216 New Found Friendship

Owen had thought that it was his stepsister and that was why Cullen did not want to be with another woman. One could imagine his shock when his assumption proved wrong.

Cullen on the other hand was shocked when the prince shipped him and the princess together. Since when did he ever show any interest in her?

"Wow, I never expected that. Who is she then if she is not Cyrena?"

"Someone she would not allow me to be with, a palace maid."

"By she would not allow, you mean your guardian?"

"Yes. She flipped when she caught us together, but I hope she would accept her as the one I love in time." His face fell, remembering the day Lorelei caught him and his lover.

"You are better than you look. I never thought you would be this way. I admit, I never liked you because of the fame and name you made. I thought you would steal even the girls from me, but who would have thought that you were true to the one you love? Although I do not envy you though."

"Why?"

"You found love, but there is an impediment. Unlike me, I am free to be with whichever girl I want. I haven't found any lady that would make me stay with her alone, though."

"Good for you. I love her and she is more than enough for me."

"Hmm, so have you, you know, done it with her?" Owen asked him, his face beaming with excitement at the gossip he was about to engage in.

"Why do you want to know?" Cullen asked, his brows furrowing as he narrowed his eyes at Owen suspiciously.

"You know, man to man. I just want to know if the young general is a virgin." He took his cup which was half filled with wine and drank slowly, his gaze never leaving Cullen's.

"Fine, I have."

"Ohh, my man!" Owen half yelled as hailed him, raising his cup in the air.

'What a Prince.' Cullen could not help shaking his head at the cheerful Prince and his mind wandered off.

He had just recovered from the injuries he sustained while facing off Astrid and his lover, the palace mad, felt so heartbroken seeing him in a such a state.

She never liked the idea when he told her about the mission and was pain-stricken when it happened.

By the time he gained consciousness, she was more than happy and couldn't hold herself back, kissing him with all the passion and love she had for him.

He reciprocated it and they let their passion and desire take over, making out in Lorelei's room. Unfortunately, that was when she, Lorelei arrived and caught them.

She had a fit and slapped Cullen. Something she had never done. Thinking back on it, he had a bitter smile on his face.

He knew this was the first time he was going to disobey her, but he would anyway. If she loved him as her ward, she would think about his happiness first.

Little did he know that Lady Lorelei had other plans for him, plans beyond his wildest imagination.

"How?" Owen asked, feeling interested.

He knew he had messed up with the theft incident and let Cyrena bested him because he was too quick to jump into conclusion, but that was too late now, as the ministers still pestered his father and things didn't seem to be going in his favour.

So, if there was a chance at changing things, then he would surely give it a try.

"Okay, you can start by helping out the poor villages in the kingdom. I found out from Evelyn that her village was really poor, they had barely enough to live by.Think of it, if you provide aid to villages like hers, then you would gain more supporters."

Owen nodded his head, agreeing to Cullen's suggestion. "Wait, what is the name of the village? I aaume my father sent aid to some villages suffering from low crop production due to pest outbreak."

"East Bane."

"East Bane, East Bane…" His hand held his chin and his eyes narrowed as his gaze went off, staring at nothing in particular.

Ding!

The answer clicked in his mind and he redirected his gaze to Cullen. "Yes, I got it. East Bane, that region is under Erwins's care and the village is just part of the small villages she was to give aid to back then."

His words only made Cullen frown the more. "If that is true, then meaning the aid never got to the village and the King is not aware of such occurrence."

"Yes. I wonder what she did with all those goods my father left in her possession to distribute?" Owen asked, thoughtfully.

"My guess is, she probably had them sold off. I never would have imagined that Erwina was this rotten, leaving innocent citizens to suffer and die of starvation, yet yiu would want them to pay taxes."

"True. First I would infirm my father and have him investigate the matter before proceeding to help. I do not want her taking credit or what she didn't do and besides, this may turn the tides in my favour and make her look bad."

His smile broadened and his eyes met with Cullen's. "Thank you so much, my friend. You truly proved you were a good man. I hope you would consider me a friend as well?"

"Happy to help. I stand for what is good and right, justice for the people. I never once considered you an enemy, so yes, friends."

They shook hands with each other and laughed heartily. "Unfortunately, you wouldn't have fun. If not I would have request for a second girl for you."

"About that, I need a favour." Cullen suddenly became serious, moving to the edge of his chair.

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