#enm:accepted
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT SAITO MOMOKO …
A PRINCESS of JAPAN, they are an NINETEEN YEAR OLD NEUTRALIST and the daughter of King Saito (DAUGHTER #KZ3). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like TWICE's MYOUI MINA. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
they tell her story in hushed voices, whispers broken over the knee, adulations and wonders and rumours painted together as they join hands round fire or fish, salt, and fat.
have you heard of the youngest daughter?
they call her the greatest flower.
let us begin, as all stories do - and as they must - at the beginning. to be fair and honest, as stories never are, we must admit that this is not quite the true beginning. that beginning, in this case and all others, would mean the black-star start of the world (or in the very least, if we are to cheat just slightly, the origins of magic - but i digress), when everything came from nothing and nothing meant everything. but for both your time and mine, we will skip past the first red, slashed dawn of the world, and even beyond the fantastic sky-breaking intiation that brought magic, though they did not come all that far apart, as you may think.
they say she was born from a flower mid-spring, white limbs unfurling like petals - some say that she came out fully formed, dressed only in long raven hair, singing a sweet tune to welcome herself into the world. others say she was as raw and young as the rest of the babes that take their first breath screaming. when she strung her cries into the air for the very first time, it startled the snow out of the clouds – even the water came to her on its knees, falling to the ground, frozen and in awe. the people tell stories they do not understand, tales of the fair lady haruka singing by the riverside and enchanting the hidden susanoo, who took on the visage of her king-husband and impregnated her by the way. some say it was tsukiyomi-no-mikoto, falling through her bedroom walls with the moon, and some still whisper about a blessing on the child from hachiman, god of war to his human warlord the king.
the last born daughter to the south, she was a summer fruit in bloom, hanging out of reach of the hands of man and spilling sweet nectar. they say in her youth she incited madness; dropped every tutor and steward to their knees because none could say no to the growing sculpt of her face, and it made her clever and kind-wicked. she ran like water through the palace halls, silk flowering after her like wings, naming her the butterfly. she laughed and danced like god and lightning.
they sing stories of her girlhood, the first night she took a man’s life without ever lifting her finger. the warrior is found in the gardens with his blade through his heart.
this is the first night she wears her veil, so the legend goes. so that nobody could see when she wept.
they tell the story of the men who came for her hand, those who went mad because she would not reveal her loveliness and those who clutched happiness like a lover after a single glimpse of her face. there are rumours about the tournament held in her honour, the great sons who came with their pride and their desire in either hand to show their worth and their devotion.
(there are stories they do not tell, like the ones of war and the princesses sent out across the great sea. there are stories they do not know, where the girl sheds the gown and dons a cover and calls herself by a name with no importance. not every tale is meant for audience).
they say she’s a white bird in a blizzard. they say she’s hard as hard to touch as she is to understand. they say she’s more beautiful than even the foreign princesses. they say she has milk and honey for blood and bones. they say she’s turned away every suitor that has turned up at her door, that her beauty has turned burden from its extremity.
like any girl, she is half-god. like any legend, only half these are true.
PERSONALITY:
For all that the princess Momoko is exalted and whispered for her beauty, what is recorded in letters and the writings of suitors is the strength of her wit. A clever girl even as a child, she speaks with weight and charm in every exchange she has. Despite notable silence – as with her elder sisters, the youngest of the moonlight maidens is an enigma – when she does chose to speak, it is often with the elegance of a poet and the wit of a scholar. Momoko has come to view her beauty, and by some extension herself, as a burden; this has lead her to becoming an internalizer, watching on but not always participating until it suits her. But for all the charm she emulates, behind the veil this intelligence can be used for mischief. As a woman of high intellect, she is stimulated by mental challenge, such as feats of well-meant trickery or games of cat and mouse, particularly with men. Questionable flirtation and teasing are common, draped into sutblety with the reminder of young maid’s expected chastity, and this in itself could be called deceitful. Particularly when paired with the fancy she has for dressing in servant garb and taking to the streets under an assumed name, her affinity for lying is apt.
There is modernity resting within her, shining and sharp, poking her with discomfort when strangling ideas of womanhood or limitions are brought up. She is a free thinker and an artistic mind, prone to and drawn by poetry, art, and especially philosophy.
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KIM TAEYEON has been accepted as KANG YURI under position DOCTOR #XX, personal medic to PRINCE #XX. Yuri was born on the 9TH OF MARCH and is currently TWENTY-NINE YEARS OLD. She sides with the TRAITORS.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT HAN JISUNG …
AN ADVISOR IN TRAINING of the palace, they are an TWENTY-THREE YEAR OLD LOYALIST and the son of MINISTER HAN JIHUN (SON #HJH). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like BTS' KIM NAMJOON (RM). What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
a baby boy swaddled in shadows and secrets, his small fingers stretch for a truth that will never be his. the wind nips at his skin as he begins a 9-months’ rest, hidden in seclusion, since questions and suspicions would certainly arise were he to exist so soon. his mother-to-be had just given birth to a daughter. therefore, her future son must be raised in the womb of the castle walls until his mother’s pregnancy is feigned, sacrificing almost another year for her husband’s future… for jisung’s future. and so the baby boy will wait, familiarizing himself with whispers carried through the stone’s cracks, manifesting warmth from solitude and joy from the abundance of stars littering the sky from his only view outside. for 9 months he lays, stuck between a life unlived and a life to live - and though he has no exact consciousness yet, his heart will grow to wonder why the stars could be so cruel yet so divine.
jisung is dropped into the waiting embrace of a humble family assigned to him by strategy. it’s a complicated act of love, although if people knew the truth it would seem anything but. he is the hidden child of deceased king hyeonjong, however now he will be known as the one and only son of revered minister han jihun. the identity of his true mother has died along with his father, and no one except the heavens will know where his former path could’ve lead him. he is set for life paved by the fates who came before him. were they forgiving, doing him a favor in shielding him from the strife of royalty? or have they robbed him of his god-given rights to a reality? only time will tell. but as his soft, little forehead is kissed, the stars and his new family the only witnesses to his “birth,” his dark, wise eyes look up in hope and yet he can’t help but cry for the life he’s lost.
why is the king so… good? as a young boy, even he questioned the fondness in the king’s eyes. the sincerity of the king’s laughter struck something inside of him that he could not name for himself. it was a warmth that reminded him of something eternal. something that he had not found in the straining relationship he held with his sister. something that he could not find as powerfully within others. he loves. maybe a little too much sometimes, but if there’s one thing he certainly knows - it’s love. jisung’s adopted father replies, voice suddenly stern as he continues, it’s because of the king that we can live like this. he stops reading the pages in his hand, meeting the eyes of jisung from across his desk. it’s because he loves that we can—we all can prosper in this kingdom. he leans closer, never once leaving his son’s gaze. be grateful for your king. simply trust that the king is good. but you… he blinks. don’t do the same.
love? innocence inquires, for what may be the last time.
maturity delivers a slow nod. love.
it’s a lesson that settles into the pit of his stomach as he grows much too quickly for his own sake - both in height and in mind. his tall, dark, lean frame give him credence at first glance towards his political duties; his smooth, low voice, eloquently providing delicate insight on many matters, earns him respect and the occasional admiration. after his sister’s sentence into disgrace, he knows now more than ever why his father forewarned him of the weakness in sentimentality. so when the king dies (and he feels an unnamed loss hitting against his soul), when his father shuns his sister (and in consequence burdens the boy increasingly with expectations of preparedness and perfection), when the games of court exhaust him (and enemies are hardened, friends are avoided, and love is severed), he thinks…
everything is fine.as long as the stars remain in the sky, jisung knows he will stay alive.
PERSONALITY:
intelligent, he’s a man dedicated to his studies and his innate curiosity towards the world. as an advisor, he not only has to be knowledgable in many areas, but he also has to know how to handle and work well with people. even though he is amiable and genuinely gets along with others, it’s all considerably surface-level, and jisung makes no effort t deny or even change that. everyone is kept close, but always at arms-distance - a lesson he’s had to learn the hard way, and something that is especially important to him now as he trains to be the advisor for the next-in-line king. so even though his demeanor is cordial, he will always prioritize truth and logic over friendliness, earning him his reputation as a secretive or withdrawn being.
however, as pragmatic as he makes himself out to be, that perception can quickly be unravelled by his occasional clumsiness. he was denied the opportunity to think of being anything but serious, especially with his father’s strictness and the expectations further heightened on him because of his sister’s disownment. thus, when coaxed by long-term acquaintances, his wide-eyed, innocent nature can make an appearance as others’ sincerity pushes him into being the exact opposite than how he publicly portrays himself - impassioned, talkative, and eager for engagement. however, this side of him is only released as short-term bursts of energy when just the right topic or moment strikes.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT WANG KANGJOON …
A PRINCE of the palace, they are a TWENTY-TWO YEAR OLD TRAITOR and the son of Queen Wonyong (PRINCE #WY). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like BTS’ PARK JIMIN. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
glory
i. kangjoon’s birth was nothing special. he was the tenth child, the fifth son, to the fifth wife. it was lackluster, so many births before him that the joy and celebration was routine. he was remarkably unremarkable, but that didn’t stop him. it was a gold standard, going forward.
he was nothing special, but he refused, even at zero hours old, to let go of that moment of glory. kangjoon screamed and wailed, at the top of his lungs, forcing, demanding attention on himself before he was even bestowed with a name.
kangjoon wasn’t anything to be marveled at, until he forged himself into more than was expected.
ii. glory belonged to his father. to his eldest brothers. to the king’s most beloved queen.
it didn’t belong to kangjoon.
it was one of the servants that brought it up the first time, when he didn’t manage to pick up on one of his subjects right away. a gentling hand on his shoulder, and kind words, telling him it was alright – the burden didn’t rest on him anyway.
it must have been meant in comfort but something soured in kangjoon’s stomach, even in his adolescence.
but when his father cemented it, shrewd eyes that only ever looked warm when they weren’t directed at him, neutral tone, telling him to hold his practice sword properly before sighing – there’s no point in having him try as hard as his brothers, he’d said to his mother.
kangjoon had clenched his teeth, turned his back, refused to acknowledge propriety for that moment. to avoid his father’s gaze, to avoid his own incompetence, to avoid the crestfallen expression on his mother’s face – he didn’t know.
iii. it wasn’t that he wanted his father’s approval; he wanted his father acknowledging defeat. he wanted to steal glory away from all of them. the golden hour that bathed their heads, running far from him and where he stood at dusk.
he studied and practiced and perfected, through hard work. talent escaping him. eventually, he came to rule over dawn, light barely breaking over the horizon. this, it was all his. as the palace lay quiet, the birds not yet chirping, barely a soul rousing. this was his. and he held tight to that blue hour, before the golden rays of sunlight tore it away.
honor
iv. there was a distinction between being honorable and being honored. kangjoon learns this early on. being honored, even as he is, comes naturally. he’s a prince, after all. being honorable – well, it’s much more difficult. but it’s expected.
kangjoon likes to meet expectations, likes when he impresses people, especially when he does so more than his brothers. he’s jealous, he’ll admit, of the favor they receive. of the honor they receive. but he’ll make himself more honorable, even as snakes wind tight around his heart, blackening it with poison.
he practices his crafts, completes his assignments, only lets glimpses of the ever-shrouding darkness that fills his chest leak out, the glint in his eye growing more dangerous the older he gets.
v. his hands shake when he holds the wooden sword. he follows the movements precisely, but the trembling is visible where his father sits, evaluating. his brothers beside him don’t seem to have the trouble he does.
he keeps his eyes lowered, on his feet. it’s a sign of respect, outwardly. kangjoon grits his teeth, breathes hard through his nose. he’ll do what’s right for now, he won’t embarrass anyone by acting out. that’s not who he is, it isn’t his role in this convoluted family.
his eyes catch the gaze of a steward in the background. it’s quiet, sick vengeance more than anything else that has kangjoon seeking him out later.
vi. the king’s death is a surprise in every way. kangjoon shakes when he hears, finally detaching himself from his sister’s side – she’s inconsolable. hands trembling, he clenches them tightly behind his back, stands tall.
despite it all – the king was still his father. he does what he’s supposed to. is the filial son. follows all their rituals and procedures to a tee. he doesn’t shed a single tear, the ever-charming smile, the polite mask he dons nowhere to be found.
they think he’s done it, he finds later, lurking in the shadows that belong to him. not for certain – there are too many suspects. too many children. but there’s an inkling and slowly, he feels his father’s last strike against him. ripping away the honor he’s been blessed with since birth, as suspicion leaks through the supporters of the throne.
power
vii. power doesn’t belong to him, but he takes it.
when there are men that visit, from foreign royalty to military officials, they step behind closed doors, only their shadows visible through the paper. his eldest brothers are allowed, on occasion. he, on the other hand, gets shuffled away, a steward at his back reminding him of readings he doesn’t care for.
kangjoon steals away when they’re not looking. they never look for long. somehow, finding him trustworthy. or, not worth the attention. he isn’t sure, doesn’t care to find out, just swallows the bitterness and sneers at their backs.
he hovers where his silhouette won’t be noticed, after guards have nodded off or been distracted enough. listens to the words exchanged behind closed doors and commits them to memory. this is how he learns, to be in power. by pressing his ears to doors that have been shut on his face.
viii. kangjoon always found boys pretty, as pretty as girls, even. he just didn’t think about it too much. growing up, it became ingrained, implicitly, in him that boys and boys did not belong together. he did what was right – and what was right was finding a pretty girl to chase after. the king was the only example he needed.
a child can only take so much repression and frustration. he starts chasing after boys as a way to rebel against his father’s power over him. but it feels right, so he doesn’t stop. things evolve for kangjoon, he doesn’t necessarily understand it, doesn’t want anyone to know, still gets that sick satisfaction of knowing he’s going behind his father’s back, propriety thrown to the wind; but there’s more.
he gets caught, years and years after it’s started. of course he does. even his power self-made control can’t reach far. kangjoon is quick to run after the steward that saw them – a different type of chase – a boy that barely reaches his chin, young and scared.
when kangjoon holds a blade against his throat, words cutting sharper than it ever could, threats that make his own blood curdle – his hands do not shake.
ix. he mourns for his king, the father he never really felt he had, in the only way he knows how. quiet and alone, pushed away quickly. repressed in a blink.
in the morning, he grits his teeth.
kangjoon bears at all, for the sake of his mother, for the sake of his sister, for the sake of himself. if they’re so keen to turn on him, then let them, he thinks. he’ll stay close, mend these relationships, then take it all away. he’ll steal the gold right from under their noses, from atop their heads.
x. this is his game to win.
PERSONALITY:
+ determined
kangjoon is determined in the way he sets his sights on something. in the way he goes after it full force, until he’s perfected it or captured it or conquered it. he’s determined in his ferocity, quiet and simmering, so different from those around him. it’s in the way he bulldozes over hurdles rather than jumping, in the way he stands tall when faced with adversaries that tower over him, it’s in how he’ll protect his family – his real family – with all he’s worth.
+ magnetic
a prince is trained to be magnetic, even when they’re not. he has his father’s smile, the smile of a king that is never meant to be. he’s magnetic in the way it draws people in, inspires trust. magnetic in the way someone always seems to be hovering, drifting closer. kangjoon learned magnetism, refused to be ignored, he captures attention and keeps it, wants it all for himself.
+ intuitive
kangjoon is supposed to be strategic. that’s how a ruler is, even one that doesn’t rule. but his gut rules over his brain. when he has a hunch, he follows it. he’s intuitive in the way he abandons reason, if he feels a different option is right. kangjoon can be swayed by deep emotions, even if he wishes he couldn’t be. he sees too much and filters it all into his heart, when he shouldn’t. he doesn’t understand others, not always, but he understands himself at least. when he feels something is right, then it is.
- jealous
kangjoon is jealous in the way he’ll stand behind the king and want for his throne. he’s jealous in the way he’ll see the affection his elder siblings get and want to steal it away. it’s in the way he wants, even when he doesn’t need, hogging as much as he can. it’s in the way material objects give him a sense of longevity, and when others have more, he feels lacking. like he’ll disappear. more and more, kangjoon is always grappling for more.
- obsessive
he’s obsessive in the way he can’t let go of something once he starts. in the way he needs to be perfect. kangjoon’s obsessive in how he likes the stroke of a calligraphy brush, so he picks it up the next day. in the way he practiced kendo until the moves felt like second nature, beat into his own body. in the way he’ll be unable to keep his eyes away from the pretty woman, until he finds someone new to spend his moments calling after. it’s in how he takes up bird calls and practices until his sister goes mad. kangjoon gets stuck on things, until he’s explored every nook and cranny.
- secretive
trust doesn’t come easy. not to a prince, and especially not to kangjoon. it becomes worse after his father’s passing, somehow. he’s never known who he can rely on, never has fully. never knows who is using him for status or influence. never knows who will find themselves spilling secrets, even accidentally. kangjoon is rarely a forgiving person, and broken trust isn’t something he risks, ever. he’s secretive to a fault, not a single soul knowing the entirety of him.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT WANG JAEUN …
A PRINCESS of the palace, they are a TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD LOYALIST and the daughter of Queen Wonhye (PRINCESS #WH). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like BLACKPINK’S KIM JISOO. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
wang jaeun meets love several times.
she first meets love in the form of her mother.
her mother was a beautiful, kind woman. a woman that could be described as a painting. a painting reflected by the sunlight, placed on the walls. the one where everyone briefly stares and is enlightened. she knows this woman gifts her love when she gives her life. it was the sunniest day of july, where the sun exerted warmth and the sky gifted with lightest pale blue. as there is a excruciating fight between life and death, the woman does not give up as she gives birth to a baby girl. a girl who would later on mimic the same steps her mother did. her space in the wall as a beautiful painting already had a mold ready for her to fit in. but, such does not matter in that moment. her mother isn’t able to bear more thoughts than carrying her child, exchanging tenderness. an exchanged breath, an exchanged smile, an exchanged hope. a tear streams down from the older woman’s eye, patting against the toddler’s belly. that’s the first sign on how much her mother gifted love to her.
which, it was all too ironic when the woman proceeds to suicide. the moment where she cuts her life like a string, hollow and light. in that moment, jaeun realizes how love could not save everything. even, if she, was very much saved from being loved.
she meets it in the form of her father. the small girl is five by the time she has a vision of him. she is usually described as a mythical being. in the terms, he is always grandiose. he is always a pillar the kingdom rested in. hence, she painted him with an ebony silhouette. one where she gazed but never approached because he was not tangible for her. but, she meets him. she meets him when the sun sighs to the earth, where the clouds are stuck against the sky. she remembers merely seeing how his lips were smiling. how his face was. how his mood fit his face, where the well-crafted painting like her mother, did not fit in there. that’s the moment where they exchanged tenderness. the moment where their fingertips spilled honey as the moment ended up being sweet.
that’s how jaeun knew she was loved in some way or another by him.
she meets it through her full-blooded siblings. she believes it is childish to a degree. how the princess isn’t able to gift her heart as easily to the rest of her siblings. after all, they all came from the grandiose figure her father is. she assumes their relationships should come easily. but, she remembers the uneasy knot in her throat. how it aches and pounds against them, how her blood rushes too quickly and how her feet are clumsy. yet, her siblings were there to support. there’s always a support she feels from there. hence, she never underestimated their bond.
but, as many times, jaeun has met love. she has also met other kinds of emotions. ones where they tie her to a position where it can’t prevail. the princess learns about reality crudely. the rawness of it always leaves her tongue with a bitter taste. almost as if blood was always stuck there.
she learns about how women aren’t able to move as men. as men were able to proceed with their lives, her feet were hold by atlas who tells her no to. that she has duties as a woman, one where there was another form of freedom.
preparation comes in a torturous form. she never liked how she was always doing the same thing. the same, damn thing where she had to be pretty. just that. her image, her identity, everything revolved on the idea of pretty. it took time, she admits that. but, under pressure, something had to come out. her mind was still moldable. jaeun learnt to be better. she taught herself to move forward with what she was given. she permitted herself to be groomed, to be prepared. to be everything a formidable lady was. as the princess got praised for it, the woman started to get taught other possibilities.
even if she accepted certain part of her destiny, her mind was always playing. it is playing with what she could do beyond the boundaries that chained her. hence, there was a spark where the young girl moved. she moved like men, except her footsteps resembled a gentle rain. the patterning never being too strong, almost too soft and soothing for the ears. she learns to deceive, she learns to play with her image. she learns what her mother could never do as misery consumed her. jaeun learns to let her bones grow, to let her limbs move, to let her mind explore and learn to use her face wisely. pretty face or not, the princess knew she had various cards under her sleeve. it would be naive not to use them all.
PERSONALITY:
wang jaeun is a ethereal woman. the girl gives the image of grace, poise. there is never missing beat in her movements. there’s always a smile, one that barely shows teeth. femininity was the key to her. almost seemed to be untouched, the ideal woman for this world.
wang jaeun is a kind woman. there is always compassion running rampant in her heart. there is always love etched in the rims of her heart, waiting to be filled. there is always generosity gifted from her heart, waiting to be taken. the princess is always ready to give. there is never a moment where she isn’t.
wang jaeun is not an ethereal woman. the woman knows for sure her smile is taken as a fool. she knows she looks ethereal, she makes sure to keep it like that. even when she desires not to. there’s a vehement spirit behind it all.
there is a woman whose insecurities are too deep to be shown in the exterior. but, there are constantly walking around her thoughts. every once in awhile, kicking the confidence she attempts to display. there’s always an underlying worry about getting caught, about getting caught about not fitting the image.
wang jaeun is not a naive woman. on the contrary, there is a cynical and melancholic being there. they are days where the woman perceptiveness causes her to sink deep into her. unable to shed her emotions on the exterior, she lets them brew till it burns her. but, even when it does, jaeun does not falter in the slightest and keeps going. sometimes, that resilient trait of her is the one that burns her out the most.
wang jaeun is not a plaything. she knows there is so much she can do. she knows she can’t exert her mind to greater things, ones where the word forbade chants. she knows it’s wrong to imagine them. her dreamer’s outlooks make her tired. but, instead of fighting it vocally, the woman devotes herself to other things. she permits herself to roam freely by pulling pranks.
the devil calls for her name, she complies by pulling innocent pranks. mischief runs deep in her veins, her limbs have always believed adrenaline should pump quicker. but, she lets her veil fall down. she lies with ease, lets them believe to make this game of hers go on forever, even when it’s all fun and games. even when the royalty, the female one, should never do this. but, the mind of this woman would never let her desires rest.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT KITAGAWA NATSUME …
A JAPANESE NOBLE of the palace, they are a THIRTY-SEVEN YEAR OLD NEUTRAL and the uncle of Niece and Nephew #NT. In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like KORA KENGO. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
war.
he hears it first from the lips of his teacher, pronouncing each syllable like he was dropping a boulder atop natsume’s shoulders. his siblings have learned these lessons already, practice their court mannerisms with the most refined of gestures, are old enough to stand before their superiors without cowering in childlike cowardice. they are eager, ambitious, meant for great things.
natsume is not like them.
this is not to say natsume is not eager nor ambitious not meant for great things, but he is far more interested in reading his books than applying anything he’s learned. history, art, a failed attempt at playing fue and a rotating pool of tutors who try and fail to make him competent with any sort of weapon are what occupy his time.
as the youngest of three and the son of a parents too busy climbing a social ladder to do any more than make sure their children aren’t embarrassments, natsume gets away with this.
he’s quiet, polite, appears with his family when he needs to, but he is far more entranced by the delicate stroke of a painter’s brush than the nuances of court behavior and the legacy he’s destined to inherit. his childhood is ignoring the inevitable, as it should be.
war.
natsume has not once been allowed to read the messages that come for his father, but he’s often managed to sneak peeks anyway. call it curiosity, childish impotence, but he likes to know, he likes to learn, and he’s never been good at listening to his parents anyway.
but when he is thirteen, a letter comes, it’s bearer clad in white, face solemn.
natsume’s parents stay locked in their rooms for three days and three nights, and not once does he manage to speak to them in that time. his sister is seven years older than him, but when she meets his eyes, she seems so small, so scared.
he suddenly does not want to know.
his brother is just one of many caught in the middle. his death means nothing to anyone but them. he is inconsequential, a noble too good to fight but not important enough to draw outrage, to change anything in the grand fight for control over the nation.
war.
his sister was supposed to marry a man with royal blood, nearly a prince but not quite - she was going to elevate all of them. natsume had met the man on only one equation, but the excitement in his sister’s voice meant that it should have been good.
court is not what is was before the war. his sister’s eyes are like daggers behind the flutter of her fan.
she marries a man of that is beneath her. she must survive: for him, for their parents, for herself.
war.
the nation is consumed by it. the people are starving. the nobles retreat to their high towers, to their art and their poetry and their useless hobbies and natsume feels choked. he is nineteen and useless. he is preparing for a future he’s not sure he will have.
he closes his eyes. he cannot bear to watch. he does not want to know.
he is twenty four. his parents have fallen to illness, his sister’s children clinging to his legs. they are small and scared and know nothing of the life they’ve been thrown into. his heart is too soft for all of this.
war.
he was raised on it, born into a land thick with conflict and overflowing with blood. his nephew and niece are safer here, in goryeo, with him, but he is worried.
war is coming.
PERSONALITY:
some say natsume’s heart is too soft - he is kind, dislikes the strictness of court life, and hates the political game that he’s forced to take part of. he is the opposite of his family, but he’s slowly becoming them.
or at least, he’s trying to.
he is shrewd and says little, preferring to observe the dynamics of goryeo’s court than take part in the inevitable bloodshed. he’s spent a lifetime studying politics and war and knows better than to rush into anything, especially when the situation is so tense.
his nephew and niece are the only family he has left and he’s had to raise them since they were children and now sees them as his own. as such, he’s got additional reasons to be cautious about everything - he is not just risking his own life with a mistake, but those of his children and his country.
he’s an introverted person, and though he does enjoy conversation and performs the role of an ambassador well, he prefers his own company. he’s far more interested in studying the art and literature of goryeo than he is socializing with it’s royal family (at least, any more than is polite).
natsume has been called unambitious most of his life, but he’s seen first hand what the struggle for power looks like and how horrific it can become. he’s not interested in anything of the sort - the safety of his people and his family are what come first. as such, he refuses to take sides in the battle for power in goryeo - he assumes the position of neutrality till one can prove to him that siding with them will benefit his nation.
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✩ ⋆ ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT WANG HYOSA …*
A PRINCESS of the palace, they are an TWENTY-FOUR YEAR OLD LOYALIST and the daughter of Queen Wonseong (PRINCESS #WS). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like KIM JI-WON. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
from a young age, the princess has been made aware that her looks will get her far. she took perfectly after her mother, long silky black locks and wide clear brown eyes all complete with an inescapable smile. with this knowledge, the woman has always used it to get what she wants and manipulation and lies are tools she uses on a daily basis. she is ice and yet people take one look at her stone face and breathtaking beauty and trust her anyway.
wang hyosa. the detached princess of goryeo. daughter of deceased king hyeonjong and queen wonseong of the ansang kim clan. she was a sweet child who danced her way around the palace, praised by her kindness and touching words. back then, the palace seemed quiet to a child like her with no worries in the world. happiness didn’t last long in goryeo and hyosa would finally learn.
wang hyeonjong was more than her father. he was what she defined as a fair ruler and she had no problem voicing out where her loyalty lied. politicians and generals all looked at her like she had no place to say a word about who should reign, but hyosa knew.
king hyeonjong made sure she was educated and well aware of her surroundings like a great princess should. hyosa knew her purpose as a princess was for them to send her off to marry a king or even– a prince. she had no interest in being a regular princess and she was going to do everything in her power to prove them she was so much more. it was not her business, not her place.
leave it to your brothers, they told her, war is not your game.
“the king of goryeo has died.”
hyosa was seen at the palace that day and looked like as if her whole world had dropped on her shoulders. her view of the world also changed. before the king died, she was young, innocent, and naive. she saw god’s beauty in the smallest things – when she had questions, he would answer them. he always had the answers. the world had infinite joys to discover and she had endless curiosity. life seemed to go on forever and I never thought about death. after the funeral, that all changed. she lost her parent, her hero, and her teacher. she thought a lot about death and dying. she still had plenty of questions, but nobody to answer them. and they certainly weren’t fun questions.
it must be wrong to say she was not sad when her father died, but hyosa couldn’t find any guilt over admitting it. it was strange, seeing her brother up on the throne, though she knew that day would one day come. she thought the suffering would end of course, and that her mother would be okay. king hyeonjong was her first love and she knew.
she had grown into a beautiful and fierce madam and the palace was afraid. afraid that she had been trying to track whoever was behind those killings and she was certainly on it. the court often had to bury her outbursts under the rug and try to keep their eyes closed because she was known to not hold back when she had something to say and it wasn’t always lady-like or positive, not that she cared at all.
“when a woman will no longer complain, that’s when you shall be afraid, and i am running out of things to say.” she spat out at the first advisor in line, as she stomped away with her ladies in waiting.
PERSONALITY:
-
impulsive– there is no holding back with hyosa, she will tell you exactly how it is and have no remorse.
quick-tempered– most likely will get upset/mad if you have done something to anger her and it doesn’t take much.
fierce– having or displaying an intense or ferocious aggressiveness which is common in hyosa. also one of her many charms.
+
confident– she knows what she wants and she isn’t afraid to voice it out.
courageous– hyosa isn’t afraid of the court and has been positive they have something to do with the killings of her father and brother. they often go eye to eye because of how loud she is.
generous– although she lives at the palace, she wants to continue her father’s legacy and help the poor as much as she can as a royal.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT WANG SEOLA …
A PRINCESS of the palace, they are an TWENTY-TWO YEAR OLD LOYALIST and the daughter of Queen Wonjeong (PRINCESS #WJ). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like RED VELVET’S BAE JOOHYUN (IRENE). What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
CHAPTER ONE.
she’s an enigma, the shell of a girl whose eyes are devoid of the simplest joys but smiles with a warmth for life, born to lavishes and a title most would easily kill for— have easily killed for.
wang seola is royalty, daughter of a righteous king she misses with all her heart, his tender gaze and boisterous attentiveness secured within her deepest, earliest memories. they come to her with a rooted recollection of mourning, visions of her younger self, a princess beloved by the kingdom who still felt wonder for what her life would one day hold. she tries hard to push away the bitterness she feels at times, knowing herself to be nothing but a fool in her younger years.
young ignorance and bliss, a curse she was too late to shake.
she’s young, but a girl when it happens— her only full-blooded sibling, her dear hyojeong, succumbing to an infection the healers had been so sure she would overcome. although seola loved the company of her half-siblings, there was always a difference in feeling when it came to her older sister, birthed from the same mother, queen wonjeong.when confirmation of her sisters’ death was announced, everything seemed to stop.
a piece of her heart chips away, fragile as the wind picks it up and carries it far off.
weeks of weeping and heartache passed before she left her quarters willingly, the grief and sadness felt throughout the kingdom passing as time went on without her. it’s said that time heals all wounds, and while that may be true, time can also bring about new ones— events of horror and disbelief, soul-crushing twists unseen until the moment they happen and it’s too late.
years pass silently, her world quickly confined to the palace grounds alone, her mother fearful for her last child’s life ( seola grows to hate the walls surrounding the palace, but what can she do? she lost a sister, her parents lost a child, and all they wanted was for her to live ).
she’s enjoying the sun within the palaces private garden, a soft smile on her face as she converses with one of the servants when she’s told of her mothers’ assassination, a guard having been sent for her to ensure she was safe. the second piece of her heart breaks off and washes away in the current, and a pattern seems to develop.
all her healing was for nothing, because there she was, a wreck once again.
the world loses it’s wonder, the twinkle of curiosity and happiness in her doe eyes faltering immensely, and her safe haven lies deep within herself, alone and away from others. she hates it, the isolation she comes to subject herself to, but she feels it’s necessary now— the people she holds dear seem to fall sooner or later. maybe it’s a curse ( maybe she’s cursed ).
she tries not to believe that.
by the time her father is killed ( followed by her eldest half-brother, as well, once he’s crowned ), she’s a woman, and it’s easier to deal with the pain. she’s experienced a fair share of loss before, the ghosts of her mother and sister always on her mind, but the pain still rings clear. she keeps her composure, however, because she’s one of the oldest, and saving face would show they would prevail in this time of sorrow.
she’s seen two kings now on the thrown, both gotten rid of suddenly and unjustly, but what can she do? simply stand by and go through life, waiting to see what will happen next.
PERSONALITY:
positive— caring, empathetic, observant.
negative— timid, reclusive, anxious.
she’s a beautiful apparition, a princess who’s barely seen by anyone outside of the palace walls anymore. it’s easy to forget she’s there, someone who’s grown timid over the years, thanks to her isolated nature. she does it to herself, simply wishing to fulfil her mothers last wishes, even if it brings her sadness and a feeling of loneliness she can never seem to shake, not even when her half-siblings come to spend time with her. seola has grown used to it, however, watching from the sidelines as others seem to live freely ( freely in a way she doesn’t feel she can anymore ).
she tries her best to stay strong, a walls always stacked high and strong, fearing she might fall once more if they came down. she’s already lost so much, and a heart can only take so much sorrow before everything seems lost. she’s close to her breaking point, glimpses of her sadness breaking through every now and then, but those who see it are never really sure they saw it correctly. how can they, when her smile is a lovely distraction, when her hands are warm and misleadingly strong?
it’s only a matter of time.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT WANG DAHYE …
A PRINCESS of the palace, they are a NINETEEN YEAR OLD NEUTRAL and the daughter of Queen Wonyong (Princess #WY). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like KIM SOHYUN. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
her eyes did not give off a similar bright vibe like the others before her, but more like a sad one as queen wonyong would point out while looking at her baby girl. this little trait had stuck with her throughout her childhood as they tried their best out of consideration for her feelings that they would not make her feel insecure or awkward by mentioning her pair of eyes. naturally, she found nothing that was wrong with her at the time. wang dahye would slowly lean towards independence when she’d pull away from her half siblings in order to find time away from the palace. dahye wanted to be strong, but she didn’t wish to become a soldier. she wanted to walk around comfortably without being judged and she wanted to live freely without any nightmares haunting her in her sleep.
if they asked, she’d much rather become a scholar or an advisor to the king.
before the assassination of the king, dahye had felt the sense of dread three hours prior, almost breaking her into cold sweat every minute as the clock ticked. naivety and ignorance surrounded the palace and the people as they walked passed this strange girl that was mentally backed into a corner by her senses. it was as if time slowed and dahye was viewing the world in slow motion.
perhaps her nightmares weren’t lying to her or maybe they were, she didn’t know but she couldn’t help but cry to herself with her head turned so that no one could see her filled with tears. if she let it all out right then and there, then maybe she wouldn’t have to be surprised when it happened right in front of her eyes. dahye had spent too much time wondering about the ‘what ifs’ for a very long time. what if someone had actually believed her when she’d pull them aside and told them? though she’d always struggle with the words because didn’t it sound and feel too impossible to connect with the future? of course it would be.
“why are you worrying about something that may not be true? what if it’s only just a coincidence?” she asked herself these questions everyday, her mind becoming a prison that dahye was unwillingly placed in. sometimes she’d randomly be pulled side from her tutors in order to talk to her yet the words never managed to get through to dahye due to her refusal to open up.
queen wonyong always comforted her in the midst of the madness going on in her head, was it her fault or everyone else that they could not understand what she was going through? it was easier to put the blame on everyone else anyway. that was when the rumors started, not too long ago after king deokjong suffered the same fate that king hyeonjong had. she had felt guilty the second time as if that situation was partially her fault for not trying hard enough to prevent such a tragedy that befell goryeo. no one could sense her troubling thoughts about the future, not with her walls up so high.
her dreams had managed to stop after a couple of years but that didn’t stop her anxiety from clawing at her from the inside. all she can do at the moment was soldiering through it for now.
PERSONALITY:
Give us an unbiased view of your muse; summarize their personality for us. You may do this however you want, and there is no word requirement— we suggest giving at least three positive adjectives, three negative adjectives, and explaining why your muse is each.
dahye appears to have a serious personality as she rarely flashes many smiles, not since the death of king hyeonjong and king deokjong. since birth, most say her eyes naturally appear sad instead of bright which resulted in dahye becoming insecure or at least that was what started her insecurities.
she is known as hostile towards many of her half siblings aside from her older brother who was more like family to her than anyone. being a princess seemingly did not suit dahye herself because her mind was on the side of taking action against disloyalty both physically and mentally. at least she preferred that more than sitting around and doing absolutely nothing.
it was unfortunate that her insecurities and overthinking what people thought of her refrained her from taking the risks she wanted.
her mother tells her that recklessness would cause her to end up in deep trouble after dahye would quietly express her concerns and her ambitions. dahye lived with caution, often fumbling her fingers when she’s anxious and often turns quiet in the middle of conversation when she’s deep in thought about something.
while she’s distant and mildly unfriendly when approached, she cares for her family and is capable of giving a great amount of love that appears deep especially towards those who also gives her kindness, unwilling to judge her based on rumors. dahye was always uncomfortable with small talk as she brings very little to the table but is unafraid to speak her mind about serious matters which makes her very passionate.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT HAN YEONG HWAN …
An ILLEGITIMATE PRINCE of the palace, they are a TWENTY-FOUR YEAR OLD NEUTRAL and the son of Court Lady Han (Prince #CLH). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like KANG HANEUL. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
Yeong Hwan has been misunderstood since his illegitimate birth. When he was young, his reserved and introverted demeanor was often mistaken as resentment and disrespect for the king and his own siblings. Truth be told, he did always feel like the odd one out when it came to him and his siblings. He knew that his mother wasn’t a queen and that his parents weren’t married, but he never felt any resentment towards his family because of this. As people made assumptions about him, however, he started to feel alienated from the royal family, even though he carried the title of a prince.
When he was 16 and people’s doubts about him still hadn’t subsided, he voiced his thoughts to his mother. He felt like he didn’t belong in the palace, that he was a prince just by title–which was a meaningless title at that. That’s when his mother reminded him that king Hyeonjong was also considered illegitimate by his own mother. This gave him strength–for the first time he felt like he had a unique connection to his father that none of his siblings could relate to. It allowed him to dream, that maybe one day, if fate decided it, he could continue his father’s legacy even though the odds were against him. That way he could still be somebody.
Yes, he often felt like his life didn’t have purpose. Why was he here when he was so obviously not the same status as his siblings? The prospect of making something bigger of his life, of taking matters into his own hands, steered him towards martial arts, archery and sword fighting. He discovered that the physical exercise was not only a great way to let out his frustrations and stress, but he started loving having meticulous control over his body. It was the one thing he had complete say over. He grew up to be a talented swordsman and still devotes a lot of time to perfecting his ever growing skills.
His youth was a never-ending struggle with his self worth. He thought himself weak for being so bothered by it in the first place. He often told himself not to be so sensitive, that he was only as worthless as he made himself to be. He grew a lot in his late teens, in both build and confidence. His physical strength was quickly followed by blossoming confidence and determination that he could do anything he set his mind to, as long as he gave himself the time to do so. He admired his father, who he believed also did this for himself, though he never got a chance to tell him this. It devastated him when people suspected him of being the one behind the murder, but because of his personality, he didn’t know how to make people believe otherwise. He has always denied it, but his stubborn and seemingly cold personality left him not very likeable for a lot of people. Aware of this fact but unwilling to pretend to be different, he has given up on trying to convince people it wasn’t him.
PERSONALITY:
Yeong Hwan is a person who believes in hard work, perseverance and relying on yourself rather than other people. He believes he won’t get anywhere in life if he doesn’t put in the maximum amount of effort, and doesn’t mind doing so either. He’ll look down on anyone who takes life for granted, but isn’t someone to quickly call people out when they do. He thinks quitting before getting something done, whether it is perfecting a fighting technique or showing up at an extremely tedious royal event that he really doesn’t want to go to, is not an option for him. He has also taken it upon himself to not get too attached to anyone in the palace. He knows that he is at a disadvantage when it comes to his status, and that some people don’t even consider him a prince, because of his mother. He always expects the worst in people, that way it can only get better. The only person he wholeheartedly trusts is his mother, who doesn’t live in the palace anymore. It would take a tremendous amount of effort to get him to trust a person, and even then, the chance that he has no doubts about said person, is extremely small.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT WANG SUNGWOON …
A PRINCE of the palace, they are a TWENTY YEAR OLD LOYALIST and the second son of Queen Wonhye (PRINCE #WH2). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like BTS’ JEON JUNGKOOK. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
hide and seek. it had seemed to be his favorite game of all to play around the palace when queen wonhye were just a little too busy to look over with her youngest son. they’d leave him to the maidens to look after, he thought they were beautiful and hardworking, using all the charm that he had in him in order to convince them to tend to him every second of every day. it had gotten boring after awhile and then he had found interest in escaping the palace walls to play and communicate with his half siblings.
the guards were always forced to bring him back to the palace after hours of searching, then the next on his agenda after that would be his schooling, studying with the best tutors possible for a boy his age.
it was different for him and his brother, mainly due to the other being much older and the wiser. sungwoon would have never let his older brother know how jealous he was with some aspects of his life but the other parts? not so much. he had a lot more to learn and it was better to learn at a young age and that was what he did, observed from a distance.
the most logical thinking would be the ever growing number of traitors that the king had been noted of in the last recent years starting from king hyeonjong to his eldest half brother who was crowned king not far too long ago before his untimely death. strangely, the fall of the king had the least amount of impact on woon the most as the boy was more so shocked by that tragedy but not surprised. he thought it would be a learning experience or at least he hoped it would be to the next king along with the one after other and so on. what buried under his playful demeanor was the familiar feeling of resentment that somehow rose towards queen wonseong’s children for bringing his mother down along with the others, deeming the action was somewhat “stupid”. most of it was just him playing the blame game.
sungwoon would always breathe a sigh of relief when he knows it wasn’t to be him taking the responsibility next. the king was bound to have enemies and those who would not agree with his ruling and that concept to woon was the most obvious thing in the world.
he remained carefree, striding throughout the halls of the palace with the spring in his step with his devil may care attitude. it was just the same back to when he was a mere child trying to hide from the maidens who served him in attempt to chase him down. sungwoon always had his suspicions of everyone, especially the nobles amongst goryeo, not even his own half siblings.
death wasn’t anything that sungwoon was interested in, preferring to keep his hands clean from blood in the future for as long as he could. he did however, develop an enjoyment in observing the king’s military alliances as they were typically the ones who’d do all the fighting and they had all the strength. sungwoon still remembered that day his father told him how he was growing too fast, bigger than normal kids his age. for now, the boy was fine where he was and the position he was currently in, as prince sungwoon who’d often raise mischief around the palace along with his youngest sister who’d occasionally be known as his partner in crime.
PERSONALITY:
sungwoon always liked to think that he’s superior over his half siblings, aside from the current king and his full blooded siblings who he’d treat rather differently than the rest, making him strongly condescending. he’s filled with curiousity and suspicion of goryeo’s nobles, more distrusting of them and how could easily sense when situations are off whether or not they held secrets as he’d tend to subtly question when given the chance for his own amusement. maybe he could have started one rumor or two out of sheer boredom, who knows.
within his own mind, of course he’d consider himself the best candidate as a king but also still feel as if goryeo wouldn’t be ready for someone who was unpredictable. sungwoon was the definition of youth and childishness, in fact he still is when his father’s vassals have a difficult time getting him to buckle down and stay still. sungwoon found it easy to suppress his own emotions and rarely does he express how he feels but could easily vent to his older brother and younger sister through petty complaints and whining in anger. although his actions were mostly instigated by his little sister who was just as mischievous as he was or even more with the complaints being aimed towards him more than her.
his tutors were often impressed by how fast he learned while studying privately, how differently he acted whenever sungwoon decided to become serious about something. sungwoon didn’t just always make trouble for the king as he was deemed as cunning, physically strong and a quick learner just by observing and listening to his peers. despite his questionable interpretation of what is right and what is wrong, friends and family are heavily dear to him even if he has trouble admitting such things.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT SEOLMAE …
A HANDMAIDEN of the palace, they are a TWENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD LOYALIST. In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like GO ARA. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
The Hong lineage is one imbued with honor. They’ve had scholars in the family. When Hong Tongnae broke the tradition and became a cook instead, everybody thought he was cursing the family name. On the contrary, he had the luck of becoming one of the imperial chefs. He brought even more honor for his descendants. His great-grandson tried to follow in his steps, but failed the examinations to enter in the palace. He opened up a restaurant in his hometown that also doubles as a small inn for wayfarers instead. It is rumored that the restaurant’s sign is an heirloom that was granted to his great-grandfather by the late king’s favorite concubine.
Then came Hong Myeongyi as daughter of the restaurant owner. Everybody knew her for her captivating beauty and hazel eyes. Outer appearances aside, she used to recite poetry for people when they request such from her. Entertaining the restaurant and inn’s guest was her favorite past time. The reputation she gained in their town had spread.
A scholar who was studying for the civil service examinations heard of a rumor of a bright and beautiful girl. He wanted to wed her and when his parents heard of the family’s legacy, their interests piqued. The scholar and Myeongyi’s birth charts aligned well enough for his parents to send a matchmaker over.
Myeongyi’s dad is someone who completely spoils his daughter. The Kang family didn’t have the nicest reputation around. He feared his daughter would suffer at the hands of her in-laws. Regardless of how much money they had, and their son’s bright future, Myeongyi didn’t care for it. The Kang’s son never once came to see her. She felt like a piece of jade that he wanted to buy just for the sake of owning something. But she wasn’t a cold bauble to be owned.
When they refused the proposal, life got difficult for them. The Kang’s son had friends who came over and would either chase customers away, or they’d ransack the restaurant for fun. The goal was to force the Hongs to say yes.
Myeongyi’s parents feared something would happen to their daughter. Those boys at any point could kidnap her or worse. They had to do something. That was when Myeongyi’s mother suggested a plan to spread the news that they were sending Myeongyi to a Buddhist temple to become a nun. Nobody would dare to disturb her there. If she didn’t like the plan, they could find a surrogate to take her place. Families who sold their daughters for money were easy to find. Myeongyi’s father had a different plan of his own. He could use his connections to get Myeongyi to become a handmaiden for a higher status family.
All her life, she heard of how much pride she should have in her family name. But no matter which route she chose, she was being stripped of her name. She couldn’t devout her life to religion, nor expect anybody else to take her place like that. Her family needs this business to survive and she couldn’t be the one to ruin their lives. She closed her eyes and said her good byes to her parents before leaving to her new home. As a handmaiden, she is reeducated on how to best serve and care for the family. Her fate was intertwined with her new family as soon as she stepped through the door and accepted Seolmae as her new name.
PERSONALITY:
Seolmae knows of humility since it was a hard lesson that changed her entire life. She does her best to blend into the shadows unless addressed. The fear of sticking out and bringing unwanted misfortune to people lingers on her bones and skin. No matter where she goes she tries to keep her head down. At the same time, she is still someone who’s naturally prideful. She grew up learning about how great her family was and she carried herself with prestige and grace. With her new family, she tries her best to conduct herself in a way that doesn’t make them lose face.
She has a creative mind that she used to direct towards learning poetry forms, and listening to music from the kibangs from a distance. She is open minded to the different forms that beauty can take and how people express the beauty of their thoughts with everybody else. When people demonstrate their skills, or simply talks about their interests, she listens. It is her duty but she does it because she’s genuinely interested. Her curiosity can get her into trouble as well. A woman with such a straight forward inquiry for knowledge still raises an eyebrow. Especially in these times where loyalties are questioned, the more you know, the more dangerous you seem.
Although her family status were barely above the lowest rung of the ladder, she lived a pampered life. She was no first son, but she was pampered like one. She didn’t realize how easy she had it until she became a handmaiden. She can be called hardworking even though she makes slip ups here and there. Her hands formed blisters and callouses that she weeps over at night. Her cheeks have become more sallow than before. Her vanity that was dormant in her came out when her appearances weren’t like what they once were.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT HAN JIYEON …
A KISAENG of the palace, they are a TWENTY-THREE YEAR OLD LOYALIST and the daughter of Minister Han Jihun (DAUGHTER #HJH). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like APINK’S SON NAEUN. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
Her life begins as a gift to someone else. Her mother, much like herself is a cold woman and Jiyeon is the third of her children, all daughters, all disappointments. She is obsolete, an object of trading until her brother is born, ruddy cheeked and teary eyed. She didn’t cry when she came out. She remembers her mom telling her that she had been still as a calm sea when she was born. So what gave him the right to whine and gurgle like that. She hates him. Every day of her childhood is spent preparing her for marriage. She learns how to sit and drink and eat and sleep and spit, all in a way that would appeal to a husband. At eleven there is an icy hatred forming in her heart towards the man she will marry. Whatever man has sentenced her to this fate she vows never to love him on a grassy knoll, midnight hanging the air and a servant calling her name.
Seventeen and her fate is impending, she’s intended to marry a Gungong. The cold flush of frost in her heart has only grown stronger. But she is everything her mother and father wanted her to be, beautiful and silent. But she prays for the day when she won’t have to hold her tongue anymore. Then, she meets him in the village fields while she swings a reed in place of a sword and pretends her husband is on the other end. He tells her that she doesn’t need to swing it because he’ll protect her and the ice fractures, just a little bit. Suddenly days are shorter and she can’t sleep because that’s time she could be spending with him on his night watches. He kisses her in the shade of a blossom tree, two weeks later her father kills him in front of her. She remembers the day with startlingly clarity. The way she’d been called to her father suddenly, her mother’s lips hard. She watches helpless as he croaks out last words of devotion to her and splatters crimson blood on her white skirt. She weeps atop him until her mother pulls her off.
At first her father’s orders seem like an escape. Though she’s lost her lover she’ll never have to marry, at least not for a great long while. Kisaeng, the word is heavy on her heart. She’d seen them around the towns, all beautiful but looked down upon. Not even eighteen she’s sent to the gyobang, armed with a pretty face and her parent’s scorn. She’s a pariah even in a room full of them. Aside from all the other girls who had been forced or sold into it she was the one who had given up her purity willingly, had the choice to go on and live a good life but made the wrong one. The teachers are harsh, she’s hit for insolence frequently and often finds herself the butt of every joke or the bad example. Her resolve grows that much stronger and she’s determined to show in her own words “those hags” that she has the skill to be not only a Kisaeng but the highest of them all, living in the palace entertaining the King and foreign nobles. Her skill in the arts only grows, she composes poems filled with rage and sorrow. Sings and dance until her throat is sore and her feet are raw. She recites prose until the words are burned into her mind so much so that she’ll mumble them in her sleep. She becomes the exemplary, when her teachers give her the options on where she may go now that she had completed schooling, she chooses the palace. Perhaps as one last act of defiance so that her father may see the daughter he cast out every day of his miserable life.
PERSONALITY:
positive
Good Hearted - Despite her cold nature Jiyeon at heart has always been a genuinely good person. Though she may not show it often she cares very deeply about those close to her. Though she would never admit it, she’s come to like a few of the regular clients who pay for her shows.
Intelligent - Her fervour for knowledge and natural inclination for it has led her to be smart as a whip. She enjoys education and spends almost all of her time involved in the arts. She’s incredibly clever and her wit is seemingly never-ending.
negative
Mistrusting - Jiyeon is incredibly guarded, ever since the death of her lover she has let nobody in. She puts up an elaborate front to anyone peering in of a coquettish woman, the very paramount of what a Kisaeng is expected to be. Her soft underbelly, is exposed to little to no one.
Judgmental - She often considers herself intellectually superior to others. Especially to those who she observes twittering over trivial matters. She passes judgement too often and too quickly. Her aloof attitude separates her from other people. Thought it can’t be said that being separated isn’t exactly what she wants.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT GEUM EUNBYEOL …
A NOBLE of the palace, they are a TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD NEUTRAL. In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like AHN SOHEE. What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
A family strong in nobility and relation to the king, Geum Eunbyeol was born into a life many would mostly be jealous of. However, if you’d ask the twenty one year old in private, she’d tell you that it wasn’t really a life worth dreaming of. While her father encouraged her to continue her study of astrology, her mother wanted her to focus more so on being graceful, obedient.– Your typical girl, and encouraged her to study the gaygeum and began to teach her on etiquette. Her family is well renowned and considered one of the most popular and perhaps powerful families, coming from Silla and the other families are excited about meeting the hidden daughter, as all of the children from the geum family are said to be astronomically beautiful.
Her name combined with the eun hanja symbolizing grace or charity and the native korean word for Byeol (恩별), her name means star of grace. Perhaps that was where her fascination with space had began, written in the stitches of her branding. Stars can be used as symbols of physical distance and as a child, byeol suffered from a lot of immune system issues, to the point where she had gotten so sick that her parents had decided to lock her away inside her room and keep her there throughout most of the day in order to prevent her from getting sick again. She grew lonely quickly, watching the other children playing from the window she heard the joyful and excited screams of the rose sharon game and as she longed for her to be able to join them one day, she slowly withdrew herself from the windows of her room. She can’t remember it now, but it was after a nightmare about withering away to death in the dreaded room that she woke up and looked up at the sky again and whispering words of prayer, she realized that just as how the stars must feel lonely as they were looking down at the world, she too felt that way by looking at the other kids. Born into nobility, she grew up with the privilege of learning how to read, and seeing as she had nothing else to do with her free time, Eunbyeol began to pick up books about stars and space. Whether it was about the mathematics and mapping or the philosophical meanings behind them, byeol was suddenly fascinated with everything to do regarding her name.
As of current day, she still has immune issues and she still falls sick very easily. But she does dress in commons people clothing and enjoys herself through out the days to get by. Most of the poems and songs she writes are about space and the stars.
PERSONALITY:
Byeol can be seen as quite naive. She is easy to manipulate and quite gullible as the only experience with people she’s had was her siblings, parents, and noble doctors who tend to her when she falls ill. Palace politics don’t do well with her and she often overlooks them. However, that being said she isn’t 100% oblivious to someone trying to take advantage of her and will confront them instead. She’s very adventurous? in terms that she doesn’t mind sneaking out and isn’t scared to get hurt. Her blood type is B, and according to the korean beliefs on blood types, the traits that fit her most are independency (she really likes to do things herself given that she wasn’t able to before.) She’s optimistic, creative and animal loving. Because she’s always thinking of new ways to do things, looks on the positive side and has always loved animals. but because she gets so excited, she also identifies with the forgetful aspect, as well as the irresponsibility. She’s also a bit clumsy and bruises very easily.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT KIM SHIWOO …
A DOCTOR of the palace, they are a TWENTY-FOUR YEAR OLD LOYALIST and the first son of Kim Sejun (SON #SJ). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like SEVENTEEN’S LEE JIHOON (WOOZI). What a shame that such a person faces such adversity …
HISTORY:
It was decided early on by Advisor Kim that if possible his son would take on the life of a doctor. He saw Shiwoo as too small and weak for the military and of too quiet of a demeanour for the debates of politics but maybe just smart enough for a physician. His education in the subject began early and intense, the past palace doctor more than happy to have an apprentice especially when said apprentice took to the job easier than a duck to water.
Shiwoo sometimes wonders if he was simply born to be a doctor or if he might just be smart enough to have adapted to whatever future his father had chosen for him. There is no true way for him to ever know but he can’t help but ponder it from time to time. He never found his training dull, each new illness and cure that came with it was interesting to the young boy. Studying how a simple root from a simple root could bring someone back from the brink of death appealed to him much more than running around a battlefield or being sat in a room with too many wispy old men to count. Shiwoo was fourteen when he found a cure for a previously thought of terminal infection, the day of the discovery was the day that palace became truly content with their future doctor. Which was fortunate as it was only less than two years later that the palace doctor passed peacefully in his sleep and Shiwoo stepped up to take the position for himself.
In the years since becoming the official palace doctor Shiwoo’s reputation has only grown and grown. Each year he seems to only find more cures and techniques to help himself and other’s of his profession in his work. His reputation is more than just his work though. Shiwoo is known as a kind and gentle man, always filled with understanding and advice for those that come to him whether they be nobles or servants. He does not limit his respect and wisdom to anyone even if that someone may be of a lower class to him. He is a truly caring soul within the palace or at least that’s what everyone says. It’s no lie that Shiwoo is respectful and personable but that is his job. He wouldn’t be half as kind to more than half of the people he talks to on a daily basis if it wasn’t his head on the line if he was to offend them. The trust and faith people put in him for doing something as simple as his job interests him more than anything.
Especially when everyone seems to be under scrutiny with the assassinations. Really it’s a blessing that Shiwoo hasn’t been questioned about them more. He’s no assassin and he would consider himself loyal to the king, even if that is just because the king keeps him safe and paid, but since his first day working in the palace Shiwoo had kept notes on everything. Not the gossip or petty fights that come with palace life, he keeps notes on the important things. Who’s the most susceptible to colds, who’s the most susceptible to infections, viruses, which members of the palace always fall victim to the flu, which season everyone is weakest because of their allergies, who’s wounds always take longer to stop bleeding, who heals the quickest, who feels the most pain during procedures, who’s a dead man walking. At first glance the notes are just medical, Shiwoo would argue that a close glance they are still medical. They help him make sure he treats every person properly but he’s more than aware that it would just take a simple flip of how he views the information and he could half the palace dead without anyone even noticing. That’s ignoring that he could simply venture into the books he has on poisons and deadly doses if he ever caught a grudge.
He never would do something vengeful with the information of course. Shiwoo is a good man, he’s a healer, it would be a sin of the highest level for him to harm someone, against everything he had ever been taught. But the tensions are rising in the palace and Shiwoo’s beginning to accept the fact that above everything else he wants to keep breathing by whatever means necessary.
PERSONALITY:
Inquisitive – Shiwoo has a natural and strong thirst for knowledge. It is mostly focused on medicine, but he enjoys learning about everything and anything and anyone. Whilst he doesn’t care much for involving himself in gossip or rumours he can’t help but be curious about knowing what is going on and it’s not too hard for him to keep up to date with the number of people he has going in and out of his quarters that don’t think much of what they tell the young doctor.
Fair – Shiwoo is aware of the social hierarchy that their society lives by, he is nothing less than respectful to those higher than him but he doesn’t truly see himself higher than anyone else. He’s the son of a special advisor, he is the personal doctor to the entirety of the King’s court, he outranks many in the world, but he couldn’t care less. He treats the handmaids and stewards of the palace almost exactly the same as he treats the nobles. A good bloodline and a respected career is not enough to make himself more important than anyone else as far as Shiwoo is concerned.
Observant – Shiwoo is observant to a fault. Everything that happens in his eyesight and passes through his ears is remembered and noted. He doesn’t believe anything is insignificant, everything matters. No matter how small or dull it is because, in the end, it might be the only thing that holds the answers.
False – The kindness and interest Shiwoo shows too many people is not as genuine as it gets credited as being. He does still consider himself a good person and he does genuinely care about certain people but he will put on a smile and pretend to put his faith in whatever person he has to to keep himself safe. Entire relationships that he has with people can be completed fabricated if it’s what he deems will make sure he stays in the comfortable position he is in now.
Selfish – Shiwoo is not selfish in the traditional sense of doing everything for personal gain, he does want to help people, he doesn’t care about wealth or status but making sure that he does not suffer is more important to him than anything. He has never been a fighter or a survivor he’s simply got enough self-interest to focus on keeping himself safe and healthy above anyone else. If a situation is not going to work out in his favour he will simply avoid it completely.
Gentle – Causing harm to another person is something that Shiwoo has never done and is something he doesn’t think he’s capable of. It’s in his nature to avoid such a thing and has been since he was young. It was originally seen as a weakness by his parents, they thought it made him seem too fragile how he would go out of his way to be as gentle with people as he could but as he has grown into his career it has become a much more desired and respected trait.
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✩ ⋆* ☾ I’VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT THAT LEE AHREUM …
AN ADVISOR AND HANDMAIDEN of the palace, they are an EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD LOYALIST and WANG JANGMI'S ADVISOR (PRINCESS #WS2). In another life, I imagine they would look a lot like LOONA'S JUNG JINSOUL (JINSOUL). What a shame that such a person faces such adversity . . .
HISTORY:
the lee’s were born with prestige coursing through their veins. a family with much power and influence over society, the lee’s were a family full of wonders. many held high positions in court, some went on to become famous entertainers or venture into the medical field. it didn’t matter what they did, they excelled in it and everyone around them knew. it was no different for lee taeho and lee nahre, both being prominent members of society. they weren’t technically nobles but they sure acted like it. aristocrats that were descendants of famous war generals, the lee’s prided themselves in their power. taeho and nahre eventually had a daughter and their only child, ahreum. just as her name foreshadowed, she was a beauty. fathers from different parts of goryeo begged her father to have her hand in marriage for one of their sons when she was older, fortune tellers often told her mother that her daughter would marry a prince, among other things. she was destined for greatness no matter which route she took, which solidified her as a lee. she grew up around royals since her father and mother were close friends of them and were often invited as honorable guests to the palace. they knew many royals but the ones they were closest to were king hyeonjong and queen wonjeong. ahreum found herself surrounded by the royal children as a child often and attending special events in honor of the king and queen. queen wonjeong and ahreum’s mother were closer than best friends and the queen promised ahreum’s mother if anything happened to them, ahreum would be in good hands. it was almost as if the queen could see the future. not too long after, ahreum’s parents left for a business deal to the outskirts of goryeo and left their daughter behind since it was a long trip and she was still little. so they left and promised to come back with new shoes and outfits and toys for ahreum but they couldn’t keep it. word soon came back that her parents were murdered by traitors of the king while in the woods. ahreum was all alone with no family to take her in. many people who knew the lee’s were curious as to how the only survivor of the family could carry on its legacy now. as soon as word reached queen wonjeong, she allowed ahreum to live inside the palace and fulfill her promise to ahreum’s mother. ahreum lived a much quieter life than before. she was still a child that came from a wealthy and powerful family and no one overlooked that bit, but things were different. she didn’t have a mother or a father anymore and never had any siblings. the queen tried her best to give ahreum a life full of a wonder that her parents wanted to give her but the vacant feeling was permanent in her heart. when she was old enough, she became the king and queens youngest child’s adviser, a bonus was the two practically grew up together so it was easier for ahreum to adjust attending to someone she knew and cared for. nonetheless, she made most of her time in the palace and decided she would venture with the part of her family that took the political route and hopes to some day be a powerful woman in the court, even perhaps one day be able to serve as the kings adviser. after the assassination of the king and queen, whom she almost saw as second parents, ahreum decided to stick around the palace longer than intended, feeling the need to repay them for their debts to taking care of her. in turn, she would care for their own children which is how she became a female adviser to the princess. if she’s not attending to her, she can often be found reading in the royal gardens or by the waters, much rather enjoying gaining knowledge than anything else. her hand in marriage is still highly competitive and men from all over goryeo continue to beg for her hand. she is still considered a beauty in the lands of goryeo but prefers ahreum prefers brains over beauty. the rising issues and tensions court intrigue and terrify ahreum. she doesn’t want to fall victim to a traitors wrath and be killed for her obvious loyal to him and his family so she stays quiet on her opinions about it.
PERSONALITY:
both a flaw and strength of ahreum is that she doesn’t know how to give up. when her parents died, she refused to become a victim of the situation. she refused the pitying looks people gave her and the comments that were said about her parents passing. she never wants to be in a position of vulnerability or weakness and instead rises against. it can be looked as a good thing because nothing can really knock the wind out of her but it can be a bad thing because she doesn’t know when to stop. giving up isn’t always a bad thing and ahreum can’t wrap her head around it. she hasn’t given up time to allow herself to properly mourn her parents death and thus has unresolved trauma haunting her. it causes her to put some distance between herself and those she loves, afraid she’d lose them too. she also holds inside some anger from losing them so young too. ahreum is good at being responsible since she was forced to grow up rather early. in that sense, she can be motherly and is very caring to those she loves. she also possesses great leadership qualities. she isn’t afraid to hide her affection. because she was forced into growing up early, she didn’t get to rebel and sneak around and act out, but now it’s starting to seep into her actions although she tries to keep it on the down low as much as possible. ahreum is terrified of the dark and sleeps with several lamps. she is also terrified of the woods and refuses to ever go by herself or even another person, she’d only be content with an army behind her.
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