157 MARRIAGE TALKS

Raigon was smiling as he climbed down the horse. He was tired but he was fulfilled with the turn of events.

He lifted up his arm to see the ornamental bracelet that Zoe gave him. It was made up of a bronze piece of metal held together by a gold piece, shaped like a crown.

"Did she just buy me this even before that event?" A chuckle escaped from his lips as he walked towards the Castle.

He was not aware that there were three people that were casting glances on them.

As his eyes glanced their way, he tried to assess who they were.

One was the Queen, the other was Lord Vigo and another was a young lady.

"What are they talking about in this hour?" Ragion uttered under his breath as he approached them.

"Whenever Vigo shows up, trouble always comes with him." He gritted his teeth.

"Greetings, your Highness."

Lord Vigo and the lady bowed down to him as soon as he came near. 

"Greetings, your Majesty, Lord Vigo and..."

"Lady Thana, I think you have a leaf on your hair. Oh, sorry. Can you continue that, my son?"

Queen Rose tried to help him remember as she saw the apprehension in his face. She must have been one of the people that were erased from his memories.

"Greeting, Lady Thana."

"I'm glad to see you in a pleasant condition, your Highness."

Lady Thana bowed gracefully to him. 

'Lady Thana. Is she the person the Queen is talking about? Why is she here?'

He made a good look on her. Her face is small and with her slim figure, she looked like a doll. Her hair was swept up in a decorative fashion and she is soft spoken and demure in every way.

But his heart didn't make an extra beat as he gazed at her.

To answer his question, Queen Rose butted in and spoke.

"They were about to leave. But it's good that you could see each other before they head off."

Lord Vigo and Lady Thana bowed down to her and bade their goodbye.

"Thank you, your Highness. We hope to see you again soon."

"We will. Be at ease, Lady Thana. We will meet again. I promise."

"Your kindness is immeasurable, your Majesty."

After they left, he noticed that the Queen's face turned glum. 

"What is the purpose of their visit, your Highness?"

"Where have you been?"

Queen Rose asked him as if she didn't hear what he just asked.

Raigon cleared his throat and answered her proudly.

"I came from the Xianghai Province. I have good news, Queen Mother. The people who got sick with the unknown disease are getting better. There was this lady physician…"

"Lady physician?"

Queen Rose intercepted him. 

"Yes, Queen Mother."

Raigon offered his hand so he could assist her back to her Chamber. Queen Rose held on to him as she walked and as she did so, she felt the bracelet that Raigon was wearing.

Raigon continued to rant on the happenings of the day. "She was very knowledgeable and skillful. With her intervention, the whole place was under control in just a few hours."

He was expecting his mother to beam in delight. But her countenance looked more downcasted than ever.

"I've never seen you talk about a woman like this before."

Raigon's lips curved up and scratched his head. "She was very... different. Maybe that's why I got interested in her. Not interested, I mean, just intrigued."

He explained to her. 

Queen Rose nodded her head. "Intrigued. I see. I hope that curiosity will not get in the way of your marriage, your Highness."

"M-my marriage?!" Raigon blurted out in surprise.

"Yes." Queen Rose uttered as-a-matter-of-factly. 

"Your father and I have talked about this. And I already picked a suitable woman for you. It is the reason why Lady Thana is here."

Raigon froze in his tracks. 

"B-but this cannot be." 

"What? You cannot be married? Or you cannot be married to Lady Thana?"

"It's not that, Your Majesty. We still have a war against a disease that we have not known for centuries. How could we talk about marriage now? Shouldn't I be focused on solving it and helping our people? We couldn't just hold a ceremony like that in this condition."

Raigon explained away as he held his temples. His head started to ache at what the Queen is suggesting right now.

Queen Rose noticed it and backed down. She rubbed his son's arm as she talked to him with her sweet voice.

"I am not saying that we'll hold the marriage now. We can have it after this ruckus. You know that your father is not in a good condition. He must have wanted to see the young Crown Prince before he met with God, don't you think?"

Raigon held the Queen's hand on his arm and smiled at her.

"I understand your concern, your Majesty. I will keep it in mind."

"Thank you, my dear son. I know you would acknowledge your mother's contention. Forgive me if I probably said it in the wrong timing. I just want you to be aware that you have a fiance now. You can't be prancing around with some lady anymore and embarrass the royal family."

"Does it really have to be her, your Majesty?"

"Lady Wiktoria and I have already talked about it since you were children. It will be ridiculous to suddenly change that now. And besides, what else could you look for that Lady Thana doesn't have? She's beautiful, intelligent and she came from an affluent family. Where could you find a lady that could surpass her?"

Raigon went mum but he has someone already in mind. But since her background is still a mystery to him, he cannot just open up about her easily.

"I would like to ask for a favor, your Majesty."

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If you marry the wrong person for the wrong reason,

Then no matter how hard you work, it's not going to work. 

Because then you have to completely change yourself.

-Anne Bancroft