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

Chapter VII: Confrontation

'And would you rather listen to this bitch than your own son, Albert?' - Jake Wesker

King's Study, Midnight

The decree in his hand crumbled by Albert's sheer force against it.

It was late at night when General Jack Krauser urgently summoned himself to the King with a message of utmost importance, one that must be read by King Albert Wesker and only Albert Wesker. The red wax seal was inked by one particular Family that made even the hardest King like Albert Wesker's heartbeat to accelerate.

Before he proceed to read the letter, Albert had dismissed the love-stricken Excella of his and his chamberlain back to their rooms, leaving he himself and Krauser alone. Every letter made his royal blood he had reached to the last of the letter, Wesker slammed the poor piece of paper to his desk, shaking Krauser a little. Kneeling in front of his King as he finish, the General finally looked to his master.

"Your Majesty... Is it him?"

"Hmph." Albert's gloved hand tightened into a ball, the leather on the verge of ripping, "He will be sending his 'envoy' as his representative to us the next evening, before he will be visiting us by himself. No doubt he will be flaunting with his advantage to extort out of me..."

That being said, but what happened next was what not Krauser expected. The General thought that it will be a new dent to his desk or a few broken furniture to sate the King's anger. But it was not.

Albert laughed,

"Nobody extort from me. And... it seemed my plan was working well. Too well."

"Your Majesty?"

Wesker smirked as he strode to the window overlooking the whole Palace. His Palace, "This 'envoy' will knew better, General. She was one smart woman."

Krauser remained silent and he patiently let the cunning King to his laughter.

"Just you wait what I have in store for you, Simmons."

Arklay Mountains, Morning

Sherry woke up feeling strangely familiar, the air felt familiar, her body felt familiar, even the birds chirping sounded familiar, everything. She tossed to her side, her eyes feeling hot and heavy that her groggy brain was barely functioning.

She had a dream last night, a bitter yet sweet dream; she remember being awfully alone for some reasons and there was this man held her when she needed it. And kissed her to comfort her.

The musty air made Sherry's nose crunched and she fought to pry her lazy eyes open. Only a small slit, then the rest shot up all the way when she spotted that she was not alone.

Jake Wesker; sleeping at a corner not far from her with his back leaned against the wall. His arms were crossed and his head tilted to his side where the morning ray crept in through the window.

Her vision began to stir clearer and now her panicked brewed when the rational part of her brain began working again; she sneak out with Prince last night (with Jake promising that they'll be back before dawn breaks), then they came to Arklay Village, they met with Uncle Burton... and they came here to her house. Sherry's heart soften when the vivid image of her dream began floating into her head, 'Wait a second— that was not a dream!' Her eyes darted towards the sleeping Jake Wesker, he was snoring slightly - a gesture that she found adorable - and she recalled the incident enfolded last night.

She admitted her past to him. And he kissed her... forehead. She blushed as her hand subconsciously hovered over to where his lips had made contact with. 'No. He did that just to comfort me. Simple as that. There was no way he could— No, this isn't the time to be thinking about this! I should be...'

Once again she found herself staring at his sleeping figure, 'But Prince comforted me... He was always so distant and sarcastic but... does that mean something? By the gods, he smells like cinnamon and apple and—'

'No. No! NO! Not again, Sherry. Now is not the time to daydream! What if the Palace discover that the Prince is gone? Oh, will I be—'

"Morning, Supergirl."

She blinked at him, a small wave of hand was threw at her direction and the Prince seemed to be completely undisturbed by the morning light, "You look troubled, is something up?" He grinned.

"Prince! The day had break, the castle will know soon that you are missing!"

"Oh, that."

The unwavered, careless answer made Sherry stared open-mouthed at him, exasperated. Oh, of course, he was the Prince after all, who would dare to reprimand him? If anyone to blame, it will be her.

"Relax, Supergirl; I got us covered. After all, I am the Prince. Plus..." He stood, stretch his stiff body by a bit (because he was in a poor sleeping position all night) and offered a hand to her, We still got one more place to go before I decided to head back."

She squatted on where the unmarked grave of Annette.

Jake was right behind her. His eyes focused onto the curve on the earth where the deceased rested upon. Sherry swept the dried leaves away with her hand and she presented her mother the last gift.

Carnation.

"Hey, mom." She said softly, a voice meant only for her mother to hear, "I came to visit."

The melancholy that Sherry inserted in her tone made Jake backed away slightly out of reflex, he meant to give her some privacy. But only a step back he took and there he was, staring back at her crouched body. Sherry finger twiddled onto the dirt beneath her, curling around and draw meaningless circles.

Never had she imagine the day that she will be talking to her mother's grave so soon. Truth be told, she didn't know what to say to Annette's grave; sure she had a lot to tell her, but she just had not an idea where to start.

"I am sorry, mom." Sherry whispered, head ducking down to her neck, "I..." Her tongue tied there and then. There was just too much that she had to apologize about that she found not a single word to it. 'I hid and I didn't help you when I should... and I left for so long, and I never came visit.' For a moment, Jake though that the stilled Sherry was crying again but realized that she didn't.

But her lips curved, a small reassuring smile came to her lips, "But I am okay now, mother. I am now in a safe place of all in Raccoonia; I am now the Prince's own stewardess." Her head tilted to him but she failed to see the blush on his face, "Don't worry about me now, mother. You can... rest in peace."

With that said, her hand clasped together and offered Annette her final prayers. Jake stood there like a statue but decided later that he will do the same too.

When Sherry turned back to Jake, he could only give her a playful smirk as a consolation, "You sure you had nothing more to tell her? It should be a while before we can come back here..."

"It's alright," Sherry glanced back, "Mother read me well, she always knew what I wanted to say before I could even say it."

"If you say so..."

She took a step forward to him and Jake side-stepped to make way for her, letting her take the lead so that they could re-trail the forest back to the city again. But she didn't make it very far before she noticed that Jake wasn't following her. Instead, he had his eyes fixated to Annette's grave.

'I'll take care of Sherry. I promise you that.'

"Sir?"

"I am ready to go now."

And he set forth back home. With one determination.

Raccoonia Castle, Morning

It took them few hours before they were able to return to the spot where they crept out the previous night. Jake suggested that they abandon their belongings there so that it would be of convenient if they were to participate in this secret activity again. Besides, their belongings were not of anything of importance with sentimental value; just essentials for travelling.

Except Jake's sword. And one more thing he brought along.

They were about to climb back into the Palace through the crack until Jake stopped Sherry momentarily. "Aren't you forgetting something?" He smirked, hand firm on her shoulder.

She arched a brow to him to his sly gesture, "What did I forget, your Highness?"

The question was answered when Jake dug into his pants and pulled out a long piece of shiny article; golden all the way. Her mouth opened into a soundless gasp as Jake grinned down at her.

"How could you possibly forgot this?" She took the memento off of his hand with her shaky ones, "I took care of it for you last night, and I thought that it's a better idea to bring it."

"But I thought- hadn't you left it back-"

"It's yours now, Supergirl. You mom entrusted this to you... And someone else might took it even if you left it there... Plus," He snatched it away from her and unclasped the pendant, an action which made her froze, "You look great on it."

The twigs snapped under his foot as Jake took a few steps and hovered behind her. Her limbs was frozen numb and petrified, she couldn't react at all other than to blush like a mad woman - not when she figured out what he was trying to do, not when she felt the strong yet mild heat radiate behind her back so closely - Jake wound the article around her neck and worked with it. His thumb brushing slightly against her skin made her blush flared, it felt like sparks of fire trickling.

"There." He breathed when the two hook attached. Gently, he turned her around by her shoulders, a smile tugged on his lips when he saw the mild gleam reflected from the pendant that ended on her between he neck and her chest. He never noticed, but she had ridiculously smooth and pale skin. The small blotches of dirt and grimes made her all the more amazing nonetheless.

Cherry. She smells like cherries.

He wanted to kiss her. Just once and he'll be more than happy.

"Umm..." She started, which made Jake startled, "I... Thank you, your Highness."

He found no words, save for his signature smirk as he relented and retreated from her.

"Prince!" "Prince Wesker!" "Your Highness!"

The echoes for Jake made them snapped out of their reverie. So the castle had noticed their disappearance? Sherry eyeballed at Jake's nervously and Jake just nodded. They were to climb back into the Palace for now, then he would lie about it later.

Hopefully this old trick would work.

He supported Sherry's weight as she climbed back through the crack first. Then it was Jake's turn to climb through the gap himself. First he threw his sword to her, then with a jump, he grabbed onto the debris and pulled his weight with ease.

"So here's the plan: we'll run our way to the tower there. Then we'll wait until someone found us there." He said once he had gotten to his feet and got a hold of his weapon. Sherry nodded affirmatively and followed after Jake lead.

They were far from the designated location however, when someone spotted them and called for them from their hind.

"Prince! Finally! There you are!"

The two had to stop now that they were detected, Sherry was half-panicked while Jake was struggling to make up something real quick. Turning around, Sherry was mildly surprised that it was Claire running to them - surely she was an understanding one. The older woman ran up to the duo, panting heavily as she tried to recompose herself.

"P-Prince," She tried to talk and breath at the same time. Apparently she had not noticed at all Jake's and Sherry's out of ordinary attire, "I-I've finally found you."

Jake explained himself quickly, "Look, Claire, whatever you saw now was not what you—"

"The King found out!" She interjected in a volume higher than she had ever been to Jake, which made both Jake and Sherry startled. They looked at each other briefly, before turning their attention back to the exhausted Claire. "What he had found out?"

What came next from Claire was not what they expected to hear, "His Majesty had found out about the Queen! He was completely furious that he had Doctor Hamilton arrested!" Widen eyes were barely anything to define how Jake and Sherry would want to react right now. All they could do was to make soundless gasp as Jake had his mouth hung low to his jaws and Sherry clasped her hand to her mouth.

King Albert Wesker had discovered about Queen Gabrielle's cancer.

Jake hadn't formulate a 'How?' and Claire was already giving an answer, "His Majesty visited the Queen last night and she threw up blood and pass out right in front of His Majesty. Doctor Hamilton took the blame all by himself to save the Queen, Doctor Chambers, Jill and Cindy—"

A deafening cry of agony reverberated through the Palace which made Claire stopped mid-sentence. They knew whom the source of the shriek belong. With that, Claire hastily lead them away, "Quickly, sir! The assemble had begun! We had to get there to save Doctor Hamilton from misfortune, only your Highness could defend the doctor for now!"

King's Hall, Morning

The next cane to the back ripped the tunic and blood began flowing out from where the blow had landed. The Senators winced on the brutal sight while the Generals could only gave the victim a sympathetic look. Tied up and down on his knees, another lightning fast cane came in contact with George's back and this time, his throat failed to produce vocal chords. His sweaty forehead fell onto the plush carpet beneath him and his breath came out erratically.

"How dare you, Hamilton! How dare you kept secrets from me!" Albert herded, his glare was hard and firm against the helpless doctor beneath his throne. His gold and black train loosely on his shoulder as Albert stood angrily before George. The latter could barely voice out his pain, much less his defense, "Of anyone, about the Queen! You keep secrets of my wife from me, Hamilton. You despicable fool!"

On the King's order, a stronger cane of steel landed directly onto George's spine. Now his belly came in contact with bloody carpet underneath him, as the rest of his anatomy.

As if the situation wasn't bad enough, Excella just had to encourage Albert to further punish the doctor just to 'ease his anger'. "Calm down now, your Majesty. There are no reasons for you to be this angry over this little peasant." She waved her hand over to the overly-fatigued Hamilton, like she was waving off something pesky, "All you have to do was just to proclaim him guilty and have him killed."

"That sadistic bitch of a woman." Piers whispered quietly over to Chris.

Albert didn't answer to Excella's suggestion, but neither did he deny it. One guard dragged the semi-unconscious George up to his knees again, the King watched the dazed George struggling to stay awake - he was panting haggardly and he could hardly keep his eyes open - Albert grasped George's chin and squeezed it, "You are one dead man, George." And he pushed the chin down and went back to his throne.

"Heed my verdict: George Hamilton, for committing treason against me, I declare him as guilty. And punishment for treason is..." The darkened golden eyes of Wesker glowered down, "Death."

George refused to defense for himself to the death sentence, whether he was too exhausted to do so or that he willingly accepted the verdict remained oblivious. However, there was a slight smile that he hid from his face. Albert unsheathed his Samurai Edge, "Anyone plead for his innocence will be counted as a crime for treason as well. George Hamilton will be—"

"Wait!"

Rang from the double door as it swung open, all eyes diverted their attention from their King and to the sudden intruder.

Jake Wesker.

Every present expressed their surprised with gasps and whispers. Still cladding in his dirty attire from his adventure the previous night, Jake stomped towards his father and stopped directly beside George; one hand pushing away the guard holding George in his position. Clearly that Jake was not standing by his father's side today.

The father and son then exchanged glared; like two wild animals ready to pounced onto each other.

"Ass- Father," Jake began, catching himself before he could swear, "For what purpose that you will bring a sword down to Doctor Hamilton?"

The Senators and Knights - even the King himself - by the frivolous Prince usage of language. To speak politely was not his expertise at all, if anything, it would came out as 'Asshole, what the fuck are you think you are doing?' None dared to question the young blood, well, except one anyway.

Albert remained calm and stoic, he pointed his index finger towards the Doctor, "Do you know what this fool had done, do you know what happened to your mother?"

In reply, Jake only sneered, "Mom had cancer. I knew that way before you did."

"What?!"

The leathered fist slammed onto the arm of his throne as Albert came to a stand. Atmosphere grew heavy and nobody even dare to breathe in the suffocating ambiance as the King was now fuming. Again, except Jake that is. Not even when the King now stood eye on eye with his defiant child and his hand tempted to choke him, "You knew it too?!" His hand shot up and grabbed Jake by the collar, "Before I did?"

Out of reflex, Jake shoved the hands away, "Yeah, it just you that was clueless about it, you dumb idiot. And you know what? George was just following order from mom." The Prince hissed, "It was Mom's order not to tell you that, father—"

"Why would she did that?" Albert interjected, "I am his husband—"

"And since when did you act like one?!" Jake shouted back, right on the King's face to everyone's amazement. None in the castle had ever perform that feat - and be alive for more than five seconds, "You barely see her, if any. All you ever did was to court that bitch of yours!" Finger pointed toward the stunned Excella who could do nothing but to wince at the accusation, "She refused to let you know because you didn't even care!" Harshly, Jake shoved Albert by his chest which made the King stumbled backwards.

Yet, Albert kept his emotionless mask on even with the humiliation Jake was giving him. For the first time in a while, he knew that his son was right. Egotistical as he was, Albert refused to admit defeat.

Chris could have given Jake a round of applause if the King was away.

"You know what," Jake breathed through his gritted teeth, "if you are going to execute George, you should kill me as well. You said it: Anyone pleaded for his innocence will be sentenced by treason, which I am now." He now pointed his finger to the Senators, "You had become witness to him. He said it."

For the first time (again), Albert was taken aback and his authority shattered, never did anyone dared to challenge him. And now, Jake Wesker, who had been ignorant for six years had stood up against him.

If the blood flowing inside Jake's veins was not his, perhaps Jake was now already a bloodied corpse.

His fist tighten to quell his boiling anger, as well as to withstand the degree of humiliation in front of all his subjects. His expression twitched into one of an angry man, a feral murderer. "Your Majesty, don't listen to him." At that moment, Excella came up and held Albert's forearm, "this little doctor deserved death. It was not right for the Prince to defy—"

"And would you rather listen to this bitch than your own son, Albert?"

The usage of the King's first name made the tension inside the hall saturated.

But Jake was right. He was still his kin even though they were basically opponents now, and Excella was merely his stewardess, his entertainment. Albert gave Excella a brief glance over his shoulder and removed his forearm from hers.

Now would not be the time that he would embarrass himself further in front of all his loyal subjects, much less the panel of the Senators.

"Very well," A smirk tugged onto Albert's stoic expression, "I will spare Hamilton's life on your countenance, but he still will be suspended from his position as the imperial physician. And imprisonment for five years."

"But that—"

"Nothing less would be acceptable, dear son."

On that Jake said nothing.

When the court was dismissed that day, everyone in the hall knew that it will mark the beginning of what they had never expected to happen.

Mark the era in which Jake Wesker will take on Albert Wesker.

A.N: Incredibly sorry for the delayed update! D: I am still trying my best to write in my hotel, but it's too difficult with all the work hording on my bed. I had to write at midnight, when all my roommates were asleep.

Okay, forget that. So tell me, how's this chapter appeal to you. Slight Jake/Sherry for now, the real sparks had just begun between them from now on. ;)

Next chapter I will bring up one character that most of you will be waiting for! Stay tune!

RFF! XD