The Cursed King

It was about time for them to return. Elise was ready with her bag and thought they would immediately go to the airport. It was a morning flight and she didn't want them to be late.

However, Loriel grabbed her hand and gave her a smile. "How about we have some breakfast first before we head to the airport?"

"Can't we have it at the airport?" Elise asked.

"There's something I'd like to ask you actually, but after we eat first," Loriel told her with a pleasant look on his face.

This was something that surprised Elise, but she relented to it. Both of them stopped at a fancy breakfast place in Tokyo and were given a private spot to dine together. 

They were served so quickly that it felt like they knew beforehand that Loriel and Elise wanted to dine there.

Elise was enjoying a beautiful meal with Loriel and appreciating the sumptuous meal. It was nothing compared to Loriel's own cooking, but it was a pleasant meal for them.

Elise was sipping on some jasmine tea and had finished her omurice dish when Loriel laid out his suggestion. The man held up their passports and placed them on the table.

"I'm aware that the raffle has only taken us to Japan and we're supposed to head back to America right now… but since we're already out of the country, why don't we visit another continent while we're at it?"

"Huh?" Elise blinked. She lowered her cup and looked at Loriel with furrowed brows. "What do you mean?"

"I can't help but be excited about our possible future trips… and since it's still actually the holiday season, why not go somewhere else? Japan has been lovely, but we could get on the next flight to Europe. France, England, or Italy, wherever you'd like."

Elise could hear Loriel speak clearly and there was a natural enthusiasm in his eyes. A clear gaze that was excited about heading to another continent… see other countries and enjoy their vacation together.

How could she say no to something like that?

Elise hesitated and Loriel noticed her expression and he was quick to assuage her fears. 

"You don't have to worry about the travel costs and expenditures, I can have it covered. Right here, right now… we could choose another place to visit. It doesn't even have to be Europe if you have another destination in mind." 

Loriel was being considerate of her desires and wishes. It was almost difficult to say it aloud, but Elise knew where her heart was and she said it.

"I don't want to go anywhere else now, Loriel." She didn't want to become spoiled. Going on a holiday like this was nice, but she thought they shouldn't do it often. She just started to be independent. Unlike Loriel, she didn't have money to splurge to her heart's content.

She had to budget and do more work to get extra money. She didn't want to leech on her boyfriend for an easy life. At least not until they were married.

The look on Loriel's face made Elise feel a little guilty, even when he tried to hide it… he swallowed the look of disappointment and immediately smiled back. "I see, that's fine as well. Let's go back to the States."

"Thank you," Elise smiled at him. 

"No, thank you for letting me know what you want."

"I know you have all of these wonderful places laid out for us to visit and I appreciate how thoughtful you are, but I'm not comfortable traveling and having you cover them all. We went to Japan because I won the tickets… but this is different."

"Elise, you know that I don't mind at all."

"I know that you don't care about spending money, but I'd like it if we're able to plan a trip in the future with me helping out," Elise said. "I'd like us to be equals and that I don't have to rely on you for things like this."

"And we are. You're my girlfriend and I don't see you as any different than me."

"That's true… but people are bound to look at it differently. Before, people already assumed that I was Marc's sugar baby because I managed to land a job at the Sanderman Corp."

"And we've already handled that." Loriel reached out and grabbed her hand. "They now know that we're together."

Elise smiled a little. "I didn't really like their assumptions at all, and I'm afraid that others would think the same way between the two of us."

Loriel could understand what Elise was trying to mean with her words. The disparity in their current wealth made her feel the need to at least match him, or work hard and not be seen as simply taking advantage of him, but it really didn't have to be that way at all.

This was why Elise still wanted to work and earn her own money.

There was also the desire to experience things for herself, socialize and interact with other people and have friends. These were everything that Elise would like to have for herself after being with the Yorks for years.

Loriel couldn't take that away.

But would things be a little bit different if they were married? Elise didn't worry about those things when they were married and she could concentrate on doing whatever she liked back then. 

"I guess we're a little different in this regard, Elise." Loriel squeezed her hand. 

Elise raised a brow. "Hmm?"

"I know what you're trying to say, and yet I don't think you should care too much about what other people think about you or us. People always talk when they couldn't be bothered about their own lives. Just do what you want and be happy, that's all that matters." 

"Thank you, Loriel." Elise smiled at him. "I guess we're both going back to America then. Unless you'd like to travel more by yourself? You don't have to hold back because of me."

"Of course not," Loriel said. "I wouldn't want to go anywhere else unless it's with you."