The Cursed King

***

After being taken care of Elise while he was sick, Loriel realized how nice it was to actually have someone take care of him. This was something foreign and he couldn't say he didn't like it.

All his life, Loriel was taking care of himself and he thought he wouldn't need a woman's care like this. However, now that he had tasted the forbidden fruit... he couldn't stop.

Elise's sweetness and charms were like a drug that killed all headaches, worries, and discomfort. He loved loved loved lying down next to her, or on her lap and felt her soft touches on his skin, her feminine scent on his nose, and her sweet melodious voice in his ears.

Loriel was in a state of bliss to have Elise let him rest on her lap. The man was currently in the chambers of the queen and she was taking care of his migraine by massaging his head with her fingers. 

It was kind of addictive.

Even just staying at Elise's side was enough to make him feel a lot better as if her presence was soothing away the pain. 

Loriel was able to finally look past what he saw as a demure attitude that Elise had and perceive it in a different light.

Instead of seeing Elise being a weak woman, he slowly noticed the fact that she was considerate and gentle. 

Loriel may have preferred stronger women that matched him, but Elise's gentle nature was also something that was great.

Maybe it was because Loriel finally gave up his days of adventuring across different continents? Now the idea of being stuck with a beautiful, sweet, and kind wife was something so appealing to the young king.

However, it did make him feel guilty since it felt like he was taking advantage of her kindness, but Elise was difficult to resist. 

Everything about Elise, even the things that Loriel found annoying, only made thoughts about this beautiful woman unable to leave his head.

A man like Loriel didn't succumb to illness or disease, but he was still weak to his primal needs. He was only holding himself back from doing something stupid like kissing her and trying to sleep with Elise.

Loriel refused to do it anymore with a woman he didn't love. So, the best that he could do right now was accept all the care and love that Elise was freely giving him. 

Surely, it was his right as her husband? Elise didn't seem opposed to it either. So, what exactly was wrong with being in the queen's chambers even though he didn't love her?

Loriel immediately sat up and rubbed his forehead. What was he thinking? Being around this woman was making him too tempted.

"You shouldn't stand up so quickly," Elise said with a look of concern. Her brows furrowed together as she looked at the man. "Are you feeling better already, Your Majesty?"

"I need to leave," Loriel muttered to himself and got out of the bed. 

"Your Majesty?"

Loriel shook his head and started to head out of the room. He stopped by at the door and refused to look her in the face. "Thank you for taking care of me Elise, but I'm fine now. You don't have to worry about me any longer."

"What?" Elise couldn't believe what he was saying right now.

"I think I should stop coming to you whenever I'm sick. I have a royal physician who can take care of me… this is not your responsibility," Loriel said.

"I… I won't ask for anything from you," Elise said suddenly.

"What?" Loriel asked.

"You must want to run away from here because you think that I'll have hope that you'll love me, right?" Elise placed a hand on her chest and looked at the king standing in front of the door.

"I do not want to give you any delusions indeed," Loriel said. "It is not right for me to be here."

"I-I… I really don't mind taking care of you, Loriel." Elise looked up to him seriously. "Even though I am only a wife by name, what will the other people think if they do not see the two of us together? What would they think of me if they knew you were sick and I didn't stand by your side and take care of you?"

Loriel halted his steps and frowned slightly. "I don't care about what other people will think…"

"But even if you don't care, it is important for you, as the king to be accepted by the people," Elise pointed out. "There are consequences to all of our actions since we are the monarchs of Summeria."

"What are you trying to say, Elise?" Loriel asked.

The young king didn't expect that Elise would start bringing up affairs of the kingdom. All he expected from her from the past few months was for her to live her entire life in Summeria as peacefully as she could.

He wanted to give her enough respect and politeness that she wouldn't want a thing. It was not Elise's fault that she was born as a woman or that her mother, Catalina Leoralei made a protection spell that cursed Emmelyn.

"Even though people may have overlooked the fact that we didn't spend the same night together because Queen Maude passed away that night, wouldn't they think it's suspicious if we do not spend time together at all?" Elise asked. 

"So you're telling me to spend time with you in your chambers and to not feel guilty about it?" Loriel asked.

Elise quietly nodded. "Yes, it is for the sake of the kingdom. Right now, we are still young and the people do not worry… but they will start looking for heirs in the future. Would they not make complaints if they realized that we are distant from each other?"

Loriel was amazed that Elise thought about this. 

She was a lot smarter than she looked, it was so easy to be deceived by her beauty.

However, Loriel was also well-versed in dealing with others. He was more experienced as a ruler than Elise.

"You do know that other people will simply try to offer me concubines if they realize that I'm not sleeping with you, right?" Loriel said. "It is a way for them to gather power. So they will not see this as a loss but an opportunity."

Elise flinched at his words. 

She must have not thought about this at all.

"You already know that I am a powerful man who can deal with the rebellion of my brothers-in-law easily," Loriel said to her. "So those who want to take the throne must use underhanded methods such as giving their daughters to become mine."

Elise's gaze lowered to the floor and it made Loriel feel guilty. He didn't have to rub it in her face that her reasoning wasn't enough for him to stay here in the chambers with her.

Other than that, Loriel was just saying things even though he was fully aware that he could not actually take another woman.

"You do not have to worry about me accepting any concubines," Loriel said. "For as long as I live, it will only be you as my queen. I have no interest in taking any other women to whom I am not interested."

"Truly?" Elise looked up at him.

"Yes." Loriel nodded. "Whether you believe me or not, is up to you, though."

Even if Elise doubted his words, this was the truth.

There was a look on Elise's face as she bit down on her lip, and instead of taking it as a chance to leave, it actually made Loriel think of how sexy she was at that moment.

Elise wore simple but elegant clothes that showed off her feminine figure and Loriel couldn't take his eyes off of her. He was extremely conflicted with his actions that even if Elise insisted that taking care of him was fine, he knew he had to stop. 

Loriel was worried that he would be tempted to sleep with her if he saw her too often. 

This woman had a ridiculous womanly charm that was enough to make him aroused just by talking even now.

"I hope that you still consider my words then, Loriel." Elise insisted as she stared at him. "If you're not going to take other women, then it simply means that we have to look like a real couple."

Fuck.

He didn't want to have sex with her because she would think she would get his heart. No, it was not right. He didn't love her, but he didn't want to hurt her feelings by giving her false hope.

Even if Elise tried to say that it was his duty to stay with her in the chambers to keep his position as king of Summeria secured, it was too risky for him nonetheless.

"I am thinking about it," Loriel sighed as he rubbed his face. 

It was too easy to say yes and then get back with Elise in her bed and resume the relaxation of being in the same bed with her.

A part of him even wanted to take her by the hand and then seduce her to sleep with him. Loriel could sleep with her without love, but Elise would no doubt think he fell for her if they had sex.

It was not fair for Elise if he did it. She was not a comfort woman who was only there to satisfy his sexual needs.

If Loriel wanted to sleep with a woman, he would do it out of love.

He was not in love with Elise, that's why he had to hold back and avoid her and her ridiculous charm. 

However, Loriel eventually said yes.