186 A MORNING SURPRISE

"It's good to see you again, milady. The Crowned Prince has been waiting for you." Raigon's lady-in-waiting greeted Zoe as soon as she saw her. 

Zoe bowed to her and gave her a warm smile as she gazed at her pleasant aura. 'It seemed like even though the Queen has instructed her to spy on me, she has a genuine concern for the Crowned Prince. It was probably the reason why she is smiling like a Cheshire cat right now.'

She then closed her eyes and took a lungful of air before entering the Crowned Prince's Chamber. Even though she was worried that things would go haywire as Raigon could now remember, she still made a decision to go back to the Castle.

First was to have a hold on Azra and make sure that Erin is safe. And second, was to know why the people around her are warning her, and her late mother, to stay away from the royal family. 

Zoe stepped inside as soon as the door opened to the Crowned Prince's chamber. Her brows furrowed as she couldn't find the Crowned Prince anywhere.

"Your Highness?" She was about to step forward so she could search more thoroughly when a pair of big powerful hands covered her view, blocking her vision in complete darkness.

"Good morning, milady." Raigon uttered in his rich and husky voice, his warm breath touching her sensitive ears on a cold morning.

Even without removing those hands and turning her back, she already knew who it was. 

"Your Highness, what is this?" She asked in a curious tone, secretly amused by his surprising action.

"You will know, just step forward please." He commanded her in an authoritative but pleasant voice, making her obedient and walk forward.

"May I remind you again that I am not the lady that you were mentioning." Zoe breathed out as she obliged to the Crowned Prince's desire.

"I am not saying anything." Raigon replied as if telling her that he was riding on with what she wanted.

"Stop." Raigon ordered and removed his brawny hands.

As he did so, Zoe bit her lips to control herself from smiling from ear to ear. She was standing in front of a table with delicious rice cakes with cream cheese and a strawberry milkshake and a cherry on top.

She tried to look serious as she glanced at Raigon. But as she saw him grinning and anticipating her reaction, her cheeks couldn't help from lifting upward.

"Just a little thank-you gift for your efforts in treating me, 'Lady Asha'." He emphasized the word Lady Asha as if telling her that he is fine with her alias.

He then opened a seat so Zoe could sit herself and indulge on the mouthwatering appetizer hat he prepared for her.

"You don't have to do this, sire." Zoe bowed in gratitude.

'Why does he keep on pampering me with good food?' She thought to herself as she sat herself down. She wanted to refuse but the delectable sight is tickling her taste buds. 

"I know." Raigon nodded his head. "I could do more than this. But as you said, you are not my beloved Zoe." He snickered as he sat himself in front of her.

Zoe's jaw dropped at his remarks. 'Is he just mocking me now?'

She pouted her lips and grabbed a ricecake. "It seems that you are healthy and vibrant now, your Highness. I don't think that you really need me around." She uttered in a trenchant manner.

Raigon's hands formed into a steeple as he spoke to him in a steady lower-pitched voice. 

"I have been away for too long. I have to do my duties as a Crowned Prince. And I don't know if I am physically able to do that without burning myself out. Would you help me do that?"

Zoe gulped at Raigon's determined response that she put down the ricecake that she was holding on and bowed down to him. "By all means, your Highness."

'Perhaps I could also know the mystery behind my mother as I followed him around. And he was right. He might abuse his body again. I guess it's not that bad. As long as he wouldn't do stuff that will arouse my emotions again.' Zoe concluded as she nodded to herself.

As her eyes fluttered up, Raigon was extending his hand to her with a piece of a ricecake. Zoe narrowed her eyes at him. 'Why the heck does this man have to be this thoughtful?'

She was about to refuse as she doesn't want her heart to enjoy his thoughtfulness when Raigon uttered. "Now that my mind is slowly restoring all its lost memories, I suddenly remember a woman who made a promise to me before."

Zoe's eyes widened as she inhaled a lungful of air.

Raigon narrowed his eyes on her as he leaned forward with the ricecake in his hand. "She told me that she will be my slave as long as she is in my territory."

Zoe closed her eyes, her fingers ran through her hair and pulled it over her face. 'Will I just give him back his previous medications so he can remain in his amnesiac state?'

Her mouth opened wide so Raigon could stuff it with the ricecake that he was holding. 

Raigon bit his lips to prevent a laughter from coming out as he put a piece in her mouth. He wanted to pinch her cheeks at her cute response. But he controlled himself as he respected her decision to remain as Lady Asha.

As Zoe was nibbling, her mind concentrated on Raigon's state. 'What medication was he taking before that affected his memories? I still prescribed medical herbs now, but why were there no side effects like he experienced then? Is it perhaps because he was in a life and death situation when he took it that's why it has adverse effects? Maybe I should check its components.'

As if Raigon heard her thoughts, he gave an order to her.

"Take your time. After that, let's go visit the royal physicians."

"Yes, your Highness." Zoe agreed

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It's good to care for the people who matter most to you.

Because opportunities are lost in a blink of an eye.

And regret lasts a lifetime.