This story marks the beginning of a forgotten era in Korean history.

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Drums thundered throughout the entire palace (bom bom bom!), marking the commencement of a sacred ceremony. Flags were hoisted onto every corner of the palace brick walls and fluttered gracefully in the cool spring wind. The palace guards unbarred the eight wooden main gates, and people from different parts of the kingdom entered.

First class, top of all citizens next to the royalty—the nobility. Inside their servant-carried palanquins, draped windows gaping open, they swanked their florid clothing and priceless, rare jewelry. Noblemen donned their silk festal robes sheathed by dark, fur-lined cloaks. Shiny hairs brushed up with precious expensive pins, secured in silver top knots. Their pride and dignity, the symbol of their conspicuous masculinity (either to boast to other noblemen or to seduce women—it could be both). 

Wives and daughters were the incarnations of human goddesses. Elaborately clothed in ornate silk brocades, glistening, lush hair braided in loops and festooned with sophisticated hair ornaments. Bright faces were painted with the same light powder, while their lips were various shades of red lipstick. Fake smiles unto each other and a hidden frown for those who shared the same facial cosmetics with them.

While these high-status nobles engaged in an unwritten competition of wealth, elegance, and hierarchy, the commoners, in their run-of-the-mill tawdry robes, paired with either baggy pants or dull, third generation, ragged skirts, arrived on foot and held hands with their families. Unused to such splendor, the common folk were transfixed by the complex designs of palace pavilions, the grandeur of the courtesans' hoop skirts, which could shelter three kids when it rains, the court ladies' colorful dresses, and the impressive stature of the palace guards, acting like live action figures which would blink when poked. These sentinels carried long, sharp spears and shielded by iron-plated armor vests and helmets while standing wide awake like statues in every corner of the palace.

The crowd began to gather in the main courtyard, where a wide, red-varnished wooden dais especially built for the ceremony, stood at the far end. Ruby damask tent canopied the hallowed stage against the admissible heat of the late afternoon sun. A long, white-mantled table filled with food, candles, flowers, and incense vaunted as an offering to the Heavens. 

Sitting on his mobile throne, King Jae Joong scanned the thronging crowd. Like a true descendant of the Heavens, his angelic hazel eyes shone as bright as his radiant smile. His high golden crown, with strands of gold and precious stones, wrapping his hair and dangling from his face, enhanced his soft facial features, while his white meditative mulberry robe—complete with billowing sleeves and embroidered with black dragons—swathed his tall, lean body. Undeniably, the begotten son from the paradise—the father of Silla.

Beside him ensconced ten noble council members or Hwabaek. Five on each side, dressed in their uniform purple cloaks and cylindrical black hats. Their personal court ladies and guards stood at attention behind them. The rest of the nobility stayed on sumptuous chairs on the left and right sides below the grandstand, while the commoners assembled in a cramped huddle on the court, enduring the numbness of their legs. Palace guards served as human barriers between the classes. Special troops lined the sides of the red carpet and the perimeter of the palace grounds. Air units had been assigned on pavilion balconies, eyeing on possible threats from above and afar.

From the northern gate in the opposite direction, a red carpet ran smoothly onto the holy stage. It diverged to left and right, running across the quadrangle, upon kissing the base of the blessed platform.

Behold! A sacred, covered water well-like structure, amid the square—atop the carpet. An inanimate, divine deity as such. One could look, but shall not touch.

Now for the courtesans. Pretty, glamorous, young women. The paragon of arts. Masters of cake decorating (only the dough were their faces) and pacifying drunk, grumpy old men. They crouched with fine demeanor on the far right and left sides of the carpet, smiling to the commoners and nobility. Sweet and demure, their default faces every daytime. Behind the captivating entertainers stood the royal ladies, who kept their chins low in a reserved bow.

Indistinct, merry chattering rising from both nobles and peasants refused to cease as they continued discussing the King's upcoming prediction about the occurrence of the solar eclipse—concerning the future of their kingdom. The moment the palace guards on the balconies blew the bison horns, all lips were stitched.

Huuuuussssh! Gates were barred. No one was allowed to enter. Shut thy mouths for someone was about to saunter.

"His Royal Majesty graces you all!" introduced the Minister of Ceremonies.

Jae Joong rose from his throne, his white robe rustled slowly as he offered his blessing by raising his right arm and pointing his palm at the crowd. An invisible wave of pristine divination. People bowed their heads and genuflected, like docile sheep following their shepherd.

"People of Silla, witness the Holy Egg from which our founder Park Hyeokgeose was born," Jae Joong announced and flung his hand towards the northern gate. Everyone kept their heads down, for it was a grave sin to glance at the consecrated chamber until it was placed on the well—safe and sound.

Coming from the wooden gate, the Head Priestess, Lady Jang, led a group of soldiers who marched behind her in two lines. She walked gracefully down the red carpet, holding a glowing oval porcelain ball that represented the cradle of Silla's great founder. A godly woman sent from up above. She was a stark contrast with the military in their heavy boots and clanging armor. Her cream satin robe swayed in the light breeze, while her coal-black hair—loops in intricate braids throughout her hair and held in place with silver pins—stayed firmly in place.

Upon reaching the sacred sculpture, she whispered an unknown prayer to the egg-like structure before placing it on top. "Revere the legendary well and egg that had birthed Park Hyeokgeose—the Najeong!" She proclaimed, raising her arms and lifting her head to the sky. The crowd placed their palms together and uttered individual orisons (hoping for salvation, fruitful harvest... perhaps more handful of jewelry to parade?)

Lady Jang lowered her arms and kowtowed before continuing her journey to the altar. When she had reached the foot of the stage, six groups of young men, wearing different colors of fitted robes matched with voluminous pants, assembled at the northern gate. Each of their leaders carried a colored flag which symbolized the six founding clans of Silla. With the accompaniment of the rumbling beats of the drums and the contrasting fairy tale of the pipes, they dashed around the Najeong Well and performed fighting stunts, rolls, and somersaults as parts of the dances for good fortune and abundance. The audience watched silently, respecting the solemnity of the sacred routines.

When the performance came to an end and the dancers dismissed, Lady Jang called the attention of the crowd as she preached, "Your Majesty, behold the power of the deities as they lend you their blessings to lead the kingdom of Silla. Our greatest ruler has once told that the king holds the mandate of the Heavens and shall be the protector of the nation!"

Jae Joong strolled down the dais through the oak-brown steps at the center. He walked ceremoniously to the venerated heirloom and delivered his harmonious speech. "People of Silla, as your king and father of the nation, I would like to send my utmost gratitude for your presence in this sacred ceremony. I shall say that this very moment signifies that of all the generations that have passed, we are one of the lucky ones to receive this once in a lifetime opportunity from the Heaven's. Consider this as their act of compassion for our nation. He lifted the gleaming ball, raised it high in the sun, and pronounced the sanctified verdict. "By the power of the Gods bestowed upon me, I declare that the solar eclipse would not occur for the first time in its thirty-three year cycle. From this day forth, I claim everyone shall experience bountiful and abundant years ahead!"

Cheers resonated all over the place, positive energies bouncing the sturdy walls. Happiness and excitement lit everyone's faces, hoping they would not experience hunger, strife, or any other nefarious occurrences for the subsequent years. Chants began to rise in unison.

"Long live, the King!"

"Long live, Silla!"

In the midst of the celebration, one person stood out—a black sheep in a white flock. As the praises grew louder and louder, the Prime Minister—leader of the King's council leaned back in his chair, clapping slowly as he tried to hide his sneer of disgust.

"You did it, Sire. You won. I lost." 

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NOTES:

Hwabaek (화백) - a council of nobles in the Silla Kingdom. They discuss different issues in the kingdom such as throne succession, war declarations, laws and reforms, etc.

Najeong (나정) - a legendary well where Park Hyeokgeose, the founder of Silla Kingdom was born.