Ex-Lovers

Her movement halted. Eileen lifted her head slowly and met the King's gaze. Noticing his curious look, Eileen chose to look away.

"I traveled to the neighboring countries, learning a little bit of their knowledge on medicine," Eileen said.

Asher shifted his gaze towards the trays of medicine and supplies.

His eyes narrowed when he saw a bottle of ointment. The porcelain bottle looked familiar. A thought came to his mind. Asher seemed to recall that his sister's Knight had carried this kind of porcelain bottle.

The last time they met, the two of them had exchanged a few blows. Both sides were injured and it was at that time that Asher had seen the man carrying this bottle.

Their meeting might be short, but Asher has been watching the knight closely.

The weapon that he carried and the way he wielded his sword told him that the knight was not someone from the Eastern Continents.

"Where did you get that ointment from?" Asher asked.

Eileen followed his gaze to the porcelain bottle. She hesitated for a few seconds before she gave out her answer. "A country in the Western Continents called Hase."

Asher looked at the woman in front of him in surprise. "You went as far as the Western Continents?"

A faint smile curled on her lips. "I heard that the countries in the Western Continents are a little more advanced than us in medicine." Her gaze brightened up when Eileen was reminded of her trip in the Western Continents. "Years have passed and a lot has changed. Your Majesty, in the Western Continents, I saw how the practitioners and non-practitioners live well together. Although the majority of the high-ranked officials are practitioners, they did not suppress the non-practitioners like they used to. In the Western Continents, I saw how they live harmoniously together."

Asher was surprised to see the woman's enthusiasm as she talked about the countries that she had visited in the Western Continents.

It seemed that ever since their separation years ago, this woman has been living a good life.

Years ago, when the two of them were teenagers, they became lovers. Their relationship was approved by the former King, but the ministers had a different opinion.

Eileen Cloud was a physician and she did not come from a reputable family. When the ministers heard that Asher wanted to take Eileen as his wife and appointed her as his Crown Princess, the ministers were agitated.

They began to make a move and pulling tricks to make it hard for this girl.

After a while, staying together became suffocating. Eileen could no longer bear the constant humiliation. In the end, Eileen chose to leave, and he chose to let her go.

Asher shifted his gaze away as the memories came back to him. At this time, Eileen passed him a small cup of medicine. He took the cup of medicine from Eileen and downed it in one shot. The bitterness spread around his mouth and Asher tried his best not to wince.

His thoughts were everywhere. Asher traced his fingers on the cup and looked away. "Did you meet anyone new?" His voice was a whisper.

Eileen pursed her lips and hesitated. "Sort of."

His grip around that cup. However, he was quick to gain his composure. Asher waited for the woman to continue, but Eileen chose to keep her silence. "Evelyn," he called her name when she stood up with her tray and turned to leave. "What happened?"

She smiled bitterly but did not answer.

The silence between them lasted for a long time. It was only when they heard movement from a distance. Turning around, they both saw that Finn Eastlake was walking over with two familiar guests with him. The moment they saw the guests, both Asher and Eileen jumped in surprise.

"Amelia!" Asher stood up quickly and walked over to his sister. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see you, of course," Amelia replied. Her tone was cheery.

It was such a rare occasion that she could leave the Palace. The moment Amelia saw her brother, she was elated. However, once she realized that there was someone else who was with her brother, Amelia quickly behaved.

"Lady Evans. couldn't make it to see you tonight and I was worried that you would not get her message."

"Do I look like an idiot?" Asher rolled his eyes. Then, he pulled her into a hug and a breath of relief escaped him. "Don't you know that it was too dangerous for you to be here?"

Asher sent a dangerous look at Laif. He did not doubt that the person who had helped to sneak his sister out of the palace was no one else other than him.

"Where are the rest of your guards?" Asher asked.

"I snuck out of the palace with Laif's aid," Amelia said.

Asher snorted, knowing that he had guessed it right.

"Don't worry. I'm safe with Laif. He's my First Knight."

Asher's looked at his sister and grimaced when he heard her words. His hands clenched into fists. "You promoted him as your First Knight?" Asher spoke. His tone of voice turned grim. "And both Damian and Commander Irvine allowed this to happen?"

Laif frowned as he heard his tone.

He knew right from the start that sneaking out with the Princess will only bring trouble, however, facing the Princess's pleading look, Laif could only agree. Ever since the last time that the Princess had snuck out to the woods, Laif was worried that the Princess would pull something reckless just to see her brother again.

"I don't need their permission to promote Laif as my warrior," Amelia spoke. Her tone was sharp. "Laif has done a great job protecting me. He saved me countless times. This appointment as the First Knight is something that he deserved."

Asher knew that he could not win against his sister. No matter what she said, the moment he saw her gaze, Asher would relent.

It seemed that he has been spoiling his sister a little too much.

Then, Asher decided to shift his anger. Since he could not bear to scold his sister, there would always be someone else who will have to bear it.

Asher's gaze turned ugly as he continued to look at Laif. He really did not like seeing this man around his sister. Asher had watched a few bold noblemen's sons trying to court his sister. But none of them gave him this uneasy feeling like Laif would give him.

Asher stepped away from his sister and walked over to Laif. "Do you know what are the First Knight's duties?"