296 AM I A CURSE TO YOU?

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SECOND PART OF VOLUME 4: THE CHAIRWOMAN. HOWEVER, I CANNOT CHANGE THE VOLUME NUMBER IN THE INKSTONE. FORGIVE ME FOR THE MIXTURE. :*

"So I heard. But it is scary at the same time. Imagine what would happen if you eat of its fruit. Your eyes will be open to the things of the past and of the future."

Zoe's eyes widened at what Lady Wiktoria was just saying. 'Is it a magical tree then?'

She then made up an excuse so she could leave at once. If Raigon would not tell her, she would find out herself. 

However, as soon as she got back in the Chamber, Raigon was already waiting for him.

"I - I… I just went out for a walk." Zoe stammered as she tried to explain her absence. 

"I didn't know you'll be back early."

She quickly turned her back. Her fingers fumbled through her disguise clothes and quickly removed them so Raigon's eyes would not be torched by her leaving without permission.

As she did so, she didn't realize that Raigon was at her back. She only noticed it when her elbows felt his palms on them.

Zoe jerked up in surprise as she was expecting him to get angry. But he slowly grazed them through her arms as she reached her hands, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

"It's all right. The servant told me that you left with Lady Thana. And I heard that there was a celebration for the harvest there today."

Zoe breathed out a sigh of relief as she relaxed her tensed body and leaned on his chest. 

"I thought you would get mad at me." Zoe's silky lips pursed as she smiled.

"I knew how jaded you have been here. Did you enjoy it?" 

Raigon's sinewy biceps knotted around her all the more, making Zoe feel his beating heart that was concerned for her happiness not just with him around, but also even without.

However, as he asked about her time there, she instantly recalled the conversation she had with Lady Wiktoria. 

Without withdrawing from his arms as she was afraid that she won't like what she will see, she asked Raigon the question that has pummeled her heart since then.

���Are you hiding something from me? Is there something I should know that you're not telling me?" 

She felt Raigon's corded muscles tense up and it seemed like his breathing had stopped. But then, he was able to respond to her question.

"Why would you ask that? Did something happen?" Raigon pulled away and turned Zoe over. His face suddenly changed into an anxious one.

Zoe drew in a deep breath as her eyes bored into his. It seemed that he had no initiative to tell her. It's not that she minded as it could probably be nothing concerning her.

But she was sad for the fact that he was hiding something from her as if he doesn't trust her. 

She quickly shook her head so he wouldn't feel bad about it. 

"No, everything's fine. You want to have some dinner? I requested the servants to prepare your favorite food." 

She grabbed his hand and decided to push off her thoughts instead as she thought that it would not affect their relationship in any way.

As they eat, Zoe tries to deviate her mind on a different trail.

"So how was your day?" She gave him an amiable smile before putting a morsel of meat on his mouth, which he accepted gladly as he opened his mouth.

She always imagined herself then doing it to her would-be husband. Now that she's living it, she was finally doing it, she felt elated with just a simple act of love every time.

It seemed like Raigon was also feeling the same way as he caressed her hair in appreciation of her sweet gesture. 

"Nothing the Crowned Prince can't handle." He smiled at her. However, she noticed that his face slightly turned sullen, which he quickly covered up as he munched on his food.

"This is good." 

After they had eaten, they both went to bed to sleep. But then again, Zoe stood up as she couldn't fall asleep.

She gazed at Raigon's face which is still strikingly stunning even in his slumber. She ran her fingers through his cheeks as she pondered.

'Why do you keep hiding things from me?"

She silently stood up and went outside the veranda to get ventilation from the fresh midnight air. As she did so, she perceived a male and a female servant who seemed to be secretly seeing each other in the dark.

"How lovely." Zoe thought, her cheeks heightened. 

However, they immediately sagged down as she caught on what they were talking about. 

"Things are not going well outside the Castle. You are safer here."

"Are they still against the Crowned Princess? She could not be the prophesied queen just because of what happened three months ago."

Zoe's knees went weak at what she was hearing. She covered her mouth to prevent a gasp from escaping from it.

'Is this what Raigon is hiding from me? The people are now labeling me as the prophesied queen?'

She closed her eyes as she recalled the prophecy.

"Woe to Terra! 

The pure-blooded half-ling has seated on the throne. 

With her right hand she gave it life. 

And with her left, it's death. 

Tremble at the feet of the mighty Queen!"

Zoe's eyes widened in horror as her fingers flew to her trembling lips. 

"I am a pure-blooded descendant of the Three. And I am also half-ling. Am I… Am I…."

She couldn't even finish her sentence. She quickly dashed back inside their Chamber and went to Raigon's side.

'I cannot be a cause of somebody's death again…'

Her body was trembling uncontrollably that Raigon was awakened. He immediately pulled Zoe away as he checked on her.

"Are you alright? Did you have nightmares again?"

She lifted her eyes and asked Raigon, who was still rubbing her back to comfort her while his lips were on her forehead.

"Did I really make the right choice? Or am I just really a curse to you and Terra?"

***************************************

The greatest prison a person can live in

Is the fear of what other people think.