Song, Flowers And Pride (Taekook)
°Disappointment°
My Father was a king. He was a middle heighten and also strongly build.
He married my mother when she was fourteen and it turned out a good match, a fruitful marriage. Her father's fortune, all gold, silvers, subjects would go to her husband. My mother was an only child of my parents.
But, in the hue of dark at the room my father noticed that my mother was ill, mentally. For she looked like one. At the time of my birth she hugged a pillow instead of me.
A quickly turned into a disappointment.
My father hosted games when I was five. Men from different lands participated. From Thales, Sparta, Tessa. My father was determined to host the most gorgeous games of his generation. The athletes were glistening under the sun. There were a mixture of boys, men and husbands.
The bull fight was ending in the grounds. The fighter's blood was trickling out of his body from everywhere. He was wounded. With the last approach of the bull, he was smashed into the dust and went to silence permanently.
The participants were surrounded on the platform where they are to receive prizes, the winners only. Those were gold made, also bronze and silver. There were precious spears, bowls of wine, helmets.
But, the real prize was on my hands, a wreath of golden leaves. My father had given to me unwontedly. All I have to do is to hold it carefully, securely.
The younger boys held a race in oder to win the wreath. Some were thin, while others were plum. I saw a boy, quite young and also with a good figure. He had golden hairs, wavy and light. Some even falling on his forehead. He won the race.
I stare as my father snatches the wreath from me and crowns him. The crown shone against his blond hairs. He was fair. He looked so bright like honey in the Sun.
Minjae came to claim his son, smiling and proud. Minjae's kingdom is smaller than ours, but his wife is rumoured to be a goddess, and his people love him. My father watches in envy. His wife is stupid and his son is too slow to race even in the youngest group. He turns to me.
Wonhyun
That is what a son should be.
My hands felt empty without the garland. I watch king Minjae embrace his son. I saw the boy toss the wreath in the air and catch it again. He was laughing, and his face bright with victory.
For me, I remember nothing more than the images from my life. My father frowning on his thrown, the horse toy that I loved, my mother laughing and playing in the water throwing pebbles.
°A suitor°
I was summoned to the king. I remember hating this, the long walk up the endless throne room. At the front, I knelt on the stone. Some kings chose to have rugs for the messengers who had long news to tell. My father chose not to.
Wonhyun
King Minjin's daughter is finally ready for marriage.
I knew the name. Minjin was the king of Tessa and held huge tracts of the ripest southern lands. I had heard of his daughter too, rumored to be the fairest woman in our countries.
I did not respond to my father's news. Such things meant nothing to me. My father cleared his throat, loud in the silent chamber.
Wonhyun
We would do well to have her in our family. You will go and put yourself as the suitor.
There was no one else in the hall, it were the only the bare walls and my silenced father, so my sudden uneven breath was audible to his ears alone. But I knew better than to speak my discomfort.
My father already knew all that I might say, that I was nine, unwilling and uninterested in this.
The left for the kingdom the next morning, carried our packs with heavy with gifts and food for the journey. The soldiers escorted us, in their finest armor. I don't remember much of the trip. It was utterly neutral and left no memory for me. My father ordered his Secretary to move in particular direction while I gazed at those who rode on horses.
I didn't understand my place here. It was not comprehensive, as so much of what my father did was. My donkey swayed and I swayed with him, glad for even his distraction.
We were not the first suitors to arrive at Minjin's land. Our way to their resident was joined by many other known faces. The stable was filled with horses, donkeys, mules. There were line of servants.
My father seemed displeased with the ceremony afforded to us. I saw him rub a hand over the hearth in our rooms, frowning.
I had bought a toy from home, a horse whose legs would move. I often imagine myself riding this movable toy horse as if it was real one.
We arrived two days before the ceremony. After our exhausting journey we were given our rooms to stay. From my room I could watch the town and an endless blue water very far away.
Finally, a day came when my father ordered me bathed and brushed. He gave me different, clean set of clothes. I obeyed. The clothes were slightly larger than my body but it fit me anyways.
My father looked powerful and grand. His black beard was spread long on the place below his nose.
The gift that we were presenting to Minjin was a beaten gold mixing bowl embossed with a chirub like a cupid. My father handed it to me.
Wonhyun
Do not disgrace us.
I heard the great hall before I saw it, the sounds of hundreds of voices banging against stone walls, the clatter of steps and the ornaments worn.
The servants had thrown open the windows to try to dampen the sound. I had never seen to many men inside before. Correction, Kings. We were called forward to be seated on the benches.
My father's fingers were dug into my collar, warning me not to fidget.
°Hall room°
There was violence in the room, with so many heroes and champions competing for a single prize.
One after other they all introduced themselves, all pristine and mannerly dressed. Also showing off their fine figure and clothes.
King Minjin was here for us. He greeted everyone and accepted their gifts and invited each and very suitor and present his suit.
A moment later, a large man came forward to present his suit. His showcase the bow which appeared exquisite and finely detailed. His strength was huge.
The next man, his eyes painted like a woman's, spoke his name. He was lean, hairs long. He offered an double headed ax, made of rare iron.
And then Seojun, son of Wojun, seated beside his hulking bearlike brother Jojun. Seojun's hair was raven. His body was strong, stocky with muscles. The gift he gave was a rich one, beautifully dyed cloth.
Seojun
Though the lady needs no adornment.
He added, smiling and bowed lightly to the girl and her father.
This was a pretty bit of speech. I wished I had something as clever to say. I was the only one here under twenty, and unpopular and didn't descend from a god.
Perhaps, Minjae's blond hair son would be equal to this. But, his father kept him at home.
Man after man, and their nmes began to blur in head. My attention wandered to the platform, for the first time, the three veiled women seated at Minjin's side. I stared at the white cloth over their faces, as if I might be able to catch some glimpse of the woman behind it.
My father wanted one of them as my wife. There were three set of hands, prettily adorned with bracelets. One of the women was taller than the other, brown hair peaked out under her veil. Jisoo is black haired, I remember. So that was not Jisoo.
The speaking of my father's name startled me.
Minjin
I am sorry to hear about the death of your wife
Wonhyun
My wife lives Minjin. It is my son who comes to wes your daughter.
There was a silence in which I knelt and felt dizzy by the number of faces. I kept kneeling on the ground silently.
Minjin
Your son is not a men yet Wonhyun
Wonhyun
He need not be. I am a man enough for both of us.
It was a bold boasting and no one laughed.
The stone floor dug into my skin, yet I didn't move. I was sues to kneeling. I had never been glad of the practice in my father's throne room. My father spoke again.
Wonhyun
Others have bought bronze and wine, oil and wool. I bring gold, and it is only a small portion of my stores.
Minjin
My daughter and I are grateful that you have bought us such a worthy gift, though paltry to you.
A murmur from the kings. There was humiliation here that my father did not seem to understand. My face flushed with it.
Wonhyun
I would make Jisoo the queen of my palace. For my wife, as you know well is not fit to rule. My wealth exceeds all of these young men, and my deeds speak for themselves.
Yoongi
I thought the suitor was your son.
I looked up at the new voice. A man who had not spoken yet. He was in the last line, sitting at ease on the bench, his curling hairs gleaming in the light of fire.
Download MangaToon APP on App Store and Google Play
