140 MISUNDERSTOOD

It was already dark in the forest and anyone could hardly see if it wasn't for the bright light emanated by the full moon. 

Still, Erin skipped as she walked towards the cabin, excited for the ideas that she had thought ahead, knowing she has a special guest tonight. 

She was thinking about how to make a homemade foot spa with the materials that she bought.

"That's great! I have here some epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, essential oils…"

And because it was dark, she didn't see that there was a huge rock in front of her.

Thud!

Erin fell back together with the bags in her arms.

"Ouch!".

"Milady!" Azra dashed to her side and immediately checked what happened to her.

"I'm okay." Erin quickly explained herself as she tried to stand up but she winced in pain.

In a flash, Azra swept her up into his arms, which baffled Erin.

Even though she has swooned over several men in her life, no one has cared enough to carry her like this. 

There was a time when an accident happened and she fell, but her boyfriend then just assisted her to stand up and then walked ahead of her.

She smiled as she put her arms around his shoulders as he carried her inside the cabin.

"This is nice. Thank you, Azra."

She gazed at him adoringly, which made Azra blush in embarrassment. 

He quickened his steps so he could get to the house as soon as possible.

But he almost fell over with her as she made another astounding comment.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

He answered curtly and dashed like lightning to find the nearest chair and gently placed Erin on it.

Then he blew out a lungful of air after he loosened his Hanfu dress a bit.

"I-I will just get the bags, milady."

Azra blurted before scrambling out of the cabin.

Erin giggled at Azra's awkwardness.

"It must have been his first time to meet a straightforward woman like me. And it's also my first time to meet a gentleman like him."

She grinned as she rested her back on the chair and closed her eyes.

"What a tiring day!"

Erin was in this position when Azra came back with Erin's bags.

He gazed at her with her middle length hair away from her tilted face.

Though he really didn't pay much attention to women because of his devotion to his family and duty, he can't help but admire a beauty when he sees one.

To his surprise, Erin spoke even though her eyes were closed.

"Do you find me more beautiful than other ladies in Terra?" 

Her lovely lips curved up as she lifted her head and now stared at him. 

Azra's eyes widened as he thought that she was already asleep.

"N-not really." He uttered as he darted for the table where he could place her things. 

"Not really? Come here!" Erin pouted as he called on Azra.

She tried to stand up so she could face him, but her knees wavered that she slumped on the chair again.

Azra saw what happened and bolted to her side.

"Are you alright, milady?"

He knelt in front of her as he tried to scan what was wrong with her body.

"I must have bled my knee."

Erin grimaced as she lifted up her skirt to half of her porcelain thighs.

Azra's eyeballs widened in disbelief. His throat gulped at what he thought was a suggestive temptation.

On the other hand, it was nothing to Erin as she really was just checking out her legs.

"I wonder if I'm bleeding somewhere."

Azra held on her skirts and was about to pull it downward, when the door suddenly threw wide.

Gao Zemin's jaws dropped open at the scene that he was beholding.

Lady Erin was sprawled on the chair while a man was lifting up her skirt.

In a fraction of a second, he pulled out a knife from his bag and pointed it out at Azra.

"Gao Zemin!" Erin exclaimed.

Azra quickly lifted his hand in surrender.

"What are you just doing to the lady?!" 

Gao Zemin bellowed while dashing forward with his knife.

"T-there seems to be a misunderstanding here, my lord."

Azra stepped backward, his hands quickly went to the sheath of his sword.

"I'm sorry but whoever you are, you cannot do what you want with her!"

Gao Zemin was about to hurtle his knife towards him when Erin flailed her arms and shouted.

"Wait, wait, wait!" She tried to stand up but flinched in pain again.

"Lady Erin!" Both of the men shouted as they ran toward her. 

Gao Zemin gave Azra a death stare which made Azra stop in his tracks.

He then went to check on Erin's condition.

"Where does it hurt? Do you feel anything else?"

"M-my knee. It's just weak and it's painful when I move it. Other than that, I'm okay."

Erin replied as she tilted her back so Gao Zemin could check on her properly.

"She stumbled on a rock a while ago. Fortunately, there was no bleeding or wound anywhere, Dr. Gao."

Azra explained and bowed to him in respect.

Gao Zemin nodded and stood up.

"You need to rest for now, milady. And don't try to move for a few hours. Do you really know this man?"

He eyed on Azra again from head to foot.

"Yes, Dr. Gao. He is Rai.. I mean he is the Crown Prince's assistant."

Gao Zemin's face went pale as he bowed down to him.

"I apologized for my rash actions, my lord."

He left the royal palace a long time ago and he wasn't aware of the people working for the royal family now.

Azra saluted and bowed back to Gao Zemin.

"Anyway, I am here for Lady Zoe. I haven't seen her around." Gao Zemin darted his eyes around the room to search for her.

Erin's head swiveled to Azra, who answered the question for him.

"Lady Zoe or Lady Asha is with the Crowned Prince, my lord."

"And where are they right now?"

Azra scratched his head as he also didn't know the answer to that question.

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Absolutely no one knows your heart or intentions.

Rest in the knowledge that you mean well.

Others are irrelevant.