The Cursed King

Alexei looked at Elise's expression and recognized the genuine fear on her face.

It was the same look she had back when she accidentally hurt the drunkard in New York and it made Alexei feel weird.

He normally didn't care, Baron was right about most of them not usually caring… but seeing Elise's troubled face was different.

There was something really sweet and gentle about her that even a selfish god like Alexei would feel touched.

"You know… mortals don't live very long," Alexei said. He couldn't stop himself from saying such a thing. "So I'm surprised you're in a relationship with one."

Elise gasped and threw Alexei a shocked look. 

"What do you mean by a mortal?" Her heart skipped a beat.

"Yes. Mortal as in ordinary people," Alexei explained.

"No, I know what it means," Elise grumbled. "Are you implying… that you're NOT a mortal?"

Alexei shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course not."

GASP

"Then… who are you???" Elise asked in a choked voice. "Do you mean that your powers make you live longer than normal? Or… immortal? That's not possible, right?"

Alexei stared silently at Elise and somehow, it felt like silence was a yes this time.

Wasn't it the same for Elise? Alexei was wondering.

Meanwhile, it was like a sudden burden that weighed on Elise's shoulders. Powers were one thing, but being someone who lived a very long time was much worse than that. 

"You are too," said Alexei, this time his tone was sympathetic.

Elise felt the world around her spun and she almost lost balance. Fortunately, Alexei was quick to catch her and supported her shoulder.

Elise's mind was in a mess.

Did Alexei just confirm to her that she was in fact… an immortal too? This was scarier than she thought.

She was very worried that she had a dark past, or her powers were part of some sort of crazy background attached to the life she wanted to forget. Never in a million years had she thought she was an immortal.

Elise could hide her powers, but not her lifespan.

Alexei scratched his head at the woman's cluelessness. This was supposed to be information that Elise already knew, but somehow, not only did she not know anything about her powers… she also wasn't like him?

At least based on how Elise called him different. Could Alexei be wrong about her?

Huh. This was all very confusing.

Oh no, was this one of those immortals who didn't know they were one? This was not impossible. Alexei actually had heard a story about an immortal who didn't know he was immortal. He lived a life for decades looking exactly like he was one hundred years ago, not knowing why. He thought he was a mutant or failed genetic mutation or something.

Crazy things like that happened. 

Hmm… this got Alexei thinking. This beautiful woman didn't seem to understand her powers and the possibility of her being an immortal.

So, was it a good idea to let her know?

"You know what, forget what I said." Alexei waved her off. "Maybe I mistook you as one of us, but you're just a human with extra powers that awakened by accident. That's what you are and anyone is wrong to assume otherwise."

Elise clenched her fist and looked at the man's face. "I'm just like anyone else, Alexei… not like you. You're…"

What kind of being lived for such a long time?

"Okay, calm down and take a deep breath." Alexei reached for the woman's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He was stupid enough to just suddenly blurt it out, but what else was Elise supposed to be?

Elise placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes. 

There were some things that Elise didn't know about her life and the origin of her powers. Elise didn't know who her true parents were and where they came from… She had so many questions in her mind.

But Elise was happy right now. She had a good life. She was surrounded by friends.  And she had a loving and devoted husband. She could just forget about everything she heard today from Alexei.

Things didn't have to change at all.

Elise pulled away from Alexei's grip and gave him a pained smile. "I'm alright, Alexei. I'll forget what you said to me and let's just pretend that we never met each other, alright?"

When Elise recomposed herself from panicking and Alexei made sure that she was better, the two of them parted ways. Even though there were a lot of troubling thoughts on Elise's mind right now, she could worry about them in the future.

"I need to be with Loriel now," Elise whispered to herself.

Elise navigated back to the fashion house's main room and did her best to squeeze and move through the people currently watching the fashion show. Out of all the models, Elise thought she even saw the same man that was with Alexei yesterday.

The white-haired man seemed to be perfect and gorgeous on stage like Hilde earlier.

"I need to stop thinking about them," Elise muttered underneath her breath and then returned back to her seat beside Loriel. 

At least, Elise was about to take a seat back.

That was until the celebrity, Hilde, passed through the crowd of people sitting nearby at the front stage and then plopped down on Elise's empty seat. She immediately touched Loriel's arm and beamed at him. "It's surprising to see you here, Loriel."

Her attitude looked so relaxed and casual around Loriel, which made people around them think the two must have a really good relationship, or at least very friendly with each other.

Even though most of the viewers were preoccupied with the models on stage showing off the latest creation of their fashion designers, some were quickly looking and taking note that Hilde was talking to what appeared to be some important man based on his appearance.

Elise felt her heart stuck in her throat. Based on how this woman approached Loriel, the two knew each other for sure… and they even looked good together.