Loriel kissed Elise passionately. He just couldn't resist her charm. Why was she so alluring and charming? Even when she was crying.

When he tasted her tears on her lips, Loriel was reminded that she was crying because of what Zaff told them about their baby and he immediately pulled back. The man had to exert all his sanity not to kiss her again.

It all started with a kiss, he remembered. After drinking wine and kissing, he and she finally consummated their marriage, and now she was pregnant as the result. Elise was not made to be pregnant. She was too weak and Zaff had confirmed it.

Yet, she insisted that she wanted to keep the baby. So, Loriel was put in a dilemma. For outsiders, it might be easier because he didn't actually love his wife. He could just accept having the baby, to become his heir and later found another woman to become his wife.

However, it was not that easy for Loriel. He was not interested in any other women. He was only in love once, with a woman who only considered him as a friend.

After Emmelyn rejected him, Loriel didn't want to fall in love again. He didn't even want to marry anyone. He only married Elise out of duty, so it was different.

It was hard to get used to living with a woman he didn't love and now that he had come to that point, he didn't want to start over with a new woman. Sigh.

In all honesty, he didn't want to lose Elise to childbirth. She was sweet, kind, and exactly the woman he needed. Why couldn't he keep her by his side?

Loriel needed his heir, but he couldn't love someone he had not met before. He actually didn't understand how Elise could be so stubborn and fierce in loving their unborn baby? The child was not here yet.

"You should rest," he whispered to Elise. Trying hard not to kiss her again. "Do you want me to stay by your side?"

He didn't want anything to happen to her outside of his watch. So, he offered to stay and keep her company. Those maids obviously didn't do a good enough job to care for her that Elise could be in this state,

Elise nodded weakly. Her voice was barely audible when she replied, "Thank you, Your Grace."

Loriel climbed up on the bed and sat beside her, leaning on the headboard. He pulled her to his embrace and patted her shoulder. "Now you should rest."

Finally, Elise relented and closed her eyes. She felt warmth filling her chest as she felt protected and cared for. Slowly, Elise rested her head on Loriel's chest and fell asleep.

Loriel watched the beautiful woman sleeping. He was torn between respecting her wishes to keep their baby, or secretly asking Zaff to make a potion to terminate her pregnancy.

He didn't want Elise to die.

In the end, Loriel decided to follow Elise's wishes and, even though it was very hard for him, he asked Zaff to do his best to make sure the baby was healthy. Month after month, he lived in fear and worry.

Every passing day felt like having an incoming death sentence approaching closer and closer. Not his death sentence but Elise's.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, Elise still lost the baby. It was the darkest day of their lives.

***

Loriel suddenly stopped kissing Elise. His mind went back to the past and he couldn't get rid of the sad memory when Elise got a miscarriage. He thought he had experienced the worst day in his life when he had to let go of Emmelyn, the woman he loved and continued living with a broken heart.

Then, Elise miscarried and he finally realized that what he experienced was nothing compared to that day. It was the scariest and saddest day of his life.

There was so much blood and he thought both Elise and the baby would die.

He felt like he wanted to die too.

Fortunately, Zaff came quickly and could help treat the queen and saved her life. Loriel felt lost and devastated when he finally saw the remains of what was supposed to be his son.

Then, it hit him. And, finally, he understood how his wife could love their unborn son so much, even though the baby was not even here. Loriel cried for days and he became like a madman.

"Loriel...?" Elise's voice moved the former king from his reverie. "Are you okay?"

Loriel was brought back to the present and he realized they were making out in the swimming pool and things became heated. He and Elise were both naked and they were getting busy underwater.

She just got her first orgasm and he was ready to continue with penetration when his mind went somewhere else. The man didn't realize that his tears were dripping down to his cheeks until Elise turned around and cupped his face. She was shocked to see him in tears.

"Oh, no... Loriel... what happened?" she caressed his cheeks lovingly. Her face looked so worried. "Tell me what bothers you."

Loriel was in horror when he realized he had been crying. Gosh.. what would Elise think of him? She must be suspicious.

He quickly shook his head and pulled her to his embrace. "Nothing... I'm sorry. I zoned out because..."

He didn't know what to say.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind," Elise rested her head on his chest and hugged his waist. "We should just relax and rest."

The night swim in their heated pool was supposed to be relaxing, but she unintentionally flirted with him to have sex and now this happened. Elise felt bad about what happened.

Loriel felt his penis had turned soft and also felt bad. Ahh.. why did the memory have to return in such an unfortunate time?

He kissed her head and nodded. "Yeah, you are right. Let's just wash up and rest."

.

.

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From the author:

Tbh, I cried when I was writing the miscarriage part. It was truly the hardest day of Elise's and Loriel's life in the past, and it would shape their relationship, also how Loriel started to appreciate his wife better, and finally turned him into the man he is now.

I will keep it short and simple or just only mention the miscarriage briefly going forward because it is very emotional.. I never have any miscarriages but my heart goes out to the people who do.