204 GREED FOR LOVE

The Queen wanted to stop them as she urged the King, even kneeling at his feet, to convey her intense objection. 

Raigon was about to go to her so he could pick her up, but King Artair stopped him and waved his hand away as if telling them that they could leave.

Both Zoe and Raigon bowed down in response. But Queen Rose left a terrible curse upon them. 

"You will both suffer because of this. Terra is doomed! We should all get out of this island before it is completely destroyed!" 

Queen Rose flailed her hands in the air, making King Artair grab her hands.

"Stop blurting out your blasphemous thoughts against our land!" King Artair roared at her. 

Queen Rose clamped her mouth in response as she honored him as her husband and the ruling monarch. 

Raigon grasped Zoe's hand and bowed to them. "I will give my everything for it to not happen, our King. And I will also find the one who poisoned you, if there is one, Queen Mother."

Then he takes Zoe out of the King's Place.

Even though the Queen has a clashing opinion, the servants around them who have overhead and peeked at the commotion recognized the authority of the King. 

As Raigon and Zoe passed them by while they left the King's place, they bowed to them and gave them honor. " Hail the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess of Terra!"

Zoe's muscles went rigid as she heard those words. Raigon pressed his warm hand on her cold skin and affirmed his words to her.

"They are just recognizing you within the four walls of the Castle, Zoe."

Raigon lifted his hand as a sign that he was about to give an instruction. All the servants who were around gathered around him and made a formal bow.

"Do not let this get out of the Castle until the royal family have made the official announcement. Anyone who would be caught doing so, will be put in the dungeons for five years. Understood?"

"Yes, your Highness." They all bend their waist in obedience to their Crowned Prince. 

Zoe's lips curled up in gratitude at his concern for her. As soon as they were out of the servants' earshot and out of the Castle, she apologized to Raigon. 

"I'm sorry. But I don't think I'm ready yet."

Raigon nodded and gave her a reassuring smile before his eyes trailed off far beyond what their eyes can see. 

"I understand. I also want to figure out the cause of all this disorder first. If this is manmade or just plain coincidence."

His jaw contracted as his goals flashed through his mind.

Zoe's palm flew to his back as she gently caressed it. "I will help you." 

She was unaware of the captivating picture she displayed when she smiled, strengthening Raigon's resolve to fulfill his duties as the Crowned Prince of the land. 

"I will go to Lady Wiktoria's house now." He declared making Zoe lift up her hands and pushed herself away.

"Except for that one. I don't think it will be appropriate for me to go there. Besides, I also want to go to Lady Dolores and tell her something."

Raigon agreed with her and ordered for a carriage that would take her there. As soon as Zoe stepped inside, Raigon immediately dashed towards her and planted a kiss on her cheeks. 

Zoe's eyes widened in shock and playfully swatted his arm before glancing around in case someone saw that. 

"You sneaky man. You're getting bolder, huh?" 

"I won't take long. I will pick you up. Don't leave without me, okay?" 

He grinned at her before stepping backward, letting the coachman know that she was ready for take off.

"Bye, my sticky bodyguard." Zoe winked at him, making Raigon brush his hair in bewilderment this time.

Zoe chuckled as the carriage took her away, recalling the first time that they met again where he told her that he would be her sticky paper so that flies will not swarm around her.

"He never changed." Zoe drew in a deep breath as her huge grin shone inside the carriage brighter than the radiance of the sun around it.

She felt a bottomless peace and satisfaction amids the pending storms that are threatening her life.

"I didn't know that having someone sturdy to lean on aside from myself could be this satisfying." 

It didn't take them long before they reached Liu's Residence. 

She bowed to everyone and apologized for not coming any sooner. But she didn't tell them all the things that took place while she was gone. 

As Lady Dolores and her finally had time to talk alone, she told her the reason why her mother left the island. 

Respecting her efforts to raise her mother, she didn't want her to bear the guilt why she left the island and encountered her death. She knew that feeling more than anyone.

Zoe thought that she was going to express grief and regret. But she didn't. She even held her hand and smiled at her.

"I'm glad your mother made that decision. If she didn't, you wouldn't have been born. And she wouldn't have lived a contented life with your family."

Zoe's lips twitched downward at her reaction. "Do you think so, milady? Do you think she would have been miserable if she stayed and fought for her relationship with the King?"

She asked her about her mother, but she was more so talking about herself.

Lady Dolores heaved out a deep sigh. "You're still young and optimistic, milady. But some characters never changed. It is not just greed for power and wealth that corrupts a man. But also the greed for love."

As they were talking, an unexpected guest turned up at their doorsteps.

"I knew I would find you here." A sly grin curved up Lord Vigo's mouth.

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Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.