195 HALF-LING

Zoe's temper was flaring. She didn't know if it was because of the situation or her uncontrollable desire to think of others first more than herself. 

It is like a tattoo that attached itself to her after her parent's death. As she put other people first, she forgot that she chose to save herself and leave her parent's behind.

"I really hope you're gaining something from what you're doing to yourself." Erin uttered as she allowed Zoe to drag her into the kitchen. 

Zoe gave her a bitter smile. "I'm used to this." 

As they entered inside the kitchen, a colossal man was sitting at the chair and seemed to be waiting for someone.

Erin tightened her lips to hide a grin. "I think the kitchen will be too messy for me. I better get out of here."

She pulled her arm from Zoe's grasp and scurried outside the hallway, leaving a flustered Zoe behind.

"I thought you were already preparing the ingredients here." Raigon replied nonchalantly, oblivious that Zoe has eavesdropped through his conversation with Lord Vigo.

Zoe drew in a deep breath and just decided to flow through this. The time was already dragging. She readied the mixture but she stayed a few distance from Raigon with his back on him. 

"As I was saying a while ago, I couldn't imagine myself living without you." He said from behind her back, making Zoe freeze at what she was doing. 

A surge of warm feeling seeped through her stoned heart, destroying her desire to stay away from him. 

'Maybe I'll just give him the benefit of the doubt and listen to him.'

She extended his hand and gave him a bowl. "Can you mash the brown rice and beans, sire? Please add some sesame oil and black sugar as well."

Raigon nodded and grabbed the bowl even though he was confused at Zoe's sudden cold actions towards him.

Zoe grabbed the mashed mixture and formed them into donuts. Then she put eggs on them and fried them in the clay pan. As one donut was already cooked and ready to be eaten, Raigon grabbed one and bit on it.

"I thought you're just a glutton. I didn't know you could cook well." Raigon looked at her with an amused wonder.

A snigger escaped from Zoe's lips as she heard his sarcastic remarks. "I am a glutton?" 

There was something warm and enchanting in his humor that her anger was abated somehow.

"I apologize, my love. Maybe it is just an exaggeration of the truth. Here is a bite of your delectable recipe."

He grabbed and put one on her mouth, stopping her from making anymore comments. Zoe furrowed her eyebrows but she munched on them, making her eyes wide in excitement.

"It is indeed delicious! I can't believe it!" She uttered after finishing one. Then she grabbed another one and another one.

"Don't forget it's for Lord Hou." Raigon laughed, making him feel ten years younger.

Zoe nodded as she can't speak with her mouth full. 

'Can't we really just stay like this?'

She thought to herself as she gazed at Raigon as he was also eating and smiling at her, thawing her built-up desire to leave.

After the donuts were all cooked, they brought them to Lord Hou and also gave some to Erin and Azra. They were all amazed and satisfied with it. Lord Hou even asked for more. 

"By the way, how did you come here in Terra?" Lord Hou asked Zoe after he was satisfied to his heart's content. 

Raigon, Azra, Erin and Zoe looked at each other wondering where to start with the story. It was Raigon who spoke up and asked Lord Hou a different question.

"Before she answers that, can we ask first how you come to know her mother? Did you leave Terra and met her outside or she was here and she just left the island?" Raigon raised his hand. 

Until then, he has no idea that Lady Dolores told Zoe that she was her mother's caretaker when she was young. 

He glanced at Zoe who was staring also at Lord Hou with her eyes wide open, anticipating an answer to Raigon's question.

Lord Hou cleared his throat. "I come to know her through the King, your Highness."

Raigon was taken aback at Lord Hou's answer. "T-through my father? What does that mean? Did my father leave Terra and both of you met her outside of this land or is it the other way around?"

Zoe clamped her lips as she glanced at Erin. 'I better allow Lord Hou to answer this. I don't want him to think that I hid an information this valuable from him.' She thought to herself which Erin seemed to understand.

Lord Hou tried to stand up and Azra supported him as he put pillows under his back. 

"She lived here, your Highness. Your father met her on this land."

"Do you mean her mother is a Terran? And Lady Asha, I mean Zoe, is a Terran too?"

His eyes lit up with hope as he glanced at Zoe, whose face was gleaming with the same desire as his. 

Zoe clenched and unclenched her hands knowing that this piece of information will somehow solve her dilemma. If she was a real Terran, she could somehow stay in Terra and maybe have a chance in being the queen.

Lord Hou didn't make it take it any longer and told them the story of Zoe's mother as he knows it.

"The King ordered me then to scan her background. I learned that she was taken care of by Terran and grew up as a Terran. But her real mother was a rebel. She fled the lands and came back pregnant with her. Her father is from outside of Terra."

Zoe dropped the cup that she was holding, breaking it into pieces. But she was oblivious of it, and also Raigon as he continued to ask.

"Y-you mean her mother is a half-ling?!"

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People tell lies just to cover up the truth.

Still, truth reveals itself in the end.