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.

*****