The Cursed King

"M-my day… was good," said Elise. She looked away, didn't dare to stare at the delicious hotness before her. "How was yours? What were you doing?"

Loriel spent his day discussing new yarns with Horatio and asked him to buy some from the online marketplace. He planned to knit a sweater and scarf for Elise because winter was coming. They both agreed purple would be a nice color for her sweater and light grey would be nice for a scarf.

"Oh, I was talking to my hedge fund manager. We were discussing some investment stuff," he said nonchalantly. "Do you want to have dinner?"

Elise nodded. "Yes. I was just about to head to the kitchen and cook something."

Loriel was interested in hearing Elise wanted to cook dinner for them. Could she cook? He didn't remember she could do it in their past life.

She was raised in a palace with a butler and countless servants who could do all the work. After she married him, he also provided her with maids and servants to take care of all her needs. Elise never needed to lift a finger.

She did insist to take care of the garden, together with the royal gardener, but that was more like a hobby, instead of chores. So, Loriel let her.

"Then, I am hungry," said Loriel. "Let's eat."

He reached out his hand and Elise automatically held it. They walked together holding hands inside. The man was happy to see Elise felt comfortable enough with him to hold his hand, as she would to a good friend.

There was a certain naivety on her that allowed her to trust people and act friendly. Loriel thought she reminded him of an innocent child who always saw the world as a good place and thought people were out to help each other.

He, on the other hand, believed the opposite. However, he loved that Elise had this childlike view of the world. It was pure and that was just who she was.

"What do you want to make?" Loriel asked Elise as he accompanied her to the kitchen.

The woman looked at him and coughed. "Are you not going to change?"

Loriel was still wearing only his boardshorts, didn't seem to intend to shower and change. The man shrugged. "No. Should I?"

Elise shook her head. "No... I was just asking."

"Good evening, Madame. What would you like to have for dinner?" Horatio greeted Elise with his friendly voice.

Elise thought she could make chicken soup. It should be easy, right? While on break at work today, she was pondering about her need to learn cooking. It would be much cheaper to cook food for day-to-day consumption than to buy from outside. 

She also didn't want to let Loriel do all the cooking all the time. She thought there would come a time when she had to be independent, get her own place and cook her own food.  So, it was better to start learning how to do it.

While taking the bus to her baking class earlier, Elise checked online for simple dishes she could make for their dinner, and her choice fell on chicken soup.

"I would like to make chicken soup. Do we have the ingredients?" she asked Horatio.

The digital butler cleared his throat and replied. "Of course. We are always stocked with the best organic ingredients."

The big fridge doors swung opened and Elise could see certain compartments were lit up to show her where the ingredients she needed were stored. She gasped in glee at the wonderful sight.

Truly, Loriel's home was equipped with the most advanced technology that made life seemed like a walk in the park.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Loriel asked her. The man reached out to the top shelf and got two aprons. Ahh.. he should get Elise her own aprons for next time, he thought.

The ones he had right now were all for his size. He would check the marketplace for cute aprons tomorrow while she was at work.

"Sorry, this is too big for you," he said. "But, this will make do for now. I don't want you to ruin your work clothes."

He remembered she only had a few sets of work outfits. The man massaged his temple as he realized Elise still had not used her gift cards to purchase more items.

What good would it do if she only kept the gift cards and not used them to buy more clothes?

"Oh.. this is so neat!" Elise clapped excitedly. "You are right. I should wear an apron."

"Here, let me help you put it on," said Loriel. He turned around and walked behind Elise to help her tie the apron's strings. He did it so innocently that Elise didn't feel the need to say no.

"Thank you! Now, I am ready to cook," said Elise looking very excited. The apron was too big for her and she looked like she was drowned in it, but she didn't care.

The girl opened up her phone screen and check the chicken soup recipe she saw online earlier. While reading the name of the ingredients, she took them one by one from the fridge.

Loriel grinned when he saw her getting busy in the kitchen.

Gosh.. she was so cute! Her oversized apron made her look even cuter. He really, really wanted to kiss her.

"I will cut the chicken," the man offered after he pinched himself to suppress his desire to kiss her.

"Oh, I can do that," said Elise. "You have cooked for us so many times. I think it's my turn now."

"Ahaha.. okay," Loriel smiled. "Then, what can I help?"

Elise looked around and, finally, her gaze landed on the half-empty wine bottle on the kitchen counter. Loriel opened a bottle tonight after swimming and he sat with a glass of wine to chill out.

"Maybe you can just pour me wine and talk to me about your day. What do you think?" she asked. "That's what you usually told me to do while you were cooking."

"I can do that," said Loriel. He took out two wine glasses and pour wine for them. He handed one glass to Elise which the girl accepted happily.

He did as she asked without complaining. If Elise wanted him to just sit by the kitchen counter looking handsome with a glass of wine in his hand, he would gladly do it.

Her wish was his command.