Loriel growled when he heard the servant. The poor servant immediately flinched.

"What happened?" Loriel looked at the man with an annoyed expression.

He just wanted to eat and enjoyed a relaxing morning with his wife, but this servant brought news that almost immediately ruined his mood.

He knew that if General Melchior was mentioned, something must have happened at the border.

Was there any attack from the enemy? Or was this just a regular trolls or goblins invasion on some district?

Nah, General Melchior would easily handle those things without feeling the need to send the king any reports. They all knew Loriel didn't like to micro-manage his men.

He would delegate tasks according to each person's capability and scope of authority. and he would just listen to their reports once a month.

Summeria controlled so many small kingdoms in the Atlantean continent and if he had to check every single thing done by each officer, duke, prince, and general, he would just tire himself out.

It was counterproductive.

Loriel just made sure he put the right man in the right job. He didn't discriminate. Even if it was a woman, if she was capable, she would receive the authority and responsibility.

For example, Lady Branwen from the House of Lafey, who ruled in Brinchester after her husband passed away was acknowledged as the king's representative in that province.

She was a capable woman and did her job well to serve as a regent while her sons were still underage.

Now, the fact that General Melchior came to the palace and waited for him since dawn... could only mean one thing. A rebellion had ensued.

F*ck. Who is it this time? Loriel was really annoyed. The last rebellion happened two years ago and it was initiated by his third brother-in-law. Was it him again this time? Or maybe it's another brother-in-law?

Didn't they learn their lessons, already? Gah..! So annoying.

Loriel glanced at his wife and let out a sigh. They just had a wonderful night together, and this morning, everything seemed perfect too. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

"I have to go," said Loriel to Elise and, without looking, he walked out of her chamber.

His wife who wanted to say something had to swallow her words. Elise could only stare at Loriel's back view until the man disappeared behind the door.

"Be careful," she muttered to herself as if Loriel could hear her.

She was so sad that he had to leave her after they consummated their marriage. She thought they would have the opportunity to talk about their situation and...

Sigh.

Didn't he want to move his stuff here? Would he still do it? Should Elise ask Horatio to bring some of Loriel's clothes to her chamber so they would be ready for him when he returned?

Or.. would he change his mind and think Elise was presumptuous for doing things for him without being asked?

Elise didn't have an appetite for breakfast after her husband left. She preferred to stay longer in bed and closed her eyes to enjoy what remained of his scent around her, and think about their lovemaking last night.

Ahh... they were finally husband and wife for real. He called her 'Wifey' several times too, and they even talked about having children.

This was the happiest day of Elise's life.

And that happiness was multiplied by leaps and bounds when she found out she was pregnant one month later.

The loneliness that she experienced because her husband went to the border to quell the rebellion for weeks after their first consummation was compensated greatly when the court physician told her that she was expecting.

Those severe morning sicknesses and her lack of appetite, the pain she kept experiencing, no longer mattered as soon as she found out they were all symptoms of pregnancy

Elise was over the moon. She couldn't wait to tell her husband that they would soon have a baby.

Loriel returned two months later and the rebellion was quelled.

To set an example, he made a point to execute his third brother-in-law and his entire extended family and spared only his wife, who was Loriel's sister. The king even killed the couple's children.

It may seem like a ruthless move, but for someone in Loriel's position, this was something that he had to do. His third brother-in-law had done this for the second time.

The first coup failed and Loriel pardoned him, considering he was family since he was married to his third sister.

However, the man was ungrateful. He pretended to regret his action, while secretly he exerted his whole family to conspire with three colonies and rebelled for the second time.

Loriel realized that he shouldn't show mercy again, else people would think he was a weak king.

His enemies and competitors would keep trying to usurp power. So, it was better to make an example out of this brother-in-law of his. It was the man's own fault to rebel and he only received the punishment for his actions.

What made Loriel sad was the fact that he also had to execute his nephews and nieces since they would become threats for him in the future if he let them live.

The king's decision sent a strong message to all his other sisters and brothers-in-law. They would think twice, or even a thousand times, before they rebelled.

Loriel's expression was grim when he reached the royal palace. The scene of the execution was still fresh in his mind.

As the king who ordered the execution of his brother-in-law and his children, Loriel had to attend it himself. It was a gruesome sight, but he watched till the end and made sure people get the message.

When Elise heard that the king had returned after being away to be on the battlefield for two months, she hurriedly went down from her chamber and met him at the palace entrance.

"Your Grace," she greeted the man with a curtsey.

Loriel looked up and saw her beautiful face smiling. At that moment, the king felt like time was suddenly moving slower.

Seeing her running toward him with a beaming face made him feel like he saw a slow-motion scene. Elise's beauty today looked even more prominent than before and she was obviously glowing.

Loriel was wondering. How could she look even more beautiful than she already was? How was this possible?