123 DURING THREE MONTHS

Zoe shut her eyes tightly and opened them again.

'Have I gone crazy now? Am I seeing his face in every male creature in this kingdom?'

He was also staring at her, with the same calm waves within his eyes. He also has that perfectly situated nose and thin cherubic lips.

'How could I forget the face that saved me over and over again?'

Tears started to well within her eyes as she recalled their last moment together.

"I thought I will never see you again." 

Zoe extended her hand to touch his face but to her surprise, he furrowed his eyebrows and drew back. 

"Y-you must be mistaken, milady. I have never seen you before." 

He explained his sudden cold reaction.

"My lord!" Azra rushed to his side and bowed to him. 

"Azra…." Zoe uttered under breath as her eyes widened all the more

"I apologize for being late. I just helped an old lady carry her goods."

"Apology accepted."

Zoe was speechless. She can not believe what she is seeing. 

'He is indeed Raigon! But why can't he remember me?!'

She then gazed at Azra who also looked horrified as he saw her.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, milady?" He bowed to her.

"Yes. I think you really need to talk to me right now."

Zoe narrowed her eyes on him. 

They went to a narrow alley where they could talk freely without worrying if anybody could hear them.

But at the same time, Azra could keep his eye on his master.

He was currently in a disguise and he doesn't have enough royal guards to defend him if an unfortunate event happens. 

"I apologize for the delay in visiting you, milady."

Zoe crossed her arms, revealing her disappointment at him. "You should. It's been three months, Azra! Why didn't you visit us even just once?"

"Her mother has ordered me to never leave his side since that catastrophe."

Zoe nodded. "I understand. He seemed alive and well. I'm glad. But why doesn't he recognize me at all?"

"When we reached the Castle, he was almost dead. However, one physician was able to come up with a medicinal herb that could stop him from losing more blood and heal the organs that were punctured because of the gunshots."

Zoe cupped both of her hands in her mouth.

She totally understands what he is talking about. Raigon must have gotten into a hypovolemic shock. He has lost as much as 60% of his body's blood supply during the travel.

"If it wasn't for my CPR intervention, it would be impossible for his heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood to his body which probably would have led to organ failure."

She expressed her thoughts out loud.

There was little to no chance of survival at all. And it is the reason why she is not leaving the four corners of the old cabin. 

If she leaves, there is no way she could know if he did survive or not.

Azra continued revealing the past story that Zoe has been waiting for so long.

"However, the potency of the medicinal herbs is so powerful that it can cause memory loss for the person taking it. Still, his parents decided to continue on with it since the benefit outweighs the risk."

Zoe nodded continuously as she knew some drugs that could exhibit the same effect as narcotic painkillers and anti-seizure drugs.

Tears started streaming down her cheeks as she imagined his suffering during all those weeks. 

"He must have been in agony since then…" 

She trailed off as she glanced at him again. 

Raigon was talking with the storeowner but his eyes were glimpsing at them from time to time.

And he caught her looking at him with her eyes glistening with tears.

Zoe quickly wiped them away and swiveled to Azra.

"How come he could walk around now?" She prodded on.

"It is actually his first time to come outside the Castle. His mother thinks it will be good for him to do so too so he can get a breath of fresh air."

"I see," Zoe uttered, finally being cleared from all her suspicions. 

"Again, I apologize for not telling you sooner. Have you been well, milady? A-and your friend?"

"Oh! Erin!"

She quickly glanced around to check on her. 

"Thank you for taking care of him, Azra. And like her mother said, please do not leave his side no matter what. Do not worry about us. We can take care of ourselves."

She bowed at him before leaving in a dash. 

Meanwhile, Raigon was having a conversation with the storeowner while Azra was talking with Zoe.

"Are you here to buy bangles again, my lord? We currently have a lot of stocks right now." 

The store owner asked him with a greedy grin.

"I have bought bangles here, didn't I?" 

Raigon restating what the storeowner just said.

"Yes, my lord. I would not forget such a gallant customer like you. You just bought an expensive one for four pieces!" 

"Yes. They are all lovely."

Raigon commented. But questions started to come up inside of him.

'I know I have a mother and two sisters. Why would I buy four pieces?'

As if the store owner was listening to his thoughts, he reminded him of his words during that time.

"I hope your mother, your two sisters, and the one that you love with all of your heart appreciate them."

'Someone that I love with all my heart?'

As he ruminated, he glanced at the lady that Azra was talking to. 

Her face was very different from the people in Terra and she seemed like she knew him for a very long time. 

'She seemed familiar. But how can I know someone from the Capital?'

He was still thinking about it when he saw her covering her face as she cried in front of Azra.

'Why is she weeping now?'

He was about to go to her when she suddenly bolted out and left.