277 YOUR FAMILY OR YOUR BELOVED'S?

"Is he gone?" Raigon asked Azra as soon as he came back. 

He just followed the man who went out of the old cabin until he was out of his sight. Raigon stayed behind to check if there was another one who might come out of the cabin as well.

"Yes, your Highness." Azra bowed to him as he ducked back to where Raigon was hiding.

Raigon nodded and proceeded forward to his plan. He stood up and crawled his way to the old cabin's window so he could peek inside.

If he was right, Zoe's grandmother might be in there. Or something might be in there that could lead them to her. 

Azra followed behind him, darting his eyes everywhere in case there were other enemies nearby.

"She's here!" Raigon's eyes widened in bewilderment as he saw a figure of an old lady who was sitting in a chair, her back behind him. 

He may not have known about Zoe's grandmother. But he sees no reason for anyone to keep an elderly woman in an old cabin unless she caused serious trouble.

There was also someone inside who seemed to be guarding her. Raigon put his ears on the wall in an attempt to hear what was going on.

Azra who was following his actions did the same.

"Do you think the Queen would just let you go? Your safety is better with us. After we're done with our plan, we would just sneak out of here for good."

He taunted the old lady, which seemed like she wouldn't accept easily as she retorted back immediately. 

"But why would you involve the King? He has not done anything wrong!" Raigon heard her voice quivered even with the distance that they were in. 

"We need our master to have the King's authority. That's the only way Terra would be open to the outside world."

Raigon's eyes widened in horror at their ultimate goal. It's not just within Terra's jurisdiction that they want but even beyond their scope. 

"I don't care about your plan. I just want to see my granddaughter."

Raigon and Azra glanced at each other as if they had already confirmed that it was indeed Madame Lin, Zoe's grandmother.

"You will see her. But first, you must join us. Help us accomplish our mission." The man who was with her continued to persuade her. 

Raigon didn't hear any more comment from Madame Lin as if she was contemplating her answer to him. 

His eyebrows scrunched up as he controlled himself from barging in yet. He doesn't want to raise suspicions so they could plan their next step. He and Azra waited for a few more minutes. And to their good fortune, the man decided to leave the cabin, leaving Madame Lin inside. 

As soon as he left, Raigon bolted inside with Azra and bowed down to Madame Lin. Azra left to guard the door while Raigon talked with her.

"Greetings, Madame Lin." 

Madame Lin lifted her face to look up at her unexpected visitor. To Raigon's surprise, she seemed familiar to him.

"Have we met before?"

He asked her as he recalled that her features looked like the woman he saw inside the secret tunnel that protected him and Zoe from her assailant. 

As he recollected his thoughts, he remembered he brought her to Gao Zemin so he could treat her.

He was not able to ask about her since then with the unexpected twists of events. 

But it seemed like the woman also didn't recognize him.

"Who are you? Why do you know me and how did you know I am here?"

Her crinkled eyes narrowed at him as she expressed her dubiety with him. 

Raigon's forehead scrunched up as he doubted for a second if she was indeed who they were looking for. Or she might not recognize him because she passed out even before their eyes met.

"I am Raigon Wang. It's a long story. But I am here to rescue you."

Raigon decided to be honest with her, hoping he would win her with his sincerity. However, he did not expect her response.

She bolted to the back door at the speed of light. Fortunately, Azra was faster than her and immediately blocked the door. 

Now she was trapped between Raigon and Azra. Seeing that she has nowhere to escape, she knelt down with her head and palms to the ground at full tilt.

"Forgive me, your Highness. I do not want to cause any trouble. Please don't take me back to the dungeons!"

Raigon drew in a deep breath as he understood that she might feel uneasy thinking that he was on the side of the Queen. 

Raigon knelt down and picked her up. At first she hesitated, but then she allowed him to guide her back to a chair. 

He then explained to her. "I am not here to harm you. Please come with us. The men will be here later. We need to get out of here."

"Thank you for your concern, your Highness. But I choose to stay. I have to see my granddaughter."

She bowed down to him and apologized. Then she stood up and slowly returned to her previous seat.

However, Raigon ran after her and went in front of her.

"I know where your granddaughter is."

Raigon was expecting her to be jaw-dropped and come with them at breakneck speed.

In spite of that, Madame Lin still refused. 

"I know she is with the royal family in the Castle, your Highness. What I am uncertain is which side you will pick. I am a lawbreaker in Terra. Being the Crowned Prince and the Queen's son, you will surely not let me go that easily."

Raigon heaved out a sigh as he understood where she was coming from. She must have seen too much betrayal to trust anyone. But what she stated is also a fact. Even though she is the grandmother of the most special woman in his life, he still has to do what is right.

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Life is what happens to us while we are making plans.