302 SHORT BUT ENOUGH

Zoe wished that his tender kisses would melt the bitter agony that seemed to suffocate her heart. But to her dismay, flashes of scenes from the Great bloodbath appeared on her subconscious mind, making her push him away.

"Then why did my family experience such misfortune in this land? Is it a sacrifice they must pay? If so, I do not want to take any part with it!"

Zoe couldn't help but blurt out in a loud voice, alarming the royal guards outside. 

"Your Highnesses!"

At a fraction of a second, they barged the door open and drew out their swords. But Raigon stood up and responded in a kingly authoritative tone.

"Everything is fine. Leave. Now." 

The royal guards immediately bowed and left the Chamber while Raigon went to the table and got water for Zoe to drink.

"Drink this. It will calm you down."

Zoe was so furious. But since he was still her husband and the Crowned Prince of this land, she still submitted and obeyed him.

After she was finished drinking, Raigon tried to talk to her in a pacifying manner. 

"I see that you have already gained knowledge about the past after you have eaten the fruit."

A muscle on Zoe's jaw stiffened as she replied. "Yes. I also saw what you did to my parents."

This time, it was Raigon who was perturbed. 

"Y-you saw what I did?" 

He reiterated to her, hoping he did not see what he was guilty of for the past eighteen years. 

It was the reason why he couldn't divulge his identity so easily to her when he first met her on Lord Howe Island. He was afraid that she would leave him instantly.

And seeing her lose her memories relieves him somehow. He put it behind him and hoped that they would have a good relationship in spite of all the difficulties they have faced. But it seemed like he couldn't run from the truth forever.

"Yes, I saw you pointed your finger at my parents to their graves."

Zoe stuttered as she expressed her thoughts as they were like poison that were slowly destroying its container.

Raigon's head hung low as he closed his eyes. His lips turned pallid white as death seemed to take his life from him.

"L-let me explain, Zoe.I didn't know that they were your parents. It was too late when I found out." 

He uttered but he couldn't even lift his head and look at her straight in the eyes.

A gasp escaped from Zoe's lips as she was having a hard time controlling her emotions.

"Those weren't the words that you're supposed to be saying. You're supposed to say 'I am not that guy.' 'That is not true.'"

Zoe blurted out with bitterness evident in her eyes.

Seeing her in that state made Raigon stand up and went to her side. 

"I'm sorry, Zoe."

He lifted his arms to embrace her but Zoe stepped back

"I'm sorry? Is that a magic word that could bring my dead parents back to life? I can't do this anymore."

Zoe bolted to the door, forgetting the fact that the royal guards were waiting for her outside to take her to prison.

"No, Zoe!"

Raigon tried to reach her. But it was too late. The royal guards were already taking her in custody.

"It's all right, your Highness. I do not regret eating the fruit and continue living in a lie."

Zoe said her final words before turning her back on him. 

As they walked out, Zoe bit her lips as she wept inside herself, feeling sorry for hurting Raigon and feeling angry at him all mixed up. 

'Shouldn't it won't turn out this way if only I had known from the start?'

She lifted her eyes at their Chamber as they exited the Castle, recalling their good memories, the time he proposed to her and how they have been free expressing their love for one another.

"It was too short." Zoe couldn't help but sigh, which was answered by King Artair as he overheard her from where he was.

"But it was enough to fight for." 

Zoe shifted her eyes to him and immediately fell to her knees. "Your Majesty, forgive me for what I have done."

King Artair picked her up and embraced her. "Forgive me too, my daughter. I will help you if I can."

Zoe returned the favor as he was like a true father to her during her stay at the Castle. But she gave him a bittersweet smile as she pulled away. 

"I understand, your Majesty. I don't want you to compromise your principles because of me. I will accept the consequences."

King Artair couldn't say anything more as he was also hurt that this had happened to her, after everything she had done for their family and Terra. But she has disobeyed the utmost forbidden rule of the Three.

It is the reason why he hasn't told about it to anyone in the family but Raigon, as he was the next ruler of the land. And he believed his son also has his reasons why he didn't tell her about it just yet.

But everything happened just as it is. She watched her walk away from their abode and was reminded of the appearance of the tree as he visited it after he learned of what happened. 

The tree appeared different for the first time in centuries. The leaves which do not ever fall from the branches were now wilting one by one. 

"I told you she was the prophesied queen."

"Sin runs in their blood."

"Will Terra be destroyed because of her?"

"She was never meant to be the Princess in the first place."

Zoe could hear them all as they passed through some servants who were curious why the royal guards were taking their Crowned Princess in custody. 

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Truth is like a painkiller. It hurts but it cures. Lie is like a painkiller. It gives instant relief but its side effect is forever.