184 PARTING WORDS

Meanwhile, Erin was about to go back to Liu's residence as she stated in her letter to Zoe. Azra was about to take her there. But a letter was sent to him from Hengcheng Province, asking him to go there immediately. 

Since Erin had nothing to do, she decided to accompany Azra. As they got there, a servant suddenly rushed towards them crying. "Lord Azra!"

Erin glanced at Azra as she furrowed her eyebrows. 'I thought he was from a low-ranking clan.' 

"What is it? Why are you crying?" Azra spoke out in a loud voice. 

Erin's eyes widened as it was her first time hearing Azra speak in a loud volume. 'He was probably anxious about the state of his family.'

She inclined her full attention to the servant as she stated the reason for her hysteria.

"Lord Hou suddenly collapsed!" She blurted out. 

"What? Where is he?!" Azra panicked as he ran towards the Hou Residence. 

Erin ran after him. But her eyes couldn't help from admiring the grandiosity of their residence. It is different from the aesthetics of the architectural buildings of those in the Capital. But it's nature-inspired scenic view is just as astounding.

They went straight inside the room of his grandfather. His younger sister was there and crying silently beside him. 

Azra quietly approached him and grabbed his wrist to check on his pulse. Then he observed his chest if he was still breathing.

After doing so, he nodded to her sister as if calling her to come outside so she could explain the situation.

"What happened? Have you already called a physician?" Azra asked with his face full of anxiety. 

Erin felt sympathetic towards Azra. She has never seen him that perturbed before. And also for his younger sister who seemed to be in a depressed state with what happened to their grandfather.

"Yes, older brother. And he said that it was a beriberi disorder. He hasn't been able to eat much these days and become very weak. But a while ago, on his way to the washroom, he clutched his chest and collapsed." 

She sobbed as she reported that incident. 

"How about you? Are you all right? Is the clan not affected by the circulating disease?" Azra asked as he patted her younger sister's back. 

His younger sister shook her head and smiled. "Fortunately, none of us were affected. I don't know if it was because we were used to boiling our water even before it started."

Azra drew in a sigh of relief. And as he did so, he realized Erin was also with them. 

Her younger sister also noticed it as she asked, "Is she Lady -"

Azra introduced them instead. "Aileen, this is Lady Selena. Lady Selena, this is Aileen, my younger sister."

Aileen bowed to her while Erin tilted her head and beamed at her. "I'm pleased to meet you, milady. I thought you were Lady Erin."

Erin''s eyes widened at the mention of her real name. 

"Oh! Why? Has Lord Azra mentioned her before?" She grinned at her and cast a knowing look at Azra.

"Yes. One time, I heard him talking in his sleep and -" She was about to continue on with his story when Azra gave her a death stare and uttered.

"Grandfather could have woken up anytime soon. He needs to see you in his room. Now."

Aileen clamped her lips and made a bow. "Yes, older brother." She quickly rushed to her grandfather's side. 

A chuckle escaped from Erin's mouth. But she quickly hid it as she saw Azra's worried glanced at his grandfather's door.

"Why don't we borrow Zoe from the Crowned Prince for a while so she could check on him. I'm sure she'll know what to do." She suggested to help lighten Azra's burden somehow.

Azra gave him a tepid smile and nodded. "I trust Lady Zoe's skills. Let's do that." 

He slightly opened the door again to check on his grandfather. As he did so, he noticed that he was already awake. 

Azra immediately threw it open and went inside. "Are you all right, grandfather? What are you feeling right now?"

"I-I can't feel my hands and legs…" His grandfather replied in a slur speech.

Azra quickly massaged his arms, and then his legs. "How about now?"

"C-can you come closer, my grandson?"

In a fraction of a second, Azra drew near to him and placed his ear to his mouth. "What is it, grandfather?"

"T-the key to the vault is behind our family picture frame. P-protect your younger sister and the royal family at all cost."

Azra was taken aback at his grandfather's words. He has never let anyone open the vault. Not even his father or his brothers. 

"Please don't say that, Grandfather. You still have a long life to live. We are Terrans. We live and die at a good old age." He assured him as he pressed his hand firmly.

His grandfather smiled and nodded. "I believe, grandson. Your grandfather is a strong warrior of Terra. I only wanted to remind you of the purpose of our clan's existence. And I think it is already time that I transfer our ancestor's secrets to you." 

Azra nodded and gave him a determined look. "I will continue on protecting the royal family as our ancestors did. I will stay at the Crowned Prince's side as long as I live."

"W-will it be alright with you, milady?" Lord Huo's attention drifted to Erin, who was silently observing the exchange of emotional remarks between the Lord of the Hou Clan and his heir.

Her eyes widened as her feet shuffled backward at the mention of her name. She immediately bowed to him and responded.

"I apologize for my presence, my lord. I shouldn't be here." She uttered as her head was bowed.

"I'm too old to be unaware of a budding relationship when I see one." He uttered, which made Azra and Erin blush at that moment.

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Live everyday as if it was your last

And learn everyday as if you will live forever.