The Mercenary: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #2

Chapter 5: A Good Man?

But she couldn't trust him. She couldn't trust anyone. Except...possibly...Jin Heung. He had stood up to their mother when she'd insisted that they marry. He had protected both Sook Myeong and himself from that horrid path.

But this man...this heavenly-scented stranger...was just that. A stranger from a foreign land. And his interest in her was motivated by political expediency.

It didn't really matter how strong his arms were. Or how tender his voice. Or how wonderful his fragrance.

She was still alone.

So she stiffened suddenly and pulled herself out of his arms. She squared her shoulders and stuck her pert, little nose in the air and headed for her bench. She didn't look back up at him but directed her gaze towards the setting sun.

He watched her for a moment. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured.

When she didn't respond, he queried, "May I sit next to you?"

She scooted over infinitesimally. He took that as permission. He approached her, seating himself next to her. But leaving ample space between them. He had no wish to crowd her.

He sat with her. Silently watching the sun as it slipped beneath the horizon. Painting the sky in brilliant shades of pink and purple.

He stole several surreptitious glances at her lovely face. But she never looked his way.

Truthfully, she was steeling herself against his presence. She was so tempted to be comforted by his quiet strength. But she was experienced enough to know that men were not always who they appeared to be. And she couldn't afford to give him any advantage over her.

She wanted to speak with her brother. She had tried to see him today. But he had been in meetings with the prince all day long. She was most frustrated. She desired to know what Jin Heung expected of her. Was he anticipating her marriage to this foreigner?

She was very much afraid that he was. She knew her mother would have approved of such an arrangement if she couldn't marry her children to each other. Since Jin Heung had refused to marry Sook Myeong, her future had been in jeopardy. In question. Vulnerable to the acquisition of a foreign king. Or a prince like this one.

Why did such a truth terrify her so?

It was perfectly normal for a princess in her position to be bartered off in marriage to a foreign power. It happened all the time. Perhaps it bothered her because she knew that her mother had been forced to marry her own uncle. And Sook Myeong very much suspected that such an arrangement had been abhorrent to her mother. All sorts of horrible consequences had resulted from that unbalanced match. And her mother had been miserable. For her entire life.

The princess was frozen. Fearful that she too would spend her life in agony. She really had no faith that a good man would seek her hand in marriage.

Unless...

...this man was a good man.

But if he were, then he didn't deserve her. Because if there was one thing Sook Myeong knew for certain, it was that she was not a good woman.

So, after watching the last of the dying rays of the sun disappear, she stood up. "Goodnight, Prince Jong Su."

He stood too and bowed before her. "Sweet dreams, princess."

She caught the glance of his warm, cinnamon eyes before she looked away. She was trapped in them for a few moments. But if her heart released any pangs, she was the only one who was cognizant of them. He couldn't read the enigmatic expression floating in those beautiful, obsidian orbs.