THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the FIRST TIER PRINCE candidates, CHOI JAEJIN: a 30 YEAR OLD born on MARCH 20TH, 1991. some may know them as THE FLAME but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like HWANG INYEOP. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

Growing up at the eldest child of the King and Queen of Hearts, Siwoo should have had his main focus on being the brotherly figure that he should have been, however, with his goal of taking the throne and trying to figure out how to take down the Queen ( his own mother ) at any cost he’s most likely failed in that department whether he realizes it or not. He’s had a greed for power, for the throne, and has continuously planned ways on how to make this possible. His plan to take throne as his own isn’t known to others, in fact he’s made sure to keep this fact private from others as much as he possibly can, scheming behind the Queen’s back over time as he attempts to make his plans a reality. From what other’s have possibly figured out over the years - yes, he wants to be the next King but no one truly knows what lengths he will go to just to succeed. Siwoo has managed over the years to keep a mask on, to make sure that he acts like the perfect prince who follows orders accordingly, but the wheels continue turning inside of his head even when he’s in front of her and putting on this whole act. He has been able to keep his appearance up in order to keep from being detected by others, even the Queen herself. He’s always known since the day he began planning this little scheme of his that his goal in life would be difficult to achieve, that it would take time and a lot of patience, but thankfully his will to continue fighting for the throne has managed to help keep him focused on this single task even if it takes more time for him to complete. It’s possible that he had gained his greediness and ways of scheming from the Queen herself, though it’s also possible that he doesn’t feel as if she’s fit to have the title of ‘Queen’ and that he is more fit for the throne than she ever has been or ever will be. Perhaps it’s neither and he just wanted the power that comes with the title of ‘King’. No matter what the real reason was, over time, he had gotten himself in too deep to back out and continued to tell himself that he would sit on the throne one day. “I will make everyone bow down to me and call me their King. I will take the Queen down by all means possible no matter how long it takes….no matter what I have to do in order to make this all happen. You’re time as Queen will end when you least expect it. Just wait and see.” His own words over the years, the ones he repeated to himself as he watched the Queen of Hearts from across the room at parties, the words that he believed ( and still believes ) will become a reality.

almost forgot i had a dream last night that i was in a dnd campaign with matt mercer as dm, and it was set up really weird and cool bc like

every “meet” was actually two meets, so basically every week we’d play dnd two nights in a row, and we were playing essentially two separate campaigns that were like mirror images of one another?

so while we technically each had two characters, both characters had the same stats and were extremely similar, kind of like they were each a version of the other from another timeline or universe (my pair were named raleigh and raye and idr what class they were but can i tell you something? i loved them) and i got the feeling that eventually the story would weave in such a way that these two worlds were going to end up colliding and it was going to be dope as hell bc matt mercer is a genius

eve, hi! your 2ha-qws au is so so good! mo ran's regret and his thoughts of the underworld ("Maybe then he’d reach the underworld mostly intact, and he wouldn’t scare Chu Wanning too much when he saw him." my heart) are amazing. cwn's not even there and you can really feel based on mr's thoughts how much he sacrificed for mr. it's heartbreaking. i'm really happy you did a little fic with your idea. if you ever do more, i'll just have to sit and wait excitedly!

Hi, Lu! I’m glad you liked my qws-au! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟI’m testing it out, since I’m writing something larger, but I couldn’t resist to writing it. Like, the busier I am in rl, the more inspiration I get OvO It has come to the point it has a more complete outline and a title (which means, unfortunately for my schedule, that I’m going to write this, albeit slower and in shorter segments).

I have named it “Yearning unwittingly breaks the willow branch” (无令长相思，折断杨柳枝), the phrase the fox demon tells Mo Ran when he hands him the box with Jiangui. Let’s leave it at yearning willow for short 😂

Willow branches in Chinese poetry, particularly broken ones, means “regretful parting”. It basically comes to “to yearn for the wrong person will lead to bitter partings”, which is 2ha and this fic summed up in 10 neat characters XD

I have a second chapter written, which I’ll probably post here this weekend, and it has enough length now (for my own standards) to be posted to ao3, which I’ll do this weekend as well.

I can’t stress enough how thankful I am for the interest you and other readers have taken into this fic! It’s really encouraging to find people that like what you write, so you have my eternal gratitude °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

As thanks, I offer you a ficlet. I hope you like it!

Yearning willow masterpost here 🍃

Mo Ran 2.0 (1)

“Who are you?”

“What do you mean, Wanning?” Mo Ran laughed, though his voice was constricted under the weight of his husband.

If anyone entered Honglian House now, they’d be taken aback by the sight. Or rather, they’d start preparing for the funeral of the marquis’ husband.

Mo Ran was lying on his back on the bed, his arms pinned tightly at his sides by Chu Wanning’s legs. Said man was striding his abdomen, a hand clutching a handful of Mo Ran’s hair, and the other one pressing a sharp dagger in his neck.

But Chu Wanning didn’t care, because this man wasn’t his husband.

“You’re not Mo Ran,” he said in a cold, sharp voice. “Who are you? A Northern spy? Or an Eastern assassin? What have you done with him?”

The man was wearing his husband’s face alright. He pulled tentatively at his hair, but it was rooted firmly in the scalp—the hair was real then. He examined his neck meticulously, but found no marks of a mask, nor trace of make-up.

However, Chu Wanning had read about the magic some Northern tribes practiced, of the many tricks Eastern kingdoms knew of espionage. He didn’t need to know what had been used exactly, because something was terribly amiss.

Instead of an answer, he stared at him with those dark eyes, with an almost purplish quality to them. So similar to Mo Ran’s, and yet, not his.

Mo Ran never looked at him with such tenderness.

He’d have never stood still under Chu Wanning like he was now. The real him would have thrown him down by now—gods knew Mo Ran had that strength—maybe even slapping or punching him, and he’d order Chu Wanning to kneel in the shrine to repent for his disrespect towards his husband. All of those would have been more agreeable behaviour, because it would be ordinary.

“Why do you think I’m not him?”

Chu Wanning sneered.

“You didn’t do your investigation very well,” he said, pressing the dagger more firmly against his neck and extracting a drop of blood. “Mo Ran doesn’t come to Honglian House on his own accord.”

The rest of it was too embarrassing to tell to an outsider, and much more to one that didn’t know the actual state of the relationship between them. He cooks sometimes, Chu Wanning thought, but never makes a portion for me. He would have never called a doctor to attend to me, nor would have him come to my bedside to see me.

If it was in his fancy, he’d have just taken Chu Wanning, doctor’s orders and his own agreement be damned.

Quick as lightning, Chu Wanning pressed down with his thighs when he felt him trying to extract a hand.

“Don’t move!” He snarled.

His legs trembled with the effort, and his knees protested under him, despite being supported by the soft mattress.

“Okay, okay,” the impostor acquiesced, relaxing under him. “See? I’m not moving. Don’t overexert yourself, you’re still recovering, okay?”

There was worry in his voice, Chu Wanning realised, his hand twitching where he was grasping his hair.

“What have you done with Mo Ran?” He asked again after a moment, trying to recover his senses.

If he spent a moment longer with this impostor that had Mo Ran’s face and voice, he’d go mad.

The impostor merely looked at him with a helpless gaze.

“I’m really not some impostor,” he said. Before Chu Wanning could say anything, he continued, “let’s see, what can I tell you to make you believe me?” He was deep in thought for a second. “Ah! You have a blade scar in your chest, just above your heart!”

Chu Wanning pondered on that, but shook his head almost immediately.

“You could have seen that when I was unconscious.”

Unnerving as it was, it seemed the impostor wasn’t in the slightest bit nervous, even though Chu Wanning hadn’t relaxed his hand on the dagger on his neck all this time. He merely looked at the canopy over them, as if he was being asked a question over tea.

“I remember…” he said, his voice much lower than before. “I remember that in our wedding night, we were like this, with Wanning on top of me.”

…

Like a cat bristled with water, Chu Wanning jumped backwards, jolting to the corner of the bed. The dagger fell on the floor resoundingly, and Mo Ran sat on the bed, smoothing out his rumpled clothes, with a boyish smile with dimples. The smile felt apologetic, and somewhat guilty, but Chu Wanning was too flustered to process that.

He…

He had to be Mo Ran. Only Mo Ran knew.

For all he had been a scoundrel since they married, he didn’t talk about the matters of the bedroom. Not to him, not to anyone.

Besides, in the months after their marriage, he had let many people believe he had gone directly to Mu Yanli’s room straight after the banquet, instead of coming to Chu Wanning’s first and then leaving for hers.

The night of his wedding. It was an unpleasant memory, and he pushed it far to the back of his mind.

He smoothed his own clothes as well, but kept himself in the far corner of the bed. For now, he should focus on what he could manage.

“You let me put a knife to your neck,” he said, incredulity swarming his features and his voice.

For much less he had been ordered to kneel in the shrine. However, the present Mo Ran didn’t show any indications of wanting to punish him. The young man picked up the dagger from the floor and put it on the low table in front of them.

The tray with food Mo Ran had brought was on top of the table. The food was still warm, still steaming—Chu Wanning’s attack had taken a short time. Mo Ran picked up the bowl of congee with minced sea bass and green onions and a spoon, and sat back on the edge of the bed, offering a spoonful to him with a bright smile.  

“I know my Wanning would never hurt me.”

***

Honglian (红莲) means “red lotus”. It was the name of Chu Wanning’s pavillion in the novel.

If you liked this consider supporting me with a reblog!

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the FIRST TIER PRINCESS candidates, CHOI EUNAE: a 24 YEAR OLD born on JULY 12, 1997. some may know them as THE THORN but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like PARK CHAEYOUNG ( ROSE ). curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “forget how much it hurts and try again.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

Growing up, Eunae had always admired the fairytales she read in books. She admired the princesses who carried themselves with beauty and grace, striving to be just like them when it was time to take on the royal duties of her family lineage. Her heart was pure and her love for the Kingdom of Hearts was true. Eunae longed for the day where she would sit upon the throne and rule the citizens of her home country with joy. Despite her ranking amongst other contenders, there was never such a thing as rests or breaks. Day in and day out, the young princess studied politics, languages, etiquette, war strategies, and more. She’d even taken up the sword despite the danger and disapproving stares from those in the court. But none of that had mattered back then. All she wanted was to be the best she could be and prove herself to be the one most fit to rule the kingdom that she adored so much.

However, Eunae would come to learn that her efforts would not be enough, no matter how hard she tried. She loved her sister; having been twins, they had been almost inseparable since birth. They laughed together, learned together, and experienced many royal events together. Despite receiving the same training and access to resources, overtime, it had become impossible to ignore the gap between Eunae and her beloved sister. The realization was painful and lonely— where did she go wrong? What did she miss? Why was she miles ahead and Eunae only a few steps in?

The shock and confusion only led Eunae to push herself harder, increasing her lessons and self-study, practically turning the castle’s library into her home. She still strived to be the best; her hard work would shine through to the Queen, the citizens of the kingdom, her sister— to everyone. It was no longer just a dream to Eunae, but her purpose.

The princess  keeps busy to avoid the whispers that rush through the halls like a wildfire. Despite her efforts, why do the citizens believe her to be cuel? She’s just trying to maintain order and righteousness throughout the kingdom. Why do they see her as a power hungry princess who only cares for the glory of the throne? Can’t they see how much she cares for them? In the presence of her sister, the people smile and cheer. But as Eunae approaches, they turn away and jeer. She continues to look onto the citizens of the kingdom with a bright smile, yet these thoughts tear her mind apart when she’s alone. Despite some insisting that she move away to the Kingdom of Clovers, where her hard work may be recognized and rewarded, Eunae refuses. She doesn’t want to go anywhere. She would not want to rule anywhere outside of her home.

“Why don’t they want me, too?”

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the FIRST TIER PRINCESS candidates, CHOI JIAE: a 24 YEAR OLD born on JULY 12TH, 1997. some may know them as THE ROSE but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like KIM DOYEON. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “those without conviction and those who are weak will be weeded out.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

Jiae has always wanted to be the Queen. At first, it’s a given; she’s one of two twins born to the current Queen of Hearts. It’s every little girl’s dream to be a princess with pretty dresses and a charming prince, but she has a better chance at achieving it than most. Might as well go for it, right? So she does, albeit dragging her feet because of how boring the reality is. Propriety, graciousness, blah blah blah. It’s only when she learns about what it really means to be a Queen, to rule a kingdom and have everyone bow to your will, that Jiae’s interest and drive finally manifests. She decides, right then and there at the ripe age of 12, that she wants that ridiculous amount of control over the masses, and she’ll do anything to get it.

She learns things quickly. The concepts taught to her, the etiquette she must commit to muscle memory, the politics within and between each country—it comes easily to her. Jiae’s been studying from books and private tutors for as long as she can remember. What's expected of her, what the people want to see, how to appeal to the people of her kingdom and others who are much closer—the pretenses come even easier to her. Though she’s spent significantly less time practicing them than her official lessons, she’s been observing this fraudulence in her mother and other royalty for just as long. Maybe even longer.

It's humorous, the façade she's learned to project since a young age: the relatable and respectable daughter of the queen, so charitable and humble despite all the power at her fingertips. How could anyone think poorly of her? She’s the perfect princess, born to rule the kingdom with the same kindness and grace as her mother and father. To the Kingdom of Hearts, Jiae is a stark contrast to her cruel and power-hungry twin sister, and they absolutely adore her for it.

And oh, how it should tug at her heartstrings, at any bit of familial love Jiae might hold for her twin. I feel for you, sister. I really do. They'll come around. Maybe that’s what she should say, but the truth is harsh and cruel—like the hypocritical people who frown upon her sister for ill-informed reasons, like Jiae herself under the layers upon layers of a carefully crafted persona. She doesn't pity her twin, and the people will never come around, because Jiae needs this. She needs her sister to make her look better; she needs her sister to take the fall for the rumours more befitting of Jiae's character.

The Kingdom of Hearts is stupid in that way. It's pathetic how easily manipulated people are even when all the answers are right in front of them. They have all the right ideas, but they have the wrong person. If only they were more clever and perceptive, like Jiae, they might be able to live a life worth more than grovelling and gossip. Instead, they're content with being soft-hearted and ass kissers, toyed with like puppets on a string. Jiae might enjoy being their puppeteer now, but there's only so much she can do without the throne.

One day, soon, she’s going to be crowned the rightful queen. She’ll change this wretched kingdom to her liking, so the people will be toughened and they will know their place once and for all. The nation will flourish more than it ever has, all because of her.

Until that time comes, Jiae supposes that playing a character as feeble as her father and sister could prove to be entertaining.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the SECOND TIER PRINCESS candidates, KAMIYA TSUKI: a 23 YEAR OLD born on MARCH 3RD, 1998. some may know them as THE LADY IN WHITE but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like MINATOZAKI SANA. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “all i’ve ever done was survive and, for now, that’s enough.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

among all the words and ways ever used to describe the foreign princess living inside the walls of the palace of hearts, the best one would be: a survivor. but that’s the part of her story very few ever cared to know. the part of it they have always ignored in favour of tales of a ghostly lady dressed in white, roaming around the halls and appearing only for those who were unfortunate enough to catch a phantom’s glimpse—so pale, so beautiful and, yet, nothing but an illusion wrapped in the thin veil between what is real and what is not.

for those who bother to dive deeper and beyond, the lady ghost has a name: tsuki, spelled exactly how one would spell ‘moon’ in her mother tongue. and, much like the moon is forced to stray far away from the sun, tsuki had lived a life of restrictions, of don’ts and no's, despite the deepest wishes of her heart. and how many wishes did it have.. for not a single moment ever since the faithful spring of her birth was spent without hoping for better. hoping for more.

her story begins on the day tsuki comes to be; two months earlier than she should and barely holding onto life within her wee hands. the doctors, nurses and whoever else gazed at her claimed she had a slim chance of survival, but little did they know the girl had been born with an insatiable thirst for life, and that very thirst would be the fuel to keep her thriving. as she still does to this day.

you see, not only was she premature but, as her family and herself would learn the following years, the child was prone to sickness, as if death had its constant grip on her ankles and kept on trying to pull her six-feet-under. thus, with a body so fragile and parents who worried so for their only-child, tsuki was home schooled, forced to live within the confines of a large home with little to no contact with anyone but the servants and few nobles who were allowed visits quite rarely. it’s then that the stories about her were created; about the lady ghost. after all, those who didn’t know of her were solely granted sightings of a pale beauty looking longingly out the window of the kamiya’s estate. but despite such a gloomy existence, tsuki found solace in the fact she remained alive, that she had yet another day to live. and, so, her smile never faltered.

tsuki is merely 16 when she decides, however, that she’s had enough of living in solitude simply because her health could not withstand as much as other’s and, after applying herself diligently with the wish to be more than people thought she could be, the girl passed the selection and became a potential candidate for the kingdom of heart’s throne, surprising everyone ( and even herself, although she would never admit to it ) when three years later she was given the title of princess. but the title couldn’t have been more correct, for what tsuki lacked in health, she had in character, wit, intelligence and the desire to make her country an even better place for those less fortunate than she had been.

nowadays, the girl is still not seen as much as other princes and princesses, feeding into the tales that surround her, but she does as much as she can, aware of her frail health while trying her best to be regarded under utmost favour by the rulers of her land. for those who meet her and are lucky to be up-close, it’s been told her smile can warm even the coldest of hearts and that her bright personality is akin to the very radiance of the moon. and tsuki is the moon—untouched and far away, but always glowing.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the PRIVATE KNIGHTS, KWON JIAH: a 25 YEAR OLD born on NOVEMBER 3RD, 1995. some may know them as THE MASKED but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like BAE SUJI ( SUZY ). curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “'cause what if for a moment a band of thieves in ripped up jeans got to rule the world?” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for knighthood or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

— when you're born into a family of honour and tradition , there's very little choice left. your path is set.. along with pretty much everything else.

the kwon family churned out knights for the kingdoms ever since it's genesis , loyal and trustworthy soldiers who were willing to dedicate their lives for the people sitting on their thrones.

and little jiah could hardly question it , at least not vocalise her concerns-- not after being silenced by her mother a little too often thanks to the rebellious streak that sure was a concern to the parent. jiah was after all the older in the family and her duty to lead by example was highly awaited.

eventually she grew out of it , again.. there wasn't much of a choice and while training ever since the age of thirteen , anytime her maverick personality cracked through.. she was reprimanded for it. but as time went on , the little out-of-hand jiah turned into one of the finest knights of the kingdom -- it's when she realised it would've been better to put all the energy to good use and actually do something her family would be proud of. so it was head down and train train.. and then train some more.

the greed for being the best had set in early.

with a clear goal , jiah felt like she found a path -- while ignoring her underlying personality of questioning everything , of course --- she forced herself this goal and did everything to maintain it. as much as she didn't care for the respect of people higher above , the pat on her back for a job well done admittedly felt good. she was still barely an adult and approval was a nice feeling --- however minimal.

why is it that when things go wrong , it's always during the time of when things are at the brink of going right?

it was when she'd finished her knight in training years , all that effort was starting to surmount to something and she'd take what felt like the first breath in years... that's when it happened. that's when the person she was doing all of this for was taken away from her. her father , a role model she kept telling herself to be like no longer existed.

and no one knows what happened.

because why would anyone bother unravelling the unfortunates events that could only defame the kingdom.. and all for a lower-class nobody? no , they wouldn't do that. it's cold , harsh reality she found out about too soon and a world full of possibilities now only seemed like a means to an end.

a world in which everything you worked so hard in believing starts crumbling , is a world you don't want to live in. and it was that one moment that had opened the floodgates of every wrongdoing, every mis-treatment and every injustice the kingdoms where so conveniently sheltered from -- how could she swear a life of allegiance to.. to these people? no.. not anymore.

sure , one of the thoughts was storm into the kingdom and rip apart every single person until they started talking.. but after a lot of thinking , it felt obvious that nothing would've hurt them more than cracking the walls of this oh so magnificent place from the inside. take every little useful information gathered over the years and when the time comes , use it against them --- make them feel just as expendable as her family and all those other families did.

and what if she was using someone to get to the top a little sooner?

there wasn't much to lose anymore.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the FIRST CLASS KNIGHTS, JEONG RYUN: a 21 YEAR OLD born on OCTOBER 10TH, 1999. some may know them already but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like YOO YONGHA. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “mediocrity is like a spot on a shirt-it never comes off.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for knighthood or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

THE BEGINNING, pt. 1.

sometimes ryun likes to pretend that he’s next in line for the throne of an imaginary kingdom.

there’s not a chance in the world, considering the circumstances—mom and dad’s hands are rough on his shoulders, calloused with the exhaustion of the lower-middle class. he isn’t qualified to compete, but in his young age, things like qualifications and reality don’t matter. it’s the dreaming that he likes, the fantasizing. laughing with his older brother about who’d make the better ruler and why while they stock fresh produce in the shop, dropping apples and lentils on the floor, hiding the bruises and the lost leaves in a way that suggests it’s instantaneous, thoughtless. second nature.

it is second nature. this is their reality, after all—the produce boys, sweet and well-mannered, softer than that sharp-edged father of theirs (though ryun inherits his iron spine), much more talkative than their composed mother (though il is just as prone to secrecy) & when they’re old enough to fully take the shop into their hands, it’s guaranteed to be a good day for everybody. after all, ryun’s always dishing out discounts to his favorite customers and sometimes il gives back too much change (“personally, i think my parents are charging too much!”), and it’s endearing to hear the brothers chat away without a care in the world about who might be listening in on their daydreams—

but all things come to an end, and in 2010, il decides that he’s going to try his hand at becoming a knight. it’s a good thing, ryun supposes—a rise in social status for the family if he succeeds, if nothing else. but it still makes him sad.

“why? since when have you wanted to be a knight? we’ve never talked about that before.” “it’s not like i tell you everything.” “well, fine. but that doesn’t answer my question.” “i just want to.” a pause, then, “dad wants me to.”

right. dad with all of his quiet anger, tough love and conviction—it’s impossible to say no to dad. two years later, it’s ryun’s turn. only thirteen and dad considers it a given that he’ll be trying his hand, too: if il can do it, surely ryun’s just as capable.

“i don’t want to be a knight,” he admits. one single try at backing out.

“sure you do. you always have. i’ve heard you and your brother talking about it for years.”

no, i haven’t, he thinks with his shoulders pulled back and his lips anchored, overwhelmingly stubborn in his silence. i wanted to be king.

“and it’ll be good for our social status, so why not?”

INTERLUDE.

he’s stronger than he looks.

mentally and physically, at that—he lasts longer in training than anybody had assumed he would, chin tilted upwards and chest puffed every time he’s the subject of disbelief. disinterest doesn’t mean that he’s going to do a slack job: he was raised better than that, raised to do his best in everything, no matter how hard or boring it is. that’s just life, he’s heard time and time again. once a sentence that pulled eye-rolls from him, but after the harder days of training, it becomes the thread he hangs by.

the issue with him is that he’s timid. at least that’s what he’s told by the second-class knights that he shadows, eyes wide and attentive—“really? i don’t think i’m timid,” he declares, but it’s less about his actual demeanor and more about his energy. the lack of certainty and trust in himself. he doesn’t do his assignments with the outcome in mind, he does them seeking recognition.

“a knight should be able to put their best foot forward even when nobody’s looking, ryun—you’re more than capable, but you’re just not there yet.”

not there yet. sure, he’s just not there yet. he’ll take that as the reason that after his rite of passage, he’s given the lowest ranking. it’s not like he looks down on second-class knights (certainly not after they’ve made his training so much easier), but surely he’d deemed himself worthy of more than this, no?

he tries not to think too much about his brother, how he’d become an elite knight right after training. about how, imaginary fight for the throne aside, maybe he’d started to truly view him as competition amidst all the jokes and elbow-jabs.

THE BEGINNING, pt. 2.

twenty-one years old and a first-class knight—while it’s not the biggest advancement in the world, it gives new meaning to the ‘opportunities for promotion’ promise that had once felt like a cheap way to dull the hurt; besides, being a knight’s not so bad now that he’s proved himself worthy. it’s different when he’s actually doing the work instead of simply learning about it, easier somehow. or maybe it’s just the kind of thing that he’d been meant to do.

in fact, even that nearly six-year wish for advancement has deteriorated. it would be nice to be the best (and he’d be a fool to not dream of being number one), but there are days in which he misses his old rank. patrolling common grounds and making smalltalk with passersby had become charming, in its own way. less of a bruise, more of a badge. but he’s learned all the ways of keeping himself entertained, even when the job ceases to be fun. life is one long balancing act, and jeong ryun has finally found the perfect mixture of chivalry and mischief.

(yeah, being a knight’s not so bad—and it’s good for social status.)

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the ELITE KNIGHTS, CHIRAPAISARNSAKUL, ARINYA “RIN”: a 26 YEAR OLD born on JANUARY 4TH, 1995. some may know them as THE EAGLE but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like LALISA MANOBAN ( LISA ). curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “people often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it’s served up.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for knighthood or not. 

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

you have probably heard the name rin at least once in your life. assuming you’re unlucky enough, perhaps you have also met her in person. her reputation precedes her—many believe that if you see her from the corner of your eye, let alone find yourself face to face with her, that means you must have royally fucked up. she is most known for the very unfortunate series of events that led to her rise as a knight. her parents left thailand a long time ago and swore a lifetime of service to the queen. after an unexpected pregnancy led to the birth of rin, they hired a nanny to raise the newborn. her parents were two of the best knights in the whole kingdom, after all. in times of political turmoil, which it always is, not a single knight could be spared. she grew up admiring her parents from afar, hoping to one day follow in their footsteps. as her childhood innocence wore off, rin found herself questioning her parents. everything about them just seemed too perfect to be true. they never gave a reason as to why they left their home country, or at the very least why they were so against rin becoming a knight. one night, when they were both at the palace on duty, rin broke into their office and decided to take a look at their files. after hours of tireless searching, she found something strange. countless folders full of classified information on their very own nation, the kingdom of hearts. every event that happened in the past decades, detailed and explained with various photographs attached. most interesting of them all were the reports they sent to the same anonymous account every month. by that point, rin had found enough evidence to give a call to her parents’ superiors. as the official investigation later found out, her parents were sent by the thai government to spy on the kingdom and its dealings. they were sentenced to significant prison time for treachery and consequently, rin was taken in as a knight in training. this all happened eight years ago. since then, she has rightfully earned the trust of the queen. they trained her in cyber security and often sent her out to investigate suspicious activity. from that point on, she began protecting the royals and the interests of the kingdom as an elite knight. when she receives her new mission, she has that same gut feeling again. with the ever changing political scene of the three kingdoms and their tireless competition for the throne, she is sure something is bound to go wrong. there are many bitter truths buried under the marble floors and rin cannot wait to bring them to the surface.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the PRIVATE KNIGHTS, DO DONGHYUN: a 21 YEAR OLD born on JANUARY 18TH, 2000. some may know them as THE SILENT but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like CHOI SOOBIN. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “and now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for knighthood or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

do donghyun’s fate starts, predictably, with the failings of the previous generation. lord do is a man who loves fiercely and briefly. whichever woman is unfortunate enough to catch his eye, he throws his heart to with passion. his first wife is a fairytale, both young and from decent families, meeting each other in their teen years and marrying fresh out of school. they have a firstborn son, strong and sweet, and their lives couldn’t be more perfect. but then lord do grows bored, that flame of passion dims, and it’s not long before another woman strikes his fancy. the fairytale marriage ends, and a more sultry love begins. she’s not of noble blood, but that doesn’t matter much when she gives lord do three healthy children. but again, a few years down the line, his attention wanes. this wife too is cast to the side, and upgraded for a newer model. but this is a highly frowned upon relationship. his new lover is nearly a decade his junior and the beloved only daughter of a more well known nobility in the kingdom. lord do is not trusted with this precious woman, but what can stop love? so again, they marry, and do donghyun is brought into the world. this marriage lasts nearly a decade at least, before another woman is cast aside. donghyun’s mother leaves him to the care of a wandering father and bitter half-siblings. his father’s actions have made the do family a pariah. no one trusts lord do, especially not with their daughters, and donghyun’s father is left to casual affairs behind closed doors. no longer can he be fierce and loud with his love. the children try to scrape by the best they can. scramble for any bits of power that are allotted to them. but it’s hard to avoid the dark stain their father has painted on their family trees. all of lord do’s divorced wives find other husbands, other families, and pour their attention into the children of the men who will stay by their side, rather than the ones that remind them of a broken heart. understandable, sure, but cruel nonetheless. and as the only child of the last union, and the fifth in line, do donghyun doesn’t have a lot of options of what to do with his life. he’s lucky he’s gifted certain talents. like his tall height and natural athletic tendencies. he doesn’t really have the heart for politics, for playing games with others, so knighthood seems like the obvious option. it’s a respectable trade which guarantees he can be cared for, even with his rotten family tree. so knighthood he pursues. though his fate starts with his parents, it continues with him. not his father, not his siblings, but do donghyun alone. he’s learned a lot from the mistakes of those around him. he will never be the flagrant type of lover his father is. love is something to be cherished and fostered, it is a vow to be taken. opposing his father stokes a fierce loyalty in donghyun, for better and for worse. at a surface it suits his role as a knight. his life is for the royal he’s serving, for the rest of his life or until he’s no longer needed. as a man with nothing to his name, this isn’t hard to do. but the longer he serves his royal, the more he falls down the slippery slope of loyalty. because his devotion far suprasses duty now. now, his heart is complicating the matter. it’s a very delicate line to walk to protect as a night and as a man in love. if his true feelings are ever discovered, then he’ll become just another disgraced do who leads with his heart more than his head. it doesn’t help that his feelings are very clearly unrequited. maybe the men in his bloodline are cursed.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . . 

one of the FIRST TIER PRINCESS candidates, AHN NANSEOLHEON: an 18 YEAR OLD born on MAY 1ST, 2003. some may know them as THE HIDDEN but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like YOO JIMIN ( KARINA ). curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “it is wise to be at ease, as when it is time to be stickily, you will be ready.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

She would be described as the tap of rain on a library’s window, and the gentle scratch of a quill pen. You barely perceive she is there and yet her presence is undeniable. Her life full of nature walks and crumbling book pages, the breaking in of horses and the feeding of chickens, day dreaming by a babbling brook.

Her mother told her early on who she was, forced a figurative veil over her face, not to hide her beauty but to consider the options. What would the world do if they’d known a lowly villager had created a child with the king?

Ahn Baram was a brilliant and valiant woman, beaming with unwavering valiance and impeccable pride. No one could break her, not even the King of Hearts. So she kept her place in the growing village, tended to her tiny farm, only enough to feed her and the growing princess but she was proud of it, never pleading to the royal court or the heavens for the recognition of her bastard child. She loved Nanseolheon, naming her after Heo Cho-hui, a poet and writer from long ago that she admired. And this bled into the child, birthing one so talented with the pen so early on.

She’d become a master of words, from all over the world, romantic languages dancing on a tongue that never seemed to speak. Baram never worried, raising little Heon to be independent, allowing her to skip and wander through forests, barefoot along riverbanks and fields of flowers, dancing in pointe shoes beneath the Hadong cherry blossoms.

The child had never longed to be in the palaces, her title of divination stripped from tiny hands, diminished to the historical mask of a writer. Not even worthy enough to display the face hidden as she was the product of infidelity. Her mother had taught her closely, she’d be the perfect delicate flower, that could stand tall in any storm. She would know the ways of her ancestors from cooking to fighting, no need for a royal tutor to walk her grand halls. And even then she would come to learn all that she could, falling deeply in love with languages she didn’t care to speak. A poet of linguistics painting pictures with words that rarely...if ever, fell from her lips. Following behind her mother, or dallying in daydreams. Always a whisper, never a yell. Deciding to live her life in silence, then cozying up to strangers.

It was only shortly into her youth that she’d spin around their little home, and as she grew her mother adorned her bare feet into ballet shoes, tulle and leotards replacing her nightgowns.

Words fell into the worn pages of journals, the faint smell of citrus and rose pressed between the pages, so delicate that only the hidden’s hands could touch. Her mother hadn’t minded, watching her sweet princess through the windows as she taught the love of language to other kids in their small village, chuckling at the teen who twirled and pleayed  on the moss covered stones and in the greying mud.

But she could only live in her nature filled oasis for so long, as she aged her mother spoke of a duty she had, that she, more than anyone sent to the court, deserved her rightful seat next to her father’s throne, and maybe in his place. Though Nanseolheon protested, she had not wanted to mingle in the lavish halls of the palace, the perfectly placed flora and fauna could not amount to the brisk smell of the trees around her. She was poise and elegance but not in a way that would adorn a crown. But who was she to deny her mother the pride of seeing her baby on the throne, the veil finally lifted, and without shame?

It wasn’t long after her eighteenth birthday that she was riding her wild, speckled Andalusian up to the gates to announce her presence. She was the king’s daughter, and had every right to fight for the throne...though she wasn’t sure if she really wanted it.

Now she wanders aimlessly, and quietly through the palace halls that she resented, head held high but with uncertainty in her heart. Her mother had taught her how to be resilient, fight dirty if she had to with such poise and grace and yet, she couldn’t stomach the thought of doing so.

She excelled in their etiquette classes, far beyond the competition in intelligence and language, but the fire that drove her was not as hungry as the others around her. Heon tries to ignore the faint whispers, as she was the one who burst through the doors with such courage, announcing her right to throne  with her hair like waves of the ocean as she’d released it from her braids during her ride, billowing in the wind as she swung from her horse, feet stomping to the marble flooring like thunder, and announced her true identity with a blaze, only to snuff  and smolder, settling to the back when they drew them all in. How could she compare to her fiery sisters and prideful brother? As she was just a small village girl, only knowing huts built by her ancestors and the early mornings of feeding hens, she could cook any meal from scratch, sew and create any dress, but could she stand in front of the kingdom, and be fitted for the crown?

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the FOURTH TIER ROYAL candidates, SONG KAHI: a 25 YEAR OLD born on FEBRUARY 14TH, 1996. some may know them as THE ANGUISH but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like JUNG HOSEOK ( J-HOPE ). curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “but you. oh, you are dying to be loved.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

from the day that he is born, kahi is taught one lesson and one lesson only. love has no bounds and love has no regrets. he’s not too sure about the validity of these lessons any longer, but when he was growing, it was all he knew.

his father, alone and seemingly content with the fact, always made sure kahi knew these two important things. he adhered by these rules, treated them like his gospel for nearly his entire life. he saw no reason not to. it was in the moments when he practiced these two proverbs, did he get most rewarded. when he lent a kind hand to the kitchen staff of his rolling estate, or spent the day toiling away with the landscapers, kahi only knew praise and kind gestures in return.

it was a source of pride, a beaming trait that his father came to love in his son and in return, kahi felt ever so loved. there was never anything missing in his childhood years despite the fact that it was just him and his father alone at the dinner table, or the hours his father would spend in his study instead of with a dedicated wife.

kahi never asked of his mother, never saw a need to, but his father never missed a chance to tell him what a beautiful and selfless woman she was. never. these stories, these words always came in a lesson, the ever familiar lessons that were preached to him day in and day out.

love has no bounds and love has no regrets.

perhaps it’s why he gives himself away so easily, because there’s nothing to fear in love and love returned. he has always assumed he would have one love in life, just as his father did, just as he hopes his mother did. he’s only wanted one love in life, one love to carry with him through his years, one love that cared just as much about giving themselves away as he did.

kahi has always gotten what he wanted, the privilege of being on any child to a single parent. he knows not of the word ‘no.’ and he knows not of the world of heartbreak.

his mother was gone before he could begin to understand the impact of her to his life, his father painting her in a sweet light or not. he does not know the heartbreak of an absent parent because for him, she was never there. he does not know the heartbreak of an absent friend for he always clung tightly to those he cared about and went the extra mile to cultivate and keep those lasting bonds.

kahi does not know heartbreak so when it is placed in front of him in the way of a broken bond, a misplaced first love, he panics. he panics and he escapes. slipping into royalty had never been his plan, not initially. he was content to continue his father’s legacy. he was not hungry for the same sort of power that many of his peers were, but now that he’s tasted a love so sweet and lost it, he must replace the hunger with another craving.

it’s easy enough. he’s a little late in his years, in his opinion, but kahi is a pure soul, one made of love and brought up in the same sense, so when he passes the selection, is welcomed into a palace, his father is overjoyed.

he is overjoyed, excited even, ready for a new drive in life, one that doesn’t dwell on another’s lost feelings.

he *was* overjoyed, ready for a new outlook and a new lease on life until everything comes back to bite him in the ass. what was supposed to be such a loving and warm new place to welcome him, quickly becomes cold, becomes a regret as he sees an all too familiar face. a face that left him to be just where he is.

but there’s a fear that comes with all of this, this trap that he’s put himself in. a fear of even more lost love, of disappointment, and a fear of accepting faults.

he was taught that love has no bounds and love has no regrets, but he isn’t so sure that he can whole heartedly believe that anymore.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the ELITE KNIGHTS, PARK SEOHO: a 25 YEAR OLD born on APRIL 12TH, 1996. some may know them as THE SERPENT but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like OH SEHUN. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “she approached me with an offer i could not refuse.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for knighthood or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

born to a lower class family, seoho grew up at his older brother seojoon’s side. though ten years apart, the spent almost all of their time together up until the age of five, when his brother was drafted into becoming a knight at the age of fifteen.

seoho only received letters from him for the following years, running around the hearts kingdom alone trying desperately to catch glimpses of knights as they traveled between the kingdoms, hoping to see his brother.

at the age of ten, seoho reunites with his older brother, now twenty, before the older disappears without a trace. he never hears of any reason for his brother’s disappearance, and seoho is determined to investigate himself.

at thirteen, he volunteers to become a knight, quickly excelling at the training and striving to be the best of the best with only one goal in mind. during his training and assisting with daily tasks, he grows curious of the royals and the connection they might have with his brother’s disappearance, turning his suspicions towards the very thing he trains to protect one day.

eventually, seoho completes his training and is assigned his new rank as an elite guard, and finds himself gaining the attention of the queen of hearts in the form of smiles and generous little gifts or praise as he goes about his daily responsibilities. the freedoms and privileges of his rank allowing him to widen his search for his older brother; though to no avail.

at the age of twenty, he is personally summoned by the queen of hearts, and left alone with her. it had not been the first time he’d seen her of course, but as he grew older the more she would specifically request his presence. seoho wasn’t entirely sure what about him caught her eye, though something in the back of his head wondered if she’d known his brother as well, and knew of his relation due to their similar appearances. or maybe she just found his youth refreshing and attractive in comparison to the king. seoho didn’t know; but it’s the only idea he’s had in months regarding his brother. so when the queen then approaches him with a smile and cups his face in her hand, her brother’s name falling from her lips, he doesn’t pull away.

now five years later, seoho is still by the queen’s side, catering to her every whim, whether it’s a mundane task or a sexual act. he grows accustomed to the strange affair he’s having with her, showered in attention and luxuries he’s never experienced before, coming from a lower class family. between the queen molding the knight she wants out of seoho, and seoho’s unwillingness to give up a good thing, he has his hands full. his purpose of finding his brother still tugs at his heart despite the queen’s promise to help his search, but his duties keep him busy and the queen keeps him sated, at least for now.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the SECOND TIER PRINCESS candidates, JO SUNHWA: a 23 YEAR OLD born on SEPTEMBER 22ND, 1997. some may know them as THE TAME but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like IM NAYEON. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “now my life is sweet like cinnamon, like a dream i’m living in.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

chin up.

she is obedient— the quintessential child to a lackluster noble family lost in the sea of impressive individuals, eager to please and even more eager to be praised. it’s a curse just as much as it is a blessing, always living for others ( always placing self worth and importance on the wants of others ).

it’s an easy part to play, however, especially when one hasn’t a clue they’re the one playing it.

back straight.

with age comes knowledge, an understanding of a world that was once thought to be figured out. sunhwa realizes quickly just how silly she had been, catty banter filtered by stilted air poisoning her mind. no one is as glamorous as she’d always hoped them to be ( as she’d always been led to believe ), pristine suits and glimmering gowns a clever disguise for the domineering and greedy.

money, power, statues— it all does wonders for a person, a family, and the jo’s are no different, old blood and money a privilege amongst the privileged. they walk amongst the same clovers as every one else in the garden, green clad and impressive.

( in reality, they’re nothing but weeds ).

bright eyes.

sunhwa knows better than to step out of line, knows that, despite everything she believes, she’s still devoted to those she loves— the fall of one could very well mean the fall of them all, and while curiosity eats her piece by piece with each passing day at the mere thought of consequence, she’s just as much a weed as the rest— sunhwa is selfish. stubborn. inquisitive. ambitious.

she’s no longer a push over, no longer free of will. there’s a method to her madness, or really, lack thereof— it’s in this madness that sparks change, the fire burning deep within herself spurred by the sparks clearly visible within the jo’s youngest child.

they weren’t meant to be puppets. they were meant to achieve.

dazzling smile.

a departure from emerald clovers, glimmering stars, and an air of intimidation brings bleeding hearts, romantic warmth, and possibility. sunhwa wears determination beautifully, cheeks aflush with rosy hues with each passing day, and it’s obvious she belongs.

while the crown isn’t her endgame, she can’t deny her intrigue— she’s clearly suited, clearly capable, and while the main motivation for her to continue on as she has until now is a simple wager ( one thought up of for the measly goal of making sure the jo children died with true accomplishments to their name rather than old triumphs achieved by their ancestors ), sunhwa can’t help but think.

... what if ?

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the THIRD TIER PRINCESS candidates, BAEK NABI: a 25 YEAR OLD born on AUGUST 19TH, 1996. some may know them already but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like CHOI YUJIN. curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for the crown or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

nabi’s mother tried her damndest to make sure nabi didn’t follow in her footsteps and try for the selection process —even going as far as to hold her back from starting until she was an adult. but nabi was her mother’s daughter in some ways: just as determined and stubborn as the woman who bore her.

there was an intrigue to the title that was deemed “pointless” in their household. her mother detested the selection process. it was apparent to nabi, even in her youth, that the hatred was personal. the hatred was never nabi’s to inherit. with her father’s aid she prepares for the selection process on her own at 20 and she makes it clear that every step she has taken to get here and going forward was on her own merit and determination; she expects to cultivate her own reputation and not be sullied by her mother’s missteps nor be contingent on the ideas of others.

it was her spirit and determination that caught the attention of evaluators. her mother’s shame isn’t too distant from the memories of those who were here some thirty-odd years ago - to see her make an honest attempt where even her own mother failed miserably was inspiring. her resolve was unwavering. no one would be able to tell baek nabi she couldn’t be a princess.

her strengths lie within literature and culture. nabi could always be found with her nose in a book. at times she seems to be an encyclopedia of foreign cultures. with her plans to start learning foreign languages, it seems that nabi is most interested in fortifying relations with other nations to maintain amicable status. (it is a great pride of hers whenever anyone suggests she embodies the hallmarks of the kingdom of hearts.)

she is proud of her progress. tier 3 isn’t something to be ashamed of even at her age. she doesn’t have the complete support nor advantage of the others yet she knows she can make it to the throne. as much as this was a process based on qualities the king and queen (clearly, mostly the queen) liked, it was also a game. nabi wasn’t a fool nor was she ignorant. she knows she has to play her cards right to beat out the competition.

while her eyes are set to the throne, there’s the memories and words of her mother that haunt her: her mother’s opinion on the process as well as the current queen, the pointlessness of it all. there was a story begging to be found and read. a secret kept from nabi all these years: what caused her mother’s downfall?

the truth can be easily found with her mother or the current queen herself but she knows those crones will never discuss the past. why would they ever speak of the conniving game they played to earn where they are now? but nabi knows the palace holds the memories still. she’s closing in on what transpired to strip her mother of her royal title and why some people seem to whisper whenever she walks down the corridors. even as she investigates, she’s unsure if she really does want to know the truth.

THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS PRESENTS . . .

one of the PRIVATE KNIGHTS, KWAK INI: a 26 YEAR OLD born on APRIL 17TH, 1994. some may know them already but with a face like that, it’s hard not to admit they look a little like KIM JONGIN ( KAI ). curious to know more? apparently, these are words they live by: “look away if you’re so scared.” intriguing, aren’t they? only time will tell if they’re suited for knighthood or not.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER . . .

lapdog

spade-born, ini hails from a fallen noble house. generations ago, a man named baek jisoo became a trusted retainer of the spades' royal family. he bore children who had the same talents in errand-running and secret-keeping as he did. the baek's found both fortune and favor in becoming the royal family's loyal servants. the dirtied, bloodied gloves that held up the kingdom. eventually, they rose to prominence as one of the kingdom of spade’s most powerful noble families.

just as easily, they fell. plunged, plummeted. his grandfather's death marked their fall from grace. their family relied too heavily on him. the hardworking, pious man, who taught ini everything he knows. who taught him the value of stalwart servitude, undying loyalty, and bone-crushing hardwork.

in contrast, ini's father and his father’s siblings, and all their wives and children, had become complacent, lazy and greedy. lavish lifestyles  became empty bank accounts became desperate times. his father and mother tried to sell the royal family's secrets to the highest bidder. ini watched as his father threw his mother to the wolves. she was caught and put in jail and all of them disgraced. stripped of titles and possessions. ini's fate sealed, the baek name quickly forced into obscurity.

him and his sister shoved into the back of a van by their father's shaking hands. they drove into morning, blind and hiding and tired. he was too young then. only six. but he'll never forget how heavy his heart felt. the shame of it all. the missing home.

puppet

he awakes to a countryside home. if you can call it that. the rickety old barn forced to look like a place people might live if they had nowhere to go. it reeks of dogpiss and cowshit everywhere. cats stand on the windowsill, birds screech outside the door. the kingdom of hearts, his sister says. in the distance is a small vine-covered house on a small hill. father’s gone there, his sister says. they own this place. they’re letting us stay here.

handing him a stack of falsified documents, she tells him, this is your name now. you're not baek yisu anymore. eldest son and heir of a revered fortune, a household name. now, you're kwak ini. lowly noble. noble only by name and distant relation to this family, that house on the hill. they took all of our money in exchange for shelter and secrecy. but this family has never amounted to anything because the soil here is never fertile. so, you’re noble and poor. and your name is kwak ini, because no one wants to say that name out loud. this is our life now.

connection and corruption, his father manages to get a position as a low-ranking knight, made to patrol the streets like a common rat. ini has to sit on a rickety chair and watch as his father, spineless and stumbling, tries to claw his way back up. his name different, his face different. but everything about him the same. he weasels his way back into favor, saying anything and doing everything. betraying anyone, praying to any god.

with time, everyone pretends to love him again. they move back into a bigger house again. their bank accounts become fat again. baek yisu dies in his sleep, smothered by kwak ini’s hate. with time, ini loses all respect for his father.

pawn

his sister pulls on a dress. she turns her back to him and says can you help me, hurry, i'm going to be late for the selection. he was too young then. only thirteen. but he'll never forget how heavy his heart felt. the indignation. the contempt. the weight of his rage. brewing storm, premeditated death. he doesn’t want to live a lie he doesn’t believe in.

his sister calls home. he was too young then. only sixteen. but he'll never forget how light his steps felt. the patience. the range of motion. i've gone a rank higher. then, another. then, another. once he's sure they can't touch her without burning their fingers, he takes his contempt to the authorities. his stories, his anger. the documents, the evidence, the claims. claiming love for the kingdom of hearts. claiming love for the land that nourished and fed him. claiming love, he places his own neck under the guillotine. for love, he says, he's ready to lose everything.

but he knows enough of freedom to know he will lose nothing.

his sister has garnered too much favor in court for authorities to move without caution. the kingdom of spades wants his father brought to justice too much for the case to be handled without care. like this, ini is every piece in the chessboard. he is the game itself.

pious

once it's all said and done, all he is is empty. with nothing to be loyal to, he feels lost. adrift. it's the call from the knights that saves him. they say it's because he has demonstrated exemplary love for the kingdom. loyalty, is what he thinks they mean to say. they call him braveheart, noble. they know all about him now, they say. they know he was a baek. his bloodline, his history. they say, we'll wipe the trace of you clean if you do this one thing. we'll give you this one chance to prove your love for the kingdom again, but one chance is all you get.

hands and knees, he submits himself to the selection.

blood and sweat, he proves his love. again and again. his loyalty. again and again and again. smart and strong. sharp and pliant.

he keeps his name. love. loyalty.

kwak ini. braveheart. son of the heartland. pious follower and distinguished knight. coveted chesspiece and revered chessplayer.

no longer baek yisu, the son of his mother and father. no longer the blood of spades, eldest son and heir of a forgotten fortune.

he's old enough now. twenty-six. and he binds his life to the oath he took. errand-runner, secret-keeper. loyal servant. he can see, clear as day, that history repeats itself. and so, he swears to deliver neither son nor daughter, long as the sun repeats in its rising.