Disclaimers: I do not own anything out of Resident Evil. All of the contents belongs to Capcom.

Chapter IX: Thin Ice, Deep Water

''Unlike what you and everyone was thinking, he still have a heart. He always had it with him even after that incident six years ago.' - Jill Valentine

Raccoonia Castle, Night

After Jake had ran off before her, it took Sherry forever before she could find the Prince. She had searched for his regular sleeping hole but she found nothing. Then, some kind maids came up to her and told her where the angry Prince had gone off. He was there at the most unexpected place of all, the basement; where it was used as a storage for food products and such.

Sherry opened the wooden door as quietly as possible, making sure the the hinges wouldn't creak. Inside there were barrels and crates of item and she saw the Prince was lying on the corner on a stack of hay. Jake was lying on his side with his back facing her. Surprising that this would be another of the royal Prince favorite hiding spot, the basement was humid and the air reek with the pungent smell of cheese.

"...Your Highness." She called softly, experimentally. She wanted to find out if the daring man was asleep.

There was no response from him, but the woman wasn't sure if the prince was really asleep or he simply refuse to talk to her.

"Um... I'm sorry that I... uh, talk to Piers. And I-"

Suddenly, the hay shifted and Jake sat up with a cynical smirk, "So, it's 'Piers' now? That was fast."

"What?"

Jake brushed the hay from his sleeves and threw her an accusing look, "You got a soft spot for that puppy, didn't you? But why did you even bother troubling yourself to even humor me if you want a piece of Nivans?"

The offending words took a few seconds before Sherry could comprehend what the situation Jake was bringing in, "What? No! Me and Pier- Sir Nivans were merely friends." She caught herself from using Nivans' first name in front of the Prince again.

The young Wesker then threw his head back and laughed, but the laugh was of a mocking sort, "I see that you are no different than any other of those skanky bitches. You used men to your advantage. Me... and maybe that puppy too?"

The stewardess was still in a trance, "What do you mean that I... used men?" She felt disgusted saying those words.

The Prince smirked, as charming as his face looked right now, Sherry couldn't help but to feel the hostility in the air, especially the tension emanating from this so-called 'dangerous' man. Jake pointed his index finger to her, "I knew why you agree to serve me, Sherry. You wanted to become Queen if my asshole old man dies and I become King. You wanted me to fall for your charm."

What had he just said? The blonde could hardly believe what the Prince had incriminated her for.

"Do you really think that I couldn't see through you plans? Maybe the puppy was a Plan B in case he became the Grand General after that lapdog?"

If she was acting on her impulse, Sherry swore that she will slap the Prince by now if she hadn't had a good self-control over her patience to this... foul man. Instead, she balled her fingers into a tight fist and squeezed it even tighter to curb her brewing anger.

How could he criminate her for such vile deeds?

Sherry had wanted to say something for her own self defense but she found none, her words were stuck on her throat so Jake launched his second assault, "I guess I am wrong about you... In the end, you are just another bitch. Just like that Excella bitch to my father."

"No!" She shrieked. And he stopped. 'I did this for the sake of The Queen. And for your own good.'

Sherry was so darn desperate to say that but her mouth wasn't cooperating, it was shaking in tremor that she could barely say a word to counter his statement about her being a worthless woman. A worthless whore.

He waited a while and she was still lost in her own trance, so Jake launched his final assault, "Nothing else to say? Okay, you are still a bitch."

Out of sheer impulse, Sherry ran off the basement and slammed the wooden door behind her, behind Jake. Her actions had threw the door of its hinges and Jake watched attentively to the door which was now hanging with only one hinge intact.

It worked.

His plan worked.

His actual plan to lower her esteem had actually goddamn worked.

But instead of pumping his fist to the air victoriously like he usually did with all other stewardess when they gave up on him, this time Jake sat on the haystack, lacking motions and emotions. His eyes trained onto the empty air and he listened to the creak of the door carefully.

He should feel happy that he was finally rid of her, but why did he felt so empty?

What had Sherry done to him that made him feel this way?

"Prince."

Jake glared at the woman who now standing at the door.

Not Sherry anymore.

King's Hall, Morning

His eyes glowed darkly against the neat writing scribbled against the piece of paper. It was sent in by Doctor Rebecca herself, she passed the report over to Excella who in turn, passed it along the King. According to what she had diagnosed the other day, it was merely a simple fever and need not require serious attention, Rebecca also stated Gabrielle had gotten a lot better.

It was a barefaced lie that Rebecca had plotted on the Queen's wish.

Albert fell for it, believing that Gabrielle was fine and need not attention as Rebecca had mentioned.

"Get rid of this." He flailed the paper carelessly to his side and Excella obeyed instantly, crumpled it into a ball and slipped it somewhere beneath her dress.

She was standing beside his throne when Albert stared stoically as he waited for the Three Generals to present themselves in the next moment. Seeing that there's still time, Excella grinned as she slid one of her smooth hand down to Albert's chest. This time, Albert did nothing to stop her. Becoming more daring, the sultry woman went beneath his garb and touched his hard chest by the flesh while Albert's face remains blank and unreadable, "Your Majesty does not have the intention to visit the Queen, do you?"

"No, I have more important matter to tend for. Rather than to entertain a single woman." He answered coldly, the hot hand on his chest failed to bother him one bit.

Giggling evilly, the king's personal lady in waiting went upward to touch his neck, "Hmm... of course. She can no longer do what I can do." She said in the way like honey was dripping right from her lips, "And I know your matter far more than she did."

Yet, never once did the King lay his eyes on hers. Albert's golden-red orbs stayed fixated onto the mahogany double door.

Curving her slender body down so that her lips was on his ear, Excella whispered suggestively, "What do you say if I... become your Queen?"

She got no answer, and she did not know whether if it's the King refused to answer her or if it's the fact that Redfield, Kennedy and Krauser were walking towards the King.

She bent herself straight instantly, pretending that she was fixing the King's garment. Although the generals had already seen too much of her when they entered the hall.

"Bitch." Chris and Leon mouthed simultaneously and Krauser was unmoved by it.

They greeted the King good morning. And were ready to present their agenda of the day which regard the warfare, military drilling, new recruits and the maintenance of the blacksmith, things that bored Excella's wits out.

And finally, Prince Jake Muller Wesker.

This time, Chris had finally one good point to say to the King instead of nothing, "His Highness was on the training ground before I did. I am pleased to say that the Prince has finally taken regard into his own military improvement, Your Majesty."

Albert's lips curved slightly, "Very good, general. Finally, one good news after six years without one." It was more like a jeer than a compliment, "I expected to see more from you."

"Of course, sire."

"General Kennedy and General Krauser, you two are to assist the Grand General whatever you can."

Then a few more senators entered the hall and they further discussed of the kingdom's welfare.

Throughtout the whole conference, Excella couldn't keep her mind off of Albert Wesker's impending answer.

Sherry's bedroom, Morning

After the horrid encounter with Jake last night, Sherry shut herself in that so-called room of hers, trapping herself away from everyone else specifically the Prince. This was the first time she had ever used the bed and it was all the Prince's fault for making her sleep at the oddest places around the Palace.

She knew that she should not snap on the Prince just like that but she couldn't, wouldn't tolerate of what Jake had said to her.

A gold digger, a whore! Of all things!

He had hurt her, he had belittle her to the point that she was even worse than worthless woman.

Taking her friends' word into consideration, Sherry decided that she should just leave him. That man was an animal, an animal that had no means to be tamed. How could a small woman like her will tame Prince? The Queen had held too high regards about Sherry's capability.

Jake Wesker can break anyone, no matter how strong they were.

Sherry thought that returning to work as a simple maid was better than becoming his personal slave. Sure, her work as a maid might be doubled or tripled, but it was so much better than spending the days to serve Jake which was comparable to serve a devil in hell.

Although her real intentions was to prove to the Prince that she was not what he was thinking her of.

In her trance, she shook a little when she heard the doorknob crunched slightly. Someone had tried to open the door to her room but to find it locked.

The Prince?

"Sherry? Are you in there? It's me, Jill."

Ironically, she found herself a little upset that it was not him. Maybe she was hoping for an apology from him or maybe - she just want to see him again.

Brushing the wrinkles on her dress away, Sherry went over and open the door for her. The gentle woman saw how Sherry's face was tear-stained. Before she can say anything, Sherry spoke faster than she can, "Miss Valentine, I-"

"I know. I saw what had happened, I followed after you." Her face was expectant and she said it with a smile.

"You did?"

Jill nodded. 'Then I wouldn't have to explain myself again.' Sherry thought and she tried to continue what she was trying to say earlier, but Jill again interrupted, "Before you jump into decision, how about you clean yourself first? The Queen wanted to see you."

"Her Highness?"

Queen's Chamber, Morning

This would be the first time Sherry had ever visit Queen Gabrielle herself after the brief period of serving Jake Wesker. Still in her sleeping attire, Gabrielle sat up from the bed and rested her back against the headboard, the thin layer of sheet rested on her waist.

Gabrielle looked exactly the same as Sherry had last seen her a week ago but she did saw something was amiss on her beautiful Queen... she looked perhaps weaker. And the Queen had lost an amount of weight that Sherry can now see the wrinkle on her fair face. She looked so aged, but still represent resplendence nonetheless.

Jill closed the door behind her and went to the Queen's aid to help her sit up. Gabrielle wore her signature kind smile on her face when she saw the timid stewardess bowed to greet her, "Good morning, Sherry." She said hoarsely.

"Good morning, your Highness." The greeting was so soft that even Jill could barely hear her, she was too afraid to see The Queen. After what had occurred between her and the Prince last night, she reckoned that Jill had told the Queen of the whole situation.

And now the Queen will be the jury to judge her crime for snapping out on the Prince of Raccoonia.

"I knew what had happened last night..." Gabrielle began, "I will not blame you for running out on my son. From what Jill told me, his words was too harsh for an honest woman like you."

"My Queen, I-"

"Did you really consider it? That you wanted to leave his service?"

Sherry sighed, at least she knew the Queen was an understanding one. She will understand why she made such decision.

Meeting Gabrielle's weak gaze, Sherry mustered herself to confess, "I... I may be selfish to say this but yes. After these days with Prince Wesker, I had finally understand why everyone was avoiding him."

"Nothing that would change your mind? Or maybe you are still reluctant?"

Reluctance. Not that it never crossed her mind. In fact, Sherry knew that she still can bear with the Prince's hellish torture. And the decision was actually made in a rush and impulsive. She had only wanted to show Jake that she was not a woman he was accusing her of. Her approach to the Prince was not at all that someday the Prince might fall for her and she might be Queen. She just wanted to changed him, per Gabrielle's request.

Sherry knew that the Queen had seen through her now, so denying her would be useless. Carefully she nodded.

Smiling, the Queen said, "I take that you are still reluctant."

"Yes. After these days of understanding how people avoided him, I had also starting learn to understand the Prince." she paused, "He was not at all merciless to me."

"Are you still adamant to leave, dear Sherry?"

She was torn, because she couldn't choose between the yes or no. So she remained silent and let the Queen made the decision for her. Gabrielle winked at Jill softly and Jill took the cue.

Valentine moved in front of Sherry and took her hands, "Last night after you left the Prince, I visited him soon after. And I saw something that I had never seen before. An occurrence that had never happened before you."

Sherry's stare at the connected hands was unfocused, but Jill could tell that she was still listening, "The previous women before you, the moment when they had walked out of him just like you did last night, his Highness would cheer for his apparent 'victory', he would then laugh at me when I confront him. But when I walked up to him last night..." The taller Jill tilted her head downwards so that she can see Sherry by her eyes, "He did nothing."

"Nothing?" Sherry whispered.

The Queen's stewardess shook her head affirmatively, "His Highness said nothing, did nothing. He just stared at me until I took my leave. And when I left, did you know what I heard him say?" She smiled, "I'm sorry, Sherry."

It felt like Jake's voice was ringing in her head saying those magic words.

"That means that he was not completely happy that you leave. Unlike what you and everyone was thinking, he still have a heart. He always had it with him even after that incident six years ago."

Sherry looked up, "Six years ago?"

Jill gave the Queen a quick look and she nodded, granting Jill the permission to continue.

And so she did, "Six years ago, the seventeen years old Prince was not whom you had seen now. He was a man that even his king father was pleased with. But on that day one winter when he was sent on an expedition to the south... Just a simple reconnaissance inside the forest of the rural area there." She stopped, her mind circulating around on how to continue.

"There's something happened to his mission that the kingdom lost all communication with the Prince. Only after they had sent in the rescue team a week later, they found that the village secluded inside the forest where his Highness at was deserted."

"The Prince was found, lying on the snowy ground in the middle of the village. There are no survivors, his team were all dead except himself. And his best friend had went missing. That how's the scar on his cheek came from. Prince Wesker woke up a few days later and... that's when the Prince changed."

"Nobody knew what had happened that day, save for the Prince himself-"

The sharp cough made Jill tore her gaze from Sherry and to the Queen immediately. Gabrielle's body shook violently as each cough was taking her breath away, she could barely breath at all. Jill dashed to her Queen and stroke the spot where she knew that can soothe the cough, pointing to the table at the other corner of the chamber, Valentine ordered Sherry to fetch her the bottle of medicine and the glass of water sitting along the bottle.

The panicked Sherry did as she was told, 'What's happening? Why did the Queen-'

Her confusion was answered after the Queen pulled her hand away from her lips, revealing the spot of redness for Sherry to see. She gasped at the sight of blood, the Queen had just coughed blood! Jill maintained her composure for the sake of Gabrielle and she took the bottle from Sherry, ignoring the blood that was now stained to the white sheet as Gabrielle rested her drained hand to the bed.

Pulling the cork out, Jill mixed the amber liquid inside the bottle with the glass of water shakily. She fed the Queen with the water-distilled medicine and her cough finally ceased.

At least the prescribed medicine was working.

Laying the Queen backwards to the mattress, Jill pulled the stained sheet away. "Sherry, will you get me a new sheet on that shelf over there?" She pointed.

The stunned Sherry snapped herself out of her conscience and obeyed, after the confusion was diffused, then finally Jill explained to Sherry, "Promise me you will not tell the Prince about this, my dear. The Queen has cancer."

"Cancer?!" She nearly choked the word out, but she hushed herself.

"Sherry..." The tired Queen called from her bed. Wasting no time getting to her, Sherry sat at the edge of the bed right on The Queen's knees. Weakly, Gabrielle's hand reached out for one of Sherry's and she begged softly, "I know my son is not a wicked man as he is. It must be the trauma that very day that made him like this. For now, I believe you're the only one who can relish him of his nightmare... and bring me back my son. Would you... reconsider about leaving him?"

"Your Highness. Did the Prince knew about this?"

"No," She replied, "he didn't."

"His Highness must know! He should have see you-" Sherry made a move to stand.

The Queen gripped her hand with whatever strength she had to halt Sherry, "He mustn't. Promise me this. Please."

Sighing, Sherry nodded defeatedly, "Yes, your Highness."

"And you will not leave him, right?"

Her answer was definite, "No... I promise that I will do anything to bring the old Prince back."

"Thank you, Sherry."

Later that morning when she searched for The Prince, a new determination grew inside her.

She will find the Prince. She will find his old self back for the sake of her beloved Queen. Whatever happened in his past will not be her obstacle of doing so.

A.N: I know that the things that Jake said was mean and nasty to a woman, but we know he didn't actually mean it. It's just another method of his to rid Sherry and... at least we know, AND Sherry know that he is not completely an asshole. :) How's the snippet of Jake's past to you? Actually, it's a lot darker than you think. ;)

Oh, and Excella? Still a bitch. :) Anyone agree with me?