The Cursed King

When Elise stepped inside, she saw a middle-aged woman resting in her bed and coughing slightly as a man attended to her. She didn't look like Loriel which made Elise feel surprised.

All this time, she imagined Loriel got his good looks from his mother. However, seeing Queen Maude in person for the first time, Elise thought the mother and son couldn't be any different.

The queen dowager had darker skin, red hair, and brown eyes, while Loriel had ash-colored hair and blue eyes. 

Elise only realized later that her future husband's eyes were quite unique because they tend to change colors into silver when he was in a good mood, which didn't happen often.

"Your Majesty," the royal physician rose from his chair and bowed down to the young king. The queen however stopped coughing when she saw Elise and Loriel together.

The expression on the queen's face brightened up. "Ah, it's almost like I saw Catalina again when we were younger.. You share a lot of features with your mother, but I see that you have King Alexander's eyes. You must be Elise?"

"A-ah, yes I am, Your Grace, Queen Dowager." Elise curtseyed properly again.

"Now that I'm seeing you and Loriel standing together, I can't help but think that the two of you look really good together," Queen Maude said with a hoarse voice. Almost deliberately as she looked at her son.

It was a look that Elise didn't quite understand, but Loriel approached his mother and crouched down in front of her. He looked at the royal physician. "You are dismissed for the moment, Zaff. Return when the princess of Myreen has paid her respects to my mother."

Elise's expression faltered lightly when she heard how Loriel referred to her.

The princess of Myreen.

It was so distant compared to how easily Loriel agreed to have him be called by his first name. Did he only agree to it because Loriel knew how much Elise wanted to be close to him?

Elise felt confused by all the mixed signals sent by her future husband. Why was he polite and treated her well, but his attitude toward her lacked warmth?

Was he not excited about their wedding? Did he… not love her?

Elise didn't know if she was to be happy or sad about that. But Elise reminded herself that it might take some time before Loriel opened his heart up to her.

She realized the man had only met her today and didn't really know her personality and character.  To him, their meeting now must feel like a blind date forced onto him by their mothers, while to Elise, this was her dream come true.

For now, Elise stepped a bit closer and then knelt in front of the queen dowager too.

"I would like to give my greetings to the queen dowager of Summeria," Elise said respectfully and placed a hand across her chest.

Elise quickly greeted the queen in the customs of her people and when she looked up, there was a gentle smile on Queen Maude's face.

"Ah, even before you come here… you've already been studying how our people do things, haven't you?" Queen Maude asked.

Elise nodded her head. "All my life, Your Grace. This has been what I have been studying for among other things as well to lead a kingdom with your son."

Elise didn't mention how she also spent a great majority of her time learning under her grandmother about magic, she knew it was a rare thing outside of Myreen that she didn't want to appear boasting.

Queen Maude laughed a little before she coughed again and then shook her head. "I appreciate everything that you've done, Elise. But there is no need to be too formal with me. We will be a family now, so please be more comfortable with me."

"A-ah, of course, Your Grace." Elise blushed and ducked her head lightly.

"You can call me mother-in-law. I think I'd like to hear that."

"We're still not yet married, mother," Loriel said in a matter-of-fact tone. 

His brows furrowed and suddenly Elise realized Loriel was really not excited about their upcoming wedding. She bit her lip and pretended she didn't notice it.

"Well, it won't be too long until you and Elise finally get married." Queen Maude responded back. "Isn't that what you have in mind, Loriel?"

"Yes, mother," Loriel said, without expression.

Elise glanced up at her soon-to-be-husband's face. Even though Loriel didn't seem to immediately like her, the man was willing to marry her and she found it a little odd. If he didn't want her… why did he say yes to their betrothal?

Why did he send those letters to King Alexander to ask permission to have Elise sent to Castilse for the wedding and to Elise to propose her hand in marriage?

Was it solely because Loriel was respecting his mother's wishes?

Elise observed the man and his mother. She could see how much he loved the queen and was acting as a filial son.

Did he only decide to marry Elise to make his mother happy before she took her last breath?

The Queen seemed to remember a lot more happier times now that she could see Elise. Ahh...  she missed her best friend so dearly.

She could see how Elise inherited Catalina's beauty. She looked like the perfect queen for her son.

Loriel frowned slightly when his mother coughed again. "Now that the greetings have been finished, I will now summon Zaff again, mother. You are far from well right now and need immediate rest."

"Let me talk to my daughter-in-law some more, Loriel," Queen Maude said.

Loriel reached for his mother's hand and squeezed it gently. "She will come here some other time, mother. For now, get some rest."

Elise smiled sweetly and nodded. "Loriel is right,  Mother-in-law. You should rest. I will come back again soon to meet you."

Even though she actually wanted to stay longer and talked to her mother-in-law, Elise didn't want to refute Loriel in front of other people. So, she followed his wishes without any word of objection.

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