Chapter 15 : My wife

Queen's chamber was chaos. Royal physicians were gathered. Some inside the chamber, some preparing medicine, some giving instruction to court ladies and midwives.

The chief royal physician asked Seokjin to leave the chamber politely as it was against traditional and ethical rules for the King to be at the Queen's labor chamber.

"I'm not going anywhere! Do your job!"

They all were frightened. Gone was the weak crown prince. Gone was the self indulgence crown prince. In front of them was the King that had defeated treason.

He held her hand and gave encouraging words even telling her to squeeze his hand when it hurt.

"Your majesty, push one more time," the midwife requested.

Jungkook was sweating and coughing. Her face was wet with tears and sweats. But Seokjin still held her close, kissed her forehead once awhile.

"Your majesty, more power."

She turned to Seokjin and shook her head, she whispered, "I can't. It hurts. Your highness."

"Yes. You can. My wife. Please, you can do this."

She shook her head.

The physician them gloomily said, "your majesty, please order us to save the baby. I'm afraid the queen..."

Seokjin threw something near him to the floor and firmly stated, "if the queen can't make it then all of you and your families will follow her to the grave!"

All the physicians knelt down and bowed for forgiveness before the royal physician gave order to his team.

Seokjin then turned to Jungkook and said, "never ever think of leaving me. Jungkook, please... I really can't," he whispered, "I need you, please.... you have to fight... I beg you, my wife, please... I love you so much, please..."

Jungkook felt overwhelm with this unexpected confession that her husband made. Never in her life she would've dreamed of this. She could only gather all the strength she had left and pushed harder and screamed loudly.

The sound of baby cry exploded and those inside and outside chamber was rejoicing for the child was born.

"It's a son, your majesty," Lady Ji brought the baby to Seokjin.

As protocol, the guards in the palace repeated "a prince was born, Joseon had new heir." That sound was heard even until the commoners repeated those words.

They were all celebrating but inside the chamber, Seokjin was panicking. Jungkook suddenly closed her eyes and her breathing was quickly weakening.

Physicians immediately treated her and Seokjin continuously calling her name.

Jungkook....

Jungkook....

She was still unconscious. Physician went in shifts to always treating her 24/7.

Seokjin never left her side.

He didn't sleep and didn't eat.

Namjoon and Taehyung persuaded him to take rest but he didn't move away.

They had no choice but to setup a workplace for him and brought reports there.

The former queen visited and brought some soup for him but he didn't want it.

"Do you know why I like her so much?" She asked Seokjin who looked confuse.

"Don't you ever wonder why your grandmother needed to tell you herself about you having concubine?"

Seokjin started to understand.

"I never agreed to it." She said cupping Jungkook's hand. "She's one of the strongest wife I've seen. Keep calm and composed even when the world talked bad about her. She remained elegant and held her head high."

Seokjin smiled, remembering how she broke down only when her own father beat her to it. Not the rumors, not the bullying.

"Those strength also came from you. She believed in you. She chose to believe in you. So now, you have to take care of yourself. Remain here, if you have to. If that would bring your mind some peace. But don't neglect yourself."

Seokjin nodded.

"Eat," she told him.

And he did.

---

The queen dowager left the chamber and Taehyung asked her, "is he eating?"

The queen dowager nodded and turned to Jimin, she held her hand. "Good that you prepared them."

Jimin nodded and Taehyung told his wife. "Take care of brother's meals."

"I can do it," Lady Hayeon walked to them, and immediately their faces changed.

Lady Hayeon was dressed as King's concubine now. She gave her respect to the queen dowager and Prince Taehyung who nodded.

"Oh, no one taught you etiquette?" The concubine asked Jimin.

Jimin smiled and bowed to greet her.

"Queen dowager, no need to worry the King's meal. I will..."

"My prince, queen dowager, princess Jimin and concubine Hayeon..." Lady Hoseok smiled widely and greeted them.

"Lady Hoseok, did the King summoned you?" Taehyung asked in amused.

"Yes, your highness." Lady Hoseok smiled widely, "it is not widely known but the queen and I had been good friends, sisters you may said. So the King asked me to come to try to talk to her."

Jimin smiled, "yes, his majesty also asked me to do so every morning."

"I'm sorry but I overheard your conversation. His majesty always loved my cooking. If princess Jimin, Lady Hayeon and Queen dowager doesn't mind, I can stay here for few days to serve his majesty to make sure he eats properly."

Queen dowager thought it was improper. After all Seokjin now is King. Whether continuing to be involved with gisaeng is good for his image but Taehyung answered, "Hyung will be happy. Beside sister in law Jungkook, you're the only one that can be very closed to him. He trusted you with his life."

In other words Taehyung sent message to Hayeon that the King didn't favor her at all.

Yeonjun then came out and said, "Lady Hoseok, his majesty heard your voice and asked you to come inside. He's been waiting."

Lady Hoseok immediately walked inside.

Yeonjun then told them, "Please excuse me, His Majesty asked me to prepare the chamber next door for Lady Hoseok. She will stay until the Queen back to health. He also asked all meals and medicine for the queen to be overseen by Lady Hoseok."

Yeonjun left and Hayeon scowled.

"He trusted her that much," Queen Dowager said. And Taehyung nodded.

"The queen also loved her companion."

"Really?"

Jimin nodded, "when she stayed outside, Lady Hoseok often came. We often did a lot of things together."

The queen dowager nodded and said. "After all of this passed, I should discuss with the queen to give a title for Lady Hoseok and let her stay in palace."

Taehyung and Jimin looked at each other knowing Hoseok's secret.

The queen dowager then asked Hayeon to go with her.

Inside, Hoseok examined all the medicine given.

"Anything odd?"

Hoseok shook his head, "they are all for strengthen her heart and brain."

Seokjin sighed.

"You look haggard."

"I feel it too."

Hoseok sighed and said, "she loved you so much. She would die for you."

"I know. I can see in her eyes. She wanted me to choose our child and neglect her."

Hoseok nodded.

"You have lots of things to do, your majesty. You can't stay here. Hundreds of officials waiting for your edict."

"Namjoon and Taehyung are helping me."

"Hyung..." he whispered, "please.... I'm here....I can take care of her."

"I'm here not because of that."

Hoseok stayed silent then said, "you're afraid she'd be gone."

Seokjin nodded and said, "I have wronged her. Many things I did have hurt her but I still did it."

"She understood. Everything. She told me that. She didn't want you to see her as a weak wife. She's not. She's strong. Without you, she's also strong."

Seokjin didn't say a thing.

"She also knew how much you cared for her. That you truly loved her."

"Really?"

Hoseok nodded, "so your majesty, please don't make her even sadder thinking that you neglect your people because of her."

"I understand. But I really can't not seeing her."

Hoseok sighed.

"Let me prepare your meal."

Seokjin nodded.