Chapter-10|The Hidden Wound
Nick came running towards the queen's chamber and opened the door. "Yes, my lord!" said Nick.
The queen shouted, terrified, "Call the royal doctor immediately!!" Nick looked at Mark and paused for a second in shock, then looked back at the queen and ran towards the doctor's home. Meanwhile, the queen was loudly sobbing.
Mark hugged the queen. "Don't worry, Mother, I am okay!"
The queen looked at him while tears were still flowing and asked, "Did this happen when you left that day?"
Mark, too scared to say yes, said, "No, Mother! I accidentally hurt myself..."
The queen cried more and replied, "Markin, you know that you can't lie to me, right?"
Mark looked down in shame. Hearing the queen's cries, the king came running towards her chamber. The king knocked twice. "My queen?" he asked in a worried tone. The queen replied while sobbing, "Honey! Look what happened to our son!"
Nick came back with the royal doctor. The royal doctor entered the room. "Did you accidentally open the wound again, my lord?" asked the doctor in a worried tone.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'AGAIN'!!" asked the queen in a terrified tone. The royal doctor bowed to the king and queen.
"My lord, the prince has a big wound from his left chest up to his appendix..."
"Wh-what?!" screamed the queen before passing out.
Mark stood up, scared. "MOTHER!!" he screamed in fear. The king fell on the bed due to the trauma.
"Nick!! Call all the royal doctors here right now!" screamed Mark.
"Yes, my lord!" replied Nick and left to make the announcement.
The doctor, confused about who to take care of first, came to Mark. "My lord, let me restitch your wounds," he said.
Mark glared at him. "You! I won't let you off for this one easily..."
The royal doctor scared, fell to the ground. "I-I apologize, my lord," said the doctor.
"Treat the queen first," said Mark.
The doctor nodded and started treating the queen. "You guys might need to leave the chamber," said the doctor.
Mark nodded. "Father, let's go." The king was too stunned to say anything and just got up and left the queen's chamber, standing outside, waiting for the queen to be treated. Mark slowly came out too, in shame, and said, "Father, you should go to your chamber too and rest. I am sure you must have been shocked seeing all this."
The king held Mark's hand softly. "Son! You are the future king of the Qing's. Who dared to hurt you?" said the king.
Mark looked down. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you, Father..."
The king looked at Mark, concerned. "Who was it? Just tell me, my son! I'll make sure to torture them to death."
Mark looked at the king with big eyes. "Father, I am responsible for my own fate! Don't worry, I'll make sure the ones who did this to me will have hell here."
The king patted Mark and replied, "I know how ruthless you are. Well, it's up to you now. Go get yourself treated. I'll take care of the queen here."
Mark nodded and left for his chamber. As he was walking towards his chamber, he heard rustling in the bushes. Startled, he walked towards them.
"Who is it?" said Mark. He heard meowing from the other side. Excited to hear a cat, he separated the bushes and saw a small cat wounded, crying.
Mark looked at it. "Oh, you pitiful thing, are you okay?" said Mark.
He took the cat and walked towards his chamber. It was almost nighttime now. He got inside his chamber and saw Steve in bandages sitting beside the door, devastated. Mark, shocked, screamed, "Steve! How are you? Are you fine?"
Steve nodded and chuckled. "You slightly missed my groin and broke my bones."
Mark looked at Steve, shocked. "I-I am so sorry, Steve," said Mark.
Steve chuckled. "Haha, pranked you!"
Mark looked at Steve. "No, you didn't. You were bleeding."
"You just made a cut near my pelvic area, my lord. For the rest, I am okay," replied Steve.
"Meow~" The cat meowed again.
Steve slowly got up. "A cat!"
Mark nodded and smiled. Steve looked at the cat and smiled too. "She's so cute, but my lord, she looks hurt," said Steve. Suddenly, he noticed the blood stain on Mark's clothes and screamed in worry. "My lord, did you get hurt again?"
Mark replied, "No! Just the wound reopened. But something even more serious happened..."
Steve looked at Mark with worry. "What happened, my lord?"
Mark looked down and replied, "The queen got to know about my wound and passed out..."
Steve gasped. "What, my lord! How did she get to know about it?"
Mark replied, "By mistake. The doctor is treating her right now... The king seemed shocked too. We have to punish them now..."
Steve nodded. "But who did it, my lord?"
Mark chuckled and replied, "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."
Steve looked confused and said, "If you said the sun rises from the east, I'd believe that too..."
Mark looked at Steve, trying to control his laughter, and replied, "But the sun does rise from the east..."
Steve looked flabbergasted and replied, "I-I, uhh, I knew it, my lord! I was just kidding with you..."
Mark laughed hard, and then both of them heard a meowing. "Meow~"
Mark looked at the cute kitty. "She must be hungry..."
Suddenly, the two of them heard a knock. "Come in," said Mark.
Nick opened the door with an old doctor. "My lord, the doctor has arrived!" said Nick.