Crowned

CHAPTER ONE

The wide-open courtyard in the middle of the palace was serene and quiet as a young woman in her early twenties peered at the gravel beneath her feet in an attempt to hide her anxiousness.

She had a bouquet of beautiful lavender and light-hued pink flowers in her bamboo basket. As per the rule of the kingdom, every woman when turned twenty-two was to be presented. It was not stated to whom they were to be presented but the rule had been in effect for the kingdom for immeasurable years than the people could remember.

It was strange but the people never doubted the ways of their king, they loved and respected him without any question for he brought peace and prosperity to their kingdom.

As the woman stood with her flowers in silence, her presence was not forgotten as she could hear footsteps approaching the courtyard.

Two men approached the woman with her head hung low, unable to raise her gaze towards them. One of them gently tapped on her shoulder asking her to lift her gaze to which she followed.

Beautiful brown doe eyes peered at her. The man's expression was indistinct causing a rift of confusion within her.

Maybe the moment was too tense or maybe it was a bit confusing because before her mind could process anything she was escorted out of the palace grounds back to her home.

"Hana, how did it go?”

The dazed woman looked at her mother and shook her head side to side in an attempt to answer her.

" Did you meet the king? Is there a prince? Or was there some young official?"

The mother questioned her daughter again, concerned yet curious to know more about the rule to present the people's daughters.

Still dazed, Hana the beautiful woman in the blue ankle length dress could not answer. Hana was still remembering the beautiful brown orbs that gazed into hers, her mind asking her who the man was.

"Dear, are you okay? You haven't been answering my questions. Here,have a glass of water. "

Hana's mother handed her a glass as she diligently received and drank from, wordlessly.

Hana put the glass down on the table as she turned to her mother and told what happened excluding how she remained dazed when the man peered at her.

"A young man? Ahh. I knew it. The story of the curses might as well be true to this day. "

The story of the curses was a very popular rumor about the kingdom which was always heard by many travelers as well as very well known by the citizens.

Hana was very familiar with the story but she only thought of it as a folk tale since her childhood. Nonetheless, her mother would always tuck her in with that story.

It was about a young crown prince who married his lover but after a few years the lover disappeared only to be found on her dying bed. The young crown prince held her close to him, he loved her so much and he wished more time with her but the lover, sick and tired curses the prince, she curses him to be immortal and live a life of filled with loneliness.

She then tells him that the next person he ever marries with will break the curse but also take her life. That was famous rumour the kingdom flourished in and yet people dared not to defy their king. After all everyone was sure that it was only a folktale to scare off people invading them.

"I am happy that you were not chosen. You are far too young, my dear. "

Her mother spoke softly as she guided Hana to her room.

...

Eventually after the presentation, Hana fell back to her normal routine.

It was as if a dream that she saw those brown doe eyes but it still haunted her, she was far too curious about the man she saw that day.

"Miss, your car has arrived and the madam is asking you for breakfast."

Hana nodded as she quickly grabbed her bag and exited her room to join her mother for breakfast.

"Hana dear, you eat far too less. Come on, you will those baby cheeks which I so love to pull,"

Hana face palmed as her mother rabbled on and on. How much so ever her mother was a very lonely woman and Hana tried her best to be there for her mother.

"You know, it is okay for you to date someone. I wouldn't mind feeding another mouth and it would be fun to talk with someone other than you,"

Hana froze for a second as her mother said that.

Her mother had been pestering her about dating though she didnot hat the idea, she just felt annoyed with her mother up her ass all day.

As soon as she could empty her plate, Hana kissed her mother and went to work.

Unlike her mother who was a bussiness woman, Hana was a webtoon artist. She loved art and somehow she found herself drawing stories in the internet and she was happy that many people loved her work. But recently, she could not write nor draw as every inspiration seemed to be lost. Her editor was constantly calling her to remind her of the due date of her submission, which she hoped to finish soon.

The sun was still high up as Hana secluded herself in the cafe that was far from the center market area and it was just the spot she needed. The aromatic smell of coffee and the murmuring background made her feel calm and she could collect her thoughts.

Now, all she needed was to write up a fantastic plot with a detailed description of the main character and a rough sketch.

It seemed quite a bit but it was a lot considering her fuzzy brain trying to get her to think about other things, especially the brown doe eyes that seemed to constantly catch her off guard.

Hana sighed as she had only mustered to have done a rough sketch of her desired character and it didnot satisfy her. The submission date was fast approaching and she would hate to extend the deadline as she despised the idea of her chief editor barking at her, it was the worst case scenario and even the thought of it made her shudder but today, all she could do was sigh and contemplate on her unproductivity.