The Cursed King

Zaff the royal physician finally arrived and he checked on Elise's condition. The man confirmed Loriel's biggest fear that his wife's body was too weak to carry a baby, just like her mother.

Elise never met her mother because the late queen of Myreen passed away during childbirth. Elise was raised by her grandmother from her father's side.

Loriel had met the old woman. Myrcella Leoralei was still beautiful even though she was already in her seventies.

She looked gentle in appearance, but Loriel could feel how fierce that woman was. Her gaze was so deep that it felt like it could penetrate his soul, and to be honest, he was scared of her. 

Loriel was happy Elise didn't take after her grandmother. She was sweet and gentle on the outside as she was on the inside.

He looked at his wife who was sleeping on her bed after Zaff gave her sleeping potion so she could rest and relieve her pain. Elise's face was pale and she looked so fragile. 

Loriel was thinking about his own mother. She only passed away last year after she was ill for a while. She had a good life as the second wife of the previous king of Summeria. She bore sons for her husband, even though the younger ones died of illness, and she was loved by the king.

Maxim was raised by his mother personally and he enjoyed her motherly love until the day his mother took her last breath. He didn't lack affection from his parents. He was, by all means, happy.

As for his wicked and jealous sisters, there was nothing he could do about them. He hated them just as much as they hated him. 

Now, seeing his wife who was sleeping peacefully beside him, Loriel thought about how lonely her life must have been. She couldn't experience her mother's love, she also didn't have any siblings. She was all alone.

'My poor wife,'  he thought to himself. Loriel let out a long sigh and rose from the bed. He must meet Zaff and talk about Elise's condition.

When Loriel left Elise's chamber, he saw  Zaff was waiting for him outside. The royal physician was still quite young but he was a gifted man who had a lot of experience in the medical field and herbomancy. He was what many people called a genius.

Loriel was very happy that Renwyck, one of his trusted aides, offered Zaff to work for the Ashborn family. The man had been helping him a lot when his mother was sick and he got injured in some battles too.

"So, tell me how is she actually doing?" Loriel motioned Zaff to follow him and sit on the terrace outside of the east tower. "She is only two months pregnant, so it's quite common, right?"

Loriel remembered some of his older sisters also fell ill a lot when they were pregnant for the first time. So, he wanted to think that it was common. 

Zaff shook his head. "Unfortunately, no, Your Majesty. The queen's body is weaker than average women. So, she is more vulnerable to pain and fatigue during pregnancy."

Loriel's heart suddenly felt so heavy when he heard Zaff's response. "Would it be dangerous for her to keep the baby to full term?"

Zaff didn't say anything and it was enough for Loriel to know that the answer was yes. Loriel felt his chest tightened so badly. Why did this have to happen to him?

So, they couldn't have children?

"So, what should I do, Zaff?" the king asked his physician with a hoarse voice.

"Your Majesty might have to choose which one do you want to keep, your wife or your baby." Finally, Zaff replied with a low voice.

As a physician, this was the hardest part of his job, telling people the truth. The truth could set you free, they said, but it wasn't always pleasant to hear.

"How could you ask me to choose?" Loriel gave Zaff a murderous glare. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I am very sorry, Your Majesty," Zaff immediately bowed down apologetically. He was used to this type of reaction. Nobody liked to be told that they had to choose between two humans they loved. "I am only explaining your options."

Loriel knew Zaff was right. He should be grateful that he was notified of his options, so he could make a decision.

"So... if we lost the baby, my wife would not be able to carry any pregnancy to full term anyway?" He asked Zaff to confirm.

"Yes, unfortunately, that is correct, Your Majesty," Zaff replied.

"Is there really no other way?" Loriel asked again.

"Well..." At this question, Zaff became deep in thoughts. After thinking about it seriously, he finally raised his face and looked at Loriel deeply. "Actually, if Her Majesty keeps the baby, she might be able to carry the baby to full term, but she won't survive childbirth."

So, it's just like her mother, Loriel thought sadly. Now, it seemed he had to decide if he wanted a child, or not. If he insisted to keep the baby in Elise's womb, he would most likely lose her to childbirth.

But, if he wanted her to live, that means there would never be a baby for them.

The king bit his lip in desperation. Why did he feel like he was being cursed? Why couldn't they just have this child and then they would stop trying for the next one?

He could have just one child from Elise, as long as she could survive. However, as cruel fate would have it, he must choose.

"Zaff, what should we do to terminate her pregnancy?" Loriel finally asked Zaff. His voice trembled when he uttered the question. This was the worst day of his life, to date.

He had promised before his dying mother on her deathbed that he would always take care of Elise and protect her at all cost. If childbearing could endanger her life, that means, she shouldn't get pregnant.

Zaff's heart was wrenched when he saw the king's eyes became teary. He could see how much this decision broke his heart.

***

"What are you thinking?" Elise cupped Loriel's cheeks lovingly. The man suddenly zoned out when they were talking about something after dinner and he stopped responding to Elise's question. So she touched his cheek and tilted her head closer to his. "Is something bothering you?"

Loriel batted his eyes as he was moved from his reverie. He was suddenly reminded of his wife's first pregnancy. They lost the baby and it made Elise heartbroken.

No, not just Elise, he was too. Both of them knew she was too weak to carry a baby but she insisted and then they had to see that Zaff was right all along.

"I just remember something from the past," Loriel replied with a smile.

His eyes were gleaming with tears, but he hoped Elise didn't notice it since the mood lighting in the dining room was not too bright. He rose from his seat and then pulled Elise to his embrace.

"Wifey... would you go with me tomorrow to see a doctor and check your health?" he asked her gently. The man gave Elise a loving gaze and that made her blush.

"Why all of a sudden?" Elise asked Loriel. "I mean, of course, I will go with you to see the doctor. I think it's important for us to know our conditions so we can be prepared for anything. I am just wondering why you suddenly mentioned this."

The man lied with a sweet smile on his face. "Oh, nothing really. I just remember to ask you today. You are right, we should know your health condition and our compatibility, et cetera. I want to know if  we can have a baby."

Elise bit her lip when she heard his words. Ahh... she was like many other women out there who loved being a mother and she had thought about this too when Loriel proposed to her in Japan.

The man said something about marrying her and raising a family together. She felt touched and swoon. This was something that she wanted too.

"Okay, I understand," Elise lowered her face to hide her smile. "Let's do a medical check-up tomorrow."

"Thank you!" Loriel tugged her chin and landed a deep and passionate kiss on her lips. He was obsessed with having a child again with his wife that he had been releasing his seeds inside of her whenever they made love, he wanted her to get pregnant soon.

However, today, suddenly he felt slapped in the face when the memory from the past returned. He shouldn't be selfish.

He must know for sure that Elise was healthy and strong enough for pregnancy before they tried to conceive. And if there were any health issues, he must immediately address them.

He believed with medical advancement in modern times and his bottomless wealth, he could get the best medical treatment for his wife.. So, it should be okay.