193 BE HAPPY FOR ONCE

Zoe pulled Raigon out of the scene before Lord Vigo could see them. She called on Azra and Erin to leave with them as well, since Lord Vigo was aware that Azra was his personal servant.

Fortunately, Lord Vigo was busy with the commoners who were boosting his ego, that he wasn't aware that his envied cousin was just around, missing the chance of seeing his weak spot and ruining his reputation all the more.

"Whew! That was a close one." Erin wiped the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand. 

"It really is not easy being a Crowned Prince and all. Anyway, did his memory come back for real?" 

She continued to comment as she was now in the same carriage with Zoe going back to the Hou's residence.

"I think so. He can recall specific incidents that happened before."

Zoe's fingers flew to her lips as she recalled the components that Physician Sheng Tun has prescribed for him. Fortunately, she was able to ask about them before leaving the Infirmary.

And she was able to know that they were all ordinary herbs for wound treatment and pain relief. 

She was pondering on what could have caused his memory loss when Erin blurted out a different question all of a sudden.

"Why do you keep on being Lady Asha then?" 

Erin asked her with her hands on her waist as she noticed that Raigon was still calling her that way even though other people weren't around.

"Should I just be Zoe now and encourage him to come with me and leave this place?" 

Zoe crossed her arms in defense of her decision.

"Why not?" 

Zoe's hands immediately grabbed the edge of the window as she was stupefied at Erin's retort.

"Are you serious? Will he just agree with that and leave her beloved city for me?"

"Don't you want to ask because you're scared that you won't like his answer? Or because honestly, you don't want to leave this place anymore and just want to stay by his side whether as a queen or not?"

Zoe was aghast by her brutal but soul-searching inquiry. Something which was tearing her heart apart ever since their foot landed in Terra.

She darted her eyes away, torn by conflicting emotions.

"What I want does not matter. It is impossible anyway." Zoe heaved out a deep sigh.

Erin wouldn't let her off that easily. She grabbed her shoulders and twisted her so she could face her.

"How long are you going to think about other people's happiness than yourself? You have helped a lot of people already. Why don't you choose yourself now and be happy for once?"

Her words were like heated arrows that pierced through the layers of walls that she built for her heart.

"Aren't you getting down?" Raigon shouted outside their window in a gleeful manner, making it known to them that they were already back at Hou's residence.

Zoe was surprised that the journey seemed shorter back than she expected. She glanced at Erin again who just winked at her.

"You know what to do." She grinned and went down the carriage calling on Azra to help her carry the stuff that she bought at the market.

Meanwhile, Raigon was still waiting for her. He extended his hand as her foot stretched out of the carriage to go down. Her lips curved up as she put her hand on it, reminiscing the feeling of its warmth while they were walking hand in hand at the market.

It was short-lived and she would like to extend the time some more.

She gazed at Raigon who just got the bags that she carried. His boldly handsome face smiled warmly down at her. 

'I'm glad he didn't took those commoners' comments at heart. Maybe Erin's right. I should probably try to choose to be happy even just here at this private place.'

She returned the warm affection as it was impossible for her not to return that irresistible smile. 

"Let's go to the kitchen and prepare a meal for Lord Hou." She invited him, hoping he would agree so she could spend more time with him.

"I'd love to. Just in case you didn't know, I love cooking. The King is an epicure, always delighting himself with good food. I usually cook something for him when I want something in return ever since I was a young boy."

He opened up to her as he walked in a cheerful manner to the kitchen.

"Well, I'll be blown." Zoe chuckled. "I would love to meet him." 

Raigon dropped the bags on a table and faced her as soon as they entered the kitchen room and saw that they were the only people there at that time. 

"I know you will love him as well as I do. And…" Raigon gulped the big lump in his throat that was built up through his apprehension at what he is going to say next.

"I apologize on behalf of the negative actions of the Queen. She was not usually that way to anyone."

His fingers flew to his chin as he remembered asking her about why she was in the dungeons after meeting with Lady Thana and Zoe. And she blatantly denied being there.

"It's all right." Zoe waved her hand to dismiss Raigon's embarrassment. "Maybe she just wants what's best for you. And she thinks that I'm not the one."

She continued on preparing the ingredients, but paused as she remembered what Erin told her in the carriage.

She pivoted to Raigon and asked him directly, her defenses beginning to subside.

"How about you? Do you agree with her, feelings aside?"

Intense astonishment touched Raigon's baffled face. An amused smile crept his lips as he drew nearer to her. 

Zoe unconsciously stepped backward as she felt her composure being suddenly attacked.

"Why do you think I ask you if you want to be my queen?" He asked in a deep and sultry voice, sending electrifying chils down her spine.

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Everything will change in your life once you learn that you deserve so much better.