Elise was crying despondently when Loriel lifted her frail body and carried her back to her chamber. She refused to go to sleep and kept pleading with Loriel not to terminate her pregnancy.

"Please.. Your Grace... let me keep my baby..." The heartwrenching cries pained Loriel's heart.

He didn't know Elise was so stubborn this one time. She had always been the demure and sweet woman, but this time, she gripped her nails on Loriel's arm, begging him desperately to let her keep her baby.

"I also want to keep the child, to be honest," Loriel finally told her. "But Zaff already said that it will be dangerous for you to continue the pregnancy. Do you really want to die???"

"I don't mind. I don't care..." Elise continued crying.

Loriel really didn't know what to say.

He looked at Elise's stomach that was still flat. How big was their baby now? Must still be really small. Yet, Elise's love for the child was already so strong and stubborn.

This touched his heart too. He wanted an heir, but not at the expense of his wife. It's true that they were betrothed by their mothers and, to him, this was a marriage of convenience.

However, how could he let her die just to give him an heir? He was not that heartless.

"I am such a useless woman," Elise cried despondently. "I can't even carry a child properly..."

She raised her face and Loriel could see her face was wet with tears. She stared at the man pleadingly and gripped his arms. "Please, Your Grace, allow me to give you a child. Please let me be useful to you..."

Maybe... maybe, if she gave him a child, he could love her.

And besides, Elise knew her husband needed a child to be his heir. If Elise had to lose her life to give him one, it's okay. Loriel could always marry another woman to help him raise the child she left behind.

At this moment, Elise understood what her mother was thinking when she was pregnant with Elise. The late queen of Myreen must be devastated, but because she loved her husband so much she was willing to make the sacrifice.

Now, Elise could live a good life even though her father never remarried. King Alexander and his mother raised Elise well and they showered her with love and attention.

Elise believed, as long as she gave him a child, Loriel's life would be better.

Loriel was stunned by Elise's persistence. He turned to Zaff and asked him with his eyes, what he should do. The physician scratched his hair and he looked confused.

"If Her Majesty insists, there is nothing we can do but do grant her request," Finally, Zaff replied. He sighed and pressed his chest. The man solemnly vowed to do his best to help Elise during her pregnancy. "We will try to make things work."

"Thank you, Zaff..." Loriel let out a long sigh. He looked at his stubborn wife and shook his head dejectedly. Elise really wanted this baby, he thought.

He touched her hair and rubbed it gently. His voice was filled with concern when he spoke. "You've heard Zaff. We will try our best to make things work."

Elise pursed her lips and they trembled as she was trying to utter her response. Her eyes were filled with tears and her face looked wet after crying so much. The sight wrenched the king's heart and he pulled her to his embrace.

"It's okay, we will make things work," he repeated his words. "I will take care of both of you."

He kissed both corners of her eyes and hugged her. Zaff knew his presence would only annoy the king, so he silently took his leave. He tiptoed to the door and walked out of the room.

Elise's slowly wrapped her arms around Loriel's waist and hugged him back. She felt so touched. She could feel the man was serious with his words to take care of her and their baby.

She bit her lip and looked down at her stomach.

This was worth it, she thought.

If she could make Loriel happy with a child, then her sacrifice would be worth it.

"Okay, you have been crying long enough," Loriel said. He took a handkerchief and wiped her tears. "Do you want to drink something?"

She was still sobbing faintly. Elise tried so hard to pull herself together. She had never cried this much before Loriel and she didn't want him to think she was such an annoying crybaby. His handkerchief was already wet with her tears.

"Y-yes, please..." Elise nodded weakly.

"Okay. Wait here."

Loriel patted her back and the rose from the bed. He went outside and asked a maid to bring a pot of tea and two cups. His expression looked so scary that the maid almost ran to the kitchen to get the tea he requested.

The maid returned in fifteen minutes and brought the tray with teapot and two cups inside the chamber. Once she was done arranging the tray on the bedside table, Loriel kicked her out.

He poured tea into one cup, blew the heat, and gave the cup to Elise. "Here, drink something so you will feel better."

Elise's sobs were no longer intense. She could finally manage her feelings and stopped crying. She steeled her heart and accepted the cup from her husband.

She drank the tea slowly and, after she had finished her drink, Elise's clear mind returned.

"Thank you, Your Grace." She lowered her face.

Loriel tugged her chin and made her look at him. He was often wondering what was going on in that beautiful head. Now, more than ever, he really wished he could read her mind.

"You are my wife and you are carrying my child. Of course, I have to protect you two." He was in awe when he saw her beautiful face, only inches apart from his. Elise was one of the few women who could still look beautiful when they were crying.

She looked stunningly beautiful, but she was also fragile and gentle. Her big diamond-like eyes were filled with tears, looking so pitiful.

Her lips.... gosh, those luscious lips again. Even though she was crying, they still looked very sexy. And the king couldn't help himself not to kiss her.

Loriel tilted his head to the side and his lips brushed her cheeks as they looked for her lips. When their lips touched, Loriel planted a deep kiss on Elise's lips.

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From the author:

I have seen so many summoning pens for this book for days, so I decided to give you this bonus chapter. I hope you like it ^^.

PS: Thank you so much for supporting this book, posting comments, showering this book with gifts, and voting your power stone to "The Cursed King".