216 LOVE OR DUTY

Things finally quietened down as it was only the royal cousins in the area. But the clashing forces inside them could still be felt in the atmosphere around them.

"Now we're talking." 

Lord Vigo shook his hands and crossed his arms as he heard Raigon's direct question at him. 

He did not really want things to go rough and tumble if his cousin would just go according to his plan. 

"What made you this way, cousin?" A bitter resentment could be heard from his voice.

Raigon was just disappointed at his own mother who didn't trust him enough to bring the truth out. And now his own cousin was hurting the people that he cared about the most.

"I have a sad news for you, dear 'cousin' of mine." Lord Vigo emphasized the word 'cousin'. 

"There is no such place in the world where greed cannot be found. Even in Terra." 

He tried to teach his younger cousin a lesson that he had learned fifteen years ago so he would open his eyes to the truth of what the real world looks like.

Little did they know that someone was eavesdropping them, as she gasped at his remark, making her cup her mouth so that she would not be heard.

'So they don't need an intruder as the source of this madness is within themselves?'

Her thoughts were broken when Raigon spoke up.

"But you have everything that you want. You're going to be a Duke someday. You have money, fame and even the respect of the people which I don't have. What more could you ask for?"

Raigon tried to reason out with him, perhaps he would come to his senses and agree for justice. He wanted him to stop, perhaps his concern for him as a family member, still weighs somehow. But it seemed that his thoughts were different from him. 

"First, I don't have the throne. And second, I don't have the heart of the one I want. In which you both have."

He answered him with a trace of envy in his eyes making him clench his fist at his sides.

Zoe slowly peeked at them as she tried to assess the situation. 

Raigon was staring at his cousin who is being eaten up alive by covetousness and spite. Zoe slumped back as she pondered on what he said. 

'Was he just talking about Lady Thana?'

Her fingers flew to her lips as it was confirmed to her that he indeed have feelings for Raigon's fiance. 

'But why did he attempt to kill the Queen and blame Azra for it? Is it just to hurt Raigon in the process or is there another reason behind it?'

"If only you had witnessed how a King lived everyday of his life, like I do, you would not even imagine putting the Crown in your head at all. I am not increasing my power. I am levelling up my workload and my responsibilities."

Raigon continued to reason out with him before he was consumed by this wickedness.

It is the truth. As he saw his father's daily routine as a King, he wondered if he could ever live the carefree life that he was living now, choosing what he wants and what makes him happy. As he thought so, he couldn't help it but think about Zoe.

Lord Vigo's response to him disturbed him from his thought as he still wouldn't let go of his selfish yearnings.

"Then why don't you give it to me, my dear cousin? I will go and take care of it for you. And you can run off and enjoy your time with your woman all the days of your life."

Lord Vigo gave him a sweet smile, which almost persuaded him to agree with him. 

Zoe's eyes widened at Lord Vigo's suggestions. Even though she knew that it wasn't right, she secretly desired that it would be so. She had a peep again to see how Raigon would react to that one.

He seemed to think about it as he darted his eyes away. As he did so, his eyes almost caught her as she immediately ducked back down the wall that she was hiding. 

'I will leave before they are able to lay their hands on me as soon as I heard his answer.'

Because of the situation, her trust in him was beginning to waver. Perhaps this would give a clue to her if she could still hold on or let go. 

Meanwhile, Raigon contemplated the enticing offer laid down before him. 

He wants to be with Zoe so bad that his heart aches whenever the thought of being apart from her flickered through his mind. 

Now that he has finally stepped up his expression of love for her, his love for her deepened its hold in his heart, that he is willing to defy everyone who will separate her from him.

However, it is still not enough for him to leave Terra in the hands of this wicked man who seemed to want the throne not for the sake of the people's welfare but his own.

A fierce determination rose up within him as he folded his hands to his back.

"Why would I do that, when I can have both?" 

A confident grin curved up in his mouth making Lord Vigo narrow his eyes on him. But he was making another person smile a few distance away from them.

However that smile does not really go deep in her heart as it was still a vague answer for her.

The already calming atmosphere tensed up again as Lord Vigo failed to get what he wanted from him.

"Are you sure about that? What if you can't? Which will you choose?" 

Lord Vigo's chin lowered as he gave him the cold eyes, echoing the question which was in Zoe's heart.

Her heart banged wildly in her chest as she waited for his answer. But sounds of shuffling feet alarmed her making her walk away a little farther than there, making her wonder what his answer could be.

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Love is the death of duty.

Duty is the death of love.