Jeon Jeongguk's lifelong dream had been to become a knight. But when he finds himself as one, he struggles to keep his oath to protect Jimin with his life, as well as his promise to Jimin that he would take care of himself in the process of doing so...
Ever since he was a little boy Jeongguk had always admired knights. He would gawk at them whenever they came to his town for inspections, little mouth falling open in surprise and wide curious eyes sparkling with excitement. He had spent most of his childhood playing with the small wooden knight figurines that his father managed to get him from the beachside shops. Toys were a rare occurrence in the Jeon household. Jeongguk was the youngest of three children, his two sisters being very protective of him. The three children had seen nights when their mother would silently cry into their father's shoulder about not being able to provide the best childhood for them. They had learned to appreciate at a young age to gratefully accept what they could make do with. The three children were their parents' biggest treasure, grown so well and polite.
"Thank you hyung," Jeongguk smiled as he pulled out three bronze coins from the little satchel tied to his waist and handed them to the man in front of him. "I'll stop by in three days for more."
The young boy shifted the basket containing bread and eggs to his right hand as he skipped towards the flower shop next. It was his mother's birthday and he had been saving up money to buy her a bouquet. The scent of roses, lavender and lilies plunged his nose first as he excitedly looked around at the different shades of flowers. The florist noticed him and stepped out with a smile.
"Are you looking for a particular kind of flower young boy?"
Jeongguk let his fingertips graze over the petals of a nearby bouquet as he spoke. "It's my mother's birthday. I was thinking of getting her a bouquet maybe?"
The florist grinned as he pulled out a few purple, white and violet coloured flowers from the stands, cutting out the ends and spraying water over them. He tied brown paper around the stems with a purple satin ribbon and handed it to Jeongguk. The young boy stared at the bouquet in his hands with something akin to awe in his eyes.
"They're carnations," the florist muttered reading the curiosity on Jeongguk's face. "That will be seven gnurls."
Jeongguk frowned upon hearing the cost, gulping as he slowly opened his satchel and pulled out five bronze coins. He was falling short by just two. His eyes lost their gleam as they shifted to look at the florist who was waiting patiently for the money.
"I- I don't think I can afford this. I'm falling two gnurls short I'm sorry."
The florist sighed as he watched Jeongguk's smile fade. "I'll give it to you for five kid. Take it."
Jeongguk looked up in surprise, wondering if he heard correctly. When the florist smiled and took the five gnurls from him, the wide grin returned to the young boy's face. He waved at the florist as he turned to go home when he heard the sound of horseshoes slapping against pavement. All the people in the market craned their heads and moved closer when they noticed messengers from the palace had arrived.
"Hear ye, hear ye! The King is in search of three knights who will be assigned to protect our princes. All boys above the age of eighteen are eligible to volunteer. You will undergo a series of tests and the King himself shall judge your performance in each. Those who wish to volunteer must do so by the stroke of midnight. Long live our King!"
The market place buzzed with excitement at the news, men all around wanting to achieve knighthood. Jeongguk held the bouquet close to his chest as he pushed his way through the crowd to the small table set up where scrolls were being passed out to fill out for volunteering. When he reached out his hand for a scroll it was swatted away and a much older man glared at him.
"Didn't you hear kid? You should be eighteen to volunteer. Scurry back home to mama."
"But I'm nineteen," Jeongguk persisted as he was pushed aside. "I am nineteen. I am eligible to have a scroll."
Jeongguk felt frustration bubble through his chest. He watched with narrowed eyes, clenching the basket tighter in his hand and protecting the bouquet from the crowd. He was about to push himself back into the crowd of eager men when a scroll was thrust into his hand. Perhaps someone had dropped their's in the rush to get one; perhaps fate had wanted him to receive it. Jeongguk held the scroll tight against his chest as he ran to the flower shop and asked for a quill. He read through the contents of the scroll and filled it up quickly. He thanked the florist for the quill and bounded back into the crowd to submit his scroll. He threw the scroll into the bag kept for submitting them and jogged back home excitedly.
Jeongguk's mother jumped when he opened the door with a thud. She turned to face the door and quirked an eyebrow when she noticed the face splitting smile that adorned him.
"Happy birthday eomma," he encased her into a hug and kissed her cheek, holding out the bouquet of carnations for her to take. His sisters left their stitching and came over to observe the scene. Jeongguk watched tears form in his mother's eyes as she kissed his forehead fondly and mumbled over and over under her breath about what she did to deserve such amazing children. The three Jeon siblings group-hugged their mother, singing happy birthday in soft voices.
"I'm pretty sure father will surprise you when he returns from work too," Sungi smiled. "He left for work early today didn't he?"
Jeongguk hit Sungi's arm and put his finger to his lips. His two sisters; Sungi and Jisu; giggled as they pulled his cheeks commenting on how adorable he was.
"Stop it I'm nineteen," Jeongguk pushed them away playfully and brushed his hair away from his eyes when he remembered about the scroll. "Did you hear the announcement?" He asked excitedly, and gauging from the reactions of his sisters and mother he was sure they were happy as well. "I volunteered. It was so hard to get a scroll but I did it. I just hope they don't eliminate me in the first round."
Jisu ruffled his hair and sat him down, his sisters sitting on either side of him slinging their arms across his shoulders. "Look Ggukie, you may be only nineteen but you are smart and strong. This has always been your dream, you have always wanted to be a knight remember?" Jeongguk nodded in response, letting his sisters offer him comfort. "You always work hard to achieve what you want, and I have no doubt you will do the same this time." Sungi kissed the side of his head as he leaned into their touch.
"Thanks noona."
Their father returned in the evening with a small cinnamon cake and a tiny paper bag. The three children beat their mother to the gift, opening up the plastic wraps to take a look at it. Their mother cut the cake and the five of them ate dinner together, saving up the cake for dessert. Turns out their father had gotten a tiny pearl as a birthday gift.
"Honey," Jeongguk's mother smiled but tears were flowing out of her eyes. "This is the best birthday. Thank you. I love all of you so much."
Jeongguk hadn't imagined the day could go any better but there was another announcement from the palace right before they went to sleep. The rounds were starting at the break of dawn in the respective towns of the kingdom.
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