205 I WILL HAVE WHAT HE WANTS

"I think you are crossing the line here, Lord Vigo." Lady Dolores declared through gritted teeth. 

She stood up in a fraction of a second, her fury almost choking her at the sudden intrusion in her territory. 

Lord Vigo bowed to her in apology. "Forgive me for my rude entrance, madame. But we are here to catch the daredevil trespasser who caused all this ruckus. Guards, take her!" 

A sudden coldness hit Zoe's core as her hand immediately held on the arm rest for support. The guards were about to grab her when Lady Dolores screamed at the top of her voice.

"Stop!" 

All the Liu's family members who were around went to the area where they are, including the house servants. 

"Where is your evidence? Is there any proof that it was her?" Lady Dolores wouldn't back down.

She has lost Asha once. She will not lose her daughter this time. 

A smirk crept on Lord Vigo's cunning look. "The name Asha Gao is not written on the census of the Gao Clan."

Lady Dolores crossed her arm and narrowed her eyes at him. 

"Did you even include our citizens who lived in the mountains in 'your' census? Because as far as I know, these young ladies lived in the mountain with their Uncle. I doubt it if even the name of their Uncle is on your so-called census."

Lord Vigo went rigid for a few seconds. But he easily got back on track as he retorted. "Well aside from that, there was also a witness who have seen her put something in the river, which caused the epidemic outbreak."

Zoe's head lifted up as she heard those accusations. She admits that she is an intruder. But she could not destroy a land with an epidemic!

Lady Dolores' hands flew up in the air as she exclaimed. "But didn't she just saved us with her medical intervention? Who is that witness? She is just framing Lady Asha!"

"Or she could have done it to win everyone with her medical skills which be the stepping stone for her ulterior motive." Lord Vigo rebutted.

"That is not true." Zoe muttered through gritted teeth.

"That is the reason why we want to investigate her. There was no other suspect for this genocide but her. And all those who impede the due process will be punishable by law." 

Lord Vigo announced in a determined resolution to capture her.

"What does that mean, Mother? Will they take Grandmother too?" Tristan lifted her head and asked his mother as he held on to her leg.

Tristan started bawling his eyes out. His mother pulled him towards her and caressed his head.

"Lady Asha, please come with them silently. Our family does not need to get in this mess."

Zoe bit her lip at Tristan's mother's response. But she understands. She is just protecting her family. 

"You don't need to get flustered, madame. I will just surrender. " She bowed to the Liu family.

"But Lady Asha!" Lord Adrian approached her and tried to stop her, blocking Lord Vigo's view of her. He quickly slid something in her hand which she hid inside her Hanfu.

Zoe furrowed her eyebrows as she didn't know what that is. But she nodded and reassured him. "It's okay. I am not guilty anyway. The truth will come out soon."

Lord Vigo left them with a triumphant smile, put a rope around her arms and took Zoe with him.

As they were in the carriage taking Zoe to custody of the royal guards for investigation, Lord Vigo's face drew close to hers and tilted her chin.

Zoe's jaw clenched as she stared back at him with reproachful eyes. 

"You brazen wench, you should have chosen the winning side. Don't you know that my ravishingly handsome cousin is just all looks? Terra has already lost its confidence in him."

He sniggered, thinking that Zoe will change her mind. But Zoe was all the more fired up. 

She lifted her chin from his dirty hands and hissed back. "I'm certain he will get back on track since he is the legitimate heir to the throne."

Lord Vigo bared his teeth as he almost crushed Zoe's face in his rough hands. But as she see her flinch in pain, he let loose of his hold on her. Still he did not distance away from her.

"If he can have what I want, I will have what he wants." His mouth curved up in a wicked smile as his eyes raked boldly over her from head to foot.

Zoe averted her gaze as she backed away in a shudder.

"I'm sorry to announce the bad news. But you will not get it, my lord." She responded sharply, making Lord Vigo attracted to her all the more.

"We will see, milady. If you will not beg me to carry you in my arms once things go haywire." 

Lord Vigo sniggered as he opened the door of the carriage since they were already on the investigation area.

Zoe could feel a sour taste in her mouth and gulped as they passed by the area in which they investigated the possible intruders of Terra. 

There were chairs with ropes on each arm rest and legs. On each side was a table with different torturing materials that they use to make them confess how they entered and who allowed them to come in.

She thought of running away. But she remembered her parents fifteen years ago. 'Were they also brought here and experience the same punishment as they went looking for me?'

As she pondered, Lord Vigo stopped walking and swiveled to face her with an evil grin. "This will be your 'room' before the investigation starts."

Zoe inhaled a lungful of air as she saw a smelly cell with rusty bars, with hays as bed and cockroaches roaming around.

"One piece of advice. Just admit that you tried to destroy Terra and it will be over sooner than you expected." 

Lord Vigo winked at her as he gently shoved her inside and closed the jail door, leaving Zoe in shocked bewilderment.

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No amount of intimidation or accusation nor petition can change truth into a lie.

When it's bound to hold its ground to be nothing but truthful.