221 UNDER THE NIGHT SKY

A few minutes ago…

Zoe went to the streams near the Royal Investigation Area, not just to wash her bloodied instruments. But so she could think about what is just happening to them right now.

It was a little far from the area and hidden that royal guards would not expect someone to be going in there.

She was blankly staring at her reflection in the water, wondering whether she would live as Lady Asha or go back to being Zoe Cheng when another person appeared in the streams. 

Alarmed that it was an enemy, she immediately swiveled, waving a knife into him in the process. 

"Whoa!" 

Raigon jumped backward, his foot almost lost its balance as he was startled by Zoe's fast reflexes.

"I think I remember this scene before." A smile curved up his mouth as he scratched his head, recalling their first time to meet each other again in Lord Howe Island.

"It's different. I didn't pin you to the ground this time."

Zoe couldn't help but grin as she remembered that incident too, when she threw him down to the ground as she thought of him as a maniac. 

"Yeah. You sure can handle yourself whether as Lady Asha or Zoe Cheng."

Raigon chuckled as he sat with her on a rock and gave her a smoldering gaze. 

Sadness struck her heart as she gazed at the moon and heaved out a deep sigh. She stood up and was about to leave to go back to the hut and check on Erin and Azra when Raigon stopped her and enclosed her in his arms.

"Tell me what you want." 

Zoe was astounded at the sudden request of Raigon that was so out of the blue. She pulled herself away from him and tilted her head so she could take a better look at him.

He stared back at her. But he looked as if he was carrying a huge burden in his heart that he needed to unload even with the dangerous situation they were in right now or he would make decisions that he would regret later on.

Even though he did not tell her the reason why he asked that, she knew he was having a hard time like she was too. 

Zoe gave him an encouraging smile as she lifted her hand and placed it on his chest.

"I want you to be a good Crowned Prince of Terra. Do what you think is right and I will support you."

She whispered in a soft tone, intending to slice the anxiety that is growing and crawling fast, entrapping Raigon's soul. 

Zoe meant every word. She would rather give way than to be the cause of her loved one's misery.

Raigon's eyes widened at Zoe's answer as he was not expecting her to say that. His self-esteem was still broken by the people that were supposed to trust him. And now the woman who was the cause of his heart being broken in two, just lifted him up from rejection.

His face radiated as he held Zoe's hand in his chest. 

"I don't know where this road would take us. But please know that even if fate takes you away from me, I will search the entire universe and come find you again."

They were so sweet to Zoe's ears but she didn't know why it was like a honey coated knife that pricked her heart.

Still she wanted to be strong for Raigon as she lifted her finger to the full moon that was shining brightly on the two lovers who were pledging their love for one another.

"Whenever you see it, just think that I am under the same night sky as you."

She gave him a reassuring smile but her voice was wavering as if she felt like it would be the last time that they could talk like this with each other again.

Raigon embraced her again and caressed her hair, comforting the painful feeling she was experiencing right now.

"I'm sorry for making you go through this." 

Zoe nodded but tears were falling in her eyes as she controlled her shoulders from shuddering which would reveal to Raigon how she truly felt. 

Raigon was about to pull her away from him so Zoe snuggled closer and wiped her tears away with his Hanfu robe.

As she was sure that Raigon would not notice that she cried, she stepped backward and tilted her head so she could gaze at his face while she could.

She cupped his face with her hand as she stared at his compelling blue eyes, his firm features that were contrary to his dimpled cheeks who made him look like he was always on the verge of laughter.

A corner of Zoe's lip went up as she didn't know if her heart would beat for another man like it was beating right now. It was not because he was ravishingly handsome or a Crowned Prince of a prosperous land. Nor because he has saved her for a hundred times. But because he was the one who made her heart trust again in unending love.

Raigon was also thinking the same thing as the winds gently fluffed her soft black hair. But he closed his eyes as he couldn't bear to be firm in his decision with her loveliness, both in beauty and in heart, in the grasp of his hands.

He was about to tell him about his decision when they heard screams coming from the Royal Investigation Area.

Their eyes widened in bewilderment. At the speed of lightning, Raigon clasped Zoe's hands and pulled her behind his back as they went back to the royal guard's place.

But they didn't reveal themselves immediately. 

"The prisoner escaped! Find him and the girl!" A royal guard came out of the hut where Azra was imprisoned and yelled after removing the gag from his mouth. 

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Saying goodbye is the most painful way of solving a problem. But sometimes it is necessary.