Come, Dear Maiden
The Prince's Questhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a3LkIisueo
Exo-K "Lucky"
Once upon a time, in a land far away,
There lived a prince who we could say
Was the perfect man with all his charms and glamour
which made him very easy to adore.
He never was the soft kind, though.
He dealt with things in just one go.
With this, he never even experienced love,
Since he thought he was ‘higher’ than the accepted ‘above’.
He wore his pride like the sleeves of shirt
With his patience all buried in dirt
He never had the heart for any romance
And heck, he wouldn’t love even if he had the chance.
His name, you ask? Does it even matter?
No one dared say his name in all their chatter.
Why, you may ask? Do I need to say?
He’d just say he’s too good for you anyway.
He never thought that one day in his life
He would have to find his fitting wife
But all he could think was how good he was
Not that everyone thought of him as an .
He was good at this, good at that
But he was the best at being a brat
People would often curse and stab his back
But still his pride wouldn’t even crack
He didn’t care for anybody, he cared for himself
As if his care for others was stuffed in one shelf
He didn’t realize what he was doing wrong;
That ‘not caring’ was plain wrong all along.
One day by his kind father’s request,
He went away to go to the west
To find someone who could understand him
Although he pretty much knew the chances were slim
Still, he tried and went away,
Promising he’ll be back one day
With him a woman who he thought would be
Someone who’ll live with him in glee
At first he found the journey quite hard
And he even thought of stopping at his own yard
‘Go, Joonmyeon. Let’s see if you find
Someone to love,’ words rang in his mind
‘I’ll show you all, someone will love me,
and with all my attitude, I know she’ll agree.
She’ll serve me and would never complain
Even if I’m like this, I know she’ll remain.’
With a determined mind and a slightly torn ego,
He set off to a place where no one seemed to know.
He gathered his might, his sword and his shield
Hoping that one day, a princess he would yield
He traveled far enough than he should
He even gathered all the courage he could
He didn’t know how to even court a girl
He only knew that a girl would want a pearl
But no, Rose wasn’t like that,
She didn’t want anything more than a cat
‘at least cats are loyal’, she would often say
And would refuse any man in every known way
She hated men since her father left
And hurt her mother, even committed theft
He didn’t leave them anything, even his love
He just flew off even faster than a dove
Since then she swore to never love a man
And to be as bitter in every way she can
She only cared for her mother, two siblings, and herself
And the torn books of her favorite Gotthelf
They weren’t rich, weren’t even decent
They had sold their cow to the town only just recent
They had nothing left, not even a single coin
And being a servant she had wanted to join
But her mother pleaded saying she didn’t want to
Burden her daughter of the things she should do
As a mother to her kids, she decided to go
And apply instead, what job? She didn’t know
Rose felt bad for the case they were in
And seeing her siblings, and their bodies thin,
She couldn’t do anything with her young age of ten,
And with that thought, she would feel guilty again.
Yes, she was ten, so young and free
But not free from burden, for the reality she should see.
Their father left; their mother’s ill
And they didn’t have money to buy her a pill
Being the good daughter that she was known,
And a beautiful lady now she has grown,
Even at the age of ten, many had offered
And as many, suitors’ poems she’d heard
But she wasn’t pleased with any of them
She wasn’t pleased with wealth or the finest of gem
She only wanted what was best for her family
That they would somehow live happily
His thoughts wandered far, far away from his sight
And he saw a nearby village, the village where he might
Find what he was looking for; finally find his mate
And believe that he was there because of fate
He entered the roads; all eyes were on him
Why wouldn’t they stare when he was so prim?
And he was the prince, the king’s son!
But why was he there? To solve a mission undone
‘Prince Joonmyeon is here! The handsome prince is here!’
Squeals of ladies could be heard, even far and near
All the ladies followed their eyes solely on him
While his eyes wondered around, his figure so slim
It was like a god was walking down the poor streets of theirs
Heck they didn’t even have built proper stairs
He didn’t mind it though; his focus solely lain
On that particular girl. Why? He coudldn’t explain
She was sweeping the floor in front of their porch
Minding not even that the sun scorch
Her long hair flowing down to her spine
and was done so neatly and so fine
He stopped for a while to absorb what he saw
Was the face of an angel, her eyes to her jaw
He knew she was young, her exact age unknown
But he couldn’t care as he stood frozen like stone
His heart skipped a beat, one, two, three
And his excitement rose to a certain degree
He had fallen in love! Or so he thought
That he was in an awkward situation; in an awkward plot
He approached her slowly but surely to find
Out her name which will be stuck in his mind
And to claim for the only things he was there for
Since he couldn’t wait, no, not anymore
She stopped sweeping and stared at the man
In front of her and she almost ran
The prince was standing a few blocks away
His smile so bright, even brighter than the day
Her heart beat skipped upon seeing once more
The man she had once before longed for
Her ideal man, her ideal prince charming
Was right there in front of her standing
But no, that was long long ago
And besides, her hatred from men would only grow
He was a prince, she was a poor pauper
Why would she think that they could be together?
He took one step, then two, then three
Until he was standing in front of her in glee
‘What is your name, my dear maiden?’ he asked
But as much as she wanted to answer, she put on a mask
‘I’m afraid my name doesn’t concern you, your highness.’
She answered, avoiding falling for his brightness
The young man frowned, clearly displeased
That her short answer was colder than the breeze
She turned around, regretting a little in the process
He was so handsome as before, she would confess
But no, it wasn’t right since she had hated men
And she didn’t want to be left alone yet again
He stared at her retreating figure and then
She grabbed her arm and made her face him in a matter of ten
‘But I have come to find you,’ he quickly pleaded
Her eyes widened, that was all she needed
But no, she couldn’t possibly leave her home behind
And live a peaceful life and to others’ needs be blind
She couldn’t afford to leave with the prince and forget
Her family, she would gravely regret
‘You are just delusional, my dear prince,’ she said
As she pulled out her arm and to her house she led
Herself but even the prince had followed
and she knew that there would be another pleading episode
‘I have come to find my wife, my princess, and soon to be queen,’
He said as if they were in a picturesque scene.
But no, they weren’t, no, not like this
Not when she refused to take the offer of living in bliss
‘Please, dear maiden, please come back with me,’
He sounded so pained, it was an evident plea
But she couldn’t agree, not when she’s torn
Between her long found prince or the place she was born
‘I will do anything, anything, you tell me,’
He sounded so determined that she could clearly see
This lad has fallen in love but with whom? She couldn’t believe
That among all the other ladies, she was the one he would perceive
‘I can’t, dear prince, I can’t love you back,’
She said so coolly like her hair, her eyes were black.
‘I can’t, no, I don’t love you, dear prince,’
And that was enough to make the young lad wince
‘No, I won’t give up, even if I have to prove
That my love for you will never ever move
Away from my heart and this sick mind of mine
So sick that I can only see you as mine.’
With that the prince turned to leave out her door
And she quickly fell down to the hard floor
What was she thinking? That was the prince!
The man that she had loved long ever since.
He continued to walk, and found a small inn.
As he finished unpacking, he knew he should begin
To capture her heart and make her love him
Even if the light of hope for him was dim
She didn’t sleep, she couldn’t possibly sleep
When all her thoughts of earlier were already so deep
Would she keep up with her cold attitude?
When all her emotions were mixed with her weird mood?
The next day he woke up, as cheerful as before,
This day was the day he would walk out the door
And make her say ‘yes’ no matter what he will do
And hope that she will willingly come with him too.
‘My dear maiden, please let me see your face
For yesterday you left me hanging without even a single trace
I need to see you, dear maiden, I beg.
For you I’d do anything, even cut my own leg.’
The words sounded so sweet that she started to blush
With the thought that those words came from her all time crush.
But no, still, she couldn’t accept
Not when she had a promise to be kept.
‘My dear Rose, please just go with the prince.’
Now it was her mother that would often convince
But no, she didn’t want to have that life alone
And be in bliss all on her own.
‘Dear, save yourself from this place you don’t deserve
We’ll be alright, so don’t stress a nerve
I want you to be happy, you’ve already done so much
And I know how much you’ve longed for your love’s touch
I am your mother, and you’ll always be my child
And no distance would come between us,’ she said as she smiled
‘Now go before your only chance slips away,
I wouldn’t want you to hurt like I did one day.’
She shed her tears of glee and guilt
How could she leave and lay on quilt
When her family suffered for the wrong they didn’t even do?
And for the wrong that was still to come too
‘Don’t think too much, dear, and just go
I’ll take it from here but I want you to know
That whatever happens, you need to be strong
And never look back here where you don’t belong.’
‘Now go now, my child, I want you to flee
And be out there, be happy, be free
Don’t say good bye for we will still meet once more
For I know you’ll come back once I open the door.’
She nodded her head and wiped her tears away
Today was the day she could honestly say
Was the best yet the worst and she hated it
for she knew her mother was right, and she needed to admit
She walked out the house, and there she saw
The young lad was sitting and she stared in awe
‘My dear prince, would you still look at me
If I can’t be the perfect mate you would want me to be?’
He turned his head with hope in his eyes
His face glowing even brighter than the skies
‘You are the perfect mate for me, my dear,
I saw you once and I know this is clear.’
‘But I’m only ten, you’re probably twice
My age and what would I pay for the price
Of being your maiden among all the other girls
Who are rich and beautiful as the perfect pearls?’
He shook his head and held her hand
And pushed himself up so that he could stand
So tall in front of her with a loving grin,
‘You don’t even know where I have been.’
‘My father’s kingdom hates me for being a brat
And being so proud and not even that,
For being so careless, I could even say
That they wouldn’t want me back there up to today.’
‘My father’s a kind man, he’s the one who told me
That it was time for me to finally find my beauty
And I didn’t listen since I didn’t want to love
Anyone but myself even if I should’ve.’
‘I accepted his challenge not knowing what I’ll see
Until I saw the beauty that was standing in front of me
And now I know that I have indeed fallen
With a young lady at the age of ten.’
‘Please do not fret, my dear maiden, be brave
For your uncertainties, I am here, for you, to save.
And age is just a number, I have fallen for you
And I don’t care if I have a lot to go through.’
‘My kingdom can judge me for as long as they wish
But my love for you will just grow and flourish
I knew you were the one the moment I had laid my eyes
On you and I’m willing to pay any price.’
‘But my prince, I’m just poor, and not even educated,
How could you love me when our situation’s complicated?
I’m no good for you, you deserve someone better,
Someone who could read and write you a letter.’
‘No, I don’t want anyone else,
Not even the things the grandest store sells
I only want you, dear maiden, believe
That no matter what, I will never leave.’
She stifled a sob, one short and sad
That was ignited by this wonderful lad
Who was standing in front of her saying that he’ll be
Always there for her if only she would see
She nodded her head, clearly satisfied
That at last, someone would set her insecurities aside.
She was a young girl of ten but still
This cruel world had made her mentally ill
But now her prince had come to restore
Her faith and her status he would ignore
The image of her father no longer was there
To haunt and hurt her, now life wasn’t unfair
He held her hand, his face so bright
For the one he loves was now on his right
Side walking with him towards their new life together
Side by side, together forever.
END
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