217 AZRA'S BLOOD

Raigon was still in a dilemma about what he would choose. He still believes that he can have both his family and Zoe at the same time and he refused to think otherwise.

As he knows that it is just Lord Vigo's tactic to deviate him from the real point of their visit, he shifted back to it immediately. 

"Where did you put Azra right now?" 

He asked after inhaling deeply through his nose and exhaling through his mouth, determined to alleviate his friend and long time servant's suffering in whatever way possible.

A snicker escaped from Lord Vigo's lips after pressing them together.

"Now you choose. He's over there." 

Lord Vigo gave in as he pointed to a mini hut a few meters away from them. If Raigon would do something against the Queen's order, he would be punished by law and will lose his family. 

And if he does not, he would grieve at a loss of a committed lifelong companion. It's a win-win situation for him. 

"Yes. And I choose the truth. The moment I've proven that you are a part of this, know that from that moment, our ties would be severed."

His words drained the color from Lord Vigo's face. But he did not let it affect him. He was sure that they would win this time around. 

"Azra!" Raigon called him out as he opened the door. 

He knows that he cannot just set him free as per the Queen's order with the King's seal on it, or he would be accused of insubordination. Even though he is the Crowned Prince, the Queen has more power over him as of the moment. 

This is the reason why he went to the Queen directly and made a petition so he could be set free. But to his horror, he learned something about Azra's blood that made the Queen's blood boil over him, which she was just controlling for years because of their manifest submission to the royal family.

"Y-your Highness." Azra's pale lips curved up in a smile as he tried to bow his head in respect to him. 

His hands were tied up and his body was sprawled on the floor. The blood already stuck to his hair and head. His Hanfu dress was already hard dried with his blood.

Raigon immediately bowed down to him. His head on the ground.

"Y-your Highness!" 

But Raigon didn't remove his forehead on the dusty floor. 

"Please forgive the Queen for the wrong she caused you, my lord."

Azra blinked his eyes rapidly to confirm if he was just dreaming or not. He has hoped that he could somehow be freed from his captivity. But when he learned that the Queen even ordered his execution, all hopes vanished away. 

He is just waiting for them to take him to the guillotine and die as he would not admit to treason and shame the Hou family. 

"You don't deserve this." Raigon sniffed as he pulled out a knife that he brought out with him in his bag.

"But your Highness! Don't do this!" He knows the rules of the law. The Crowned Prince is just below the Queen. Any form of disobedience would be punishable by law. 

Raigon didn't answer him. He stood up, roamed around and searched for a basin and a towel in the hut. As soon as he saw them, he immediately got some water and was about to wipe Azra's face with them. 

But Azra lifted his hand in bewilderment. "Your Highness. You don't have to do this." 

However, Raigon gaved him a reassuring smile and nodded at him, making Azra's resolve to stop him melt away.

He stared at his master and gave him a dazed look as he cleaned his wounds, even bringing bandages and a change of clothes with him in his bag. 

Azra didn't allow him to do all the work as he stood up and changed to the new clothes himself.

"Your kindness is overwhelming, your Highness." 

Azra bowed down to him as soon as he was finished. 

Raigon looked at him from head to foot, now proud of what he saw. 

He bowed to him again, making Azra scratch his head in response.

A knowing smile crept up Raigon's lips as he invited him to sit down so they could talk.

"I think Lord Hou should be the one to tell you in details about it once we get you home." Raigon explained to him. 

The darkness around the room that was only lit by a little lamp hid the mixed sadness and happiness in his eyes as he said that.

"What do you mean once I get home, your Highness? I heard that the Queen wanted me dead or imprisoned in the dungeons." 

A trail of hurt could be heard in his voice as he spoke out his thoughts.

"I will make sure it won't happen." Raigon's jaw clenched at just the thought of it even happening. 

"But how, your Highness? You can't defy the Queen's order just for a mere servant like me! I would rather face the guillotine!"

Raigon furrowed his eyebrows at him. "Have you made up your mind to choose the guillotine?"

Azra balled up his fist and put it on his chest. "I am not guilty of treason. And I will not let the Hou Clan's name be tarnished because of this. I would gladly lay down my life."

A bittersweet smile crept up Raigon's face. "I knew you were going to answer that. Can I ask you a favor, Azra?"

Azra knelt down even with his condition and exclaimed. "I would do anything, your Highness."

"Can you take care of Zoe for me?"

Azra's jaw dropped open at the most ridiculous request he has ever heard the Crowned Prince utter in his entire life.

"But why, your Highness? What are you planning to do?"

"Just answer me." Raigon smiled at him but commanded in his authoritative tone.

Azra immediately bowed down to him and answered. "Yes, your Highness!"

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Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you. Thanks for being one to me. :*