In a kingdom torn by power struggles and political intrigue, Jieun, the rightful heir to the throne of the East, finds herself sidelined as her brother, Jungwon, takes control. Determined to reclaim her birthright, Jieun seeks alliances and forms a...
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THE DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT HAD FINALLY ARRIVED, and Jieun's heart was pounding with anticipation. She stood at the top of the arena, overlooking the tournament field below. The sun was shining down, casting a warm glow over the spectacle. Her eyes scanned the crowd below as she took in the sea of colours and banners. Her father and brother stood beside her, dressed in their finest attire and looking every bit the powerful lords that they were. As the knights paraded into the arena, Jieun could not help but feel a sense of nervousness wash over her. Today, one of these men would become her future husband, and her fate would be sealed.
The knights were parading into the arena, each one adorned in armour of varying designs and colours. They were all there to compete for Jieun's hand in marriage, a prize that many of them coveted. Jieun watched as they lined up, their faces stoic and determined. As they paraded, she laid eyes on a certain knight. The knight's armour was a dark shade of scarlet, and its helm's plume was coloured in a shade of gold and pink. The knight had a certain air of grace about him.
'A fine rider,' Jungwon commented with a thoughtful hum, eyes locking onto the same knight in red.
'Who do you think will win?' Jieun asked, tearing her eyes away from the knight in red to look at Lord Lee's second-born son, Ser Heeseung. 'Ser Heeseung has grown into a fine man.'
Jungwon hummed once again. 'I am not sure. Ser Heeseung is a fine knight, but that one━' he nodded his head towards the knight in red who was circling the arena, testing his horse's speed and agility. 'Yes, I think he might have the edge over Ser Heeseung, don't you?'
'Is that Hyunjin, from House Hwang?'
He squinted his eyes before nodding. 'Yes. Yes, it is. His skills are well known throughout the realm, but. . . I have to say, I'm still impressed every time I see them. He's riding a Destrier, mind you ━ a notoriously difficult horse breed to tame and mount.'
'Impressive, while he may be a good knight, House Hwang does not hold that much power in comparison to House Lee,' Jieun said, voicing her thoughts. The Hwang's were lords of the Spirit Isles, an island not too far off north Vaelor in the pitched sea, a vital trading hub for the realm.
