The Cursed King

Chapter 281  Loriel Travels To Cretea

After some more conversation with Dante, Elise finally relented and decided to drink the water from the river of forgetfulness.

However, she still wanted to ask one last thing. Something important so in the chance that she wanted to change her mind, it would be okay.

"Dante… even if I drink this water, is there any chance that I can remember Loriel again?"

Dante sighed inwardly. He already got sick of hearing that name.

Loriel was dead and yet refused to be buried in Elise's memories.

Dante couldn't say that aloud, thought. Instead, he faked a smile.

"When you are prepared and stronger than ever, I believe memories of him will return to you at the proper time," Dante lied through his teeth.

"Then I'm prepared to drink the water now." Elise nodded firmly and took the goblet from his hands.

She looked down and saw her reflection in the crystal clear water and there was still a redness in her eyes after sobbing so much. Her own eyes still haven't recovered from the sting of pain.

It was true that Loriel's words had broken and torn away at Elise's heart and she was extremely vulnerable right now. One wrong memory and she might have wept even further.

Dante was right that Elise was trying hard to be strong.

However, she had her reasons for wanting to be brave. Elise wanted to think about the future of her child because she didn't want to imagine how much longing their child would have for a father that they didn't know.

When she was young, Elise really wanted to meet her mother but was unable to because Queen Catalina had passed away. So, her father, King Alexander only told stories of his wife when Elise grew up and she could understand what happened.

Elise didn't want to take the opportunity away from her child.

"Elise?" Dante prompted her to drink again. Every moment felt like a long eternity to him and he was afraid that she would change her mind.

"I-I'm… I'm just trying to work up the courage since this will be a life-altering decision to forget about my husband. Even temporary seems wrong," Elise said to him. "But I will… do it."

Even after everything that Elise underwent with Loriel, she wanted her child to grow up knowing that there was a man who loved him with all of his heart like their first child. Perhaps next time, once Elise was better, she could introduce her child to the father.

Just like Dante said.. if she became more powerful, her memory might return. As for now… it was better if she forgot about Loriel and focused on her life, together with this baby in her womb.

She slowly raised the goblet to her lips.

"Even if the two of us have our great differences, I know from the bottom of my heart that he would love to see you." Elise whispered to her baby.

Right now, Elise was going to do a selfish thing of forgetting about Loriel… but she hoped that someday, as Dante said, she would find the strength to face her problems head on.

Once Elise sipped from the goblet, it slipped from her fingers and dropped to the floor.

Dante quickly caught the woman in his arms and let out a loud sigh. It wasn't purely relief because he knew that he lied so many times to Elise, but there was a hope in his heart that Elise would understand why he did this.

It was the best way that Dante could look after Elise so she could find happiness.

***

Elsewhere, Loriel was already on his way to Cretea and would encounter several other people along the way. He thought he saw a group of satyrs laughing and traveling with each other, eager to reach the pinnacle of Cretea.

There were others like him who were more recluse, an elf traveling alone with an enormous bow in his hand and a quiver filled with arrows.

The elf looked a bit arrogant and would avoid the other groups and stayed with himself.

Ahead of them was what appeared to be two creatures in the air, both of them had wings but were different from one another.

One of them had wings like a butterfly, a fairy, while the other one was covered in feathers and was a harpy.

The two of them seemed to be arguing with one another. josei

There were many more people amongst those climbing up Cretea and Loriel knew that all of them were his competition. He needed to defeat creatures that came from legends and stories he once assumed were myths.

Loriel's expression was grim, but he was resolute.

Until finally, a woman started to stroll beside him. She glanced in his direction and waved. There was a beautiful smile on her face as she warmly greeted him. "Hi!"

Loriel ignored her and kept walking ahead.

"Rude." Hilde muttered underneath her breath but then catched up to him. "Hey, I think the both of us are humans. Do you want to work in a team with me? You look really strong."

Loriel shook his head. "No."

us are humans. Do you want to work in a team with me? You look really strong."

Loriel shook his head. "No."

"Wait, did I get it wrong?" Hilde's eyes widened and she inspected him closer. "Are you not a human? Are you a lycan? Do you transform into a strong sexy wolf whenever you feel like it? Nah… I think you're human like me, but I can be mistaken."

Loriel finally looked the woman in the face and narrowed his eyes. He spoke curtly and his exprssion was as cold as ice. "I do not wish to talk with you. Stay away from me before I make you wish that you have left me undisturbed."

Hilde took a step back in fear, but then raised her hands.

"Okay, I get it. I won't disturb you… I'll go find someone else." She glanced around and then noticed the elf. "Hey there, pointy ears!"

The elf started walking faster to avoid the woman.

"Hey! That was a compliment!" Hilde called out before she threw one last grin at Loriel and then walked away.She winked at him and made her voice sound coyish. "I'll see you at the top, handsome."

Without another word, she chased after the elf.

Loriel pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled.

Here he was concentrating on becoming an immortal to see his beloved wife and child again but there were others who still found the time to play around.