The Cursed King

Elise always wanted to call the king, Loriel, as 'husband' or 'honey', like the way most loving couples do. She had seen how one of her ladies in waiting addressed her husband with 'honey' when they were together.

She could only call her husband 'Your Grace' or 'Your Majesty'. Elise could only keep her desire to call Loriel 'husband' without ever saying the word.

The queen was so jealous and felt bad about herself. For the first six months after their marriage, Loriel never even touched her sexually and she was made known her position from very early on.

Loriel didn't love her and they were only married because he promised his mother to fulfill his betrothal to Elise, as promised by their mothers. Elise realized that she was unloved and she tried so hard to accept the situation.

She thought, if Loriel gave her a chance to show her worth, he could love her.

Well.. maybe Elise was too wishful thinking. At least, if she could be useful to him, Loriel would see that Elise was worth something.

That was why Elise was over the moon when she found out that she was pregnant. She loved her unborn child so much, for several reasons. She really wanted a child from her husband, and at the same time, she also wished that Loriel would see her worth when she gave him an heir.

Elise bear with all the pain and discomforts. Nausea and body pain didn't bother her whenever she thought about their future child.

After she found out about her pregnancy, Elise made sure she ate nutritious food. She rested properly and took care of her body well.

She talked to their child when she was alone and even sang for it. She loved their baby with all her heart. She wanted to make sure the baby know he was loved and wanted.

That was why she was devastated when she heard the conversation between Maxim and Zaff on the terrace of her residence.

Elise woke up from her sleep and didn't see Loriel. She remembered the man was sitting beside her after she took the potion from the royal physician and was told to rest. Seeing Loriel look worried and sat by her bed watching her go to sleep, made Elise's heart flutter.

And for a moment, she felt like her husband loved her. Even though that was not true... she wanted to feel that way for once.

She touched the side of the bed where Loriel was sitting just moments ago. She felt the chair was still warm. That means, Loriel just recently left. 

Elie held her breath. She wanted to see him and said thank you. He didn't have to stay beside her when she was sick, but he did anyway. So, she wanted to show him that she was grateful.

Elise put on her shoes and walked slowly to go out of her chamber. She wanted to look for Loriel. Horatio came to approach her when he saw the queen come out. His face looked worried. The queen was sick and was not supposed to walk around like this.

"Your Majesty, what do you need? I will get them for you," he said politely.

Elise leaned onto the wall and regulated her breath. She smiled at the loyal butler and replied. "I am looking for my husband. Did you see him?"

"Oh.. he is outside, on the terrace. I saw His Majesty come out to speak with the royal physician," Horatio replied. 

"I want to see him." Elise nodded at Horatio. "Thank you."

She walked slowly toward the terrace. She thought her husband must be discussing her health with the physician. This made her curious to know what Zaff was telling Loriel.

Was her health condition bad? She wanted to know if her illness would affect her pregnancy or not. So, she walked to the door to greet both men. However, before her steps halted by the doorway when she heard Zaff said she was not strong enough to carry the pregnancy to full term.

Elise's heart dropped to the floor and she couldn't breathe for several seconds. She didn't know her condition was that bad.

So.. despite all her father and grandmother's efforts to take good care of her and gave her all the vitamins and potions, she was just as weak as her mother?

This piece of information broke her heart and suddenly tears started streaming down hard to her cheeks. She loved her baby and wanted to give birth to him. She would bear all the pain and accept all consequences...

She would do anything...

As long as her baby could live.

"Is there really no other way?" Elise could hear Loriel's question after he thought about Zaff's words carefully. The man's voice was hoarse. He sounded sad. It was heartwrenching.

"Well..." Zaff became deep in thoughts. After thinking about it seriously, he finally raised his face and looked at Loriel deeply. "Actually, if Her Majesty keeps the baby, she might be able to carry the baby to full term, but she won't survive childbirth."

Elise pressed her lips. She knew Zaff was a gifted physician and he wouldn't say something that was not true. Somehow, at that moment. Elise felt like she was given a death sentence. 

She was devastated.

Elise couldn't see Loriel's expression because his back was facing her. She was wondering what was he thinking now? What did his expression look like?

She could only guess. She also didn't see tears were forming on the king's eyes and slowly they fell to his cheeks.

"Zaff, what should we do to terminate her pregnancy?" Loriel finally asked Zaff. His voice trembled when he uttered the question.

Elise's body was suddenly trembling and she fell to the floor when she heard this question. The sound made Loriel and Zaff surprised. They reflexively turned around to see the source of the noise.

"Oh, my god... Elise! When did you come out?" Loriel immediately jumped toward  Elise and picked her up from the floor. The woman looked so pitiful and her tears were streaming down hard.

"Please... Your Majesty... don't kill my baby..." she cried and begged him. "I want to keep the baby. Let me keep him."

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I don't know.. I love the story about their past, but every time I write that part, I just want to smack Loriel or cry for Elise. :(((