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.

"You like pearl, don't you?" Myrcella asked again. Elise nodded. "Well.. it's beautiful and precious. People swam to the depths of the ocean to look for it."

"Yes. Because it's precious, people have to work hard to get it," Elise replied. She agreed with her grandmother.

"And what will they do if they get something after they work hard for it?" Myrcella looked at Elise with a smile.

"They will treasure it," said Elise.

"You are right." Myrcella patted her on the back and sighed. "If people get something easily, they tend to take it for granted. It's not because humans are evil, like what your father always said, but... it's just human nature."

She ended her talk by giving Elise the most important advice that she would always remember her whole life. "Don't let anyone take you for granted."

Elise looked at her grandmother and then lowered her face. Myrcella's gaze was too intense for her.

Elise was smart and she could kind of understand that by saying those words, her grandmother didn't want her to love Loriel blindly.

He, too, must love her and treasure her in return.

"I understand, grandma," Elise said with a low voice.

"Good. Now, you can see him."

Myrcella waved her hand over the crystal ball and, soon, Elise could see the sight of Loriel from the ball. She instantly shrieked in delight.

"Don't take too long. I will give you half an hour and then we will have dinner together."

"Thank you, grandma."

Myrcella Leoralei left her crystal ball with Elise while she busied herself writing something in her journal.

Elise was delighted to see Loriel again. The man had changed a little bit after one year. He looked a bit rough and more buffed. But he was still the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

"Hello, Loriel... how are you doing?" she whispered.

Loriel was lying down on the grass with his eyes closed and his head rested on his clasped hands. A grass was tucked between his lips and he looked so carefree and happy.

Elise wondered where he was. She looked around the area and realized that the man was in a very beautiful valley. There were so many beautiful flowers everywhere.

Elise gasped in awe. This place looked really pretty. It actually reminded her of her mother's garden, where the flowers were always blooming, no matter what was the season.

This valley was like her mother's garden but on a much bigger scale. Loriel was resting leisurely with the cool breeze blowing over him.

As Elise was admiring the handsome face that she had been longing for, suddenly Loriel's eyes opened and he turned to the right. It seemed he heard something and a smile was instantly etched on his face.

Elise couldn't hear anything. She could only see. So, she was wondering what sounds he heard that could make Loriel smile so brightly.

She turned her gaze to Loriel's right to see it.

"Oh..." Elise pressed her lips and her eyes looked confused.

Apparently, Loriel was smiling at a woman who came running to him with two fat rabbits in her hand. She looked so beautiful and energetic. Her smile was what made Loriel smile.

Who was she? Elise was wondering.

.

.

>>>>>>>

From the author:

I am sad for Elise, as I think she loved Loriel so much but the man really took her for granted. I see this far too often. Beautiful, kind, and smart women who love their men too much that sometimes they let the men take them for granted.

To be honest, this book is one of the hardest for me to write, because the main characters have different perceptions about the story and how they see the people they love.

I have to be careful and work hard to present both their visions and perceptions (which are different) through the scenes unfolding and their thoughts, so we understand both sides.

I intentionally started the book by giving your Loriel's side of the story, so we can immediately know that HE LOVES HER, so deeply. He just didn't have the chance to show it in the past.

If I started by giving Elise's side, I am sure most of you would hate Loriel immediately and might not want to hear his side of the story.