Author's Note:
guess what? chicken butt. my wifi was out all fucking day and it was horrible anyway here's a chap lol love u guys :)
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The trek to Yuldemar wasn't too difficult. Jae didn't stop walking as long as the sun was out and as darkness fell, she set up camp close to Caufil River. As soon as day broke again, Jae was up and moving towards the palace.
She was halfway through the last pastry she had when she saw it. Massive black iron gates adorned with the four intertwining roses on each side, symbolizing the four young men that had once waged war to conquer the lands that became known as Allynth. The roses had become the kingdom's distinguishing seal, even influencing the cadmium red and champagne colors that decorated each flag waving proudly atop the castle walls.
While the gates were something to behold, the what lay behind them made Jae suck in a breath through her dark face covering. A long brick path led the way to the palace, and oh gods the palace. The palace was made with marble that shone like snow and reflected the bright summer sunlight. It was a stark contrast to the greenery surrounding the path and palace. Rose bushes of every color imaginable had been planted in rows throughout the front of the palace and Jae had no doubt there were even more to be found behind the ornate, proud palace.
She didn't dare step out from the shadows of the cluster of trees a couple hundred feet from the palace's entrance. Instead, she stood silently, melting into the shadows with her dark clothing and watched. Competitors slowly trickled in alongside the ones that had already been idling around by the palace gates. Men on horses, men with various coats of armor and weapons, men who had made the journey on foot just like her, some small, and some so massive she wondered if they had been fed growth fertilizer as children. She snorted lightly at the thought, a smirk crawling up her face as she continued to observe and assess each person that joined the crowd.
What they were waiting for she didn't know. But she stayed in the safety of her shadows until a rather decorated member of the guard appeared at the gates. His face was grim and he looked to be at least forty years old. The man opened up the gates and slipped out, facing the crowd of eager men.
The guard's eyes roamed over each and every one of them, not noticing Jae hidden in the shadows, before he spoke in a booming voice that exuded authority. Jae thought this man could probably lead them all into war with a voice like that and anyone would listen to his orders.
"The king welcomes you to the palace of Allynth. There are individual rooms provided for each competitor. You will be shown to your rooms in a few moments. Please use the remainder of today as time to rest and gather your strength as the competition officially commences at the break of dawn tomorrow. A dinner will be held in honor of the start of the first knights competition. Please consider attending if you are not too fatigued from your travels. That being said," the man paused for effect, "may the best men win."
The man, whom Jae would later learn was the Head General of the Royal Guard, abruptly spun on his heel and disappeared on one of the many brick paths in the rose garden. The palace gates were now wide open and servants greeted the competitors, leading horses to stables and men into the palace to their rooms.
Jae finally slipped out of the shadows as the majority of the men had been escorted into the massive building. A shy servant girl that looked to be just a few years older than Jae herself stepped forward, eyes cast towards the beginning of the brick path underneath their feet.
The girl's voice was so soft Jae barely heard her address her and offer to carry her bag. "It's ok, I'll carry it in," Jae said to the girl. At the sound of her voice, the girl finally looked up, shocked to hear a feminine sound in the midst of all the burly men that had shown up. Jae merely winked at the girl, grinning under her the dark black cloth that covered her face and hair, leaving just her eyes exposed to the outside world.
The servant girl finally managed to recover from the shock, gulping and smiling softly before leading Jae into the palace. The two traveled through a multitude of halls and passages, each one made of the same exquisite marble as the outside, some covered in ornate drawings and jewels. Jae would've balked at the elegance had she not been more focused on observing the people they passed and committing the route to her memory.
The servant girl finally stopped at a door at the very end of one hall, opening it up and gesturing for Jae to step inside. "This will be your room for the entire duration of the competition. My name is Miyoung and you may call for me at any time if there is anything you need. I will be assisting you throughout your stay at the palace," she said.
Jae turned to the girl, grasping her hand and pressing two silvers into it. "For your silence about my identity until the first trial."
The girl simply nodded, shoving the pieces of metal into a pocket in her dress before asking, "Would you like me to draw you a bath so you may clean and unwind before the dinner?"
"A bath would be wonderful."
Miyoung stepped towards the bathroom but stopped in her tracks before spinning around and heading towards the door again. "We hadn't expected the arrival of any women so I shall go retrieve clothes that may be more suitable than the ones that have been provided for the men."
Jae chuckled before shrugging her shoulders. "Alright. I'll be here," she said, taking a seat in one of the room's chairs.
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Jae had fallen asleep in that chair only to be woken up by Miyoung and ushered into a hot bath that made her want to fall asleep all over again. She washed and shimmied into the loose pants and tunic set Miyoung had brought up. After unpacking what little clothing she had brought into the provided cupboards, Jae decided it was time to explore the city.
She had only been in Yuldemar twice before and neither had provided her the opportunity to explore so she slipped out of the palace quietly and headed towards the bustling marketplace. Before she was within a few hundred feet of the area, she was hit with a wave of pleasant aromas. Smoky paprika, subtle notes of ginger, and caramelized sugar made her regret not bringing more money.
If Jae had a weakness it was food. The girl spent every last copper she had brought with her within the first ten minutes of being in the market and pockets were now filled with chocolates and savory street food. As she snacked, she continued walking through the market and she was halfway through a wondrous little paper bag of deep fried mini bananas when someone rammed into her and caused her to spill the entire bag of goodies into the dirt.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking ahead of me."
Jae turned her face up from where she was staring at her precious food to be met with a mysterious young man. He had at least three inches on her five foot seven inch frame and big, round doe eyes that stared worriedly at her from behind his face covering. Why he had covered his face, Jae didn't understand and didn't care to question because all she could think about was the fact that she didn't even have any money left to replace her now trampled, dirt covered treats.
"It's ok," she sighed.
"Please, let me buy you another one," he insisted.
"No need. I have to get going anyway," Jae looked behind him to where someone was approaching the boy, "And it looks like you do too."
Jungkook looked behind him to see his brother had finally caught up with him and he turned back around to smile at the girl but she was already gone, lost in the busy crowd of Yuldemar's marketplace. He frowned as Jimin clapped him on the shoulder and scolded him for leaving him behind but his thoughts swirled with the face that had stamped itself in his mind just now.
Jungkook wanted nothing more than to run his hands through those long, luscious black locks and caress her smooth, warm ivory skin. Her full, pink lips had looked so tantalizing and her little button nose made him want to giggle like a little schoolboy. And those eyes. He would never forget those eyes. Oddly unemotional deep black eyes save for the flecks of melted gold that rested near her pupils. He would stare at those eyes for the rest of eternity if he could.
Unfortunately, Jimin's hand smacking the back of his head pulled him from the depths of his mind and the two continued their walk back to the palace.
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Jae made it back to the palace as night fell, dropping onto the mattress in her room and falling asleep almost immediately. She hoped Miyoung would come wake her up in the morning because the gods knew she definitely wouldn't on her own. She snorted at the thought before turning over and shoving her face into the pillows, falling into a deep sleep and dreaming of swords, deep fried bananas, and a certain pair of doe eyes.