The Cursed King

Loriel realized it must feel so awkward and embarrassing for Elise to say those words to him and asked for his help.

So, he acted as relaxed as possible and showed her that he didn't feel awkward at all. Also, it was very important that he didn't look like a pervert when he helped her get dressed.

Stop looking at her breasts, he told himself.

Loriel was a normal man after all, who had not been intimate with a woman in a long.... long time. So, even though he tried to do his best to act like nothing happened, his breath started panting.

Her skin was so smooth and tender. Her natural scent smelled sweet and made Loriel want to kiss the top of her hair to inhale it more. Gosh.. he wanted to kiss her all over and made love to her.

Loriel pinched himself for thinking about sex while Elise was feeling devastated like this. He looked away and tried to think about other things.

He helped dry her body with the towel. Then, he went to the cupboard and took a nightgown from it. Loriel often saw Elise wear this gown, so he thought she would like to wear it for sleeping.

When Loriel saw the other clothes in the cupboard, he felt his throat dry. Why didn't she have so many outfits?

He couldn't let it. Emmelyn had too few clothes for his liking. His wife must have more dresses, gowns, and other apparel.

"Let me help you put this on," he said gently. 

Elise nodded. She raised her hands and let Loriel help her get dressed. The man was so attentive and it made her heart flutter.

She kept thinking about what her father told her. Daniel York said Loriel must be in love with her.

Now, she could really see the truth in it. Someone who was just being kind and thought of her as a friend wouldn't go the extra mile to do things for her, like what Loriel was doing now.

"Thank you," she whispered with a flushed face when Loriel had finished helping her. She tried to think that Loriel's help was similar to what the nurses at the hospital did for their patients.

At the moment, Elise was sick and she needed other people's help. That was it. That's how she could stop feeling embarrassed when the man's big hands touched her skin as he dried her body and then put on the nightgown on her.

"Don't mention it," Loriel said with a smile. Fortunately, Elise didn't wet her hair when she was taking the bath, so it was not damp. Loriel didn't mind helping her dry her hair with a hairdryer, but it was not necessary. "Do you want to sleep now?"

"Yeah... I want to rest," Elise said.

She had not eaten anything and Loriel was worried about her health, but he didn't insist that she had to eat dinner. He thought she wouldn't have the appetite anyway. He just wanted her to rest and recover her strength. 

Tomorrow, she could eat something when she felt better.

Loriel patted the pillow at the end of the bed and motioned her to lie down. "You can sleep now. I will let you rest."

Elise did what he asked her to do. After she lay down in bed, Loriel pulled the duvet to her chest and covered her. 

"Are you comfortable?" Loriel asked her. Elise nodded. A robot entered the room with a tray. It had a glass of water on it. Loriel took the glass and put it on the bedside table. "This is for you, in case you are thirsty."

Then, he cast a glance around the room and checked if there was anything else he could do before he really let her rest. Nothing. He just needed to turn off the light and let her sleep.

"Loriel..."

Loriel turned to see Elise when the woman called his name. "Yes, Elise. Is there anything else you need?"

Elise looked straight into Loriel's eyes, her expression was filled with gratitude. Her diamond-like eyes looked so gentle and loving. Gosh... Loriel missed being gazed at like this by his wife. What was going on in that beautiful head, he was wondering?

"Why are you doing so much for me?" Elise asked him with a low voice. "I am not your family. We were just strangers before."

Loriel was frozen in his place when he heard her blunt question. Did she suspect anything? Why the sudden question?

'You are my family, Elise...' Loriel could only say those words in his heart. He didn't dare to open the can of worm now. 

"Why are you doing this...?" Elise asked again. She wanted to confirm what her father said. Was it true that Loriel was in love with her?. She took a deep breath and continued with her next question. "Do you love me?"

BA-DUMP

"Elise," Finally, Loriel sat by the bed and held her hand. He looked at the woman with a serious expression. "If... I someday I got sick and I need your help, the way you need my help now... would you help me? Would you help me eat and get dressed if I cannot do it on my own?"

Elise nodded. "Of course."

"Then... why would you do it? I am also not your family..." The man asked again. "Would you only help me if I am your family?"

Elise shook her head.

"No, right?" Loriel patted her hand gently. "Because you are a kind woman, you will help me even though I am just a stranger to you. That's exactly why I am doing this for you now."

Elise bit her lip. She understood why Loriel said those words. He was being diplomatic. The man didn't want to admit to her that he was doing this out of love.

So, was Loriel lying? Was he doing this because he loved Elise but he didn't want to admit his feelings? Or he was simply just being kind and Elise was the one who thought too much about something that was not there.

Maybe her father was wrong when he thought Loriel was in love with Elise.

"You are right," said Elise. She smiled and pressed Loriel's hand gently. "Thank you for being kind to me, and helping me out, even though I am not your family. I hope someday I can return your kindness in many folds."

Loriel nodded. "Don't mention it. I just want you to recover and be happy again."

He got up and got ready to turn off the lights. "Good night, Elise. You just need to call Horatio from here if you need me. He will wake me up. He can hear you from anywhere in this house."

"Good night Loriel."

Loriel turned off the lights, then he walked out of Elise's room. After he closed the door behind him, the man stood dejectedly, leaning on the wall.

When Elise asked him if he loved her, Loriel intentionally avoided the subject. He was not ready to tell her that he loved her so deeply. That confession from him would open the can of worm and he would have to sit her down and explain everything.

Elise was currently very weak. He didn't know if she would be able to receive more bad news in one day. She would be devastated to find out the fate of her late biological father, her beloved grandmother... and her unborn babies.

"I am sorry, honey. I love you so much. But I cannot confess my love to you today," Loriel muttered to himself. "I will find the right time."

*** 

Elise slowly drifted to sleep after Loriel left her. In her sleep, she had a dream. Loriel cooked a delicious dinner and they ate together. The handsome man was so attentive and caring. He treated her so sweetly. Elise saw herself falling in love with him.

When Loriel gave her a glass of dessert wine, Elise asked him if he loved her.

Loriel shook his head and said no.

Tears slowly dripped drown from both corners of Elise's eyes. She was crying in her sleep.

.

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From the author:

I will publish the next chapter in a few hours. After that, please be patient and wait for two days as I am preparing the next tier for Privilege (I need two days to add 8 chapters in the new tier and 2 more chapters for regular readers). They will be ready on August 2.

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