209 LET'S DIE TOGETHER

Meanwhile, Zoe supported Erin as she guided her inside the house into the kitchen. She poured out a glass of water to relieve her of her anxiety.

"Can you find a way so we can go there? I'm sure we can think of a way for him to escape." Erin managed to blurt out as her fidgeting hands won't settle.

"I was actually waiting outside for him when I saw you. I hope they didn't do any bloody punishment to him." Erin stuttered as she spoke out her paranoia.

Zoe gulped, shut her eyes tightly and shook her head as the view of the Investigation Area flashed in her mind. 

"No, no. They will not do that." She uttered in a determined voice to calm Erin's freaking hormones. And also hers.

With the rough way that Lord Vigo handled her as a lady, she didn't know what he could do to a man like Azra.

"Anyway, why did you meddle in the cupcake making anyway?" Zoe tried to deviate the topic from Azra.

"I just want to show off. You know me. I made it once for Azra and he likes it. He said that even the King with epicure tastes will love it."

Erin immediately stood up and opened a drawer. She drew out a piece of paper and laid it out on the table.

"It is an invitation to Lady Wiktoria's birthday party addressed to Lord Hou." Erin informed Zoe as her finger pointed out the word 'food contribution'.

"Lady Wiktoria Lim will be having a grand birthday celebration this coming weekend. Your presence is the greatest gift of all. But if you cannot make it and you still wish to bless her with a gift, we would appreciate a food contribution to our banquet. We look forward to celebrating it with you."

Zoe nodded as she understood the situation. Since Lord Hou cannot physically go there by himself, they choose to prepare a delicacy instead.

Erin then opened the cabinet and put out all the things inside. "These are all the ingredients that I bought in preparing them. And arsenic is not one of them."

Zoe picked up each one of the items. There were cookie crumbs, white sugar, margarine, cream cheese, lemon and vanilla extract.

"How about the other parts of the kitchen?" Zoe groped around as there might be a bottle somewhere and it got mixed up. 

Erin flipped the objects as she followed after Zoe. 

"I already turned it upside down a hundred times. I even asked the servants to check around the house just in case. And there was no sign of an arsenic!"

Zoe slumped back in the chair. She knew Erin would not make a mistake in making this recipe as she loves making pastries ever since they were in college. 

If she were here beforehand, she would even dig her hands into one. 

"Do you think there is a conspiracy ongoing here? Why would they find arsenic in the food that we gave out of all the clans that also brought their own gift at that time?" 

Erin's eyes darted everywhere as she tried to think of a reason for their misfortune.

Zoe furrowed her eyebrows at her and asked. "But why Lord Hou? He's already sick. And why would they kill the Queen?"

"That was the strange part. I thought this was a perfect place. But why would this take place all of a sudden?" Erin pressed her chin on both her palms. 

"Maybe it's because of me." Zoe heaved out a deep and heavy sigh as she walked out of the kitchen and into the garden where she could stare into the night sky. 

She remembered the prophecy and the picture beside it with dead bodies sprawled on the ground. 

'Should I just leave now before there were more dying people than this?'

Erin hit her shoulder with a slightly heavy hand as she was contemplating, making Zoe almost lose her balance. Zoe glared at her in response.

"Ouch! That old habit didn't leave you even in your conservative Hanfu dress!" She remarked at her.

"It's because you're so silly and full of drama. How could you be connected in this? There are really things that are bound to happen whether we like it or not. It's part of humanity's existence." She chuckled in disbelief.

Zoe hasn't told her about the forbidden prophecy book yet and she has no idea that she could probably be a part of it.

But as she said that, she was reminded of what Raigon told her when they were in the carriage. 

'Whether there is a prophecy or not, all people undergo trials in life. I just have to face them head on and survive.'

She thought to herself.

Zoe put her arm around her and guided Erin back inside the kitchen. 

"You're right. Why don't you bake me that cupcake that you just gave the Queen? I'm quite envious for a bit. You should have left some for me."

Erin paused for a few seconds and faced Zoe. "You still trust me?"

Zoe fixed her wispy bangs as she smiled at her. "Of course. I believe my best friend even more than the Queen herself."

"Oh!" Erin hugged Zoe and jumped for joy. 

Then Zoe added in a teasing manner. "Let's just eat that poisonous cupcake and die together before they capture us."

Erin pushed her away and crossed her arms. "Just die alone. I will wait for Azra."

Zoe laughed at her own joke. But she stared astonishingly at Erin. It was her first time to see her seriously in love with someone. 

Suddenly, Erin's face lit up. "Wait, I remember now!"

******************************************

Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself. [1] 

[1] This is a quote from Walter Anderson.