Five Kingdoms

Chocolate Cake

"After a day, Prince Hoseok came to see me in the medical hall. He hugged me and cried." Jess says with a weak smile. "The prince cried for me." Jess whispers. Queen Jung offers Jess a tissue and as Jess looks up, she can see tears falling from the queen's eyes.

"My queen." Jess whispers, concerned. "Continue please. I've heard Hobi's side, please tell me the rest of yours." Queen Jung says with a nod. "He uh, he came to visit every day when I was recovering, I shared a room with three other injured knights. I assumed he was making rounds, you know, to keep our moral up, but then even when they recovered before me. When they had all left and before I was able to leave the medical hall. When I was all alone again." Jess says, stopping to wipe a tear from her cheek with a tissue. "Prince Hoseok kept coming to visit. To visit just me. One day he came to visit and he brought this cake. It was cute, but the worst chocolate cake I had ever tasted." Jess says with a giggles. Queen Jung giggles, covering her mouth with her hand.

"He made that cake. That was the day he could finally leave the medical hall." Queen Jung says giggling. "Oh my. He did?" Jess says blushing and covering her mouth with her hand. Queen Jung nods, still giggling, but gesturing for Jess to continue. "Prince Hoseok was in a room further down the hall, I didn't know he had been released from bed rest and he was alone, I guess. So I figured that's why he continued to visit." Jess says with a smile.

"After I recovered, I knew I wanted to continue to protect him. So after all the awards and all the medals, I was asked what I wanted as a reward for my actions. For saving prince Hoseok in battle. Something I would've done a million times again." Jess whispered the last sentence. "I asked the king to let me become prince Hoseok's maid. To keep my position as a high knight if I'm ever needed to serve in battle alongside the prince again, but to also serve him off the battlefield." Jess says with a smile and a nod.

Queen Jung wipes tears away and smiles. "My deer. Thank you for sharing that with me." Queen Jung says opening her arms. Jess looks shocked. "My queen, I-" Jess starts, but is interrupted. "Oh just hug me." Queen Jung says rolling her eyes. Jess carefully hugs the queen, making sure to avoid the IV in her arm, the oxygen tube across the bed and her plump belly. "Thank you for loving my little sunshine." Queen Jung whispers. Jess pulls away. "Queen Jung. I-" Jess starts. "Mother." Hoseok says with a shaky voice as he slowly opens the door. Jess stands up quickly and bows to the queen.

"Jess, could you please go and get me and Hobi a slice of your delicious cake and some tea?" Queen Jung asks. The queen wipes a few stray tears from her cheeks and smiles as Hoseok walks closer. "Yes my queen." Jess says with a deeper bow before bowing to Hoseok and leaving. Hoseok watches Jess leave with a smile o his face. "What were you two talking about mama?" Hoseok asks before moving to a small chair beside the bed. "And why were are you crying?" Hoseok ask.

Hoseok stands up quickly and hugs his mother with his brows furrowed with worry. Hoseok holds his mother, gently rubbing her back with his thumb. Hoseok takes a deep breath of the vanilla and lavender perfume his mother has smelt like since he could remember, tears well in his eyes again, his bottom lip starts quivering and a whimper leaves his mouth.

Queen Jung pulls away and looks up at Hoseok. "My little sunshine." Queen Jung whispers with a sad smile. "Mama." Hoseok cries hugging his mother again. Queen Jung rubs Hoseok's back slowly. "Oh baby. I know it's going to be hard, but you're so strong. You can do this." Queen Jung whispers running her fingers through Hoseok's hair.

"I don't want you to leave me." Hoseok mumbles into his mother's neck. Queen Jung giggles and Hoseok moves away from her. "I don't want to leave you either. I love you Hoseokie, but I've been sick for a long time and I knew I would leave this world sooner than I wanted. Sooner than I should, but regardless of our status, we don't have control over everything baby." Queen Jung says with a smile. Hoseok hugged his mother again, carefully and sobbed in her arms.