Chapter One

Summary

• The chapter starts with the author describing his family background, where his father was a short, sturdy man from a royal lineage who married a simple woman veiled until their wedding.
• The author's mother was considered simple and naive, as she broke the traditional norm of brides being solemn, by smiling at her wedding.
• The author was born small and slight, a disappointment to his father who believed a son should be strong and fast.
• At the age of five, the author recalls his father hosting games, inviting men from various locations and preparing meticulously for the event.
• The most memorable part of the games for the author was watching the runners compete, particularly a young prince with bright hair who won the race.
• The father crowns the prince as the winner, explicitly expressing his envy and disappointment over his own son.
• The author then recalls scattered memories, such as his mother on the beach, watching him skip stones across the water, and a moment where he was content and good at something.
• He also recalls a visible scar on his mother's temple from a previous abusive incident.
• The author expresses doubt over this memory, considering it may be embellished due to its idyllic nature and due to an understanding that his father would likely have disapproved of him being alone with his mother.