223 DELAYING THE INEVITABLE

Raigon chose to be left behind in the midst of the battle and faced their general head-on so he can buy time for his loved ones to escape. 

He stared at Lord Vigo as he pondered on his offer that seemed both tempting and ridiculous to him. 

"Do you think delaying what is inevitable can achieve anything?" Lord Vigo raised his eyebrow in response to him.

Raigon drew in a deep breath and answered him. "I will convince Azra to come back. The Hou Clan will be safe."

If he can persuade Azra, the situation would not go out of hand. However, Lord Vigo retorted in a different way than he expected.

"And also the two ladies? This all would not have happened if you didn't bring them here in the first place. I knew they were trouble. How could you even let yourself close with those possible intruders being the Crowned Prince of Terra?"

Raigon's teeth gritted at his comment at his venomous words but he chose to calm down as he was the one making an offer. But it seemed like Lord Vigo wasn't finished yet with him. 

"Are you even thinking how the City of Terra is right now or you're just blindly having fun with your so-called friends?" Lord Vigo heaved out a deep sigh before giving his last words.

"I would have been guilty doing this to you. But seeing you like this just feeds my determination. I'll give you one day. Bring him back by nightfall tomorrow."

He immediately stood up to call back his royal guards leaving a stunned Raigon behind.

A day could be enough for his intended actions. But It was like cold water had been splashed over his face with Lord Vigo's words. His fist balled up as he defended himself from himself. 

It is not true that he has no concern for Terra anymore ever since he met Zoe. He was trying to figure out who were the real intruders in Terra who could have caused the outbreak. And the possible assassins of his mother, who could have been Lord Vigo. 

But now that his friends were in danger, his mind was hell-bent on just saving them from it.

'Am I really just being reckless now? Is there really no other solution to this?'

He recalled the Queen's offer for him to let Zoe go and the situation will go back to its peaceful state.

'Or should I just go to the Royal Court now? Will they believe our claim or just accuse us of bearing false witness?'

He held his temple as he recalled the times that he was in the Council Meeting where he has never won against them. 

'Should I just talk to the King now? Will his health be not affected with this?'

If he would agree, Azra does not need to come back to this hell. His name would be cleared. Everyone on Terra knows that he is a just King who showed no partiality even to the members of his family.

Raigon stood up and went straight to the Castle. His heart was pounding as he approached the King's Chamber.

'If only Zoe was here with me. Whatever happens to him, she can surely cure.'

He bit his lips in regret as he walked along the hallway. He must have put the condition of his father first and asked Zoe to treat him when they met each other, rather than fight for their relationship.

'Can the Queen be true? Am I really betraying my family because of other people? And now I'm here ready to risk my father's life to save others'?'

He froze and was about to step backward when the servants who were on the door of the King's Chamber recognized him. 

"The Crowned Prince is here, Your Majesty!" They all bowed down to greet him. 

Raigon scratched his head as he bowed back and went inside. The King was at the table, focused on reading some papers. But when Raigon came in, he immediately stood up and greeted him. 

"How's everything going on with you and Lady Asha?" His face radiated as he seemed excited to know more about the details.

But as he saw his son's gloomy appearance, he instantly recognized that it wasn't going well.

Raigon sat in the opposite chair as the King's and gazed at him, assessing if he could really open up the issue about her and Azra to him and he wouldn't be stressed out and lose it.

"I can not be a King of Terra in my condition right now. But don't let this disease take away even my right as a father to you. What is bothering you my son?"

He smiled and reassured him. 

Raigon drew in a deep breath and told him the current situation right now. King Artair stood up in surprise and despair. But as he saw Raigon's worried appearance. He immediately sat down and calmed himself.

"I didn't realize that the same situation would also happen to you. It is the reason why Lord Hou was not in service anymore."

Raigon's face turned pallid white as he saw that history is just repeating itself wherein he is the main character now.

What kind of ending would he choose?

"Since I am the King now, I can make arrangements for this. But I don't know if they would stop at this. God or even the people. Falling in love with an outsider is not the way of this land."

He stood up and patted his shoulders.

"You must make a choice before things get worse. Don't worry son, I will support you in whatever your decision will be."

He gave him a reassuring smile which pacified Raigon's troubled heart somehow. 

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"There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

But sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.

That is the sort of bravery I must have now."

― Veronica Roth, Allegiant