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

Chapter XXIII: Discovery

'I heard that you argued with the King... about us.' - Sherry

Front Castle, Morning

"Come in."

General Leon Kennedy took a deep, heaving breath. Carefully he pushed the door to the Grand General's office open, inside was Chris Redfield; studying a map of Raccoonia with several red and blue miniature flags scattering around the landscape. His expression was hard, picking a blue flag and move it to another position, then shook his head and return it to its original spot, "What brings you here, brother in law?" He greeted, his attention solely on the map.

"Brother," Leon paused, unsure of how to begin with, "I was visited by Simmons' concubine, Ada Wong."

Intrigued, Chris stopped on what he was doing and his eyes searched for Leon's.

The latter knew that the Grand General was listening so he proceeded, "I was with your sister last night. Wong infiltrated my room and... left me something." His hand searched inside his breast pocket, pulling out the 'gift' that Ada left for him last midnight. "This is the letter from his Majesty to Simmons. And the other newer one was from Ada Wong." He handed them to Chris for examination, and the General agreed on how aged the one written from the King, the paper felt brittle in his hand and there were brown spots on the envelope.

"Have you examine its content?" Chris inquired and Leon negated him.

He asked Leon to lock the door first. Kennedy did as told and Chris carefully uncover the content of the first aged envelope. His chubby fingers removed the letter from the envelope and the contents were not as damaged as the envelope.

Luckily, the words were still eligible.

"It was dated back to at least twenty-five years ago." Chris reminded of the date of the letter, "It was the time before the late King had chosen his successor to take over Raccoonia."

"The late King?"

"King Oswell E. Spencer. You still hadn't join the knighthood at that moment. I was still only a regular knight back then, and the current King Albert Wesker is the Grand General before me." Chris elaborated, "It was confusion in the castle back then, because the kingdom had lost its order. And King Spencer was too elderly himself to lead the country anymore. Having no children of his own, the late King had to choose his successor between his most trusted followers."

"He had three candidates back then." Chris summarized. And the letter had torn open for them to see.

Derek,

My men will send you... 'witnesses' as I had told you. You are to proceed as instructed, dispose the two so that they will be forever gone from the face of Raccoonia. Now with the two of them gone, rest assured that the throne will be only me to ascend, now that the old King had no one else left to leave his Kingdom to.

As promised, once I had ascended to be the ruler of Raccoonia, you can assure that the House of Simmons will be benefited as well.

Tall Oaks shall be yours if you executed you obligation without flaw.

I will await for you good news.

Albert Wesker.

"Brother Chris? Is something matter?"

Leon snapped Chris out of his conscience when Chris stared blankly at the end of the letter. His hand floated back to the desk, the letter rested against the mahogany surface. "Perhaps... perhaps it was Wesker...?"

The minor general called out for his brother in law again with Chris suddenly slammed his fist against the desk, creating a large crack in the middle.

"Leon, do you remember when I said there were three candidates for the kingdom?" He nodded, "One of them was Albert Wesker. Before the final vote was cast by the late King, the other two disappeared without a trace, and the King was dead soon after. In the end, the current King, Albert Wesker, he ascended the throne by default."

"Wait..." Leon took hold of the letter again and reread it from top to bottom, "Are you saying that... King Wesker schemed with Simmons in the process?"

"Exactly."

He blinked, "What about the letter from Wong?""

Raccoonia Castle, Morning

She had woken up not in her own room, but in a even bigger one than she remembered to be hers. Even the sheets smells different than her usual distinctive floral scent, it was... muskier, like dried-out sweat. She stirred slightly and frozen completely when she felt movements behind her back, but relaxed as soon as she felt strong hands stroked her flat belly and kissed her on the back of her neck.

"You awake now, sleepy-head?" The witty comment was complemented with a soft chortle. Then another shower of kisses down her back, her arm, and to her spine - sending tingles all over her and Sherry squirmed in the fit of laughter.

"No fair, Jake. You are the one that worn me out."

The complained died when Jake pulled her to him as squashed her back against his firm chest, "I remember that. I pulled you into my room and mauled you."

She blushed all over, "J-Jake..."

He sighed as he kissed the shell of her ear and bit her earlobe gently.

"I like it when you call my name." He pressed his exclamation by using more force on his teeth, making the woman in his arm squealed, "I just wish you can call me that anywhere."

"You know it's not possible, Jake. I mean... we are in the castle and—"

He cut her off by stealing a kiss to her moving lips, "Yeah, I understand... But I'm gonna tell dad soon so—"

Their moment together was only interrupted by a set of knocking on the double door of his room. They sprang apart out of reflex, with Jake glaring at the door and Sherry sheepishly collected her underwear abandoned on the foot of the bed. He grunted, picking up his pants strewn on the floor along with the other clothing and put it on quickly.

Kissed her by the forehead lightly, Jake jumped off the bed and head to answer the door, leaving Sherry hiding her half-naked body underneath the sheets .

Excella had her hands folded neatly on her lap, a cheery smile on her face which Jake found disgust in her act.

"Good morning, your Highness." She greeted enthusiastically, "His Majesty sent me here to ask, if your Highness would join him in the court today."

Her eyes browsed onto Jake very naked upper torso which Jake failed to notice as he yawned and rubbed his scalp. It made her mouth water, it was just as gorgeous as the King's. "Mmm... Yeah. I will, I guess." His gaze hovered over his shoulder, which the woman hiding underneath the layers of sheets wished that he wouldn't, "But we need to clean up and get some grubs first."

"We?" The rustle of sheet behind the Prince made Excella subconsciously peered into the room where the bed was. The stain sheet curving perfectly to a petite frame and Sherry kept her face hidden from plain view, cursing the Prince innerly.

Excella gaped like a fish.

"Miss Sherry?"

The referred curled into a ball on the sound of her name. Jake grinned like an idiot at Excella, "She meant to say 'Hi'. Well, if you'll excuse us. We need to get changed."

"Oh." Was all the lecherous woman managed to say. Awkwardly, she took a step back and Jake shut the door behind him, pressing onto his stomach to stifle the barrage of laughter from escaping. Sherry could have sworn that she would hit the man with the pillow in hand if only he wasn't the Prince of Raccoonia. Worse, Jake actually found the situation to be funny than to be embarrassed unlike Sherry felt.

Until a realization hit her and her head snapped upward to see the Prince. "Oh my god, Jake... She is going to tell the King!"

Instead of an equally abashed expression from the Prince as she had hoped for, Jake calmly dressed himself and head for the basin for a wash of the face. Why would he be scared? He thought, it was his initial plan to break his father's bubble of his love life. If Gabrielle would accept Sherry, he was sure that Albert would be too.

She collected the remaining of her clothing and threw it on, all the while waiting for a reply from Jake. He was silent for a moment but decided to reveal his intentions anyway, "I want to tell dad either way. It's no big deal, Supergirl. He'll know sooner or later..."

She squeaked when Jake snatched her up from her hind and nibbled on her ear, "Besides, I couldn't wait until I can kiss you in front of everyone."

"J-Jake." She whimpered, his ministration quickly sapping her energy, leaving her legs wobbly.

He released her later on so that they could both change. When they were done donning on their everyday clothes, Jake was ready to leave. Well, not until Sherry held him a little by his forearm. The force wasn't enough to pull him back but Jake stopped for her anyway.

"Wait." she said, "I have something to give you."

He quirked an eyebrow, showing his interest to her. He saw her fumbled with the laces on the collar of her dress, fingers slipping beneath the clothing, unsnapping the garment she hid underneath.

Then she clasped her palms together into a sphere, "Here." It opened to reveal the little treasure inside, "This is the least I could do for you."

The golden locket.

Jake smirked, but he made no movements to accept her gift, "This is from your mother, Sherry. You don't have to give me anything. Plus," his fingered crept to her cheeks and stroke the warm skin there, "you give me more than I bargained for. You gave me the faith to believe a person again. And we are not merchants, this is not an exchange of anything." Feeling bashful, Jake leaned in next to her ear and added in huskily, "You gave me you anyway. What more could I ask for?"

Sherry blushed furiously. But technically, he was right - Sherry had literally given her to him in every aspect - and she understand well that between her and Jake wasn't about the exchange of anything. She adored him not because she wanted any benefits from him, it's because she loved him; simple as that.

He was trying to remind her of that. He was being sweet.

"I know that, Jake..." Her lips quivered, "At least... will you keep this for me?"

Jake coy his head almost curiously, "Why?"

"Actually, I wanted to give this to you for coming this far, Jake. But since you won't accept it anyway, I was thinking if you could keep it safe for me. I...couldn't hid it beneath my clothing all the time."

He nodded, "That makes sense."

"So..." She offered again, "I could only trust you to keep this for me. Don't lose it please; it's my mothers."

This time, he accepted it for her sake. And he told her that it wouldn't be a problem to keep it safe with him, after all, he had a perfect place to keep.

The golden locket was a unisex article anyway so it suit him just fine.

He'll just gonna wear it.

Surely, expectantly, the woman did report to the King of whatever she witnessed that morning.

By the time that Jake walked to the dining hall that morning to break the bubbles himself, Albert was already seated with his cup of coffee.

Instead of a reaction he hoped for, he got the exact opposite.

Unlike the usual calm and collected King who had rarely thrown himself into a fit of rage (if ever), the moment that Jake step foot onto the threshold of the dining hall, Albert slammed his mug down the table. The impact not enough to shatter the porcelain container but enough to shake everyone inside the hall, including the expecting Excella.

Albert Wesker is infuriated.

Jake was silently glad that Sherry decided that she will see if Helena was okay.

"I've heard... that you are with the slave girl now." He commented, his tone indifferent from any other day but Jake could tell that he was brewing inside.

"Her name is Sherry." The younger Wesker retorted, still on his feet, "And yup. We are together now."

The King gave a disapproving huff. Mist blowing out from his nostril where he exhaled and Albert picked up his beverage again.

"I disapprove that." He said simply.

"Heh, that not for you to decide—"

"She is just a petty cleaning girl."

"She is a wonderful girl—"

"I am your father. I said no."

"But mom gave me the green light."

Albert paused, eyes blinking several times before settling down his mug with a curious leer to his son, "Gabrielle said so?"

Jake smirked, "Long before you even knew."

"Gabrielle said so." The King repeated, but more affirmatively. It held resentment, for his wife to be so naive for making this decision. For the heir of Raccoonia to be with a slave girl was simply unacceptable in every aspect.

...But wasn't Gabrielle used to be one too?

But his words were final. Always. His son was no exception.

"Whatever the case is, my son. I disapprove of you to be with that slave."

Jake hadn't thrown his temper out the window yet, he breathed through his nose several times. Not yet, he thought, his angry issue won't solve anything, the matter will only get worse if he argue with his father."I disagree, father." The Prince stomached the flames in his pits.

"Jake." Albert repeated, "Nobody says no to me."

It was not long before Jake eventually snapped.

Snarling ferally down his kin, Jake slammed both his fist onto the table where Albert had his cup of coffee. The warm liquid spilled onto the table, and everyone present knows that t would be the time that they back away in case this pair of father and son got into trouble.

In which, they really did.

In matter of seconds, Albert was up his seat and his hand onto the collar of his son. Neither predicted that the argument would turn as violent as it is but neither cared. Both men trying to prove their superiority over the other as fist were exchanged and dodged.

The dining hall fight was fierce, both were equal men with equal strength, to Albert's surprise - he had low expectation of his son's ability as a real fighter. It was Albert's own experiences in the battlefield that overpowered his son that Albert caught hold of Jake's arm and throw him over his shoulder. Next, his hand reached for Jake's neck to suppress his feral son.

A shine on Jake's neck caught Albert's amber eyes.

Red serpent from a golden locket.

Instinctively, Albert ripped the necklace from Jake's neck and inspected the object; his eyes showed disbelief. Far as he remembered, his son had never possess this piece of article with him. In the same flash, it was torn from his hand and it was no other than Jake who did that.

Jake's eyes were of a predator, he was angry that his father had ruined the pendant that his lover gave him only that morning.

"Who gave that to you?" Albert demanded anxiously. The rebellious Prince refused to answer as he stomped away from the hall without a word.

It was time for Excella to step in.

"Sir," she said once the Prince was away from the hall, "It was the slave girl's."

"Sherry?"

She nodded confidently, almost proud of herself, "I've seen it with her during the ball. I remember it because it was the only piece of jewelry the slave had with her."

"SIR!"

One knight barged into the hall, panting for breaths, the knight had run here from wherever he were. Albert was displeased that he was interrupted but allowed the knight to explained himself either way.

"Report yourself." Albert demanded, his voice scornful.

"Sir..." He breathed only once, "General Krauser is assassinated!"

Raccoonia Castle, Afternoon

"Surely it would look like a clean arrow to the throat, your Majesty. But... his blood was ink black. I suspect that he was poisoned prior to his actual death."

"Poison you say, Doctor Chambers?"

"Yes, your Majesty. Poison, a lethal one. One that could claim even someone as powerful as General Krauser himself. The poison doesn't out right kill the victim, but weaken them first. I suppose the assassin spare the General from a painful death by an arrow to the throat."

The King didn't need proof, nor did he need evidence. He knew well of whom the assailant might be, he knew well the poison used to kill the Jack Krauser. The poison was tailored by the assassin herself, per Wesker's personal request to be used against Simmons' before his death.

A slow working poison - one that torment the affected before his or her inevitable death - so lethal even the chemist claimed that there will be no possible antidote could be produced. He recalled the moment when she tested the poison in front of the King, the unlucky prisoner rotted slowly before falling to his knees, coughing out ink-colored blood out his purple lips so frantically and... stilled. That was how the King wished Simmons to die.

Albert was more than satisfied with her work that his offer for a sample was rejected. In which now Albert had the bottle sitting in front of him, right on his desk, complemented with a piece of letter topped with the same arrow that killed General Jack Krauser.

The amber liquid was like a mockery to the King as it sat there, emanating a strange hue.

"Ada Wong."

Albert gritted the name between his teeth. How he had wished now that he could feed this poison back to the owner, drop by drop.

Good day, Your Majesty.

I suppose that Jack Krauser is gone by now. A shame that I have to kill him, he was such an interesting man to meet. An even terrible shame that I knew his intention before his death; he wished to quiet me forever for your sake, which I found him very loyal indeed. Krauser was just a little too late to discover the fact that crossing me was not something he supposed to have on his wishlist.

We shouldn't talk about a dead man now, shan't we? How about we talk about you, your Majesty?

Before I burn Simmons' study to the ground, I found an interesting discovery beneath the documents left behind by the late Simmons. It was a surprise to find out your dirty little secret, your Majesty. To think that you want Simmons' death was not only for him to stop blackmailing you, but for you to silence him once and for all.

Surely you won't mind if I have my time around Simmons' secrets before I destroy them? I suppose you do. Since you are once my employer, Albert, I guess it's only fair if I left a compensation: If you thought that all you knots had been tied, you aren't. Killing Simmons isn't enough.

Remember the woman that you had sent to chase after for over twenty years? Killing her off wasn't enough too. Not when she had an already grown-up daughter.

In fact, that one last knot resides in your castle all along.

A good girl, she is.

Oh... And be reminded that you will not be the only one to know of this. Soon, someone will too learn of this fact. Time is ticking, your Majesty.

I hope that this compensation was enough to close the deal between the two of us, Albert. Good luck.

Ada

"A grown up daughter?" He whispered aloud.

Now he remembered the red serpent around Jake's neck, where it once originated. The red serpent was the symbol of his rival family, as well as the closest friend of Albert's. Albert leaned back against his seat, reminiscing the time when he and this particular friend rises in ranking together. He was the best general while his friend was the best strategist commanding the battlefield. In only matter of time, together, they both became the late King's left and right men.

Until that eventful day when everything changed.

Now he understood why he felt familiarity with that fragile, timid woman who came to his castle months ago. That golden blonde hair truly belongs to her late father.

"William—"

His lament was not of a remorseful one, but of grudges and scorn.

"Is this yours and Annette's punishment to me? Even after your death, you still have to send your daughter to seduce my son and to turn against me?"

With one final sigh, Albert lifted the bottle with amber liquid into his hand. His desire to use it against the owner of this poison had disappeared, only to be replaced with the intention to use it against the child of his long-lost friend.

The child who had Jake Wesker seduced head over heel. The child who had Jake Wesker defy his own father. The child whom her father he murdered.

"Sherry Birkin."

Castle Walls, Night

"I heard that you argued with the King... about us."

They decided that they will not be staying in their room tonight, it was the final night before winter. And Jake wished that he could see the autumn night one last time before he will have to wait another year. Thus, there they were, hurdled together with each other up the high walls of the castle. With Jake's front pressed so tightly against her back, both forgot what cold was.

And both remember how Jake first tried to ignore Sherry the first day she followed him up here.

He hated her at first. He hated everyone. But then, out of nowhere, she changed her.

Which was why he had her in his arms tonight.

"He was an ass." He kissed her cheek, "I don't give a shit about what he said."

Sherry rested her head on his chest with a sigh, "You are starting to sound like when I first met you. Curse words all over."

"It's not something that I can help with, the words came automatically. It ain't my fault." He chuckled quietly.

She gave no reply, all she wanted to do now was to relish in what she had now. To be in Jake's arm, that was all she ever wanted.

Because she knows if the King didn't approve of them, no one could change it. Not even Jake. The King's order was absolute, if they were not be together, they never will. Maybe one day, the King will summon her and he will ask her to pack her things and to leave the castle. Sent her somewhere faraway that Jake wouldn't find her ever.

"Trust me, Sherry. I will find a way to make you mine somehow. Dad wouldn't be a problem for me to achieve that." There was desperation in his tone, and to top it off with a tighter hold of his.

Exhaling, she nodded, and kissed him. To say that she didn't believe him was an understatement. She knew of Jake's actual capabilities, he was a man able to change things now that he himself had discover his own ability. She just hope that she was right to believe him - because she had never wanted to leave him.

She fell asleep in his arms right when the first blanket of snow fell on the first winter night of them together, hoping that the moment would last forever.

Little that they know of the darkness brooding in onto them.

To Sherry.

A.N: I decided to update today because it is my birthday! My time here is 15th July 2013... so yeah. Legit. :)

So now that Albert knew of Sherry's identity, next chapters will reveal more the stories behind it. This is what I've planned all along from the first chapter the I started on this story.

Oh, and to Lone Wolf Man , I've almost completed the challenge you gave me! On my way to word number 42... eight more and I am ready to go. XD

RFF! :)

Update: I want to thank MousseTrap567 for pointing out a few of my typos that I missed! :D Urgh... how did my beta (my sister) could have missed them? Thanks again!