Once Upon The Life of The Wise King

The Queen Met an Accident

ONCE UPON THE LIFE OF THE WISE KING

Volume 1

The Birth of The Wise King

Chapter 22 - The Queen Met an Accident

The following months in the Luciel Kingdom were hard. The storm came. Not only the storm destroyed houses, but it also ruined the farmer's crops that were about to be harvested and the shops of businessmen. Many families lost their source of income. Some people contracted the disease as well.

Fortunately, the Kingdom had enough funds to help cure the disease, rebuild their houses, and help the families who lost their crops and shops by providing funds and manpower. It was a good thing that the new way of paying taxes worked well.

"How are you feeling?" King Wenhart asked as he approached the Queen who was sitting in the garden, watching their children play with each other. Looking over her shoulder, the Queen leaned on her husband.

"I am well. Thanks to your care," Queen Cielisse replied with a smile.

"Bro! Wait!" Prince Alphonse chased his brother with his stubby legs.

"Try to catch me!" Prince Colin laughed.

Sitting beside the Queen, the King picked a snack to eat. "Tastes good," he commented. Then, he turned to his wife and caressed the bulging stomach of the Queen who was seven months pregnant. "How is our little Prince doing today?"

"He is behaving today. He does not make any fuss." The Queen looked down and touched her husband's hand.

They were quiet for a while until Queen Cielisse thought of something. "By the way, Wenhart. We have not prepared anything for the baby because of the recent storm," she said. "Can I go to town? I want to buy new clothes for the baby."

"Yes, sure. But, I will go with you," the King replied.

Leaning away from King Wenhart, Queen Cielisse raised her eyebrows. "Are you not busy?" she asked. "I just saw you tackling towers of paperwork and you looked like you were about to quit your position."

Flabbergasted, the King asked rhetorically, "Me, quitting?", to which the Queen nodded. "No way." He snorted.

"Let us just say that you were about to cry, but not quitting."

King Wenhart did not speak.

Later in the afternoon, Queen Cielisse went to town in a carriage. She managed to convince her husband that she can take care of herself and the palace guards will escort her. As she rode the carriage, Queen Cielisse pulled the window curtain aside to gaze at the scenery outside. At first, all she saw were bushes, then trees, and the crops that were ruined from the last stormy season. Farmers were helping each other to replant. Apart from the free seeds they got from the Royal family, they also received monetary support that will last until the next harvest.

The farmers saw the Royal carriage passing by. They paused from their work and waved to the Queen, who stuck her right arm out and waved back, bringing cheers from the farmers.

Soon, Queen Cielisse and her escort arrived at the town. She was assisted as she stepped down from the carriage. "Thank you," she said to the palace guard who helped her down.

"You are welcome, Your Highness."

"Accompany me to choose a new crib for the baby."

"Yes, Your Highness."

There were a total of 10 escorts. All of them followed the Queen to each shop that was open and was selling baby necessities. The Queen bought a crib, a small bed, milk bottles, clothes, and towels. There were so many things that she bought that they won't fit inside the carriage, so the Queen asked the store owners to have the crib and bed delivered to the palace.

By the time they rode back to the palace, it was already night. Looking up the sky, the coachman said, "It looks like it will rain, Your Majesty. The road will become slippery."

Upon hearing the words, Queen Cielisse also looked outside. "You are right. Well, we must be careful then. Try to hurry while the rain is not pouring yet."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

The coachman hurried his horses to avoid the incoming rain. Unfortunately, the rain suddenly poured down. The rain was quite heavy, so the coachman started slowing down as the road started to become more slippery. The Queen got more worried as they traveled back because up ahead was a mountainside road, which means the other side was a cliff. It would be dangerous to pass through that road.

"Stop the carriage!" Queen Cielisse commanded, which the coachman obeyed. She looked out the window and a palace guard immediately came closer. "You, find the closest shelter. We will stay there in the meantime until the rain stops. And, inform the King that we are stuck in the rain."

"Understood, Your Majesty!" Three of the palace guards quickly took off. One of them heading back to the palace as fast as possible while the other two went to look for the closest shelter.

Back at the palace, King Wenhart was worried for his wife's safety especially now that it was raining hard. Therefore, he sent palace soldiers to the Queen. He ordered them to make sure that the Queen will be safe.

"Your Majesty!" A palace guard came into the throne room. King Wenhart was a little surprised at his sudden appearance. He knew the palace guard was with the Queen. Leaning forward, the King asked, "You are back. Where is your Queen?"

"Your Majesty, I was sent by the Queen. Her Majesty wanted me to tell His Majesty that due to heavy rain, Her Majesty decided to find shelter and stay there until the rain stopped."

King Wenhart hummed. "I see. Well, I already sent some soldiers to the Queen. Dismissed."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The palace guard left.

The King waited for another hour before he received news about his wife. Surprisingly, a bloodied palace soldier came rushing to the King. "What happened!?" The King demanded.

"Apologies, Your Majesty! We were ambushed on our way to find the Queen. We were not able to catch the people who ambushed us. It seemed it was only a trick to delay us because when we found the carriage, something had already happened."

"The Queen. How about her?"

"She was heavily injured, Your Majesty. We already took her to the Medical Ward."