297 THE GARDEN OF EGDELWON 1

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE THIRD PART OF VOLUME 4: THE CHAIRWOMAN. THE FIRST TWO PARTS ARE AT THE END OF CHAPTER THREE. I CANNOT CHANGE THE VOLUME NUMBER IN THE INKSTONE. FORGIVE ME FOR THE MIXTURE. :*

He put his arms around her as if to protect her from whatever is hurting her. Since they have been sleeping together, there have been times when Zoe would have nightmares and Raigon would comfort her to sleep.

But this is the worst nightmare ever as it was not a nightmare but a reality to Zoe.

Raigon slightly pulled away from her so he could gaze at every feature of her face as he answered her. 

"You are God's blessing to me. And to Terra. Do not let these things sway you."

Then he stood up and grabbed her hands. "Follow me."

Zoe's face turned into a frown as she has no idea what Raigon is planning to do. Still he submitted to him and allowed him to take her to the mini library which is just near their Chamber.

He then picked up the Forbidden Prophecy Book which he has kept since then. Then he tore the last page in which the prophecy about the queen is written. 

"W-what are you doing?" 

Zoe stuttered as she was horrified at Raigon's scandalous reaction. Even though there was no one around, it is still not ethically right to tore a page from one of Terra's ancient books, especially by a Crowned Prince like him. 

"It was supposed to be forbidden and not seen by anyone's eyes anyway." Raigon even smiled as he answered as a matter of factly. 

Raigon was about to tear the page to pieces. But he had a different idea. He decided to put the page back to the book and throw the whole book to the torch that was just near them, making Zoe gasped in surprise.

"Y-you don't have to do that." She replied as her eyes watched the book being burned to pieces.

"And you don't have to worry anymore." Raigon's lips curved up as he guided her back to their Chamber. 

Zoe couldn't help but breathe out a sigh as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her chest. It is not because of the prophecy being nonexistent literally. But because Raigon assured her of his love once again. 

Little did they know that someone sneaked in the library and grabbed the book just in time before the fire consumed it all up and took it away with him. 

The next morning, Zoe woke up with a blissful smile on her face even though Raigon had left earlier than usual that day. 

She continued on with her daily mundane tasks with a cheerful smile on her face. As she was about to go to the next session where she would meet with the noblewomen in the Court, she met Princess Ara who was also on her way to the Court.

"Greetings, sister-in-law." Zoe greeted her with a warm smile, not expecting anything in return as she was still aloof to her even within the months that she had already stayed there.

"Do you really think that you're welcome here?" Princess Ara shrugged at her, slicing a bit of Zoe's sunny appearance.

Nevertheless, she tried to create a conversation with her, still trying to win her over. She would be more than happy if she would have a happy family here; a thing that she has not experienced growing up.

"By the way, do you know where the Garden of Egdelwon is? I haven't seen it around." She inquired of her as if it was a very normal thing to ask. 

But Princess Ara just grimaced at her. "What is that? Is that your made-up garden here in my family''s Castle?"

Zoe gave her a dazed look at her response. Putting the harsh remark aside, Princess Ara has no idea about the garden that Lady Wiktoria just told her.

She was about to put it aside when Lady Thana appeared in front of her as the women's session ended. She was also one of the participants. 

"I heard you talking with Princess Ara about the Garden of Egdelwon? Do you want me to take you there?" She smiled sweetly at her, making Zoe brush her hair to her side as she contemplated.

"Why didn't Princess Ara know it and you do?" She can't help but grill Lady Thana as she thought it impossible for the princess not to know it and she did.

Lady Thana's eyes darted around her. As she sees that there are still people around them, she immediately pulls Zoe to a corner so she can be free to tell her about it.

"I'll be honest with you, your Highness. I wasn't supposed to know about it. It is a secret that the Three has passed on from the King to the next."

Her eyes once gave a glance over to the place, checking if anybody was spying on them before she continued.

"Since I desired to be the Queen 'back then' -"

She emphasized the word 'back then' to her as her eyes bore into hers, making sure that she was clear that it was a thing of the past. Then she continued as she saw Zoe nodding and seemed to be following her lead.

"I did a lot of research about royalty. And I happened to know it. I haven't been there though. But I know where to find it."

Zoe's eyes widened in surprise at her revelation. It seemed feasible though since she saw how determined she was back then.

Her curiosity got the best of her as she prodded on. 

"Where is it?"

A sly smile curved up Lady Thana's lips as she led her on.

"This way, your Highness."

Zoe followed after her as she recalled the instances when she had dreamt about the tree. 

After her near death situation and she was lying on a rock at the secret tunnel, she recalled seeing it in her vision. 

Or was she just transported there?

She also saw it after she was almost bitten by the wolves, the first time that her feet stepped on the land when she was a youngster.

She thought that she was just imagining things. However with this information, she would now be sure whether it is a dream or a reality.

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This was the dangerous line women usually walked. Curiosity versus consequences.