The Cursed King

Chapter 24 - Don't Let Anyone Take You For Granted

King Alexander didn't know that even though all men in the world would feel lucky to marry his daughter, Loriel wouldn't. And Loriel was the man who was supposed to be Elise's husband.

If only King Alexander knew that Loriel considered his betrothal to Elise a calamity... he would never have sent her away to Summeria.

When Elise finished her education, she was already 18. That meant, the king had to send the invitation to Summeria for her fiance to come and get her. King Alexander was distraught when he thought about it, while Elise, on the other hand, was ecstatic.

She couldn't wait to meet Loriel in person. After 'growing up' together for almost 12 years, she felt like she had already known him her whole life.

This was time for HIM to get to know her.

"Can I see him before I go, Grandmother?" Elise asked her grandmother with a beaming face. "I've missed him."

Myrcella Leoralei had expected this request, so she nodded. "Come. You can see him one last time."

"Ahhh.. thank you, Grandma! You are the best!" Elise jumped and hugged her grandmother with delight. Myrcella only sighed and glanced at her son. King Alexander smiled faintly when he witnessed the scene.

Gosh... Elise looked more and more like Anwyn, his wife, by day. He missed her so badly.

"Father, don't you have something important to do?" Elise cleared her throat when she saw her father standing by the doorway, while her grandmother walked to her cabinet to take out the crystal ball.

The king understood that Elise must not want him to see her watching Loriel from the crystal ball. So he pretended that he had a meeting to go to.

"You are right. Thank you for reminding me. I will go now and write the letter to the Ashborns so your fiance would come and get you."

The king left Elise and her grandmother to do their own thing. Once the king was gone. Elise sat on the couch excitedly, waiting for Myrcella to bring her crystal ball.

The luminous ball looked a bit dim when she placed it on the table.

"Grandma, how is he doing? Did you check on him from time to time?" Elise asked her grandmother with great interest. Myrcella shook her head.

"No. Why would I? I don't have that much time in my hands," she commented. "I am sure he will be fine. Otherwise, we would have heard the news from Summeria."

"Oh, that's right. Sorry, I am just worried since I haven't seen him for a long time." Elise lowered her head sheepishly.

Grandma Myrcella sat beside her and touched Elise's arm. Her voice was gentle when she gave the young girl a piece of valuable advice.

"Elise, you are a woman. You shouldn't love a man too much. Keep your dignity and let him come to you and chase you." She looked at the girl deeply. "I know you love him and you are devoted to him, which is good because he will be your husband. But, he hasn't proven his worth to you."

Elise didn't know why her grandmother suddenly had this talk with her. Did her grandmother know something that she didn't?

Or... was this just a talk she had to give since Elise was now an adult and would soon leave the family to get married?

She was not sure which one.

"H-how... would he prove his worth to me?" Elise finally asked her grandmother. "What signs should I look for?"

"It's different for everyone," said Myrcella. "When you know, you know."

"Hmm..." Elise didn't quite understand this part, but she kept her grandmother's words in her heart. She would always remember this and think about it in the future. Maybe someday she would understand.