225 A MEDICAL KISS

The coachman tapped on the horse to gallop faster so they could flee from the Royal Investigation Area before the royal guards caught on them.

Azra was sitting silently as he contemplated their situation. He peeked from the small hole in the closed window of the carriage every now and then for signs of their oppressors. 

Meanwhile, Erin's gleaming eyes were glued on him as she was not expecting his sudden decision to come with her. This was her intention after all.

"I think that was a very brave move." Erin finally spoke up, distracting Azra from his thoughts and returning the compliment with an awkward smile.

As he saw Erin being harassed by one of the royal guards, his instinct took the best of him as he recklessly made a decision to take her to safety. 

But the reason why he put his own robe on the royal guard and made him look like he was sleeping was that he was planning to go back as soon as he knew that Erin was out of danger.

However, he was not planning to tell her about it or she might go back with him and his plan will fail. 

"By the way, do you know where the vault is?" 

Seeing that he was not responding and is still being apprehensive about his decision, Erin decided to distract him by opening up about what happened to Era and the key.

"Not exactly. Why, milady?" Erin was victorious in diverting his attention as he leaned forward to her.

Erin fixed herself and told her the story about them looking for Era being the one who ate the cupcakes and yet, nothing bad happened to her. However, Zoe saw her at Lord Hou's room with the key in her hand. 

"How could she know about the key?" Azra cupped his mouth in disbelief. 

"Exactly! She said someone ordered her to get it for him! I know it is only us who were in the room when Lord Hou told us the location of the key, right?" 

Azra nodded in agreement. "Does that mean there is a mole in the residence? Why would they be interested in our clan? And in the vault?"

He rubbed his chin as he thought about the answer to his questions. 

"Maybe we could open the vault so we could find out." Erin suggested with both her eyebrows raised and her lips stretched in a smile.

Azra furrowed his brows as he had not seen what was inside the vault. He doubted it if Lord Hou had seen it too. It was passed along to the key keeper to never open the vault unless the royal family is in danger of losing the throne. 

And the royal family in the past has not been in danger yet as far as he could remember. And Lord Hou hasn't told him of any incident that the royal lineage's reign became unstable either. 

'How about now? Lord Vigo seemed determined to take over the throne. Will I be the key keeper that will finally open the vault?'

"Sir, please take us to the Hengcheng Mountains!"

Azra ordered the coachman, who nodded in agreement as he slightly slowed down so he could swivel to a different route.

He was about to take her to the tunnel where she can be safe from the royal guards but he was now concerned with his family and Terra.

"Will it be alright? The royal guards might be looking for you there." Erin's fingers flew to her parted lips as she remembered the royal guard who almost slit her throat.

"Don't worry, milady. I provided a way so they could not keep up. But just in case, I am here. I will protect you." 

He gave her a reassuring smile. Something that Erin wasn't used to seeing in him as he was always the serious type.

It brought calm to her anxious spirit that he was being strong and holding up in spite of his condition. She decided to go back to her jolly mood again.

"We can do this! Fighting!" Erin waved both of her fists in the air, which made him chuckle lightly. As he did so, he winced in pain as his hand unconsciously grabbed the area of his body which still had wounds. 

"Oh, sorry!" Erin immediately drew near to him and checked on him. "Let me see where it is." 

Azra pointed to his arm and his head and as he did so, Erin lightly brushed her lips near them. 

"There. Is it feeling better now?" She grinned at him as she seriously asked her question. 

Azra gulped at Erin's move as she was expecting her to literally check on him and treat him. He felt elated as his blood suddenly warmed sending waves to all parts of his body until he was no longer feeling the pain but her presence which is just so close to him. 

A corner of his mouth sheepishly curved up as he nodded in response to her inquiry. It was his first time to know that a kiss from someone special could also be a treatment to pain. 

As Erin saw Azra's face lightened up and the lines from grimacing were gone, she again drew near to him and this time she kissed him on his cheeks. 

"And that's for saving me a while ago." She beamed at him with her face just inches before his. 

She was expecting him to be timidly shocked like he always reacted every time she shamelessly surprised him with her obvious interest in him. 

But this time, his look seemed like he was not just grateful and dumbfounded. But it appeared as if he wanted more as he gazed at her lips with longingness. 

True enough, Azra wanted to show his fondness of her as he thinks it will be the last time that he could do so with the current situation.

He slowly leaned forward, making Erin blush in crimson red. Still she closed her eyes as she awaited for one of her dreamed moments with him. 

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Love is not a noun to be defined but a word to be acted out.