Crown of Thorns

Chapter 1: The Pig Prince

The grand halls of the royal palace in the southern kingdom of Goryeo gleamed with opulence, the walls adorned with intricate tapestries and golden accents. The floors, polished to a mirror-like sheen, reflected the elegance of a world far removed from the lives of the common folk. But for all its splendor, the palace was filled with whispers, the kind that traveled quickly through the ranks of servants and courtiers alike.They all spoke of Prince Ji-Hoon, the crown prince—known less for his birthright and more for his indulgence. "Have you seen him lately?" one maid whispered to another as they dusted the priceless vases in the hallway. "I swear, he's grown even fatter. How can he still be eating like that?"The other maid sighed, shaking her head. "It's shameful, really. The king was a warrior, but his son? He's nothing but a spoiled glutton. The people call him the Pig Prince, you know."They fell silent as footsteps approached, hurrying to appear busy as a group of guards passed by, leading none other than the subject of their gossip.Prince Ji-Hoon waddled down the corridor, his face flushed and damp with sweat from the exertion of simply walking. He was draped in silks of the finest quality, embroidered with golden dragons, though the fabric stretched taut over his bloated frame. His chubby fingers clutched a half-eaten pastry, crumbs trailing in his wake.The courtiers he passed bowed respectfully, but their eyes were filled with poorly concealed disdain. They smiled and flattered him, but behind their words lay a bitter truth: they saw him as a joke, an embarrassment to the throne. Ji-Hoon, however, was oblivious to their true feelings, his mind focused only on the next indulgence, the next pleasure to distract him from the hollowness that gnawed at his core.He turned a corner and entered the dining hall, where an elaborate feast awaited him. The long table was covered with platters of roasted meats, delicate pastries, and bowls of rich sauces. The scent of spiced wine filled the air, and Ji-Hoon's mouth watered in anticipation. Without waiting for the servants to prepare his plate, he reached for a leg of roast duck, tearing into it with gusto.As he ate, the doors to the dining hall opened again, and his father, King Seong-Ho, entered. The king's presence was commanding, his tall frame and stern gaze a stark contrast to his son's flabby form. He wore a simple but elegant robe, the only ornament a gold crown that rested lightly on his brow. His expression darkened as he took in the sight of Ji-Hoon gorging himself, his face smeared with grease."Ji-Hoon," the king said, his voice cold and hard as iron.Ji-Hoon looked up, startled, a piece of meat still hanging from his lips. He hastily swallowed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Father," he mumbled, trying to sit up straighter in his chair, but the effort only emphasized his bulk.The king's eyes narrowed as he approached the table, his gaze sweeping over the feast laid out before his son. "Do you have any idea what is happening outside these walls?" he demanded, his tone sharper than a sword's edge.Ji-Hoon blinked, confused. "I—I don't understand, Father.""Of course, you don't," the king replied bitterly. "While you sit here, stuffing yourself like a pig, our people suffer. There are food shortages in the villages, Ji-Hoon. The crops have failed, and the winter was harsher than expected. And yet, here you are, feasting like a king while your future subjects starve."The words cut through Ji-Hoon like a blade, but instead of guilt, he felt a surge of defensiveness. "I didn't know," he muttered, looking away. "No one told me."King Seong-Ho's expression hardened further. "And whose fault is that? You think you can be king one day, but you know nothing of leadership, of responsibility. You've spent your life coddled and pampered, indulging in every whim while shirking your duties. You are unfit to rule, Ji-Hoon. Unfit to wear the crown that I have fought to protect."The prince's face burned with humiliation, his appetite vanishing. He pushed his plate away, but the king wasn't finished."I have tried to teach you," the king continued, his voice lowering to a dangerous tone. "But you have refused to learn. You hide behind your food and your luxuries, but that will no longer be tolerated. It is time for you to understand the weight of the crown you are destined to wear."Ji-Hoon stared at his father, fear creeping into his heart. There was a finality in the king's words, a sense that something terrible was coming."You will undergo the Ritual of Iron," King Seong-Ho declared, his voice like thunder in the grand hall. "Tomorrow at dawn, you will begin the trial. If you survive, you will prove yourself worthy of this kingdom. If you do not, then you are not fit to be my son."Ji-Hoon's heart stopped. He had heard whispers of the Ritual of Iron, tales of its brutality passed down through generations. It was an ancient rite, a test of strength and endurance that had not been performed in over a hundred years. Those who survived were said to be reborn, their weaknesses burned away, leaving only iron will and unyielding resolve. But many who attempted it had perished, their bodies broken by the ordeal."Father, please," Ji-Hoon begged, his voice trembling. "There must be another way."But the king's eyes were cold, devoid of any compassion. "This is the only way, Ji-Hoon. You must prove yourself, or you will die a disgrace. Guards, take him to his chambers. He is not to leave until the ritual begins."Two guards stepped forward, their hands closing around Ji-Hoon's arms. He tried to resist, but his strength was no match for theirs. They dragged him from the hall, his cries echoing in the vast, empty space. As the doors slammed shut behind him, Ji-Hoon realized that for the first time in his life, he was truly alone.That night, Ji-Hoon sat in his darkened chambers, staring at the flickering flames in the hearth. Fear gnawed at him, more potent than anything he had ever felt. His life had been one of comfort and indulgence, but now that life was over. The Ritual of Iron loomed before him, a nightmare from which there was no escape.He thought of his father's words, the disgust in his voice, the disdain in his eyes. Ji-Hoon had always known his father disapproved of him, but he had never imagined it would come to this. The weight of his failures crushed him, and for the first time, he felt the cold reality of his own inadequacy.As the hours passed, Ji-Hoon's fear gave way to something darker—a slow-burning anger. How dare his father put him through this? How dare he judge him so harshly, when he had never been given the chance to prove himself? The king had always favored strength and discipline, but he had never understood Ji-Hoon's struggles, the loneliness that had driven him to seek comfort in food and luxury. The prince's heart hardened as the night wore on, his fear morphing into a resolve he had never known before.If he survived this ritual, he would show his father that he was more than just a spoiled, fat prince. He would prove that he was worthy of the crown—not through his father's brutal tests, but in his own way.But as the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Ji-Hoon's resolve was tested. The doors to his chamber opened, and the guards entered, their faces expressionless. It was time.Ji-Hoon rose to his feet, his legs trembling beneath his weight. The fear returned, a cold knot in his stomach, but he forced himself to stand tall. He would not let them see his fear. He would not let his father win.As the guards led him from his chambers, Ji-Hoon cast one last look at the life he was leaving behind. The soft bed, the warm hearth, the table once laden with food—all of it was a distant memory now. Ahead of him lay only pain and suffering, the unknown horrors of the Ritual of Iron.But Ji-Hoon knew one thing for certain: he would emerge from this trial, or he would die trying.And with that thought, he stepped into the darkness, his heart pounding with fear and a newfound, terrifying determination.