Chapter 132: Master Cenric

Chapter 132: Master CenricThe Palace of Oak, the residence of the ruler of the kingdom, was in the innermost region of the royal palace grounds. It was a massive structure of timeless beauty, with sprawling gardens, beautiful pavilions and imposing buildings about thrice the size of the Palace of Thistle. It was basically a royal palace within the royal palace.

The most eye-catching sight from the royal garden was surprisingly a single tree—an oak tree, the namesake and symbol of the kingdom’s royalty.

In the heart of the central garden stood a magnificent oak tree commanding absolute attention with its sheer size and majestic presence. The trunk’s circumference was substantial, requiring several people to encircle its impressive girth. Oriana could not guess the age of the tree, but it ought to be a few hundred years. Who knows, maybe it was as old as the kingdom itself.

Even the other attendants sitting with Oriana were at awe at its ancient beauty, even though they had seen the oak tree several times in the past.

Coming from the gate, their carriage took a long time to reach the entrance of the king’s royal residence due to the distance. Of the escorting knights, Imbert and Rafal walked behind the prince. Behind them was Oriana and the other attendants, carrying exquisite wooden chests in their arms.

’Heavy.’

Oriana wondered what valuables were inside, but she had no time to think as she needed to focus on keeping pace with the rest.

Security was strict, and there were royal knights standing in line on each hallway. Every aspect of the palace interior reflects the rich history, cultural heritage, and regal splendor that define the royal family, with paintings of generations upon generations of rulers. The atmosphere reminded Oriana that this place was where the most important person in Griven resided.

When Arlan reached the King’s bedchamber, he saw the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting standing outside with his father’s knights—that meant his mother had arrived earlier than him.

The King’s guardian knight and the commander of the royal knights, an older man whose appearance resembled Imbert’s, entered the chamber and announced his arrival to the King. Only Arlan went inside while Oriana and the other servants were directed to carry the prince’s gifts to the place where the physician was staying, a guest residence which was within the complex of the Palace of Oak.

On the way to the guest residence, Oriana prayed, ’I hope I get to meet Master Cenric today. If not, it will be impossible for me to enter this place again. I might die if I try to sneak inside the King’s residence. We met two years ago, though. I wonder if he still remembers me. We worked for a month together. He wouldn’t forget me so easily, right? Even if he does, I will try to remind him.’

When Arlan stepped inside the King’s chamber, the mood was unexpectedly light and carefree. He even heard his father’s laughter in response to something his mother said.

He saw his parents, the King Ailwin and Queen Julien of Griven, seated in the lounge, casually chatting with a familiar old physician sitting opposite to them.

The old man ought to be in his sixties, his appearance thin and tanned and his body smelling heavily of herbs. Wearing plain white robes, he could be easily mistaken as an ordinary apothecary from some random town. However, this seemingly ordinary old man who was at complete ease in front of royalty was no other than Erich Winfield, whose name was renowned in all kingdoms as a miraculous physician, rumored to be even the best healer in the continent.

Their first meeting was out of pure luck. Several months ago, Arlan went to the Kingdom of Hatha together with the King of Megaris, King Drayce Ivanov in order to rescue the Crown Prince of Abetha. The commander of Drayce’s royal knights would have died if they did not accidentally encounter the old man. After that, Erich stayed in the Kingdom of Abetha.

Arlan first greeted his parents and then the physician.

His temperament as strange as ever, Erich merely waved him away when Arlan spoke, "Glad that you have made it to Griven, Physician Winfield."

Such rudeness was like a breath of fresh air to his parents, causing his father to laugh once again.

"It is honestly refreshing to talk with a man like Erich," the King commented.

Erich scoffed, "That’s because you surround yourself with stifling people, Ailwin."

’Oh, they’re on a first name basis now?’ Arlan simply smiled.

Knowing his father, the King should have told Erich to call him by name out of courtesy, and was pleasantly surprised that the old man actually did so. Most people would decline and call him by title, but not Erich. This arrogant physician never cared about the status of the person in front of him. He was the type of stubborn person who only cared for his patient and the patient’s treatment.

Arlan found himself a seat and asked, "How is father’s situation?"

Instead of Erich, the King spoke, "You worry for nothing. I am fine."

"I know, Father. but I wish to hear it from Physician Winfield as I took efforts to bring him here personally."

"As long as he follows the treatment plan I prepare for him, his health will improve in the coming months," Erich replied.

After talking for a while, Erich excused himself from the presence of royalty. Today was only an initial check on the King’s health, to get an idea what he would be dealing with.

The old man stepped out of the King’s chamber, and no one accompanied him as he walked down the hallway as if he belonged to the palace in the first place. The royal servants and knights had already been warned of the physician’s strange temper, as well as his preference of only speaking with his apprentice.

However, this time, someone came to him.

"Master Cenric!"

He looked up at the source of the voice. There was a boy in a servant’s uniform coming towards him in a hurry. Oriana had just returned from the guest residence and coincidentally bumped into him on her way.

Erich looked at her in surprise as no one had called him by this name after so long. It was one of his many identities which he made randomly when he traveled around, a name he chose while remembering Celia, the woman he loved.

The boy stopped in front of him. "Master Cenric, I am Orian. Do you recognize me?"