294 THE CROWNED PRINCESS

"Can't it not wait for another day, your Highness?" 

Zoe whispered to Raigon under his big powerful hands followed by a chuckle. She was trying to sound confident but she wasn't able to hide her jitters away as she wiped her sweating hands on the hems of her gown. 

She completely forgot the other gift that Raigon was talking about because of the ruckus. What surprised her is that he would still insist on giving it to him amidst what happened.

'Could it be he would propose to me now?' Zoe's eyes widened at the thought. But she quickly shook her head to focus on the reality. 

As she was finally calming herself, Raigon answered her question as his raspy voice breathed into her bewildered ear.

"No. I think I have waited long enough."

Zoe wanted to peek back at Raigon as the hairs on her arms stood on their ends. But his strong hands firmly held on her head, giving her no chance of escape if ever she wanted to. 

"W-what do you mean by that?" 

She stammered as her heart thumped like a piston in her emotion-filled chest. It seemed like Raigon was not planning to answer her so she tried to focus on her surroundings instead.

As her attentive ears shot up, she noticed that there were scurrying feet around her. 

'Why would they scamper around? What is just going on?'

Zoe is not that patient to wait for a long time. She lifted her hands to grasp on Raigons', intending to remove it so she could clearly see what was happening. 

With her impatient reaction, she was expecting Raigon to keep on covering her eyes. However, Raigon let her hands remove his as he surrendered to her restless eagerness.

"Why are you all here?" Zoe yelped as her heart leapt in her chest seeing all her loved ones in front of her eyes. She swiveled to Raigon, inquiring on him with an incredulous look.

"Am I dreaming? I didn't just die out there and I'm in heaven now, am I?" She closed her eyes and then opened them again. Then she rubbed them and blinked rapidly, making sure that what she was seeing is real.

"We didn't actually leave. We just stayed in a safe room with the help of Lord Azra." Erin grinned at her. Her full face was brimming with happiness as her hand patted Madame Lin's arm.

The Queen who was also there smirked as she crossed her arms. Whatever plan she had in mind didn't work out as the Hous were quick enough to change their location at an instant notice.

Hearing the commotion from the servants that the Lin was part of the Three, she cannot proceed on with her plan anymore. She decided she would just wait for the right opportunity to come.

"King Artair? How could you be here, your Majesty?" Zoe immediately dashed to his side to check his health. 

He was standing, supported by Princess Taia and Princess Ara on her sides. The Queen was also beside them and they were all still wearing the gowns that they had worn just a few hours ago.

As she walked towards him, King Artair stopped her in the middle of her tracks. 

"I'm fine. Physician Sheng Tun has checked up on me." He responded to her doctor instinct in a commanding but soft tone.

Hearing him speak, all the guests bowed down and uttered in unison.

"Long live the King of Terra! Long live the royal family!"

Zoe's face broadened into a wide smile as she bowed with them. 

'This is real. And this is such a joyous sight to see.'

After everything that happened just a while ago, she really thought that things wouldn't go back to a positive atmosphere in months to come. 

However, Raigon managed to turn it quickly in just a matter of minutes after the great turmoil. And it is what the people needed so they wouldn't feel traumatized after that. She can't help but sympathize as she gazed at everyone whose faces seemed to be radiating with excitement too.

''Such a prince that he is.' 

Her adoring eyes turned to Raigon who was now holding a beautiful box in his hands. Her forehead scrunched up as she had no idea what a box of that size could be.

"Before I give my gift to you, I would like you to know that I have asked permission from your relative and friends - "

Lord Hou, Madame Lin, Erin and Azra bowed their heads to him. Lady Dolores, Adrian,  Tristan and Gao Zemin was also there. 

"And my family as well."

King Artair nodded his head. Both the Princess bowed to Raigon, Princess Taia's round eyes fluttered rapidly while Princess Ara's were rolling. The Queen was not saying anything and her eyes were darted away. 

Still she was present as she didn't want to go back on her word to her son that once she met her two conditions, she would allow their relationship. And she fulfilled both: treating the King to good health and being welcomed by the Terrans.

"I hope you accept my gift for you."

Raigon stepped forward and gave the box to Zoe in front of everybody's eyes. 

"It's more than a pleasure, your Highness."

Zoe's heart was hammering violently inside her ribcage as she bowed and accepted it. As soon as her eyes laid on the object inside the box, her lips turned pallid white. Her knees wobbled and she almost dropped the box to the floor. But she managed to hold on to it firmly. 

"Your Highness…" Her eyes shifted to Raigon who was pacing back and forth in apprehension if she would accept her gift. But as soon as she looked at him, he stopped pacing and stared back at her with a hopeful look on his face.

Zoe's lips curled up as she slowly pulled his gift out of the box, careful not to break it as she put it in her head to affirm that she was accepting his gift..

It was the Crowned Princess' crown. Her hands flew to her chest as she pulled out her necklace, in the shock of everyone in the solar including the scholars and royal council members who were aware of the legend of the necklace.

"All hail the Crowned Princess!" They all kneeled down in front of her. The royal family also bowed down to her.

Raigon approached her with a wide smile on his face and grasped her hand. "All hail, MY Crowned Princess."

He was able to utter through an emotion-filled voice as he recalled how their relationship has gone through so much. 

Zoe's eyes tear up as she is reminded as well. "I trust you and you fulfilled your promise." 

Raigon pressed his hands on hers. And as the guest saw their hands together, they all shouted in unison.

"All hail, the Crowned Prince and Princess of Terra!"