The Cursed King

***

The relationship between Loriel and Elise was rejuvenated and revived by that night when they spent it with each other again. The period of them individually grieving reached its end and so Loriel and Elise decided to give themselves another chance for happiness.

"Elise… I would like to return to your chambers again, are you fine with that?" Loriel asked and held his wife's hand gently. "I want to try my best to be a better husband to you and spend my days with you."

"Yes, it's good with me." Elise nodded and blushed shyly. "I would like it as well, Loriel."

She was thrilled and overjoyed on the inside that the two of them were no longer at the period where they couldn't bear to be within each other's sight.

After their time together, it seemed like it was possible for both of them to find comfort in each other's arms.

Loriel smiled in relief and nodded. "Okay, thank you."

Similar to before, Loriel moved into the queen's residence and into her chamber. He did his best to make Elise happy. He became the sweetest husband. Many women were jealous of how much the queen was pampered by her husband.

It was not uncommon for the servants to see the king prepare breakfast for his wife or give her massages. He made sure Elise ate properly and was able to sleep well.

During their evening together after their reunion, the two of them had another conversation while in bed. Loriel was currently wearing only his undergarments and didn't want to make Elise shy if he decided to sleep naked with her.

While he did that in the past, it almost felt like Loriel was starting a relationship with his wife all over again from scratch. He didn't mind it at all and was just happy to be with her again after so long.

Elise on the other hand wore a beautiful and comfortable nightgown that ended above her thighs. She was doing her best to take care of herself more and look pleasant in Loriel's eyes.

"The potency of Zaff's sleeping potion decreases if you take it often, so we need to find an alternative to it," Loriel told his wife as he propped up his head with his arm "Do you have any ideas, Elise?".

"Um… I'm not sure what else to take," Elise clasped her hands together and tried not to stare at her husband's bare chest. Even him just lying down close to Elise was enough to make her feel a bit hot. "Zaff would have already recommended something else if there was another option."

Loriel smiled and shook his head. 

"You don't have to take anything, wifey. We just need to make sure that you are eating during proper times, have a good schedule and routine for you to do, and also get exercise and sunlight. I'd like for us to take morning walks, that is... if you wish?"

Elise bit down on her lips and gazed at Loriel. "What matters is that I get enough exercise so I can fall asleep, right?"

Uff... Loriel saw the way his wife was chewing down sexily on her lips and it turned him on. He nodded slowly. "Yes… that is the idea. Make your body feel tired so that you can fall asleep faster at night."

"Then…" Elise averted her gaze. "What about we start tonight?"

She was not dumb and understood what he was hinting at. After that night when he suggested they take a bath together that ended up with wild sex almost all night long, tonight he said Elise should do some exercise at nighttime to make her body feel tired.

That way, she would fall asleep easily without medicine. What else would that be if not sex? Elise liked that very much. She loved being intimate with him, and she really, really wanted to become pregnant again.

So, she welcomed his suggestion with an open heart.  That was the start of the king and queen of Summeria doing it every night.

At first, it almost seemed like an excuse to help Elise's insomnia to feel a lot better, but then before the two of them knew it…

Elise and Loriel were often doing it until the morning.

It was a good way to rekindle their relationship again. Secretly, Elise and Loriel both hoped that she would get pregnant. A fervent hope manifested in them that after a month of continuous lovemaking, they consulted with Zaff to discuss their chances for another child.

"Unfortunately, Your Majesty… the queen is infertile," Zaff bowed his head low to the king and queen when he was summoned to the throne hall. "I sincerely apologize but all the tests dictate that she cannot bear a child any longer."

The flame that lit up in their chests died down all of a sudden. It was the bad news that broke their hearts for the second time.

However, this time, unlike before, both Loriel and Elise were able to accept it as it is.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty…" Elise said."It seems like I cannot give you an heir."

Her voice was laced with bitterness, but she forced a smile. Then, she lowered her head, so her tears wouldn't be too visible when they dripped down from her eyes.

Loriel clicked his tongue but shook his head. "It's not your fault. That's just how things are and we can't do anything about it."

Elise chewed down on her lip. She wanted to ask if Loriel would start looking for a concubine or some other woman to produce him an heir, but the man made no mention of it.

She was so scared actually.

However, Elise gathered up the courage and asked Loriel. "Your Majesty, if you say that we cannot do anything about it… what about Summeria? Who will become the next king?"

Loriel realized that it was Elise's way to secretly try to figure out her place in the palace. So, he gently took her hand in his. Neither of them was fully able to express their thoughts and intentions aloud.

"I think I'll probably try to find a responsible heir among my nephews. I actually have a sister that I don't hate, maybe one of her sons can become the next king."

"Oh…" Elise nodded slowly.

Loriel raised her chin up and looked into his wife's beautiful eyes. "I won't be moving away or leaving though. I will stay and live with you in your chamber so do not try to make me leave, okay?"

Elise smiled a little. "I won't ask the servants to carry your clothes back to your chambers, Your Majesty."

"Good."

Was this how Loriel told Elise that he would never leave her for another woman and he would not divorce her? It was an indirect answer like Elise's own question, but it was something that made her feel happy and more reassured.

Loriel was going to keep his word and stay with Elise through thick and thin.

Despite their own disappointments, the two of them did their best to move on from this incident and look forward to what the future held for them.