure your illness. If His Majesty would cooperate with me.”
“Hmmm.”
Azade brushed his chin as he found this interesting. Serena continued.
“I have some conditions for you before I can treat you. If you won’t listen to me, just cut my throat here.”
With that, she proudly lifted her head which caused a burst of astonishment in the crowd watching her.
But Serena was serious. She dies one way or the other anyways, so she’ll just do whatever she thinks is best and start over again if it fails.
When Serena asked the Emperor to accept her conditions, Marquis Ravelli jumped up and opened his mouth.
“Ridiculous! How dare you ask the Emperor for a deal!”
“If you don’t like it, kill me. I have no regrets.”
“This, this bitch ·····!”
“Stop.”
Azade stepped in as the marquis stammered with a red face.
Azade’s expression has changed from before. The audience became silent as he swept his hands around his mouth.
Then, a brave aristocrat judged that the emperor was angry about Serena as well and decided to fuel the fire.
“Your Majesty, I suggest we strike that arrogant doctor right in the neck! There are many other doctors in the Crotten Empire!”
“Yes, this is mutiny! How dare she, a lady from a mere viscount family, ask Your Majesty the Emperor to accept her conditions?!”
As the nobles standing beside him became more enraged and raised their voices, the hall became noisy.
Serena looked at Azade, wondering whether he’ll speak up or not. She looked like she was asking for a word from him.
Then, the hand covering Azade’s mouth trembled.
After a while.
“Pfft.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Hahaha!”
Azade laughed aloud.
The aristocrats focused on his loud laughter. Everyone was staring up at Azade.
Serena looked at him, wondering if he had finally gone mad.
Azade spoke with a smile on his face. There was no sign of anger. On the contrary, he seemed rather happy,
“I like this.”
“……”
“What conditions were you talking about? You were putting your life on the line for it, so I’ll listen to it.
“Thank you.”
Serena bowed her head. She was relieved it’s going well, but she was inwardly intimidated.
Serena looked up and said straightforwardly.
“I only request one thing.”
“Okay.”
“Please let me touch you.”
“Okay, do whatever you…wait, what, what did you say?”
Azade habitually answered and opened his eyes wide. Serena’s request was very strange to him.
Subsequently, the crowd of nobles gathered around them stood aghast.
Gasp.
Some exclaimed, their eyes as bright as a lamp –
Cough.
Some choked and coughed.
Huk.
Another bit his tongue with a flushed face. Everyone seemed shocked by Serena’s bombshell. Serena was the only one unaffected.
Lips were puffed like a carp, Azade barely managed to speak.
“Is that your condition?”
“Yes.”
Serena answered shortly, as if her request was nothing out of the ordinary.
Azade’s blue eyes began to turn shallow blue. He planned to let her say whatever she wanted and send her back, but he couldn’t predict the woman in front of him.
The woman he met for the first time today suddenly said something bold, and even her request was… Azade couldn’t bring himself to repeat what she said.
Of course Serena didn’t mean it like that, but no one in the hall knew that. Azade coughed, calmed himself down, and opened his mouth.
“Aren’t you a doctor?”
“I am a doctor.”
“Then why…”
Are you seducing me?
Have you never even held hands with another noble?
Azade swallowed those words and stared at Serena. Shortly after, a smile developed in his blue eyes.
The empress seat has been vacant since he ascended the throne. The nobles did not fight each other about that because the emperor was clear about not taking in an empress, using his illness as the reason.
They did try to win favor with the emperor by sending women to his bedroom.
But Azade had no intention of having children or bringing in an empress.
That would only cause more conflict again.
When it was time for Azade to kick Serena out, Serena said with an innocent look on her face.
“I’m saying this because I’m a doctor. It’ll be hard to treat you if you refuse to come in contact me.”
“Treat me?”
“Yes, besides feeling your pulse, massaging, stretching, and so on. When something inevitable happens, I may need to use a knife on your body.”
“Oh.”
As Serena listed all the treatments and medical practices, Azade let out a low sigh.
And belatedly realized that he was misunderstanding.
He turned his head, his hand covering his face. In a matter of seconds, his ears burned up and his cheeks turned red with shame.