The Cursed Prince

Chapter 1015  Moving To Cretea

Rowena smiled sweetly and kissed Raphael on the lips. She said, "I want to live in Cretea with you."

Raphael looked at his wife deeply, trying to read her mind. "Are you sure?"

Rowena nodded. "We've been living in the human realm for a long time. Soon, they would be suspicious because you and I don't age. Besides... I want us to start on a new adventure. I can't wait to explore your world." Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Raphael finally smiled. He could believe Rowena that she wanted to live a new life with him. Perhaps, the opportunity to explore a new realm and get herself used to living in Cretea would be good for her. So, he hugged her tightly and nodded. "Very well. We can go there," he said, and then added, "We can also explore other realms from time to time after we settle in Cretea. I will take you to all my favorite places."

"I'd like that," said Rowena.

They kissed again and soon started a makeout session that ended in beautiful lovemaking. When they reached their peak together with Raphael came inside his wife, suddenly Rowena remembered the reason why Raphael went back to Cretea, it was to find out if there was a reason for her inability to conceive children.

She closed her eyes and hugged him tightly while they both regulated their panting breaths. He peppered her face with kisses before he turned her around and hugged her from behind to spoon her. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," Rowena replied. She bit her lip and tried to hold back from asking him what he found out, because she didn't want to ruin their afterglow. However, after several minutes of silence, she finally asked him. "Raphael, what did Esper tell you? Is there something wrong with me?"

"Hmm?" Raphael only tightened his hug on her waist. "Let's talk about it tomorrow. I miss you so much and want to savor this moment with you."

Rowena instantly moved away from Raphael and she turned around to look at him with disappointment evident in her eyes. She looked at him pleadingly. "So, something is really wrong with me."

Raphael sat up and hugged her again. His voice was soothing when he calmed her down. "No, there is nothing wrong with YOU. It's something about Cretea and an old curse. We can talk about it tomorrow if you want to hear everything."

Rowena looked up and stared at Raphael questioningly, "An old curse? What does it have to do with me?"

Raphael really didn't want to talk about it so he was silent for a good while. He didn't have the heart to tell Rowena that the reason why she couldn't have children was because she killed her father, her own abuser in the land of the gods. She would blame herself and he didn't want that.

"Is it..." Rowena swallowed hard. "Is it my fault?"

Raphael shook his head again. "No."

Rowena gripped his arms and asked him to elaborate. "Please, Raphael... tell me what is wrong. I can't sleep if my mind is filled with so many questions."

Raphael finally could no longer keep the story a secret. Rowena kept begging him to share with her what he found out in Cretea. Slowly and gently he told her everything he had heard from his mother.

"As I said, it's not your fault. It's the fact that your father still makes you suffer even after he died."

Rowena held her breath and pressed her lips in shock. Her gut told her that there was something wrong with her but she didn't want to believe it until Raphael could get Esper, The Gold of Healing, to check on her condition.

However, at this point, she didn't seem to need Esper's diagnosis anyway. If it was related to an ancient curse as Queen Lilith told Raphael, then there was no use for Rowena to see Esper. A curse made total sense and she knew Queen Lilith wouldn't lie to Raphael over such an important thing.

"I see..." Rowena's heart broke but she put up a strong front in front of her husband. "At least now we know what happened. It's better to find out the truth now than to be ignorant and keep hoping for the impossible."

"Do you still want to move to Cretea?" Raphael asked Rowena carefully. "I am fine with living here forever or anywhere your heart desires if you don't want to go back to Cretea."

"I still want to move to Cretea," Rowena replied after she thought for a while. "No matter where we live, it won't make a difference to my condition. Let's just stay there."

She actually wanted to ask him another question. After he knew that she was really barren, would he still want to stay with her?

Wouldn't he want to find a perfect wife for himself? Would he someday resent her for not being able to give him children?

Rowena didn't know that Raphael was more pained than her by the fact that she was barren because he knew how much she wanted children.

***

"Welcome home," Raphael kissed Rowena's forehead and then opened his arms wide to show the gates to their mansion in Cretea. He had left this home of his for a long time and he was glad to be back with his wife. Rowena smiled broadly and took his hand. She remembered this place.

They walked inside, holding hands. Two servants welcomed them and bowed down to greet the master of the house.

"Welcome home, Your Grace," said both of them in unison.

One snapped her fingers and suddenly her hands were holding a tray with a teapot and two cups. "I have prepared tea for you."

"Thank you, Uri," said Raphael. "Bring it to the terrace. We will have tea in there."

Rowena had seen when she came to Cretea for the first time how people here used magic in their daily life but she was still impressed. She wondered if everyone in Cretea could wield magic and to what degree. She was also curious to know if she could someday use magic since she was now one of them.