The Prince Who Cannot Fall In Love & The Missing Heiress

Ren's honesty touched Fae and unknowingly, tears started flowing down her cheeks.

"Actually .. I feel loved with all your sweet treatment to me. That's why I accepted your proposal. I want to spend all my life with you, as your wife. I guess I shouldn't have overheard your conversation back then. My heart keeps thinking that I am not loved, even though nothing has changed between us ... Oh, I'm so stupid ... " sobbed the girl. "I wish I didn't hear it."

"Sshh .. you're not stupid. It's human to feel that way." Ren swiftly wiped Fae's tears with his fingers. "I understand why you are upset and sad. I apologize for hiding my condition from you. But I hope you can see that I am doing my best to make you happy as my wife."

Fae nodded slowly. "I do see that, and I am grateful."

The two of them then fell silent for a few moments, as if trying to think about their non-ideal situation. Fae heard wise people said how it was better for women to marry a man who loved them than to marry a man they loved.

A man who loved a woman would do anything to make her happy. So, the woman would be spoiled and pampered. In contrast, if it was the woman who loved the man, then she would be who one to sacrifice her feelings and do everything for the man.

However, in Fae and Ren's case, she had felt how Ren was treating her well, respecting her, and even following her wish to not let Amelia come to their house. He also chose to personally take care of everything related to Fee, not let Amelia do it, because Fae asked him to.

So, even though Ren didn't 'love' Fee in the traditional sense, he didn't make Fae live miserably. He kept his word when he uttered their wedding vows: to protect her, care for her, and make her happy with all his might.

"So ... now what?" asked Ren patiently. "After you know my condition .. can you no longer love me and live with me?"

Fae shook her head. "No ... my feelings for you don't change."

"I'm glad to hear that," whispered Ren, before bringing his face closer and kissing Fae on the lips. "I will do my best to make you feel loved. I will try to give you everything you need, physically and mentally, as much as I can. Tell me when I make a mistake and you feel dissatisfied with me."

Fae nodded slowly. Her mind was still a mess.

Just now ... when Ren's lips touched hers, and they were kissing, she also felt that the man's kiss had not changed at all. His touch also still felt the same. 

"I just need time to accept and understand all this ..." said Fae finally, after their lips parted, and they stared at each other from a very close range. Fae could see the sincerity in Ren's eyes and she couldn't be mad at him for hiding his true self before today.

"We have a lifetime for that ..." Ren smiled. "I hope you will be patient with me."

Fae could only nod. Ren then grabbed Fae's back gently and pulled her body closer to him. He then kissed Fae's lips again, this time more affectionately than before.

He then lowered the kisses down to the girl's neck, her chest, and left small bites there, while his hand slipped under the girl's nightgown.

"If I could fall in love, you would be the only woman I love, Fae ..." whispered Ren.

They made love that night before finally falling asleep, hugging. Fae closed her eyes with a smile. 

She realized that everything was still the same as before. All of Ren's kisses and caresses, as well as his affectionate touches as he satisfied her in bed, didn't change at all.

Fae felt loved, even though Ren couldn't actually 'fall in love'.

***

After their conversation that night, Ren's attitude towards Fae became much sweeter than usual, so that Fae soon forgot about the bad experience that had occurred after Amelia's visit. Their relationship got better and inwardly, Fae felt happy because slowly but surely Ren seemed to be opening up to her.

Fae learned to come to terms with the fact that Ren just could not feel romantic love for her, but as long as he respected her, committed to her, and doted on her, that was enough for her.

She also read that most married couples who have been married for a long time usually would experience changes in the type of love they feel. Romantic love at the beginning of a relationship would slowly turn into love as family and friends after a couple had been married for a long time.

After all, married couples would become family and best friends for life, and the love they have for their partners would change shape.

Since Fae had no one else in this world, she considered Ren as her family and friend.

***

Ren was busy again after recovering his health. He would be out of the house every weekday, going out in the morning and coming home at night. He would try to stay home all weekend, spending time with Fae, but unfortunately, it didn't always work out.

As King Gustave grew old, he began to shift more and more official state duties to Ren. There were days where he had to go to other countries to attend conferences or state visit and that could last for days or even weeks.

Fae rarely saw her husband and she became lonely in such a big mansion. However, she always kept it to herself and tried to find ways to stay busy. She didn't want Ren to think she felt unhappy being his wife. She knew what she signed up for when she accepted his proposal to be his wife.

Fae knew that she wasn't the only one who was having a hard time. Ren was too. The prince had less and less time for himself because of how busy he was, and it often affected his mood badly.

Fae would hear from some of the staff how her husband was irritable and ruthless when he was not with her.