308 PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE

With the team's camaraderie, they were able to enjoy their time together even with the brewing tempest of the two opposing parties. 

Zoe was feeling overheated by Raigon's presence and she frequently asked for drinks to dampen her anxious nerves.

'Is he really serious with what he just said? He doesn't even have a place to stay here. Well, there's Clay. He would probably help him out.'

Even though she is upset, she is still concerned about him. This is foreign ground to him. And he was used to people serving him in Terra. 

Her hand wrung her other extremity as she pondered on how he would be able to manage living here. If she would insist on staying. 

Or would she just be back with him? 

"No." She quickly resolved to herself as she grabbed another drink. 

They didn't realize that it was already midnight. And one by one they are starting to leave.

"Are you sure you can handle her? She's one tough woman. Just crash at my place anytime." 

Clay warned Raigon as he and Nella were about to leave. They were the only ones left as Anika was the one who exited the earliest to pick up her son. And then Norcan and Kristie as Kristie was feeling a little exhausted.

"Of course. Thank you, Clay." Raigon's face lifted up as he bowed at him before turning back to Zoe.

Her face now looked like when he first saw her, adamant and vexed. Raigon drew in a deep breath as he sat down across her and gazed at her, ready for whatever he was about to face.

"Why did you let me leave then if you're going to come looking for me?" Zoe started on with her interrogation.

Her arms crossed over her chest as she felt her pulse run like galloping horses on her veins.

Though deep inside she wanted to ask if he was all right during his trip or did he do harm along the way. But she did not dare so.

Meanwhile, Raigon's head was bent down, but he lifted his eyes so he could prove his sincerity.

"I would rather see you out here, the place where you really came from, than see you suffocated in the dungeons."

He cupped his mouth as he tried to prevent an escape of gasp as he recalled how devastated he was after Zoe learned the truth. 

And she even suffer physically and mentally with the consequence of disobeying the forbidden rule aside from the emotional torture that she was feeling for her family. 

"I thought I could live by, knowing that you're alive and happy here. But I was wrong. Every nook and cranny of the Castle and even the whole Terra itself reminded me of you. I don't think I can make it another day without you beside me."

His chin quivered as he reached out for her hand but Zoe just stared at them, fighting herself not to be swayed by what he was saying. Although at the inner part of her heart, she wanted to not to be the cause of his suffering.

"I know you cannot forgive me easily. And I'm not asking you too. But please give me a chance to show how much I regret what I did."

His previously straight and poised shoulders curled over his chest as they slightly quake while he was saying those things.

Zoe's heart somehow softened as she saw Raigon's apologetic gesture. Her previously dim and sullen mood relaxed as if Raigon's actions just blew a fresh wind, melting her resolve to distance herself away from him. 

She cleared her throat as she nodded her head, making Raigon's cheeks lift up. His eyes shone again as he saw even a glimmer of hope in Zoe's approval.

"But don't expect much from me. We both know I have nothing to go back to in Terra. And besides, I also need to fix something here."

As Raigon seemed to see a flicker of light at an endless dark tunnel, he lifted his head and excitedly told Zoe about what was happening in Terra.

"Lord Hou and Ara are studying the books in the vault. And I think they have already found a way where you could be absolved from it." 

Raigon leaned forward with obvious excitement in his eyes, making Zoe's eyebrows raised in surprised amusement at his effort to win her back.

'A way? Is that even possible? I committed the unpardonable sin...'

She clamped her lips together as she inquired about her doubts.

"How about the Queen? I'm sure she was fuming mad that I left the dungeons. It was where she wanted my whole family to be in, right?"

Her breaths quickly turned shallow as she was reminded of the Queen's intentions from the start. 

"She would surely be in rage right now, knowing that you're out to bring me back." A snigger crept up her face, though her heart was saying otherwise.

She was still hoping that they would be on good terms somehow. But it seemed like her respect for her had reached its end. She doesn't know how she could ever talk to her nicely if they meet each other again. 

At her question, Raigon's face slightly winces in response. She must have known the Queen even with her short stay. But he knows that she is not all evil. If only she would learn to forgive.

He decided to deviate the topic instead. "I haven't met with her yet since I've been also busy encouraging the people who are wailing because of your unfortunate state."

"Wailing?" Zoe repeated as she couldn't believe her ears. Before she left, all she heard were curses to her and her family and how she deserves what happened to her. 

'Were there others who thought otherwise?'

As if Raigon heard her thoughts, he replied with an answer that made her heart beat for Terra again somehow.

"Yes. There were both commoners and noblemen and women who were kneeling in front of the Castle Gates right at this very moment, pleading for your freedom as their hero and savior of their lives."

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The softest hearts don't belong to the people who never sin.

But to those who sinned and repented with their life.