288 THE SURPRISE GIF

Zoe allowed Raigon to walk a few distance ahead of her before she finally seated herself. This time her countenance is more composed and at ease. 

She slightly took a quick look at Raigon, her eyes taking in his powerful presence as the Crowned Prince of Terra as if he wasn't the man he had just danced with secretly a while ago. 

"Now that we are all here, we would like to honor our God in bestowing His grace upon Terra and restoring back our King's health. Let's all arise!"

Everyone stood up and kowtowed in the presence of King Artair, including Zoe. She felt proud as she knelt her feet . With the difficult open heart surgery that he has gone through without a real operating room, it is really God's grace that he has survived. 

As she lifted her head, she noticed that the other guests were wiping their tears in gratitude. That includes the Queen and the King's daughters.

Zoe's heart grew softer as she witnessed how the King was dearly loved by the people.

"Now we can all line up and bring our gifts and offerings to the King."

With this announcement, Zoe turned into alert mode. 

"Where is Duke Andras?"

Her eyes darted around as he recalled him saying that he has a surprise gift for the King.

As his violent hands already touched her and his vicious words almost took the King's life, he wondered what kind of gift he would bring to him.

But he could not see Duke Andras anywhere. Like an instinct, her eyes flew to Raigon's seat. And as if she already knew it, he also wasn't there.

Like a flash of lightning, she stood up and immediately went to Erin. To her surprise, both of them weren't there. 

"I thought something bad happened to you both." Zoe uttered as she finally found Erin and her grandmother in a room.

"The Crowned Prince just fetched Lord Azra just a while ago. Lord Hou went with them. I thought they would go to get their gift for the King. Why?"

'If Raigon would fight him all by himself, his life would surely be in danger. But Azra and Lord Hou were with him. Perhaps he would be all right.'

Zoe thought to herself and decided to shoo away her negative feeling about it as she didn't want to worry Erin.

'I hope he was the person behind the rebel group that Raigon had already put in the dungeons.'

"Nothing. I'm glad that you're fine here, Grandmother." Zoe smiled from ear to ear even though it didn't reach her eyes. She was still scared for her safety.

"You better get back there. They might call on you soon." Erin shoved her gently so she could go back.

"You're right. It would even be a bigger mess if they find out about Grandmother being here. Stay put everyone."

Zoe said before scurrying back to her seat. She wasn't expecting to see Raigon back at once.

She drew near to him and asked silently. "Have you seen Duke Andras, your Highness?"

Raigon instinctively jerked his head back in response to her question as if he was surprised that she mentioned about his name. But then his apprehensive appearance turned to a confident one as he answered her.

"We have banned him from entering the Castle. And we put extra guards just in case he will insist. Don't worry about him."

He flashed his sparkling white teeth at her, hoping it could persuade her. She was almost convinced when Azra showed up and whispered something to his ear, which made him stand up immediately.

"Please stay here. I will be back."

Then Raigon and Azra dashed again outside the Great Hall. This time though, Zoe followed them. She knows he cannot do anything. But she must make sure that Raigon will be safe.

Her grandmother was alive and she was overjoyed. But she would live in seventh heaven if the royal family would also be safe.

To her horror, Duke Andras was at the Gates with other royal guards and their swords. Zoe's hands flew to her chest in shock as she fell down on her knees. 

"Lady Asha!" A servant noticed her and blurted out, alarming Raigon who was already on his way out.

But as he heard her name being called out, he immediately swiveled around and ran towards her.

"I told you to stay back!" Raigon growled as he pulled her up. 

However, Zoe's eyes were on the group of soldiers who seemed to be hell-bent on destroying the merriment inside the Castle.

"Please go back and distract them. I will take care of this." Raigon's both commanding and pleading voice brought Zoe back to reality.

She gazed at Raigon who was both requesting and ordering her, which made her unconsciously nod her head and straighten herself.

"I will do my best, your Highness. Please come back to me alive." Zoe pressed her hands on his arms and at the speed of light, bolted back inside the Castle.

She has seen news about coups before and even in the dramas that she has watched. If those in authority will not surrender, the military will fight their way through.

From the looks of Raigon, he's not the type who would accept defeat. And she doesn't like Duke Andras to rule either. 

She has no idea what Raigon would do at that moment. But she has no choice than to trust him.

"And of course, this wouldn't have happened if not for the talent and skills of one of our excellent physicians here in Terra, Lady Asha!"

Zoe was just right in time as the King was about to finish his speech. She then stood up and bowed to everyone. 

To her surprise, every guest also stood up and bowed back to her. Now the floor is on her. She gulped as she thought of what will be her next step knowing the chaos that was about to happen outside of the Castle.

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The thing that's worse than rebellion is the person that causes the rebellion.