173 WAITING FOR YOU

"I couldn't believe we get anxious for nothing." Zoe exclaimed as they got out of the Royal Infirmary. 

"Me too! I thought we're done for." Erin replied after inhaling a lungful of air. 

"You did it, girl." She hugged Zoe. "Who would've known that you will be a hero doctor in this strange land?"

Zoe let out a bitter smile as she was reminded of the hurt that the Crowned Prince of this land has given her. Erin noticed it quickly and asked her about the next part of their itinerary.

"Would you still like to go shopping or do you want to go straight to Liu's residence?"

Zoe's face radiated again as she recalled the possibility of finding out why her parents died through Lady Dolores.

"Let's go straight to Lady Dolores!"

Now that she was on this island where they unfortunately died, she felt that she was closer to them and her identity.

'I will not miss this chance to find their grave and my sense of belongingness.'

She grabbed Erin's hand, totally determined to dig deeper into her past. 

As they walked their way out of the Royal Infirmary's territory, they noticed that the carriage that took them to this place was still there.

Zoe and Erin glanced at each other with furrowed eyebrows.

"Did the coachman just wait for us?" 

Zoe shrugged her shoulder. They walked towards him and asked him away.

"I didn't know you would wait for us. It took us a while there." Zoe beamed at the coachman. 

"B-by the way, I apologized for my rude attitude a while ago." Zoe bowed to him, embarrassed by her untoward action toward a stranger as she vented out her anger.

"Don't mention it, milady. There are situations that we couldn't control." He smiled at her understandingly as if he was cognizant of what took place a while ago. 

Zoe's eyelid became heavy at his words as she was reminded again of the awkward situation then. A chilly wind suddenly gushed from nowhere, adding up to the shame that was stirring up inside her just now.

"However, the reason why I am still here and waited for you is you seemed to have left something behind." He went down and opened the door of the carriage and went inside. He then took a small treasure chest and brought it outside for Zoe and Erin to see.

Erin's fingers flew to her lips as she uttered. "Oh, they were the gifts of the Xianghais to the Crowned Prince! What shall we do?"

Zoe bit her lips as she doesn't want to go back and see the three of them again.

'Maybe if we could buy time, they will disperse and we can meet with Raigon alone.'

"Why don't we go visit the Liu's first and then just come back to the Castle to return this to him?"

Erin put her arms on her waist. "Why don't we visit Lord Liu's first and then come home afterwards? And then if we meet again, we can give him back the treasure chest?"

Zoe smirked at Erin's antics. ���I thought you were on his side?" 

The coachman cleared his throat. "Why don't you go to your destination first and then decide afterwards? I will take you there." He gave them a knowing smile.

"That's a bright idea! Thank you, sir." Erin beamed as she grabbed the treasure chest from Zoe's hands and went inside the carriage first.

Zoe followed after her as she agreed also with the coachman.

It didn't take them long before they reached the Liu's residence. As soon as they stepped inside, Tristan saw them. He started running towards them. 

"Lady Asha! Lady Selena!" 

Zoe and Erin grinned at him as they ran towards him as well. 

Tristan flung himself at Zoe, who picked him up and swiveled him around. Then Erin tickled him, which made him laugh nonstop.

"We miss you! How have you been, little one?" Zoe asked as Tristan can finally breathe. 

"My brother…." Tristan uttered after he caught his breath.

"Are you calling me?" A male husky voice spoke behind their back, making them swivel in surprise.

It was Lord Adrian! He can finally stand up and walk around!

Zoe's face radiated as she immediately put Tristan down so she could bow, together with Erin.

"Greetings, my lord." They both greeted him. 

"Older brother, they were the doctors that I am talking about."

Lord Adrian's eyes glistened as Tristan acknowledged them. 

"Lady Asha and Lady Selena?" He confirmed to them in a pleasant voice.

"Yes, my lord." Zoe and Erin answered him back. 

In a fraction of a second, Lord Adrian knelt down with his head on the ground and exclaimed.

"I have been waiting for your return. I owe you my life! I pledge to serve you until I die!"

Zoe and Erin looked at each other in horror. At full speed, Zoe came to Lord Adrian's side and lifted him up. Lord Adrian winces in discomfort.

"Tsk. What you did will put you in jeopardy. You should not put your head lower than your heart."

His lips stretched as if he was amused as Zoe supported her.

"T-thank you, Lady Asha."

He then faced Erin and tilted his head. "Thank you, Lady Selena. If it weren't for the both of you, I could have died then."

"You also did our best as you held on and survived. Thank you also for choosing to live." Zoe gave him a sweet smile, which made his lips curved up in response.

"Yes! If you don't we will die with you… involuntarily." Zoe joked around as she remembered the chaotic scenario then. 

"There are also other people who helped us treat you during that time." Zoe commented which scrunched Lord Adrian's forehead up. 

"It was the Crown Prince and Lord Azra." Erin informed him, making his jaw drop in astonishment. 

Zoe nodded. "It's true. But he is not with us right now. He'll probably visit you some other time. Can we ask if Lady Dolores is here?" 

"Sure, let's come inside..." Lord Adrian invited them. Tristan pulled Erin towards the house leaving Lord Adrian and Zoe behind. 

As they were near each other, Lord Adrian added "Zoe" in almost a whisper which made Zoe step back in response.

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We don't meet people by accident. 

They were meant to cross our paths for a reason.