THE PROPHECY

The Han Manor was beaming with bright lights and lanterns filled the entire place.

Nobles and the rich people in the capital including some officials managed to turn up for the event dressed to their very best and even the servants were dressed decently as well.

The brothers Seungjae and Seungnyang were all inside playing with their youngest brother who was undoubtedly very cute and lively.

In the mean time, Lord Han was wearing one of his most expensive attires which was made from fine royal silk.

Being helped by his servants, his wife walked in a while later.

Lord Han seemed to have noticed the presence of a third person in the room that he turned around.

"How do I look?" He asked Lady Kim as he spread his arms out wide and smiled brightly.

"There is the man that I fell in love with." Lady Kim replied," handsome as always although today I must say you look slightly more dignified." Lady Kim added.

"Every son is the pride of a father the moment that he comes into this world." Lord Han said.

"You are happier, why is that?" Lady Kim asked.

"Nothing much, I am excited and Seungjae and Seungnyang seem to be getting along with their little brother.

This family looks way too happy and closer than before, that gives me a reason to be excited once again despite my tiring official duties." Lord Han said.

"The King will not let you go, you abandoned the records taking in the province of Haeji." Lady Kim said.

"When it comes to my family, I can give up anything and I had never missed a day that my children were born.

I greatly anticipated that it was a daughter so I had even the more confidence to leave everything and besides, the records were still taken so his Majesty will understand." Lord Han replied.

"Then I suppose we'd better get going immediately, I don't want us to keep our guests waiting." Lady Kim said

"After all, even the Queen and the Prime Minister are headed here I was told, they were sent to represent the King." she added.

"Let's go." Lord Han said as he got hold of his wife's hand and the two walked out to the next room where The three siblings were.

"Mother, father, you look smart." Seungjae said.

Lord Han then got onto his left knee and noticing that his first born's attire was flawed, he quickly set it right.

"You look smart as well big boy." Lord Han said.

"Father, Little brother is smiling." Seungnyang said.

Lady Kim rushed over to her newborn child and then it was as her second son.

"Na ri." She called her husband as she carried the baby into her hands and embraced it.

"He really is smiling at us, little Seunghyeonjeong is smiling at us." She added.

All the three converged and they adored the young child who moved his hands in the air playfully.

"My Lord." another voice interrupted their conversation.

"What is it?" Lord Han asked as he turned around to see Mr. Song.

"Every one has arrived here." Mr. Song replied.

"Very well then, we'll be there in a short while." Lord Han said.

"Alright my Lord." Mr. Song said and he turned around to leave the family.

"We'd better get going." Lord Han said and the five were headed for the living room that overlooked the courtyard of the Villa.

The two brothers moved to the side of the guests as Lady Kim and her husband sat down in front of the guests who filled their tables.

It was eventually time for the people to present their gifts to the couple and with the baby at hand, those who came up were granted a glimpse of the young infant.

Those he touched were won over by the warmth that the young baby seemed to give away, from nobles to the commons.

"Announcing the presence of Her Majesty, Queen Sunseong of our heavenly kingdom of Geosan." Mr. Song said.

At once, the eyes shifted to the direction of the entrance of the ceremony and a beautiful woman who appeared to be in her mid thirties arrived.

She was beautifully dressed in a red and yellow hanbok and her ladies in waiting were also smartly dressed as they bore with them gifts for the young infant.

Every one present at the ceremony bowed their heads to accord their Queen with her respect.

"Daebi Mama." Lady Kim and her husband said in unison.

"It is an honour to have your presence on this auspicious day during this our humble occasion." Lord Han said.

"No, I am graced to be present at such a celebration outside the palace walls." The Queen Sunseong said.

The Queen Drew nearer to the noble couple.

"Gifts for the young infant." The Queen said and the gifts were placed in front of the couple at that very moment.

"It would be an honor for the Queen to behold what a beautiful miracle the heavens have sent me." Lady Kim said.

"Please have a sight of my child." she added.

The Queen did not hesitate.

"Of course I can not leave without a glimpse of your Newborn son." Queen Sunseong said as she took in her hand the baby that was given to her.

Studying him, she was indeed captivated by the baby's rare lively and Charming look, his eyes sparkled and even the Queen felt it was the most peaceful embrace she had ever received.

"It is beautiful." the Queen said.

"She was about to hand over the child when suddenly she ceased halfway.

Everyone was gazing and they all seemed to understand the reason why the Queen had hesitated to hand over the child to it's rightful parents.

She herself was shocked as the baby held on to the Queen's Jade pendant that hung from her hanbok.

"It looks like he loves you." Lady Kim said.

"May I then, hold him a while longer?" the Queen asked.

"As long as you wish your Majesty, it is our honour for you to hold our child into your hands." Lady Kim said.

The ceremony continued until eventually, every one was settled down and enjoying the meals that had been prepared.

Lady Kim was talking with some noble women and the Queen as a couple of officials congratulated Lord Han upon the birth of his third son.

"You were destined for greatness my friend." One said.

"Three sons is something that you should be very proud of." Another said.

Soohyun the King's spy while present at the ceremony watched all the festivities and the people present.

He was more keen on hearing what the people who were gathered were saying until eventually, everyone in the courtyard gathered for one of the ceremonial highlights.

The Han family started to burn crackers as the people applauded them and every one was handed a lantern and in their respective categories they lit them and sent them afloat into the air.

The lanterns rose as a brilliant spectacle was manifested in a way that it might have looked as though stars were rising from the Han residence.

King Gwangyang was watching in a distance and his head eunuch stood beside him.

"The view on this pavilion is splendid, do you know why my great great great grand father had it built?" The King Gwangyang asked.

"Enlighten me Your Majesty." The head Eunuch said.

"From here he would watch the vast expanse of his kingdom, see every threat firsthand before my enemies can raise.

To monitor day and night this, the world that was entrusted by his ancestors into his own hands." The King replied.

"I understand your Majesty." The eunuch said.

"At night, it's like watching the stars." King Gwangyang said.

"Indeed, the view is lively." The head Eunuch said.

"It is a pity that it doesn't last and it's duration is limited, just as ours as humans is, our only solution is how we choose to live in that moment when we still can." King Gwangyang said.

Before the festivities could end, there was an old man who turned up all of a sudden followed by a couple of young lads on the doorstep of the Han Manor.

"Where are you going?" The guards at the entrance of the Manor asked.

"I am here for the celebrations." The old man replied.

"We are sorry but we can't let you in." The guards said.

"Lord Han who while talking to his other guests noticed that there was something going on and he was immediately drawn to intervene.

"Excuse me." he said as he walked towards the entrance.

Soohyun monitored him approaching the old man who had turned around to leave the place.

"Sir." he called.

The old man turned around.

"Who are you?" The old man asked.

"Pardon the insolence of my guards, I am the master of this household and I request your attendance of my feast." Lord Han said.

"Very well then lead the way." The old man humbly said and Lord Han taking him by the hand led him into the courtyard of his own home.

Lord Han personally attended to the old man that most people were moved including his wife.

"You are a very hospitable young man." The old man said.

"The heavens have been kind enough to give me a son, I extend my kindness to others in return." Lord Han said.

"If you please, may I hold your child?" The old man asked.

"Yes." Lord Han replied as he took hold of the infant Seunghyeonjeong from his wife's hands and placed him in the old man's.

"So lively." The old man said as he closed his eyes for a while.

Lord Han grew worried as he watched the man's facial expression change gradually into a troubled one.

The old man then opened his eyes and eventually looked at the parents of the boy.

"What is it?" Lord Han asked.

"A prophecy." The old man replied.

"What Prophecy?" Lord Han asked.

"THIS CHILD HAS BEEN GRACED FAIREST AND IN TIME HE WILL GROW TOO WISE, HE'LL BE MOST CHARMING AND THE HEAVENS WATCH DAY AND NIGHT, WITH HIM STARS WILL FALL FROM HIGH AS HE RISES A BEACON IN MIGHT, WITH THOSE EYES THAT SPARKLE BRIGHT HE'LL BEHOLD AHEAD AND AFAR." The old man said.

"The heavens are generous." Lady Kim said.

"HE'LL COME TO POSSESS SOME OF THE MOST ABSOLUTE POWERS, ALL OF WHICH MEN SHALL LOATH HIS GRACE AND HIS FOES BECOME AS COUNTLESS AS THE GRAINS OF SAND AND THEY ALONG WITH THE VANQUISHED SHALL BRING UPON THIS LAND ITS DARKEST AND MOST PERILOUS TIMES.

A FLAME OF REVOLT AND REBELLION SHALL SPREAD AND REIGN UNTIL IN HIS NAME, THE LAND OF THIS OUR HEAVENLY KINGDOM IS BAPTIZED IN BLOOD." The old man said.

Every one was dumbfounded and even the King's spy on his hearing bore witness to the words that had been spoken.

The sooner the ceremony ended, everyone departed from the Han Manor and Lord Han was left to stare at his son who peacefully slept in the wan light of the moonlight.

"What is it my dear?" Lady Kim asked.

"The words that old man said, the prophecy." Lord Han said as he maintained his gaze.

"Don't let it bother you, a lot of things change even prophecies with time." Lady Kim said.

"I certainly hope so." Lord Han said as he looked on at his child while in the embrace of his wife.

Soohyun arrived at the pavilion where the King Gwangyang was still awake.

"What happened?" The King asked.

"An old man turned up and uttered a prophecy." Soohyun said quickly as he was running out of breath.

"Those people aren't as accurate as they used to be, it's all nothing more than a mere tantrum, besides, some of them are always there to just stir up common stories such as he will be great." The King said.

"Would your Majesty kindly hear me out?" Soohyun said.

"Go ahead, I suppose you can't fear for nothing." The King said.

"That child that has been born." Soohyun said.

"What's with it?" King Gwangyang asked.

"It shall be powerful and additionally the cause of havoc, insurgency, bloodshed and war within this land." Soohyun said.

The King grew more and more concerned about what he had heard.

"What have you said?" King Gwangyang asked.

"You heard me right your Majesty, that boy will be in deed very wise and he shall be powerful and additionally the cause of havoc, insurgency, bloodshed and war within this land." Soohyun said.

The King turned around and looked at Soohyun, his Expression studying him from head to toe.

"Intelligence, insurgency." King Gwangyang said.

"Give me your order your Majesty and I promise that I shall gladly carry it out." Soohyun said as he bowed down his head.

"What should best be done for those who could capably become our enemies?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Eliminate them your Majesty." Soohyun replied.

"Not really." King Gwangyang replied.

"You've walked with me long enough to know my mind and it is only you who knows when my conscience betrays me as well as the time that I have a change of heart." King Gwangyang said.

"You aren't possibly suggesting that your Majesty." Soohyun said quickly understanding what the King was hinting on.

"Yes, I want to bring Lord Han and his family closer after all, someone as intelligent as the heavens say is a talent better of as a friend and not an enemy." King Gwangyang replied.