NABI

Hyewon glanced around her room, trying to remember the last time her mother had been there with her. It had been several years now and the memory felt like it was beginning to fade. She thought of her last memory: her mother was sitting on her bed, reaching over and combing her hair. It had seemed like any normal night, but something was off with Hyewon's mother. Hyewon could remember asking her mother what was wrong and she could remember her mother's expression, but as soon as her mother's mouth opened, everything seemed to blur. She could never remember past that moment, and it seemed like the blur was beginning to happen earlier and earlier each year.

When Hyewon's parents had first disappeared, she held out hope that they would return, but they never did. Finally, the officials had found her parents' remains; they had been murdered by bandits. Hyewon thought back to when she was first informed of their passing. She hadn't cried at the time; she didn't know what death was. Now, though, as her eyes began to tear up, she understood too well that her parents would never be coming back.

Frustrated, Hyewon flung herself backwards onto her bed. She had two days of freedom left before she was shipped off to the main palace of the Empire. Honestly, the only thing Hyewon wanted to do was live in her memories of her parents. And that was what she planned to do until she was taken away.

Hyewon's family was of noble bloodline, though that seemed to be all that was left. That noble bloodline was what sealed her fate, though. Her name was drawn for the First Princess Consort contest. If only she was of common blood, she could stay here with her uncle, her aunt, and their two young daughters. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life following around and serving the Crown Prince.

"Yeah, right," she grumbled under her breath. "I'll become the First Princess Consort as soon as pigs learn to fly." It was more likely that she would be assigned as a royal maid, which was equally as unappealing. Yet, that was what her future was headed towards. A future without her family and imprisoned behind the palace walls.

It seemed like time flew by when her uncle suddenly appeared in her doorway.

"Hyewon, it's time. Are you packed?"

"Yes, uncle. I'm ready."

Hyewon's uncle smiled gently at Hyewon and motioned for her to come in for a hug. She obliged and waited for his emotions to spew.

"Oh, Hyewon. If only I had the means...," he cried, tears beginning to pour out of his eyes. Hyewon sighed under her breath and patiently waited for her uncle to calm down. "I wouldn't send you to that den of vipers if I could."

"Uncle, please, calm down." Hyewon gently removed herself from her uncle's embrace and gave him a smile. "It will be alright. I will be alright." Hyewon placed a hand on her uncle's cheek. "Just believe in me, uncle."

Hyewon's uncle paused his crying to return Hyewon's smile. He grabbed the hand on his cheek and gave it a tender squeeze.

"You have your mother's smile and your father's glowing eyes. You are a beautiful girl and you've got a good head to go with it."

"Thank you, uncle. Now, shall we get to it? I guess we wouldn't want me to be late to the Princess Contest."

"Yes, you're probably right. I'll get the palanquin ready." Hyewon's uncle quickly left her room, headed towards the servants' quarters.

Hyewon chuckled at her uncle's swift departure. She sighed once more and turned around to take one last look at her room. This had been her home for fifteen years and now she had to say goodbye. She had to say goodbye to her memories with her parents. Hyewon closed her eyes tight, fighting off the tears begging to come out. Clenching her teeth, Hyewon heaved one last sigh and opened her eyes with new resolution. She could do this. She would do this.

"It's time to let go, Hyewon-ah," she whispered to herself. "You have to go sweep a prince off his feet." She smiled to herself as she turned towards her mirror. She stared at her reflection, her dark brown eyes studying her features. She brought her hand to her face and swept her brown hair behind her ears. Slowly, she brought light powder and applied it to her skin. She carefully colored her lips with rouge and outlined her eyes with kohl. If she was to be part of this contest, she surely needed to look the part.

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"Gong-daegun, please, the Empress is waiting for you in her quarters."

"Okay, I'll get going soon. Just give me a second!" Gong waved off his eunuch's pleas and continued counting the leaves on his newest plant. "Wow, you've already gained ten new leaves." Gong smiled and gave the plant some water. "Drink up so you grow even more!"

"Gong-daegun," the eunuch implored, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Okay, Eunuch Kim, I'm going, I'm going."

Gong placed his plant gently in its resting place and turned to face Eunuch Kim. The man was the personification of anxiety and sometimes that just made Gong want to tease him a little.

"Say, Eunuch Kim, what if we take a detour and stop by the palace garden?"

"Daegun!" Eunuch Kim cried, sending Gong into amused laughter.

"I'm kidding. Shall we go?" Gong glided past Eunuch Kim and sauntered down the halls to his mother's quarters. "What does she even want from me now?"

"Daegun, I believe she has an important matter to discuss with you. I do not know the specifics, but she informed me that it was urgent and that she must speak to you. Urgently." Gong rolled his eyes and groaned.

"She's probably trying to set me up again. Probably has a portfolio of all the single maidens in the Empire. Oh, look, we're going to pass by the palace garden. We should go ahead and just take a stop."

"Daegun, we cannot afford to stop. The Empress is waiting," Eunuch Kim rattled off nervously. Gong couldn't help but laugh at the man.

"Alright, Eunuch Kim, I'll play along today, but only for you."

As Gong and Eunuch Kim entered the Empress' quarters, they were greeted by a stifling smell of incense. They could barely register the inside of the room as their eyes began to adjust to the dim lighting. Despite the adjustment needed for their sight, the two were able to maneuver through the room, having been there so many times before. Gong knew exactly how the paintings looked as they hung from the walls; their frames gilded in gold and engraved with the royal crest. He knew how the ivy crawled across the floor, guiding visitors to the center of the room where it originated. He knew how there would be maids lined up the center of the room, heads bowed and waiting for the Empress' orders. And, he knew his mother, the Empress, would be staring him down with the same old look as always.

"Daegun, do you know why I've called for you?" The Empress spoke softly, though her voice was filled with authority. She motioned for Gong to come closer, her movements gentle but firm.

"Queen Mother," Gong greeted her with a bow before taking his seat on the floor in front of her. He stared at the table between them, not wanting to look into her eyes. She may be his mother, but she intimidated him nonetheless. "I can't say that I fully know why I've been called for."

"Gong-ah."

Gong was surprised by the gentleness in her voice, causing him to glance up at her. He wasn't sure how to react, wasn't sure of what she was planning.

"Gong-ah," she repeated, "It's about time for you to take a wife." And with that Gong closed his eyes as realization sunk in. It was time for another ploy to ensure Gong's future as the next Emperor. "There are many eligible ladies. Many with influential fathers." Gong began to tune out, his gaze traveling from his mother to the paintings hung on either side of her seat. "There are many looking to become the First Princess Consort. However, we must tread carefully; there are those that may try to abuse the position. Therefore, I have come up with a plan."

"A plan, mother?" Gong asked on cue.

"Yes, I have decided to hold a contest for the position of First Princess Consort." Gong looked back at his mother, raising an eyebrow.

"Why not just choose someone whose father you approve of?"

"Well, Gong-ah, sometimes it's hard to choose favorites. That may cause ripples to form in the courts. This way, I can easily weed out those I don't want without seeming to be choosing sides."

Gong chuckled at his mother's machinations. She was right, of course. Choosing a First Princess Consort would normally cause a lot of tension, but if it was in the form of a contest, then at least it would seem a little more unbiased.

"Mother, I have no interest in having a First Princess Consort so soon, but I will do as you please. My only condition is that I participate as minimally as possible."

"Well, that's no problem for me. Though, Gong-ah, I do hope that whoever is chosen will be to your liking. As strict as I may seem, I do care about your feelings." Gong analyzed his mother's expression, unable to tell if her words might be true.

"Thank you, mother," he replied, bowing his head.

"You may go," the Empress said, motioning for him to leave.

Gong bowed his head again as he rose from his seat and turned to leave. He sighed to himself, walking away with Eunuch Kim. He didn't know how to feel about this contest, but he knew that he would try to stay out of it as much as possible.

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As they prepared for her departure, Hyewon felt the finality sink in. She repeated to herself that this what she must do. She couldn't rely on her uncle for forever. She had to take on life herself. Securing her place in the Empire's courts would solidify her future and bring honor to her uncle's family and her parents' memories.

Still, she hesitated before entering her palanquin.

This was it. Once the front of the palanquin was closed, she would begin the next part of her life. Taking a final breath, Hyewon entered the vehicle and took her seat.

This was it. Hyewon was finally entering into the courts. Ahead of her was a long and arduous battle. What worried her the most was meeting all of the other candidates. She had never really spent time with girls her age; when her parents were alive, she spent time learning martial arts and battle tactics and her cousins were several years younger than her. She was nervous suddenly meeting so many other girls.

The ride to the palace proved to be the perfect time for her anxieties to grow; the enclosed space with minimal windows didn't help. All she could think of was how she may embarrass herself in front of the other candidates. She worried about being alone in the courts. Though everyone may be vying for the same position, surely no one wanted to be a lone wolf. Would she become a lone wolf, though?

"Lady Hyewon, we have arrived."

Hyewon quickly shook herself out of her train of thought and focused on the here and now. As the palanquin door was opened, she took in all of the sights. She was now in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by grandiose buildings. The buildings boasted the classic red and gold color scheme of the royal family, as well as intricately carved details everywhere. Hyewon caught her breath as she took her first step out of the palanquin onto the stone walkway.

"Lady Jang," a man said as Hyewon alighted, "I am Eunuch Baek. I am to escort you to the main hall where the candidates are being gathered."

Hyewon let her gaze wander to the man. His head was bowed and his stature was short. Behind him were several handmaidens with their heads also bowed. They seemed to be around Hyewon's age. She wondered what noble's house they came from. Hyewon paused for a moment and considered what it would be like to be a handmaiden. She wondered if that could have been a better fate than the princess contest. Her thoughts were short lived as Eunuch Baek began to speak again.

"Lady Jang, please follow me." The short man bowed even lower, amusing Hyewon, and turned back towards the gate behind him. The handmaidens waited until Hyewon had passed them by before falling into line behind her. Hyewon fought her urge to turn around and gawk at them following her like baby ducks.

Soon, the eunuch had brought the group to an even more extravagant courtyard. This one had a beautiful pond filled with colorful fish. Flowers in the most deep red bloomed everywhere and the tree branches dipped down as if to greet them. There were even birds here and there, looking for food in the grass. A bridge crossed over the pond, leading from the walkway Hyewon stood on towards an open pavilion. Another path from where Hyewon stood led to an intimidating building, its doors wide open, as if to invite her in. Inside, Hyewon could make out other girls and she suddenly grew nervous.

This was it. This was when she was going to meet the other candidates.

"Please don't screw up," she whispered to herself.

"Lady Jang, if you would," the eunuch gestured towards the open doors.

Hyewon took a deep breath and held her head high as she took her first step towards the doors. With every step closer she got, she could feel her nervousness growing exponentially.

This was it.