Chapter Text
I
"Jeongguk! Jeongguk! Jeongguk, you sleepy head, wake up!"
A slightly squeaky, female voice reverberates through his skull, causing Jeongguk's brain to say goodbye to his peaceful sleep and receive his sister's enthusiasm instead.
Blinking lazily, he is faced with a delicate face, stubborn almond eyes, and a curtain of long, brown hair pulling towards the auburn, enough to confirm that, in fact, it’s one of his sisters who interrupted his serene dreams.
Jeongguk grumbles, his voice hoarse with sleep, "What the hell do you want, Ha-rin?"
"What do I want? Have you forgotten what day it is?" Ha-rin asks completely scandalized.
Jeongguk purposely grunts loudly, burying his face in the thin, low pillow. "No, I haven't forgotten what day it is. I know very well, in fact. It's Saturday, I don't have to go to work until after lunch, and so, I should be sleeping peacefully instead of being woken up by my annoying sister."
Ha-rin scoffs, pulling the not-too-thick blanket off Jeongguk's body and eliciting another grunt of irritation at having made him feel the morning chill against his skin.
"Get up, Jeongguk! Come on. Today is the day the king and the queen are going to make a special announcement to the country. It's almost ten in the morning and the entire Euphoréa must see," she replies patiently, standing up off the bed so Jeongguk can get out of it too, but he remains in the same position.
Fuck the cold. Who needs a blanket anyway?
"Is that so?" Jeongguk scoffs, closing his eyes again in hopes of getting a few more minutes of rest. "I want them to shove the obligatory up their ass. Who's going to see if every single soul in the country has put their lives on hold just to listen to the royal family anyway?"
He doesn't need to open his eyes to know his sister is rolling her eyes.
"You really are stubborn, Jeongguk. I don't know who you went to inherit your bad temper and stubbornness from, I swear," his sister comments. "But that's okay. If you don't want to see the announcement coming from the royal palace, you probably don't want to eat the fresh bread that mom brought from the market just now."
"Bread?" The small mention of food is enough for his pillow to be completely abandoned. Did he hear it well? Fresh bread? This causes Jeongguk's brain to plug into the current and, consequently, his body to wake up and his stomach to roar. Well, fuck sleep. "Is someone's birthday today and I forgot we were supposed to celebrate? Or did we win the lottery and nobody told me?"
Ha-rin laughs carelessly. "I knew the mention of food would work. And no, it would be good if we won the lottery but that's not the case. It seems that the baker let one of the batches burn, and so as not to waste the bread, she agreed to exchange two baguettes… Hum, let's say... Slightly darker than they should, for a dozen of our eggs."
"A dozen?!" Jeongguk questions in surprise. "I don't know how fair this trade was. Twelve eggs, Ha-rin!" He adds suspiciously.
"Jeongguk," his sister says his name calmly. "Two. Baguettes," she emphasizes seriously as if Jeongguk is an idiot and isn't following her train of thought. She sighs, closing her eyes exasperatedly and pressing the bridge of her nose with her fingertips.. "Fine, if you would rather stay here to sleep and contemplate whether or not it was a fair exchange... It's your choice. Honestly, even better. More to spare," she shrugs.
Ha-rin reaches the door of their shared bedroom with a victorious smile on her lips as Jeongguk grunts but gets up from the bed with great effort at the same time.
♕
Even though the bread is clearly over burned, Jeongguk doesn't let a single crumb fall anywhere but directly into his mouth, closing his eyes in delight at the generous slice his mother prepared for him.
Jeongguk, in addition to Ha-rin, has two other sisters. Jeongguk is the oldest, followed by the eighteen-year-old Ha-rin, the sixteen-year-old Jae-hwa, and finally, the thirteen-year-old Mun-hee. The three girls, along with their mother, are already snuggled on the worn, brown sofa, waiting for the morning announcement that the royal family has to reveal to wake up the small, old television.
Jeongguk's father is not present as he had to leave home at dawn to go to his job, specifically to work as a city builder in a new construction that will grow in the city of caste Four. Honestly, even with the delicious weight of the bread against his stomach, Jeongguk almost wishes he had to work early too just so he wouldn't have to listen to the hysterical squeaks and enthusiastic giggles of his younger sisters over the prince of Euphoréa.
He never bothered to investigate the youngest member of the royal family, watch the news about him on television, or even the clippings from newspapers and magazines that his sisters insist on keeping in their notebooks, mainly because he never had that interest. Every time an advertisement made by the royal family or something similar comes out, Jeongguk is too busy either working or sleeping after a busy, tiring day. However, even though he has never caught a glimpse of the guy's face, Jeongguk is sure his sisters are exaggerating their ridiculous obsessions. The prince certainly mustn't be anything special to leave them to sigh dreamily. Tsk, girls.
He's leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping the last remnants of his coffee (which is more water than the brown, bitter beans) when the royal instrumental music starts to resonate along the yellowish walls of the small but cozy living room.
"Do you think Prince Taehyung is going to show up next to his parents?" Mun-hee questions.
"I don't know," Ha-rin replies with a long sigh. "I really wanted him to appear, but usually, only the king and queen appear in the Official News.
When Jeongguk turns his back to the television, clearly uninterested, to wash the dish and cup he used for his breakfast, he hears the sighs and whimpers coming from his sisters' throats, and Jeongguk doesn't need to think too hard to realize that, as they questioned themselves just a few seconds ago, the Prince is not present in the announcement.
However, that doesn't stop them from keeping silent and turning up the volume on the tv, causing the king's voice to reach Jeongguk's eardrums, who is still in the kitchen. It's not like their house is huge and the distance between the living room and the kitchen is too big, anyway.
"Good morning, dear daughters and sons of Euphoréa," the king greets the country in his usual composed and assertive voice. "The announcement we have to make to you today points to something very special and always awaited by our precious country. As you know, our beloved son and prince Kim Taehyung will soon be twenty-four years old, and, as such, the prince wants to find a partner to have by his side for the rest of his life, wanting, in this way, to marry a real daughter or son of Euphoréa. So, we would like to invite all the beautiful young people, girls and boys, single and aged between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, to honor the great nation of Euphoréa and then, participate in The Selection."
Jeongguk grimaces in disgust as his sisters' excited yelps reach his ears.
"So, if your eligible children, siblings or protégés meet all of these aforementioned requirements and are interested in this opportunity to become the bride or groom of Prince Taehyung and the beloved future princess or prince of Euphoréa, please fill in the form which you will find in your mailboxes as soon as the Official News ends, and deliver it to your city's Provincial Services Department," the king continues. "One young woman and one young man from each caste will be chosen to meet Prince Taehyung."
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" Ha-rin exclaims, jumping onto the couch in excitement.
"The selected ones will obviously stay with us at the enchanting palace. The family of each of the participants will be generously rewarded for their service to the royal family. I now end this announcement with the note that you have only one week to complete and submit the application, and next Sunday, my beloved wife and queen of Euphoréa and I will return to the Official News to declare the chosen participants," the king informs, gazing with a tender smile on his face to the queen, who remains beside her husband in a long dress in shades of green, to match the tie the king is wearing. "Thank you for your appreciated attention. The royal family wishes you the best of luck. Have a wonderful day, dear daughters and sons of Euphoréa," the king ends his speech by holding the queen's delicate hand so that both can bow briefly.
A few seconds later, the instrumental music of the Official News resonates on the television again and, after that, the screen becomes black and silent. But the silence doesn't last long as Jeongguk's sisters, and even his mother, chat and shout enthusiastically about the revelation just unveiled.
The Selection. A contest that is almost marked as a national holiday season for the country, such was the people’s enthusiasm and vibrancy to accompany the royal family daily and see beforehand the prince falling in love with a commoner, someone below royal family’s caste.
The Selection is characterized by twelve participants, six girls and six boys from caste Two to caste Seven, who compete with each other to conquer Prince Taehyung, and thus, become the next princess or prince of Euphoréa. That's how things were going to proceed with the prince and that's what happened with his father, the current king, and all of their other male ancestors.
This contest mostly served to raise the morale of the volatile nation, as a kind of union and reminder that Euphoréa itself was born practically out of nothing, and thus, giving hope to people of lower castes that things could drastically change one day to the other.
As for the princesses, they were not so lucky - if you could call it even that. For two generations, the royal family did not conceive a girl. However, when the heiress is a princess, they are negotiated in marriage to strength Euphoréa's relations with other countries. It was a practice that Jeongguk did not like at all, if you asked for his opinion. It even made him think of how old-fashioned and poor-minded they were to subject the women of the royal family to this kind of thing.
Not that the Selection was much better, honestly. None of the options seemed suitable to Jeongguk, if he was sincere. The idea of entering a contest in which the whole country would see what Jeongguk faithfully believes to be a pretentious and arrogant prince - who is not like that when they’re part of high-castes or the royal family? – choosing a pretty girl or boy, vain and futile, to be the attractive, silent face that would appear alongside the Prince on television and other events, leaves Jeongguk's stomach in knots. He certainly doesn't understand how anyone can be willing to submit to such humiliation.
This is why he grimaces with disappointment and judgment when all the women in his house, including his mother, giggle and squeal with elation and delight.
"Did I hear it right?" Jae-hwa, the sister with short, black hair and bangs, asks between dreamy smiles, clutching the pillow as if her life depended on it. "Has our admirable king really announced that they’re organizing a Selection for Prince Taehyung?"
Ha-rin and Mun-hee nod frantically, their faces sharing the same wide, beaming grins at the news.
"Huh huh! And do you know who celebrated her eighteenth birthday roughly two months ago?" Ha-rin covers her stretched lips with her hands until she starts squealing hysterically when their younger sisters nod enthusiastically and point at her.
"This is such an excellent opportunity!" Their mother comments, applauding excitedly.
"It is, isn’t it?" Ha-rin looks at their mother, her eyes shining with happiness. "I have to apply! I can't miss this opportunity. Who knows I'm not the chosen one?" She sighs dreamily. Until something crosses her mind, causing her to stop, open her mouth to form a round «o» and lift a finger in warning. "If I'm chosen... Not only will I marry a Prince, a very handsome Prince by the way... But I'll also become the Princess of the country!"
Yeah, no shit, Ha-rin. Jeongguk has already lost count of how many times he has brought his hands to his ears to filter out the agonized sound of his sisters' absurd and severely deluded screams.
"Go get the papers! Go! Go! The king said the applications would be in our mailbox until the end of the official announcement!" Jae-hwa remembers, pushing Ha-rin off the couch.
She runs not so elegantly up to the front door of their modest house, leaving the old piece of wood completely gaping as she opens with trembling hands the small opening of the mailbox stuck in the lawn.
Jeongguk rolls his eyes for what feels like the thousandth time since he woke up about forty minutes ago, ignoring his sisters' nonsense and preferring to clean up the crumbs and tuck the rest of the bread into a paper bag instead. He loves his three sisters with all his heart, his family is everything to him, but right now, evading the futile subject of the Selection through domestic chores sounds great to him.
Jeongguk hears Ha-rin's footsteps resonate on the dark, wooden floor, signaling her return indoors. However, instead of the usual excitement and hysterics, silence reigns instead, which arouses Jeongguk's curiosity.
Where is the enthusiasm from before? Has her application not arrived yet? He asks himself mentally.
His braided, brown-haired younger sister, Min-hee, seems to read Jeongguk’s mind, muttering in a hesitant voice, "What's wrong, Ha-rin? Your application wasn’t there? Is there a problem?"
The younger sister's words cause Ha-rin to leave the world she was momentarily lost in and look at Min-hee instead, revealing the application papers. And to everyone's surprise, she holds up not just one inscription, but two, one in each one of her hands.
"Huh... I don't understand what it means for them to have sent two registrations. You're thirteen and Jae-hwa is sixteen. It's not like you two can participate," she thinks aloud. "Does this mean anything? Am I supposed to fill out both applications and then maybe have a better chance of being chosen? Or was it just a mistake?" She pokes her chin with her index finger.
Jeongguk scoffs as low as possible, folding the white tablecloth with yellow flowers printed after cleaning up the crumbs. Of course, it was a mistake, he thinks. Not that the number of applications would help her to be chosen. As if they were going to give benefits right away to someone belonging to the last caste of all.
However, their mother doesn't seem to agree with Jeongguk's way of thinking, replying instead, "It's not a mistake. The royal family has full access to the exact number of residents that fulfill the requirements of the Selection regulations and, therefore, they’re perfectly aware of the number of entries they have to send to each house," she explains calmly. "Your sisters may not be eighteen yet but..."
Ha-rin seems to understand her mother's words right away, looking at her with wide eyes and whispering, "But Jeongguk does."
It's not just the mention of his name that makes Jeongguk tilt his head and leave the newspaper his father brought last night on the table, but especially the four pairs of eyes drooping on Jeongguk. And only then, the reason behind the stares crashes violently into Jeongguk, causing him to let out an amused laugh. "What?" He scoffs.
"Yes," their mother nods. The woman with short, hazel brown hair gets up from the sofa and walks towards the kitchen, stopping only when she takes a seat at the dining table next to Jeongguk's. "You're twenty-two years old. You're young, you're not married... You meet all the requirements."
His three sisters rise from the couch as well, perching on the dark, wooden chairs to listen to their conversation like curious hawks.
"Then it's more than explained," Ha-rin says, pushing his supposed application across the tabletop until it reaches Jeongguk. "This one is for you. I'm going to our bedroom to get two pens and our ID cards so we can start filling this out," she adds with an excited smile.
"What? No!" Jeongguk grimaces in disgust. "I'm not going to fill out any candidature. No way. I'm not going to apply for the Selection!"
"What?!" They all exclaim in unison, leaving Jeongguk even baffled by their perfect tune.
"Why aren't you going to sign up? Are you out of your mind?" Ha-rin asks incredulously.
Jeongguk scoffs, not believing what his ears are being forced to hear. "Why the hell do you want me to sign up? You should be glad I don’t want to participate in this stupid contest!" He exclaims indignantly. "You shouldn't want your competition to be your own brother! I thought you wanted the Prince all to yourself."
His sister seems to be in internal conflict with herself, were it not for her confused eyes. However, she ends up sighing and saying, "Jeongguk, my crush on Prince Taehyung is undeniable. I mean, who doesn't have a crush on him?" She chuckles, stealing giggles from the other two sisters too.
Jeongguk almost scoffs, thinking to himself, Me. I have no interest in the fucking Prince, but he keeps silent instead, hoping his sister will continue. And she does.
"But this crush doesn't compare with the love I feel for you, for all my family. And the opportunity that would be for us... Have you thought about it? Even if we don't win, the time we would be there would be excellent to earn some money... And not only that. We would have better job opportunities when we got back from the contest too," she explains.
"It's a great opportunity, yes. I have to agree with your sister. This can give you so many open doors," this time it's their mother who responds, looking warily at Jeongguk. "I can't get a decent job and the money I make just selling our eggs in the market isn't enough. Your father is also underpaid for the hard work full of long hours he has. And well, your help since you started working at the florist has been very helpful, of course it has…" She looks with gratitude pouring from her eyes to the boy, who is ready to reply that he does no more than his duty to help his family, but the woman sighs and breaks his heart into a thousand pieces as she adds, "But it hasn't been enough. And I don't want my kids to go through this anymore. I want you all to have good opportunities, a good academic path, a good job, stability… Basically, a good future. A better one."
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Jeongguk mutters so that only his mother and Ha-rin will hear, grateful that the remaining two sisters are more entertained reading the application questions.
He, his parents, and recently Ha-rin, who’s finishing high school and has now some maturity to understand these conversations, always try to broach these issues concerning their monetary situation without the other two girls being present to prevent them from getting worried and agitated, as they should focus on their studies instead.
"I and your father don't want to put this weight on your back. More than we know you already have," his mother traces a crack in the kitchen table with her fingertip. "It's something we have to worry about. Not you, Jeongguk. We feel bad enough that you started working so early to help us instead of following your studies."
"That's a nonsense, mom! It's no burden for me. You're my family. Besides, I live at this house too, so it's only fair for me to help with the expenses," Jeongguk states with honesty laced in his voice. "And I love working with the flowers, you know that. I don’t need new opportunities. And I also don't mind that I haven't pursued my studies. Maybe I will be able to do it later when I have the chance. I'll always be on time," Jeongguk tries to comfort her.
Now, after his mother's confession that, after all, their money situation isn’t as stable as Jeongguk thought, he doesn't believe so much that he'll be able to get a degree in Botany, or even a professional course like Gardening, like he would like to do. He already had low hopes due to his caste and the low probability of a Seven going to college, but still. Studying after high school is quite expensive, and Jeongguk has other priorities right now, like putting food on their table and protecting his family from the stormy winter ahead.
However, his main concern could not be achieved at any cost. Jeongguk still wanted to at least maintain his dignity and power of choice. So, he adds, "I don't mind helping you with the bills. I want to help you and dad. But please... Don't make me go to the Selection. I'm going to work more hours at the florist if I need to. I'm going to maybe look for a chore, for an extra job. I won't fail you, mom. I promise," Jeongguk swears, taking the woman's wrinkled hand and squeezing it tightly. "But don't make me go to that palace. Ha-rin might want to go and try to find love, or whatever..." He grimaces in judgment, receiving a light smack from his sister on the back of his head in response. "But I don't want to participate in this ridiculous contest. I'm not interested in the Prince, nor in becoming part of the royal family. Much less I’m interested in doing it for money. Caste One, Two, and maybe even Three, can be used to that kind of people. Selfish, pimps, and self-seekers... And I definitely don't want to be that kind of person."
"I would never force you to do anything, dear. You know that," his mother assures, stroking the top of Jeongguk's hand with her thumb. "Although I still think it's a shame you don't want to participate. Maybe you could even have a good experience living in the palace and, perhaps, be interested in the Prince."
"That definitely wouldn't happen," Jeongguk scoffs, shivering at the thought of that possibility. "I certainly wouldn't even be selected. Why bother?" He shrugs. "Besides, I don't think my hair is suitable for the royal family too," Jeongguk tries to lighten the situation, smiling broadly when his mother runs her hands through the purple strands of his hair.
"I think you're pretty handsome," the woman winks at him, causing Jeongguk to let out a few loud laughs.
"You’re my mom. Your biased opinion clearly doesn't count."
"Well..." Ha-rin clears her throat, smiling at the exchanges of affection between her brother and their mother. "I'd love to go to the palace with you, little brother. But I respect your choice. I'll try to win for us, at least. And if that happens, you won't be able to escape the royal family anyway."
Jeongguk rolls his eyes, a slight upward curve showing in his lips. "You haven't even been chosen yet. And you don't know if that will ever happen," he teases.
Placing a scandalized hand on her chest, Ha-rin states with all the certainty in the world, "I will be chosen."
"We'll see," Jeongguk shakes his head with a smile drawing on his mouth. "I mean, hopefully so. I really want my little sister to fulfill her fangirl dream."
Ha-rin pushes him until he gets up from his chair and smiles teasingly at her and their mother. The other two sisters continue to mutter dreamily as they look at the applications spread out on the table. Jeongguk picks up the newspaper and prepares to leave the kitchen and walks towards the stairs.
"Well, I'm going to our bedroom to read this. Maybe I’ll find good part-time offers" Jeongguk waves the newspaper in the air to emphasize his words. "So please control your hysteric screams because I don't want to be bothered with an, «Ah, Prince Taehyung is so handsome»,” he mimics the squeaky voice of his three sisters.
His mother looks at him with gratitude mixed with a feeling that looks a lot like apology and sadness, clearly related to Jeongguk's effort to make things better for them on a monetary level. Jeongguk doesn't hesitate to lean over the woman to place a tender kiss against his mother's cheek, hoping it will be enough for her to realize that Jeongguk doesn't mind a bit. On the contrary. She smiles sweetly, for what he wants to believe his gesture worked.
"Have fun filling the entrance to hell," Jeongguk adds, but it looks like he already lost their attention.
Jae-hwa and Mun-hee are helping Ha-rin fill out the questionnaire while their mother laughs at some of the answers. Jeongguk then climbs the noisy steps towards the bedroom shared by the four siblings, isolating himself from the enthusiasm of the four women.
Also isolating himself from the image of his sister keeping the extra application secretly on the back of her shirt.
♕
Taehyung definitely shouldn't have stayed up so late last night editing on his laptop the last pictures he took. Not that he thinks he would be better because of the extreme anxiety and nervousness that vibrated throughout his body and stopped him from sleep, but maybe his dark circles wouldn’t be so visible and marked at this point.
His three maids seem to be having an easy job hiding his lack of sleep with makeup though, but they don't say anything about the reason. Honestly, Taehyung doesn't even understand what all the fuss is about, not least because he won't even appear on television.
Raised in the royal palace and taught all the etiquettes that require it, Taehyung knows that a Prince must always be properly presentable and dressed elegantly, but even so, he can't understand why they're putting so much make-up on and styling his hair when his duties for today refer simply to spending the entire day in the king’s office with his parents and some of his father’s representatives. Hopefully, he'll even be able to get everything done by lunch time. It will certainly depend on his father's cooperation, mostly.
Today is the day to look for the first time at the submissions received to participate in the Selection, and from what Taehyung's father has previously informed him, he has a good couple of applications to see.
The king, Kim Bon-hwa, also told him in advance some advice for choosing his selected, such as, for example, opting for candidates from families with some renown in the case of the higher castes, for clearly obvious reasons, and as for the ones from the lower castes, choose participants with more touching life stories, so to speak. Something like making viewers identify with what they're seeing, his father had told him at the time.
However, Taehyung had other plans in his mind. Since the Selection was an iconic and long-awaited event for the country and well, practically mandatory for the crown Princes, Taehyung wanted to do things his way, at least.
He would choose his selected ones according to his preferences and common interests, not to get approval from his parents or because the people who will be watching the contest will like them. It was embarrassing enough to have the entire country experience his love life firsthand.
Not that Taehyung genuinely believed that he would actually live a true love story, out of a fairy tale, during this contest. The chances are very low and Taehyung is no naive idiot. Let's face it, the vast majority of participants are more interested in marrying the crown and all that it symbolizes than Taehyung itself. But either way, at the end of the contest, he has to make a choice.
So, he has little option but to cling to the hope that, perhaps, from the wide range of candidatures, he will be able to pick someone who might genuinely like him and vice versa. Judge him what you want but Taehyung was romantic enough to want to spend the rest of his life with someone who truly likes and cares about him and not just for politically and economically strategic reasons.
When No-eul, Sae-byok, and Hyun-jae, Taehyung's maids, finish putting the make-up on him and combing his hair, he waits for them to leave his huge bedroom so he can take off his bathrobe and put on his chosen outfit for the day. Although they usually help him dress, Taehyung prefers to do it himself. Having some time alone is also something he enjoys and rarely has. He picks up the decided set of perfectly stretched and starched clothes lying on top of his bed and begins to dress.
As today is a calm day regarding his daily duties, his outfit is composed merely of a white, dress shirt and classic black pants, combined with perfectly shined shoes, equally dark, the cufflinks with the symbol of the country, and one of his crowns.
Although the accessory is a great honor, Taehyung confesses that he doesn't actually love to spend the whole day wearing the metallic silver or gold ornament with embedded gemstones, not only because of the weight, but also because of the impediment of most of his movements. However, his father likes to complain when Taehyung doesn't decorate his wave of almond hair with the symbol of royalty, so if Taehyung can avoid a conflict, he will. It’s better to wear the crown for a good couple of hours than listen to a lecture from his father. Now that Taehyung thinks about it, what was a few hours with the weight under his head compared to the king's endless speeches?
He carefully closes his bedroom door, bidding farewell to the pale blue walls, the silver and white lace four-poster bed, and the tall windows that take up much of one wall and lead to the private balcony, walking down the vast white mosaic hallway - which shines so bright that Taehyung can almost greet his reflection in it - with a long fluffy red carpet adorning the middle of the floor.
As he goes down the spiral stairs, Taehyung greets the guards present, giving them good morning’s and thanking them for their hard work. Taehyung does the same with the maids and butlers who busily pass by, asking one of them specifically to prepare breakfast for him, something quick and practical, and then take it to the king's office.
Taehyung snorts as silently as possible when the maid walks towards the kitchen, but honestly, it's his only fault for staying up late last night and, consequently, being late this morning for not wanting to leave his soft and comfortable satin sheets. But it was not worth it for him to punish himself more on this matter. It was sentence enough not to eat his strawberry and cinnamon waffles in the peace of the dining room overlooking the palace's main garden.
The king's four official guards, who are posted at the door of his father's office, do not hesitate to bow in a ninety degree reverence and greet the prince, stepping away from the doorway to allow Taehyung to pass.
The large space, with wooden walls and floors, is welcomed by the natural light of the autumn day and by the bright and vivid green that makes up one of the various gardens around the palace through the many high windows that are found on one of the side walls. The rest are accompanied by tall shelves filled with books, encyclopedias, and dictionaries, or even paintings of the most expensive and exotic art.
In addition to a small bar and a long table for royal meetings, the office is also composed of a majestic, dark pine desk, adorned by a golden table lamp, a modern computer, a huge pile of papers, and of course, his father. A man with an authoritative, assertive expression, black hair perfectly cut and combed, and a dark green suit on.
"Oh. Son! Good morning," the king greets in a good humorous tone as the prince closes the office door.
"Good morning, dad. Good morning, mom," he smiles at the woman with dyed blonde hair intertwined with the crown, approaching the armchair where she is sitting next to his father’s desk to place a tender kiss on her forehead.
"Today is the day to meet and choose your candidates. Are you ready? Excited?" His mother asks, smoothing her long, pale blue dress with white and yellow flower ornaments that matches the gold crown and gemstones in the same colors.
Ready? Taehyung thinks to himself. Far from it. Honestly, he doesn't think he would ever be truly ready to pick a group of people where his potential husband or wife might be. But he couldn't run away, could he? That's why he responds with an easy smile, "Of course. Where are the applications?"
His father gets up from his black leather chair and, with some effort, lifts the huge amount of papers that had been resting on the desk until now.
Oh. After all, are those all the submissions for his Selection? Taehyung had the idea that it was a competitive contest, yes - even because he watched his father's Selection relatively recently and it gave him an idea of the public interest - but even so, Taehyung never considered receiving so many applications.
"Here," the king huffs wearily after placing the good amount of documents on the conference table. "I know there are plenty of them, and even so we've already discarded those that didn't fully meet the requirements. Did you know that even women in their fifties have tried their luck?"
Taehyung feels his eyes bulge with the information. "What?" He mutters scandalized.
"I’m serious. I don't even know how they had access to the documents to fill out. Maybe they even stole their own children's applications. Jesus," the king says, shuddering right away. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about that now because, in that pile of papers, are only the candidates who meet all the required conditions," the man assures, taking a seat at the head of the table.
Taehyung sits in the chair immediately to the king's left side while his mother sits in front of him, to his father's right side.
"Well, I think we'd better get started because I’m sure we have a long way to go," his mother advises.
"What do you mean we?" Taehyung questions, raising an eyebrow in question. "I thought I would have full power to choose the candidates for my Selection. That's what we agreed."
"And you have full power to do it, dear," his mother assures.
However, the woman’s comforting words aren't enough, so Taehyung looks at his father suspiciously.
"What? Your mom is right, Taehyung," the king adds. "We... We're just going to guide you a little bit, okay?"
Taehyung grimaces in discomfort. "Dad!" He whimpers. "We've talked about this before. I want to find a wife or husband, not a political partner. For that, we already have our Advisers-"
"I know, I know," his father interrupts him, rubbing his furrowed brow. "You have all the freedom to choose the ones that attract you the most or arouse your attention. We're just going to take a look too and give you our point of view."
"Exactly," this time it's his mother speaking as she leans across the table to tenderly hold Taehyung's hand. "We'll try to guide you and show you the choices that, in our opinion, would be a good bet. If they turn out to be in your best interest too, great. If not, it's up to you to make the final choice," she assures.
Taehyung intermixes his intense gaze between the king and the queen, and when he just sees sincerity reflected in their faces, he nods and smiles, "Okay. I appreciate your help, then. Thank you."
Fortunately, the application papers are already organized and distributed by castes, which is guaranteed to make Taehyung's work much easier. His parents start with submissions from caste Two, which makes the prince start with the bunch of inscriptions that represent caste Seven.
Interestingly, from Taehyung's quick observation, this seems to be the caste that received the fewest applications, were it not for the stacks of papers from the other castes being distinctively higher.
Shouldn't it be those from the underprivileged castes and without great opportunities looking for a life of luxury in the royal palace? Taehyung thinks with genuine curiosity.
He then takes the inscriptions of the last Euphoréa caste and begins leafing through the documents with interest.
Taehyung knows the existing preference to choose a bride over a groom. Not because of homophobia, a prejudice that Taehyung read and is aware of having existed a good few centuries ago, but mainly because of the ease of conceiving an heir. Of course, a couple of two princes could eventually adopt a child and make it their consequent heir, but it's not seen as practical and quick. Even though the adoption process is likely to be sped up because it is a request from the royal family, everyone is aware that, in most cases, this period is well beyond a woman's nine months of pregnancy.
But even though Taehyung has always been sure of his sexuality, he has to confess to feeling more attracted to men. As was the case, for example, of his crush on one of the horse caretakers, who was often cleaning the stables without a shirt covering his muscular, sweaty torso. If Taehyung gained interest in learning how to ride a horse at the time, no one needs to know.
And that's why his attention is automatically diverted to the male candidates first.
The first guys he meets, honestly, don't catch his eye. Some are cute, yes, but from their responses in the application questionnaire, Taehyung can't find anything in common. And well, Taehyung was never one to be interested only in someone's physique. As if he had a chance to be interested in someone anyway.
Although Taehyung must choose a boy and girl from each caste to maintain equality, he is about to give up temporarily and move on to the girls instead because none of the male candidates is attracting his attention. That is until he came across the last inscription in the stack of papers.
The guy in this particular submission is clearly different from the others. What sets him apart is his hair, a trait that makes Taehyung automatically captivated by being painted in a pretty shade of purple. However, looking more closely and longer at the small, attached photo, Taehyung gets lost in the boy's smile, reminding him of an adorable bunny. The prince doesn't even realize he's grinning back until his mother clears her throat and gets his attention.
"Anyone interesting, dear?" She asks, giggling when she notices the strong blush growing in Taehyung's cheeks.
Interesting I still don't know if he is, but cute? Definitely, the prince thinks. But it's obvious he doesn't say it out loud, much less in front of his parents. Even though the purpose of this whole morning is for Taehyung to tell his parents what he thinks of the contestants. But there are limits, okay?
"It's nothing, mom," Taehyung ends up answering, hastily running away from his mother's suspicious gaze.
Okay, Taehyung can't be hypocritical and deny because he clearly is attracted to this handsome guy, with wavy purple locks, wide smile, sharp jaw, and bright eyes. An interesting mix of cuteness and hotness. It remains to be seen if he and Taehyung have anything in common. The prince really hopes so.
According to his questionnaire, Taehyung discovers that the boy is twenty-two years old, being only two years younger than the prince. In addition, he mentioned some of his qualities as being funny, hardworking, determined, and organized.
Well, being neat and organized is really an excellent quality. A quality that Taehyung clearly lacked. In this way, perhaps the prince could learn something. He knows how much he needs it, even if he has his maids to help him.
This guy works as a florist, making, in addition, his own personalized arrangements for later delivery at events or festivities. Does that mean he likes flowers? Taehyung wonders. This can only mean that yes, right? This definitely arouses his curiosity, because not only do you not find boys enjoying flowers every day, but Taehyung also loves the colorful and fragrant plants. Not so much planting and caring for them - no, he leaves that to his mother - but taking pictures of them instead.
As a way to pass the time, the purple-haired boy says he likes to work, exercise, play and study with his sisters, and above all, go to the orphanage or hospital in his city to keep the children company. Taehyung's heart melts like butter inside his rib cage.
The prince doesn't need to think much further to know for sure that he wants this boy in the competition. A handsome guy, who likes flowers and practices actions of solidarity... Taehyung doesn't believe in perfection, but this man right here doesn't seem to be far from it. Or else his answers were purposely written to catch Taehyung’s attention. That can also be an option, of course.
But no. Taehyung refuses to believe in that. Something in the boy's delicate but at the same time sharped face tells Taehyung that he wouldn't be able to lie and make up such things. The sparkle and spontaneity mirrored in his eyes assured the prince.
Without even flinching, Taehyung puts this boy's candidature aside, the first choice he made concerning his selected ones.
He then picks up the pile of papers referring to the applications of the girls also from the caste Seven, but before he can actually see the submissions, he hears a clearing of a throat. When he looks up questioningly, his parents question him with their eyes, interspersing their gaze between the prince and the now-lonely candidature.
"Does that mean to discard, ponder or choose?" The king asks, tilting his chin towards the purple-haired boy's inscription.
"Choose," Taehyung doesn't hesitate to respond, focusing again on the girls' faces, hoping that the conversation would end there. He should have known better.
"Already? We've just started. Have you looked carefully at the other candidates?" His father asks, reaching across the table to reach the application and place it between him and the queen so they can both get a good look at it.
"Yes, dad. I’m sure," Taehyung responds patiently, controlling himself not to sigh. "That was my favorite candidate from caste Seven. I really want to meet him," he finishes, feeling his cheeks take on a crimson tone again.
"His hair..." His father comments with a slight frown on his face.
Taehyung honestly was already expecting a comment like this from his father. But before he can counter-argue or the king finishes formulating his opinion, his mother interrupts, "It's different, yes. Exotic. Clearly original. But he's quite handsome."
The warning look his mother sends to his father doesn't go unnoticed by Taehyung. And maybe that's why the king adds, "Yeah. Right. Well, from what this guy wrote, he volunteers in orphanages and hospitals. That will certainly warm the hearts of the public."
The prince couldn't care less about the public's opinion, as long as it was his heart that was warmed up instead. But if that's what it takes for his parents to respect and accept his choice and not coerce him into choosing another male candidate from that specific caste, Taehyung doesn't mind. He learned that sacrifices are fundamental gestures in a person's life. Specially in someone from royal family.
"Exactly. That's what I thought too," Taehyung forces the words out, even though he doesn't like the way they scratch his throat. However, it's all worth it when his father puts the submission back on the table where Taehyung initially placed it.
"Well, it looks like we already have the first candidate for your Selection. Now you have eleven to go. Let's continue," the king finishes, refocusing on the submissions of girls from caste Two.
Taehyung does the same. Or at least he tries. Because, in fact, the first couple of minutes are spent with him hiding his face - or rather, his shy smile - behind the various female inscriptions he holds in his hands.
This morning, Taehyung woke up with the thought that this contest was probably going to be anything but a genuine and heartfelt romantic story. A mere choice he would have to make and accept for the rest of his life.
However, now hope and excitement coursed through his veins, making him even sigh dreamily and wish the next few days would pass in the blink of an eye.
♕
"I’m home!" Jeongguk announces, taking off his thick, black coat and hanging it on the hanger by the front door of the house. He immediately regrets it because it seems to be cooler indoors than outside, and it's not even officially winter yet.
A cacophony of ecstatic shrieks and giggles is heard from the living room, but Jeongguk's hungry belly takes him first to the kitchen, more concretely towards the scent of pumpkin soup that hangs in the air. Jeongguk laughs innocently when he finds his father a bit confused as he peels the peas from their pods and puts them in the pot.
"Do you need some help?" Jeongguk volunteers, starting to roll up the sleeves of his flannel shirt. "I can see that mom gave you the baton today."
"Don't tell me," his father sighs exaggeratedly. "I don't mind helping with the house duties, you know that. But put me in ironing the clothes or vacuuming the carpets, not cooking because I'm a fully disgrace."
Jeongguk chuckles, motioning with his chin to the dinner table for his father to sit down and let him finish dinner instead. "Why are they all there anyway?" He questions, pointing with the wooden spoon at his sisters and mother sitting in front of the television.
"You don’t know?" The man with dark hair but with some white strands sticking out asks in surprise, to which Jeongguk shakes his head in denial with a confused frown. "At tonight’s eight, the Official News will announce the chosen participants for prince Taehyung's Selection."
Jeongguk exclaims an, "Ah!" dragged in, nodding in understanding. "Okay. Now it makes sense. They must be hoping that Ha-rin will be one of the chosen ones then."
"And you don't have that hope?" His father arches one of his thick eyebrows.
Jeongguk can't contain his mockery. "You too? Dad, what's the probability of her being chosen out of what I suppose to be hundreds and hundreds of submissions? And let's just say she's even one of the chosen ones to participate. Do you really think the prince would pick a Seven?"
His father looks thoughtful, remaining silent for a few long seconds. Jeongguk, believing the older man won't say anything else, is ready to turn around to finish putting the peas in the soup, until his father mutters, "I will believe what they announce. If your sister is chosen... Well, good for her, because we’re all aware of her crush on the prince. Besides, it will be an excellent opportunity for her, whether she wins or leaves within a week. If she is not chosen... That's fine too. We'll be here to comfort her."
Jeongguk nods, agreeing with his father's words. "We'll see how this story plays out then. It won't be long before we find out anyway," he comments after checking the time on the clock hanging on the wall. "By the way, speaking of excellent opportunities..." Jeongguk's hand reaches into the back pocket of his dark jeans. "Here’s my salary for this month. Fortunately, a lot of people contacted the florist for fall events and I got some extra money from the custom arrangements and deliveries."
"Jeongguk..." His father tries to give him the envelope back and refuse the money, but the purple-haired boy purposely chooses that moment to turn away on the pretext of stirring the soup pot.
“I had to take a small amount to fill my bike's depot because I still have a few more deliveries to make this next week, but I'm confident that that amount is enough to cover the roof costs. I noticed it needs some fixing,” Jeongguk hears his father sigh before turning to face the man with a calm smile on his face.
"You didn't have to do this..." His father mutters, looking apologetically at the envelope in his hand. "Jeongguk, this is your entire salary. It's too much. And it's not fair. You work hard and deserve to have your money to spend on your things," the man rubs his temples.
Jeongguk, in an attempt to lighten the mood, lets out a few laughs. "Spend on my stuff? Dad, what stuff? I don't have addictions. I don't usually go out. I just need a little bit to fill my bike and be able to do my deliveries, but that's enough for me. It's enough," he assures. "I'd rather spend the money with you guys. With us, rather saying. I'm much happier to see the money fill my family's bellies than to buy a pair of sneakers or drinks at a nightclub."
"You truly are a precious son. An angel fallen from heaven to bless us," his father mutters, standing up to squeeze the boy's shoulders. "Thank you, Jeongguk. Thank you."
Jeongguk sees a bright gleam reflecting in his father's eyes and he really can't stand to see people cry. Much less his family, and for a reason like this. So he decides to change the subject, "Can you help me set the table? The soup will be ready in five minutes. And I bet they'll need to fill their stomachs soon after all that excitement."
The two men of the house then prepare the rest of dinner in comfortable silence, sharing eye rolls and silent jeers each time the girls do something considered embarrassing to them.
It seems to finally arrive at eight o'clock when the instrumental version of Euphoréa's anthem begins to play and resonates through the fragile walls of the house, accompanied by the national emblem of the country stamped on the television screen.
Jeongguk didn't want to admit it, but even as he carefully cut a few slices of cheese, he could feel a slight tremor running through his fingers.
He was wishing all of this to be over soon. Yes, that must be the reason.
The so-called Master of Ceremonies, who introduced himself as Jung Hoseok, greets the country with an infectious smile and attractive voice. The man, surprisingly not much older than Jeongguk, has his hair dyed in a shade of canary yellow that matches his bright, flashy suit. He looks like he's standing in front of one of those green screen sets with a ballroom edit. Or maybe he's recording directly from the palace. Well, Jeongguk knows little about the architecture and layout of the royal house's spaces, but he doesn't care either, which is why he looks away from the television and back to the goat cheese in front of him instead.
As belonging to caste Seven, characterized by workers in the fields of agriculture, cattle, fishing, gardening, construction, and garbage collectors, it was not difficult for the Jeon family to arrange a gracefulness such as buttery goat cheese, as their neighbors' next door - those responsible for the artisanal cheese production - didn't mind making a fair exchange of the dairy product for a dozen eggs from their chickens. Fair indeed. On this, Jeongguk had to agree as he licked the remnants of cheese that clung to the knife.
"It's starting! It's starting!"
Jeongguk hears a jumble of euphoric words over one another coming from his sisters' mouths, all of them exclaiming before the Master of Ceremonies announces with a wide smile on his face, “Enjoy your last night like normal girls and boys because the moment your name is announced, all of your lives will change forever," he pauses purposefully, looking directly into the camera for long seconds to evoke suspense. "And now, without further ado, I will proceed to reveal the twelve young people, six girls and six boys, from caste Two to caste Seven, chosen to participate in the Selection. Ladies and gentlemen, congratulate with me the following daughters and sons of Euphoréa!"
The country's national emblem, a golden coat of arms with a circle of stars surrounding it and two white wings protruding from each side, returns to the screen, flying to the upper right corner when replaced by a pearl-colored background. A square, where the Master of Ceremonies Hoseok appears, is also found in the upper opposite corner. The man holds a set of light blue guide cards, clearly ready to reveal the names and photographs of the participants in ascending order of caste, announcing first the girl's identity and then the boy's.
The Selection started at that exact moment.
As was to be expected, the two candidates belonging to caste Two were characterized by a stunning aura and beauty. The boy mostly, with silky blond hair and a smile so bright it competed with the sun itself to dazzle people- Wait. Why the fuck was Jeongguk so devoted to the Selection and its participants?
Shaking his head in frustration with himself, Jeongguk looks away from the television screen again, looking for the bread he had brought with him before coming home. After the first time with their mother, Jeongguk has been able to negotiate with the baker at the market, exchanging two baguettes for a few eggs or even for a pretty flower arrangement. When he wanted, Jeongguk could be quite charming too. And even though he is quite shy, he would not mind to show off his charms in exchange for a good piece of bread.
The bread would go deliciously with the cheese and the hot soup. Interestingly, most because it’s not usual for them, it even seems that Jeongguk bought the bread on purpose to, in a way, celebrate the moment, even though he didn't even remember that tonight would be the night to announce the selected ones for the contest. Or maybe it was simply his protective instinct that made him prepare a big meal to console his sister who, with 99.9% certainty, was going to suffer a heartbreak tonight.
Candidates' introductions continue to appear and disappear from the television screen, with Hoseok's voice in the background along with comments from Jeongguk's sisters and mother, such as, "Oh, this one really looks like royalty!" or "That boy could have at least fixed his beard!"
It's finally time to announce the chosen girl and boy belonging to caste Seven, and Jeongguk admits to losing some of his dignity and unceremoniously abandons the knife and bread on the dining table, walking to the living room to support his hands on the back of the couch right behind his sister Ha-rin.
The girl seems to be in a nervous wreck if it wasn't enough indication by her leg that is constantly shaking in a nervous gesture, and by the fact that her cuticles are already completely murdered.
"Regardless of the outcome, we're here," Jeongguk thought it best to say in an attempt to support her, rubbing her shoulders right away.
The air seems to be suspended while the photo and the name of the selected girl do not occupy the television screen. And, in the blink of an eye, the Master of Ceremonies, at the same time that the photograph of the chosen girl appears in the Official News, announces, "Miss Oh Areum, twenty-one years old, a Seven."
The space is quite silent for a few seconds that you can almost hear the lashes bumping against the tops of their cheekbones when they all blink in confusion.
And Jeongguk is the first to break this silence by grunting in frustration because he knows Areum, he knows the selected one who was chosen over his sister. She attended elementary school with Jeongguk and fuck. Oh Areum was extremely pretty and friendly. But so was his sister.
Jeongguk was right. He was right all this time. The prince really is a complete pretentious idiot for not choosing his sister. Even though Jeongguk already had the idea that this was going to happen, the prince is still an asshole and nobody can change his mind.
Surprisingly, Ha-rin isn't crying, nor their other two sisters, who just look at the older girl fearfully. Honestly, Ha-rin doesn't even look that sad as she looks closely at the photo of the girl that took her place in the contest.
Even so, their mother soothes the long strands of her hair affectionately, Mun-hee and Jae-hwa brood against the television about their choice, and their father looks worriedly at Ha-rin. She may not have been chosen, but love and warmth will never fail her.
Jeongguk decides to comfort her as well by saying, "Sis, don't be like that. That prince is a complete idiot for not choosing you, but the Selection is not the end of your life. You’re so much more than a stupid and futile contest. By the way, you’re already the queen here at our home, anyway," he tries to lighten the situation but no one laughs. Sighing softly, he tries to add, "So try to don't think about it anymore-"
He can't finish talking because someone calls his name. Jeongguk looks at his family, at each of the Jeon members, trying to look for the owner of the voice that called him and interrupted him, but no one is looking at him. On the contrary, they are all staring completely pale and gaping at the television.
And it's only when a male voice announces, "Jeon Jeongguk, twenty-two years old, a Seven. The boy that was chosen from this caste and the last selected from the new edition of the Selection," does Jeongguk dare to look in the same direction.
Jeongguk's heart almost stops beating when someone very familiar to him invades the screen. So, so familiar. A picture of him, which he honestly doesn't even remember taking, smiles at Jeongguk. He can't make the same move with his lips because they're too busy rounding up to form a perfectly round «o».
"And these are our participants for the edition of this Selection! Thank you everyone for your attention on this special night. And don't forget to absorb some ancient but very valuable advice: be yourself. Always," Hoseok winks already in large format on the screen, right after the photograph of Jeongguk has gone out of sight. "The Selection officially starts next Sunday, so don't miss the Official News at eight o'clock. I'm your Master of Ceremonies, Jung Hoseok, and I'll meet you in a few days. Thank you once again and have a great evening," the yellow-haired man says goodbye, leaving Jeongguk's house completely silent after the end of the Official News.
Even with the television screen already completely black, Jeongguk can't tear his gaze away from the electronic device. He lets out an incredulous laugh because, quite honestly, Jeongguk has to laugh at this joke. A joke of a very bad taste, a joke he must have hallucinated about. A joke he can only have hallucinated about. Because it can't be real that his name and picture appeared on the list of participants of the Selection. Especially when he didn't even sign up.
"I thought you didn't want to join the Selection," his mother interrupts the deafening silence, arching an eyebrow in question at Jeongguk. "You changed your mind and didn't tell us anything? Did you sign up after all?"
Jeongguk looks completely mortified at her. "No. I didn't sign up for the Selection," he replies simply, still dazed by what he's just heard. "This can only be a mistake. I don't understand how this happened. I'm going to talk to them somehow and ask them to exchange me for another candidate."
"Jeongguk, you can't do that. You can't give up now, it's forbidden. It was described in the rules at the end of the application," Ha-rin comments calmly.
She's the only one who's still sitting on the sofa in the same starting position, facing with an aura of tranquility the now-off television while her parents and even their other two sisters stare at Jeongguk as if they don't understand a thing. In other words, they’re an authentic portrait of how Jeongguk is feeling because, let's face it, he himself doesn't know what the hell is going on either.
How did this even happen?
He didn't sign up. He received the application, yes, but he didn't fill it out, let alone send it to his city department.
So, what happened-
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
There's something about this story that doesn't smell good and that makes him suspicious. And Jeongguk has known his sister for eighteen years to know quite well the piece.
He should have thought of this before. It's too obvious. It can only have been one person. Jeongguk then looks at the suspect threateningly.
"It was you..." He says in a voice too calm and contained that he is even capable of frightening himself. "It was you who submitted the application on my behalf. Admit it. It was you, Ha-rin!" Jeongguk points an accusing finger at his sister.
The way the girl curls up on the sofa and doesn't even dare look at Jeongguk is answer enough for him. He scoffs, pulling his purple hair back. "I can't believe you were capable of doing such a thing! You had no fucking right to do this behind my back!" Jeongguk explodes, pacing back and forth in the middle of the living room.
"Jeongguk. Language, please," his father warns, glancing sideways at his two younger sisters.
"I’m sorry. But I'm really pissed off about this! I don't want to go to the Selection!" Jeongguk exclaims exasperated. "Why did you do this, Ha-rin? Why did you do this when I said with all the damn words that I didn't want to? I don't even know the prince. And I'm not interested in doing it, for god’s sake!"
"Jeongguk... Let's all stay calm, please," his mother pleads, to which Jeongguk obeys as he sits shakily on the floor in front of the sofa, leaning his back against the table where the television is propped up. "Maybe it wasn't that bad that your sister submitted an application on your behalf. It doesn't excuse her behavior. At all," the woman scolds, staring directly at Ha-rin. "But if you were one of the selected ones... Well, it means that, in a way, the prince liked you and that's a very good sign."
Jeongguk growls loudly, banging his head against the television. "Good sign of what? I'm not in the least worried about whether the prince likes me or not," Jeongguk shrugs, frowning. "By the way, you sure invented a bunch of lies on my application form, didn't you? That's the only way they would pick me," Jeongguk scoffs while looking sideways at his sister.
"No, Jeongguk. That's where you're wrong," Ha-rin finally dares to meet her gaze with his. "All the answers I gave in your questionnaire are true. From your job to your passion for flowers. I even mentioned that you volunteer at the hospital and in our caste orphanage."
"Why?" Jeongguk raises his hands in the air, laughing wryly. "Why the hell would you do that?" He starts to question again, increasingly nervous and frustrated. "You wanted this so badly, Ha-rin. You were anxious and elated at the prospect of participating in this stupid contest. Not me! I never even considered submitting my entry. And what happened? Now I was chosen and you weren't."
"Was it because of the money?" Their mother asks in a broken whisper, drawing both siblings' attention. "Was it because of the money that you registered your brother without his permission? To have a better chance of someone in our family being chosen?"
"Money? What's this money story you guys are talking about?" Their father asks frowning, clearly not liking the topic of conversation.
"If the reason was the money... That's just stupid. I promised I'd work more hours or even get a second job if it were necessary!" Jeongguk retorts. "We don't need their money-"
"It was and it wasn't about the money, okay?" Ha-rin sighs loudly, bringing his hands to her eyes. "Of course I thought about that bonus. Of course I thought about the extra money our family would receive if one of us was selected. But that wasn't the main reason," she admits.
"What's the reason if it wasn't the money then? And don't tell me it was my crush on the prince when I don't even know his face," Jeongguk scoffs, bracing his clasped hands on his flexed knees.
Ha-rin takes a deep breath, bending her head down to escape the gaze of the entire family. Even their younger sisters are quiet, not letting out any teasing or laughter. They're probably also in complete shock that their older brother now has the chance to become the groom of the prince they love so much. Not that Jeongguk wants that.
"So? Aren't you going to say anything?" Jeongguk insists, getting up impatiently from the floor and placing his hands on his hips.
"I just wanted you to have a break, okay?" She responds exasperatedly, her eyes going slightly glazed over. "I wanted you to take a break from all this. I never had bad intentions, I swear. Now, seeing you upset with me, I can clearly see that I didn't act well behind your back. But I just wanted you to leave for a while," Ha-rin sobs. "Since always, I remember seeing you helping mom and dad. You started working when you were still in high school and since then, you've been working tirelessly so that we never lack for anything. Damn, you don't even let me also get a job so I can finish my senior year peacefully," she throws her hands in the air in exasperation. "Jeongguk, you’re the most altruistic soul I've ever met. And I just thought... I just thought it was time for someone to be altruistic with you too and let you enjoy your life without all these monetary problems. That's why I filled out the application for you. If you were chosen, you could get out of here for a few weeks, maybe even a few months if you succeed in the contest. You could meet and be with people your own age, you could live a life full of luxury, gain more opportunities with the visibility you would gain... And have you thought about the amount of good food they must serve in that gigantic palace?" She asks dreamily. "And who knows... You might be able to find the prince interesting. And as for the money... I could get a job while you go. Not forgetting that the royal family's payments would be an added bonus. But still, I apologize profoundly for acting behind your back. I understand if you want to be upset with me for the rest of your life," Ha-rin looks back at her fingers resting in her lap.
"You can be such an idiot sometimes," Jeongguk huffs, walking over to the couch to grab his sister's wrists. He pulls her in until his arms go around her waist and his nose rests against her long, peach scented hair. "How can I stay a lifetime upset with you when you say things like this to me?" He grunts, pulling away from his sister's body warmth so he can look at her.
"Does that mean we’re okay? You aren’t upset anymore?" She asks reluctantly.
"Of course I'm upset," Jeongguk replies right away. "You managed to soften my heart with that speech but I'm still disappointed with you for breaking my trust that way," he admits.
"You didn't act correctly, Ha-rin," their father scolds. "You may have done it with the best of intentions, but it wasn't fair to Jeongguk. Even less for reasons like money. Your mother and I want everything but for you to feel this pressure that should be ours alone. And that's why I think maybe it won't be a bad idea for you to go to the Selection, Jeongguk."
Jeongguk scoffs, rolling his eyes because he can't believe what he's hearing.
"It's true, dear," this time it's his mother who speaks. "In a way, your sister is right. In all these years, how many times have you not gone out with your friends from school because you have to go to work? We only see you a couple of hours at night when you come home from work and still, you’re always exhausted. Perhaps this is a good opportunity for you to enjoy your youth while you still can."
"You guys talking like that kind of sounds like you're trying to shove me into a freaking summer camp or something like that," Jeongguk replies. "And you're more than fed up with knowing that I don't mind helping you. I don't even see it as a sacrifice or a problem at all! I love my job, you know that. But do you think I work too many hours? Okay, I can work a couple of hours less and spend more time with you guys. I might even try to work from home! But I'm not going to the Selection. I can't. I don't want to. I'll give up. Maybe they'll let me you go in my place," Jeongguk looks at Ha-rin. He frowns when her expression twitches. "What's it?"
"You can't give up, Gguk," she replies hesitantly, biting her bottom lip.
"What do you mean I can't give up? They can't make me go!" He retorts.
"Jeongguk... Okay, you can give up... But you would have to pay a large charge to cover the costs that the royal family has already spent for your stay there at the palace. The other reason you can give up is because you have a serious disease or a family member has died, to which, obviously, it is necessary to deliver a medical certificate that proves that. And you don’t suffer from either of these two options, so..."
Jeongguk looks scandalized at his sister. This cannot be happening. It can't, it can't, it can't.
"You've got to be kidding me…" He runs his hands through his hair, pulling it back in frustration. "I really don't have a choice…?"
"Sorry, Jeongguk," Ha-rin mutters in a worried tone, looking apologetically at him.
His mother sighs, getting up to stroke the strands of hair that grow on his neck. "Look at this on the bright side, darling. This will be a good opportunity for you, I'm sure of it. You'll meet a lot of people, you'll go to parties and balls, you'll eat at their banquets... Ah! And what about the palace gardens? They’re beautiful! Imagine all the flowers, of different species and colors, that must exist."
Well, in fact, that Jeongguk cannot deny. From the little he knows about the royal family and where they live, Jeongguk knows that the gardens that line the palace are magical and grandiose. If he goes... He will surely spend all his time lost in the flowers.
Wait. Is he really considering this?
It's not like he has any other alternative, either. Jeongguk cannot afford to indebt himself and his family just because he wants to give up. He would probably be paying the royalty for the rest of his days.
And it's not like Jeongguk will stay there for long. One, two, or even three weeks maximum. He is not in the least interested in making the effort to meet and win the prince over, so Jeongguk will definitely not be a long-term competitor. He just has to hang on for a couple of days, eat as much as possible and flee to the gardens when everything gets too overwhelming.
Jeongguk will really do this? He has to do this, he has no other choice.
"And you will meet Prince Taehyung!" Mun-hee, his younger sister, speaks for the first time after the bombastic revelation.
"That's definitely an extremely positive point," Ha-rin comments, winking at Jeongguk teasingly. "Something tells me that you and the prince are going to get along very well..."
Jeongguk scoffs, rolling his eyes in response. "Clearly. We're going to be best friends. Keep dreaming, Ha-rin."
"We'll see then," she shrugs, smiling slyly.
"I’ll only go because I have no other choice. I will not indebt you. Along the way, I’ll enjoy free food and the beautiful gardens. That's all," Jeongguk replies, feeling reality settle inside him.
"Of course. That's all," Ha-rin nods, biting her lip to contain her smug smile.
"That's it," he repeats seriously.
Jeongguk will really do the unthinkable.
He will join the Selection.