181 FORBIDDEN LOVE

"I-I think you're mistaking me for another woman, your High -" 

Before she could even utter another word, Raigon cupped her face and caressed her cheeks with his fingers. "How are you?"

Zoe's eyes widened in disbelief as she was not used to him hearing her name spoken by him in a while.

She fought the tears from gushing out from her eyes and resolved to herself to not allow her emotions to take the best of her.

"I have to go now, your Highness." She turned her back and was about to leave when Raigon grabbed her arm and embraced her again.

"You have been with me all along." 

Zoe couldn't control her tears anymore as they came flooding through her cheeks making Raigon's chest wet with them. 

Raigon pulled away and tilted her face. He stared at every part of her face and uttered. "Why haven't I noticed that? No matter what you look like, my heart beats only for you."

Zoe gazed at him as she heard those words. They made her heart flutter so much that she didn't flinch as he kissed every part of her face, from her forehead to her cheeks and nose. And lastly to her lips.

Her mind is screaming "no" but her heart must have missed the real him terribly to allow him to kiss her and melt her disappointments and hurt away.

"I miss you, Zoe." Raigon uttered in between his kisses, which made Zoe's knees tremble in response. 

Raigon's hands flew to her back to catch her. But his lips were never leaving hers. He unconsciously stepped forward, making Zoe's feet step back until she reached the edge of the bed.

He slowly lay Zoe down without removing his lips on hers. Zoe wanted to stop but her arms seemed to be saying otherwise as they coiled around his shoulders and accepted Raigon's attempt to be intimate with her.

As they were in that position, Raigon's slow and sweet kisses gradually turned into passionate and heated ones.

He kissed every part of her skin, making Zoe moan, especially when she felt his hungry lips inside her skirt, tracing her legs until it reach what it is after. 

Her head started spinning as she felt his tongue inside her, sending her to a different dimension. 

Because of it, she wasn't aware that he was already half naked and his hard member slightly brushed her wetness as he went on top of her, making Zoe freeze as if a bucket full of ice water was poured out on her. 

She suddenly pushed Raigon away and uttered.

"I am not who you think I am, your Highness." She managed to deny after gulping. 

She suddenly sat up and fixed herself.

"Then why are you crying, milady?" His lips curved up as he put his arm beside her, trapping her in between, and wiped traces of her tears away from her face. 

His face went near to hers until he could hear his thumping heart and smell his manly scent again.

She has never been emotionally and physically attracted to a man like this, enough to allow him to get this close to her.

'If only nobody will be affected. If only we could escape who we really are.'

Zoe thought. But she didn't voice it out loud. Instead she continued on her resolve to stay hidden under her alias.

"I-I was just being swayed by your affection. She is lucky to have your heart. But I am not the woman you are referring to." 

Raigon's eyebrows furrowed at her outright denial. He removes his hands and gazes at her. 

"Why are you doing this?" Raigon asked her in a hoarse voice. 

Zoe stood up and made a formal bow to him.

"I apologize for the confusion, your Highness. But I am Lady Asha, your personal physician and a citizen of Terra. And you are our Crowned Prince, engaged to Lady Thana. I believe we should not cross our boundaries and cause more turmoil than what is existing right now."

Raigon now fixed himself and stood up as well. He drew closer to Zoe but she stepped back.

"Is that it? Is that what is troubling you? I am not engaged to Lady Thana yet." 

He tried to explain himself as he tried to touch Zoe's arm again. But she pulled herself away all the more until there was a meter distance between the two of them.

"Yet, your Highness. And you will. It seems like the royal family has already decided that it will be what is best for you and Terra."

Raigon didn't respond to that as his shoulders drooped as if he was admitting that it is true.

Zoe swallowed hard as his actions just proved that she was doing the right thing. 

"It seems like you are well now, your Highness. My service is no longer needed. I will be going back to my home now."

Zoe bowed and turned her back. She was about to leave when Raigon stopped her with his deep authoritative voice.

"You are not going anywhere until I say so."

Zoe's eyes widened as she just realized that he was not just Raigon but the ruler of this land and she was a part of his people.

She swiveled and bowed to him again. "Forgive me for my rash actions, your Highness."

Raigon brushed his hair in anxiety.

"It seems that you will not tell me no matter what I do. I don't understand why you have to act this way, Zoe. But if this is what you want, then so be it. I will allow you to leave only because I know that you have been separated from Erin and I want you to take a rest properly. But you will come back and serve me again."

Zoe nodded her head. "Yes, your Highness."

"I want to see you first thing in the morning. And if I don't, I will come look for you wherever you are. And I know you will not want me to exhaust myself after you tire yourself for weeks in caring for me." 

Zoe glanced up with furrowed eyebrows but it seemed like the Crowned Prince was serious as he said that. 

She bowed again and responded. "I will come back, your Highness."

"You may leave now." Raigon nodded his head and turned his back. Then he went to the terrace that was adjacent to His chamber.

"I'm sorry, Raigon…" She uttered a sad note and left the Chamber.

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Stopping yourself from craving what you can't have is a wise decision.