How many days had it been since the young prince had entered Iseul thicket? 3? 4? Had a whole week gone by already? The light in his eyes slowly diminished as the biggest star turned into a sea of smaller ones against the indigo sky. Brisk air ate through the thin silk sleeves that covered his slender arms. Silk sleeves that were once so pristine were now stained and smelled like earth. Disheveled locks of obsidian rested on the top of Jin’s head, the dainty features of his face hidden behind soil stains. He stopped for a moment, his body had begun to easily grow tired due to a lack of food and the small berries he had picked days ago weren’t cutting it anymore. His eyes caught sight of a flower he recognized immediately, thin and shaky fingers reaching out to pluck it from its home. These always brought back the few good memories he had in life, even if they were also laced with the worst.
“My sweet hibiscus, can you please fetch mommy that tiny shovel over there?” Jin’s mother waved her delicate hand towards a pile of gardening tools. A 6-year-old Jin rushed with giddy footsteps to complete his mother’s request.
“Here mommy!” He said with a toothy smile, his mother, with the same chocolate eyes, smiled warmly back.
“How many times have I said no son of mine is going to be spending his time gardening of all things? He’s supposed to be a man, not a flower.” The warmth was replaced with a chilling wind as the cruel words of his father filled the garden’s tranquil space. Though tears welled up in those childish eyes, his mother could only silently send him off like always. With a hung head, Jin
“Here mommy!” He said with a toothy smile, his mother, with the same chocolate eyes, smiled warmly back.
“How many times have I said no son of mine is going to be spending his time gardening of all things? He’s supposed to be a man, not a flower.” The warmth was replaced with a chilling wind as the cruel words of his father filled the garden’s tranquil space. Though tears welled up in those childish eyes, his mother could only silently send him off like always. With a hung head, Jin
walked back to the castle, not before earning a smack to the back of his head. He sucked it up like he always had to do, and he knew an argument would follow shortly after between his parents. His mother was always defeated, health too poor to put up a fight, and his father would ban the young prince from ever stepping foot in the garden until the next time his mother snuck him in.
18 years had passed. His mother had been his only shield and without her, his father’s treatment had only grown worse. He leaned against a mossy tree, eyes glancing down as the cage of lions
th
in his stomach roared for the 6 time. Even if he was sitting in days old clothes, barely clinging
in his stomach roared for the 6 time. Even if he was sitting in days old clothes, barely clinging
on without any real food or warmth, he knew that this was better than living under his father. Jin was always looked down on, shamed for doing things remotely unmanly. The pretty crayons his mother had gotten him from the next island over were melted down in front of his eyes as he cried, the piano Jin liked to play with now sat silent in the grand hall with cut strings. His father had already despised how effeminate Jin looked by nature with his prominent cheekbones and doll lips. So, when his father caught him doing activities that he deemed too “girly”, he made sure to put an end to them. He expected Jin to be a burly man as well, one that would take the throne. This was the main reason why he was now in this situation. Jin didn’t want to be king, especially not the kind of king his father was. His mind drifted away once more. Jin glanced out the window at the two guards below, glassy eyes from just the thought of having to take the throne at the ceremony today.
“I don’t know why the king has any hope for him. That spineless brat can’t rule like his father.” “You’re right. The kid is useless just like his mother. Better off dead too if you ask me.” The first guard replied before the two walked off in laughter. Glassy eyes had now become pools of salty
tears threatening to spill over. A knock on his door caused him to flinch, his hands swiftly wiping the wetness form his eyes away.
“Come in.” He choked out, watching as a friendly face popped in, the face of the maid that had raised him when his mother had passed. A smile grew on his dreadful face.
“Come in.” He choked out, watching as a friendly face popped in, the face of the maid that had raised him when his mother had passed. A smile grew on his dreadful face.
“I thought you might want a story.” A warm voice spoke, Jin rolled his eyes, having told her multiple times that he was too old for her stories. But he still sat on his bed, awaiting the words to leave her lips. Anytime the young prince was down, she would raise his spirit by telling him a story of a tiny village, deep in the thicket where happiness was eternal. She always filled his head up with this place in hopes of keeping his damaged spirit together. Jin stayed fixated on this place his maid called Wingalia because after his mother’s passing, it was the only glimpse of happiness in his life. The words of his father that cut into him like knives would slowly heal whenever he thought of the tiny village.
This was the reason that Jin had chosen Iseul thicket out of all the places he could’ve run to. All
This was the reason that Jin had chosen Iseul thicket out of all the places he could’ve run to. All
the prince had ever wanted was to feel happy in his heart, something he got a taste of whenever he was with his mother, but what was completely stolen once his father became his sole parent. Jin slid down against that mossy tree, head in between his knees as the lion’s roar grew overwhelming. He looked back down at the hibiscus in his loose grip. He wondered if it tasted as pretty. Eyelids hung heavier and all he could do was hold on to the memory of a village he never explored. He looked up at bright stars, eyes hidden behind lids shortly after.
“Hello? Are you okay?” A sweet voice disturbed Jin, a sigh as his eyes opened, light blinding him. “The Sun?” Jin wondered, it had only felt like a minute since he closed his eyes. He looked up at the stranger’s face, eyes resting on a welcoming smile. In his face was a small loaf of bread that smelled oddly sweet, the stranger urging him to take it.
“Sorry that I don’t have anymore.” The stranger said with a saddened smile. Jin just shook his head in response and took a bite. The lions had rested.
The stranger had helped him, led him to his cottage in a village that Jin couldn’t remember being there when he fell asleep. But the dewy grass, iridescent lanterns that lit up the roads, the smiles etched onto every face. Jin knew he had found Wingalia. An overwhelming warmth filled his body. Was this how pure happiness felt? Jin was unsure be he loved it.
“Sorry that I don’t have anymore.” The stranger said with a saddened smile. Jin just shook his head in response and took a bite. The lions had rested.
The stranger had helped him, led him to his cottage in a village that Jin couldn’t remember being there when he fell asleep. But the dewy grass, iridescent lanterns that lit up the roads, the smiles etched onto every face. Jin knew he had found Wingalia. An overwhelming warmth filled his body. Was this how pure happiness felt? Jin was unsure be he loved it.
“Over here!” A croaky voice shouted, several footsteps trotting to the source.
“How long?” One guard asked, kicking away a seemingly half eaten flower.
“Recently, judging by the coldness, a night.” A second guard responded, mixed emotions on his face.
“How long?” One guard asked, kicking away a seemingly half eaten flower.
“Recently, judging by the coldness, a night.” A second guard responded, mixed emotions on his face.
“We have to let his father know. You,” One guard barked out, “pack up the boy’s body.” The guards knelt, picking up the young prince’s sleeping body, chilled at the peaceful smile etched on his lips.