182 KNOW YOUR PLACE

As soon as Zoe left the Chamber, her hands flew and clutched her chest. She took in a lungful of air and exhaled the same amount. 

"That was close." She bit her lips as she still tasted the sweetness of Raigon's mouth on them. Even though her refusal to get more intimate with him was controlled by her mind, her heart seemed to be beating a different response. 

Zoe shook her head. 'How can I refuse next time? Tsk. Don't be naive, Zoe Cheng. You must know your place. Just get yourself together and treat him, know the mystery behind your mother and get out of here.'

She drew in a deep breath and resolved to herself.

She was about to walk away when the servant whom the Queen sent approached her. "Is everything alright, milady?"

"Yes!" Zoe perked up, not wanting the servant to doubt anything. "I think the Crowned Prince is well now. You can inform the royal family about it."

The servant beamed in response and bowed her head. 

"Also, please encourage the Crowned Prince to continue to rest and drink a lot of fluid so he can recover completely."

The servant furrowed her brows at her and asked. "Are you leaving, milady? Are you not coming back?"

Zoe glanced back at his Chamber. She too didn't know the answer to that question as she now realizes that she couldn't control her desires when he initiates and they are alone. And she doesn't want to be a burden to him and Terra.

She just smiled at her and walked away.

"I'll accompany you, milady." She bowed to her and walked beside her. 

Zoe's lips curved up. "The royal family is blessed to have a loyal servant like you." 

She smiled at her remark. "I am the one who's blessed to have them. My family was lost during the Great Bloodbath but they adopted me here and gave me back my life."

"I'm sorry…" Zoe nodded. 

"It's all right. It was a long time ago. I'm glad that Terra has recovered. But I feel sad for the royal family. They have been receiving criticisms since it happened. And now the royal throne is in jeopardy. The Crowned Prince has a lot in his hands. And he seemed to be alone in his journey."

Zoe glanced up as they were now already downstairs and walking towards the gates. From where they are, she could see Raigon gazing at her in his terrace. He didn't even flinch even when she caught him giving her his full attention.

'If only we could live in the same world…" Zoe heaved out a sigh. She then went on walking until she reached the Gates. The servant talked to someone who immediately got a carriage to take Zoe.

"Thank you. I hope to see you again, milady." The servant beamed at her.

Zoe gave her an awkward smile as a response and went inside the carriage. "To Liu's residence, please."

The coachman nodded and prodded the horse to take her there. "Hiyaa!"

Zoe gazed outside the window and pondered about their situation. "Can we really not be together?" 

Her mouth twitched downward as their ill-fated relationship was breaking her heart.

"I should have been happy that he can finally remember me. And I think it is because he was not drinking the medications prescribed by Physician Sheng Tun anymore. But why am I feeling this way?"

She clutched her chest and inhaled a lungful of air.

Zoe tried to contemplate her heartache. "If only I could be more carefree and easygoing. I enjoyed it while it lasted. If only I am not so pessimistic with the future." 

She put her fingers on her temples and massaged it. It didn't take her long before she reached Liu's residence.

It was Lord Adrian who welcomed her. He beamed at her and smiled. "I knew you would come back."

Zoe gave him a warm smile. 'Maybe I would just distract myself so I would not think much.'

"Of course! Where's Tristan? How about Lady Selena?" She asked him as she walked towards the house.

Lord Adrian followed after her. "Tristan's in the garden. But Lady Selena? I thought she was with you."

Zoe stopped from her tracks and swiveled back to him. "No, she was not. Where is she?" 

She immediately dashed outside and was about to leave when Lord Adrian stopped her.

"Where are you going?"

I'm going back to our old cabin. Perhaps she's there." 

"I'll accompany you. I'll get the horse. It will be quicker." Lord Adrian immediately went to their stable and got a brown horse. 

Zoe guided him to the mountains and to the old cabin.

"It's been weeks now. Are you sure she hasn't dropped by?" She asked Lord Adrian along the way.

"No, milady. I apologize. Don't worry. I'm sure she'll be safe in the old cabin." He smiled at her. As he reassured her, he tried to hold her hand that was holding his waist. But Zoe immediately removed it as if she was electrified.

Lord Adrian shrugged his shoulders as if he understood what that meant.

Zoe furrowed her brows as she was confused with herself. She was not that way with Raigon. In less than an hour, they were already at the old cabin. Zoe threw the door open and called her out. "Lady Selena! Lady Selena!"

As she searched for every nook and corner of the house, she saw a note under her pillows.

"If you saw this, it means I am still with Azra. Don't worry about me. I'm good and happy." She wrote with a happy face at the end.

Zoe puckered her lips as she thought about what Zoe had been up to. "Still, I must be sure. I better look for Azra."

"I'll accompany you, milady." Lord Adrian bowed to her. 

"But I think you must rest first. You probably got tired from your work. Grandmother must have prepared a sumptuous supper tonight." He beamed at her.

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You must know your role in someone else's life

Not just for you to put yourself in the right place,

But for you to lessen your expectation. 

And also your hurt.