155 BLESS OR CURSE

Zoe's muscles went rigid as she felt her cheeks against Raigon's thumping chest.

But she was too brokenhearted to refuse. She stayed there and allowed Raigon to caress her hair.

"I-I don't know what to do anymore…"

Raigon pulled her closer towards him and enveloped his arms tighter. 

"Shhh.. I know you tried."

He whispered to her ears which melted her composure. A gasp from a painful aching heart escaped from her lips.

"Cry all you want. I'm just right here."

Zoe bit her lips as she sobbed in her chest. A gush of tears flowed from her eyes blurring her vision of the dead bodies that were being piled up just a while ago.

Her arms flew around his back as she dug her head deeper in his coat.

Raigon drew in a deep breath.

He also agonized over the unfortunate catastrophe of Xianghai Province. And he was anxious that this could probably be happening to other lands as well. 

Even though they were few in numbers, he had hoped that their dedication to save them was enough. 

And he also felt discouraged to continue on with their intervention, especially that nobody trusted them, even him as their Crowned Prince.

He hugged Zoe even tighter, getting strength from her presence with her. 

"We can do this."

Raigon encouraged her and also himself. 

Zoe stopped crying and uttered. "But how? I already gave my best. But look at the result. There were lives that even got in more danger. And this keeps happening in my life again and again."

She continued to voice out her thoughts.

"Maybe it's true that I am a cursed woman. And I am not fit to be connected with anyone or they will just be cursed like me."

She suddenly pushed Raigon away as she remembered that she was the reason why he almost died. And he hasn't even recovered yet.

"You should stay away from me."

She turned her back and was about to leave when Raigon spoke from behind her.

"Where are you going?"

Zoe stopped from her tracks as she was reminded that Raigon is still a Crown Prince, in whom she must show her respect.

She pivoted back and bowed to him.

"I will go to a place where I couldn't hurt anybody anymore."

"What about them?"

He pointed at the area where the sick people were still being treated. 

"T-they will just die because of me."

"Do you believe that keeping the patients rehydrated is the only way that they can live?"

Zoe nodded her head. "Yes, sire. Severe dehydration could kill them. Other complications could arise as well."

As she did so, she glanced back at the area where the sick people are.

"They must drink lots of liquid continuously as long as they are still vomiting and having diarrhea. I have already instructed them. They know what to do."

Raigon nodded as he also gazed at where her eyes were.

"I see. "Let me ask three things and then I will allow you to do as you pleased."

Zoe glanced up and furrowed her eyebrows at Raigon.

"My first question is, do you think that there are other physicians available who know and understand the situation like you do?"

Zoe's eyes darted downward. "N-no, your Highness."

She hates to admit it. But he is right. If they would just rely on the supernatural effects of the talismans and not take care of their physician bodies, they will all die.

'But what about the curse that I brought with me to this land? Will I choose to bless them with my knowledge and skills as a doctor even though there is a possibility that they might die because of my curse?'

To help her decide, Raigon threw the second question away.

"Can you bear the guilt of leaving these people behind even if you know that you can help them?"

Zoe's eyes darted on Raigon and assessed his countenance. It seemed calm and considerate, as if he will understand whatever decision she will make. 

'He was not condemning me. He was helping me to come up to a decision.'

If she will leave now and stay away from them, she didn't have to bear the guilt of someone dying because she was there. But she would bear the guilt of people dying because she was not there.

'Both would give me a burden. But which cross should I carry?'

"What is the last question, your Highness?"

Raigon drew in a deep breath and grabbed her hand. 

"Your Highness!" Zoe exclaimed in surprise. But she followed after him. 

Raigon went back to the mini hospital. 

Zoe noticed that they were almost half the number of the sick people when they started. She bit her lips as she thought that they might have left thinking of her as a jinx or a quack. 

But seeing the remnants face lightened up, when they saw them, a glimmer of hope sparked up in her heart.

"Everyone, listen to me." Raigon called on their attention.

"This lady physician is not God. She can do her best to treat you, but your life is not in her hands. You can live and you can also die. Do you understand?"

Zoe's eyes widened at Raigon's direct and flabbergasting remark. 

She was about to remove her arm from Raigon's grip. But she glanced at everyone and she observed that they were all nodding their heads.

She decided to wait on the unfolding of what Raigon has in mind.

"Knowing this, I want to ask all of you, are you still willing to be treated by Lady Asha? Are you still willing to entrust your life in her treatments even if you know you can die in the process? If you do so, raise your hand."

Zoe shut her eyes tightly as she was afraid of what she would see.

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One of the hardest choice in life is choosing to walk away

Or just try harder.

The question is what will benefit you and the people around you the most?