Chapter 3: A sorry gift

As soon as the pair arrived at the castle, the Queen said goodbye to her son and went to her personal workroom. After all, Verhyn's mother is a very good and passionate embroiderer, she sometimes locked herself in the room all day long just to weave her son and husband's handkerchief. Those handkerchiefs sometimes can be dispersed to other noble ladies or the maids and guards as her gift. The presents were always neatly wrapped up in a small pretty box, carrying a faint fragrance of peachy orange scent.

The Queen Mother loved the aroma of oranges and peaches, she sometimes sweet-talked her sweet son to bake her some cakes too, since Verhyn is a talent cooker and baker. It hasn't been that long since the mother and son set their foot at home, yet she was still sitting there on the armchair near the opened window, ready to embroider another handkerchief to gift the baker's newborn child. Her mind still floats somewhere when her thoughts got disturbed by a knocking sound. " Who is it?" The Queen puts down her stuff and is ready to open the door of her workroom to welcome the servants if they're going to bring some tea and food since she's quite thirsty plus hungry too.

" Mother, it's me." Verhyn stood outside the door, eager to give the newly baked cake filled with a faint delicious orange fragrance and beside him, his personal maid Laina holding the tea set that smelled very nice from the peach that she had picked earlier this morning.

Actually, after arriving and said his goodbye to the Queen, he ran towards the kitchen and asked Laina for the newly picked oranges and fresh pinky peaches. He started to roll up his sleeves and asked others there to give him some privacy since he needs his concentration to make this sorry gift to his dear Mother. ' Maybe I should make some for Father as well since he's coming home early today for afternoon snacks' The Queen and him skipped the afternoon lunch since they didn't feel any hunger from walking that much, so he thought that maybe apart from those greasy, fat, oily dishes, maybe he could make her body felt refresh with the cakes and tea.

" Child, you decided to give me something? What mistake did you make? '' The Queen slowly backed away from the door and sat on the armchair once again. She has chosen to tease this youngster again today.

" Mother forgives this child, this child doesn't know what mistakes he had made" Verhyn nervously gaze back at Laina as if asking for her assistance in convincing the Queen. Laina hurriedly moves her gaze as if she knows nothing. Verhyn pouted angrily put still put on a soft voice and decided to retry" Mother, please open the door for me, this child is begging Mother for her forgiveness"

" Oh, my foolish child, that's enough teasing then" The Queen with her shiny eyes, light tint red lips curving up a little, ran towards the origin of the sound still in her light blue dress and opened the door to meet the hot delicious cake that was being held by her son. She let out a small laugh and softly said:" Child, you didn't do anything wrong, but thank you for your hard work!"

" Yes, mother" Verhyn's smile did not faint after hearing her say that. He was glad that his Mother didn't suspect a thing and not mad as that. Laina And Verhyn start making their way into the Queen's workroom to see the handkerchief lay flatly on the armchair. " Mother is that…"

" Oh, that's for our baker's newborn child." She said, and looked at the present with great pride. Laina was setting the food and tea on the table for the mother and the kid to have small afternoon snacks. " Leave some for Father as well," Verhyn said after dividing the cake, enough for the King to eat. " Yes, your Highness, well then excuse me." The female faintly replied and left the room to let the pair have some extra time alone.

Because of the opened window, small cold breeze wind swept past them several times, scared of having the cakes and teas lose their initial taste, the youngster settle himself. " Mother, let's eat before the treats go cold," Verhyn said after dividing the same amount of cake for her and him, then pouring each other a cup of hot tea.

" Mm..., this tea smelled nice, the cake too, everything tasted as amazing as ever!" The Queen paused a bit and said with a genuine smile on her fair face" Thank you" Verhyn was surprised with his Mother's tone, it was very soft and fairly said as well. " Your welcome" was what he replied to her with. Although the answer was short, both of them were satisfied with how the conversation went. The conversation between them revolves around many matters, typically involving the noblewomen and gentlemen they have met.