The Voice: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #1

Chapter 36: Disarmed

Jong Su came upon the maiden sitting in the gardens as she studied a flower she had plucked, her fingers tenderly caressing its petals. As he glanced down at the bloom, he saw a bead of moisture form on one long, white petal. He looked up to catch another of her tears falling.

Sook Myeong was still breaking her heart over Seon Woo. That clever doctor had stolen him. Right out from underneath her nose. And with her silly brother's approval. Had he simply had a bit more gumption, he could have forced the woman to marry him. Leaving Seon Woo to solace his broken heart in her own arms.

But, instead, the weak-willed Jin Heung had given them what they wanted. Each other. And left himself and his sister alone. At least, he hadn't forced her to marry himself. She would be eternally grateful to him for that.

Jong Su stood rooted to the spot. Gazing at the young girl. She was stunningly beautiful. So much so that he was finding it difficult to draw a breath.

And then she looked up and any success which he'd had in finding that breath instantly evaporated. Her deep brown eyes were so sad. They instantly reminded him of his mother's. So did her tears.

He took a step towards her.

Her brow was immediately troubled in a different light. "Stop. Who are you?" she asked suspiciously.

Her eyes delved the depths of his, demanding an answer, before briefly flying around the garden. Probably in search of a guard.

"Who let you in here?" she challenged him. Coldly.

But he could hear the edge of worry underneath the ice.

The corners of his lips quirked upward. "The king," he murmured, biting back a chuckle.

But then understanding dawned as he took in her youth, her stunning beauty, and her imperious attitude. This must be the infamous Sook Myeong.

"The king?" She stood up, pulling herself up to her full five feet seven inches. She instantly felt less vulnerable. Until she glanced up at him.

She generally felt tall amongst most men. But not in front of this one. She still had to stare way up to reach his towering height. The man must be six foot three.

He nodded and smiled at her. "You must be the Princess Sook Myeong." He bowed deeply. "I am Prince Jong Su. From Goguryeo."

She stilled. Was her brother trying to make a match between her and this man?

She studied his face. It was not unsympathetic. She supposed it was handsome enough. But he couldn't touch Seon Woo for beauty. This prince was no hwarang. That was for sure.

Probably his nicest feature was his light brown eyes. They held a reddish tone. The best color to describe them was possibly...cinnamon. They definitely reminded her of one of her favorite spices. Warm and rich like cinnamon. Inviting. She lost herself in his gaze for a few breathless moments. Not because he was attractive, she convinced herself. But because something compelling was hidden in the depths of that enigmatic – and compassionate – gaze.

Compassionate?

She bobbed her head in agreement with herself. It was an odd assessment. She was not used to being surrounded by anyone whom she would deem compassionate. In fact, it was a character trait that rarely crossed her mind.

Her mother had certainly not been compassionate. Nor had her father. What little she could remember of him. But she supposed her brother must be to make the choices he had made concerning the doctor. He'd had the woman trapped in his palace. At his beck and call. Yet he had let her go. To fly back to her lover.