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

Chapter 21: Comforting Convalescence

"I owe you a poem," Jong Su murmured as his eyes studied the princess's troubled face.

"You owe me nothing," Sook Myeong retorted softly. "You were injured saving my brother's life!" she exclaimed, again softly. "Lean back. Rest."

She stood, hovering over him as she adjusted his pillow. "Are you comfortable?"

Jin Heung stood in the corner observing these two with humor teasing his lips.

Did his sister recognize that she had already fallen in love with the prince?

He'd never seen her be this solicitous of anyone.

"I would be more comfortable in a slightly different position," Jong Su murmured.

"Oh? What? Tell me. I shall help you. What position?"

"With you in my arms."

He'd said it just so that he could watch her face light up with bright color. His remark did not pass unrewarded. Her countenance was suddenly flaming. He grinned.

"You naughty man! You must stop teasing me!" she rebuked him.

"What would be the fun in that?"

"When's the wedding?" her brother drawled as he crossed the room to stand next to her.

The prince grinned up at him. "How about this afternoon? I don't have any other engagements."

"You daft man! You are recovering from an arrow wound!" she retorted.

He winced. "Don't remind me. I thought you came to distract me. I can think of an excellent way to accomplish such a feat." He waggled his eyebrows at her before glancing up at the king. "Your highness, could you get me a book from the other room?" he asked playfully.

Jin Heung laughed. "Hoping to steal a kiss from my sister when I'm not watching, eh?" He glanced her way and murmured, "Which book?"

Jong Su roared with laughter. "The Uncomplicated Machinations of Princesses of the Realm," he responded cheekily.

"Hey!" Sook Myeong started, glaring at him.

"What?" the prince asked innocently. "Did you think I was referring to you? Have you naughty plans for me then? Please bend near and enlighten me. I'm all ears."

"Trust me. You are not all ears!" she fired back. Then blushed a flaming red. "Ooh, you infuriating man!" she ground out. "I came here to nurse you back to health. But I find you make a horrible patient."

"You're right. I'm really very much a better lover than a patient."

Jin Heung laughed. "Really, Jong Su, I should object to the way you're speaking to my sister." He turned a speculative glance on her. "But I've never seen anyone with such an ability to make her blush. It's really quite intriguing."

"Oh!" she fumed. "You are both impossible!" Then she turned from the prince. "I can tell my presence is not needed here!"

But one strong, slender hand reached out and wrapped itself around her wrist before tugging her back towards him.

She turned her head just in time to see his grimace. "Oh, Jong Su, don't hurt yourself!" she admonished him, suddenly distressed. She reached for his hand and pulled gently on it before setting it on the bed next to his body. "You're not supposed to move this arm. You must let your wound heal."

"I had to move my arm. You were about to escape."

"What do you want from me?" she muttered helplessly.

His eyes brightened. "I want you to sit down next to my bed and talk to me." Then he glanced at the king. "Really, your highness, must you hover like an overprotective mother?"

Jin Heung chortled. "Indeed. I'm very much afraid that if I leave you alone in your bedchamber with my sister, I will return to discover she's been deflowered."

"Brother!" she gasped.

She couldn't believe the way these men were speaking. Did all men behave like this? She was still an innocent! Had they forgotten?

"I really think the sooner you two can tie the knot, the better," the king opined.

"I quite agree. Would you go find the priest right now?" the prince asked with a certain twinkle in his eye.

The king chuckled again and shook his head. "You are a glutton for punishment."

He turned to go. "I shall find a maid to sit with you both. No! Even better! Your sister! Then, I can return to more important matters," he joked. As though the recovery of the man who had saved his life were unimportant.

"You'll be on your best behavior in front of two innocent maids, I'm sure," he teased the prince.

Who grinned at him and wished him well on his way out the door.

So it was that the princess found herself sitting in the prince's room, reading him a book for the duration of the evening. While his sister sat in the corner penning one of her stories. After an hour of reading aloud, Sook Myeong glanced out his window wistfully.

"You're missing your sunset, aren't you?" he queried quietly. "Go on now. You can leave me. Run to your garden. And watch the sun as it slips off to sleep."

She smiled at his poetic description of her favorite daily event. "It's all right. I can miss one. I'd rather sit here and entertain you."

He smiled at her before closing his eyes. "I think, my dear, that I'm about to slip off to sleep myself."

"That's all right. You need to rest." She closed her book and sat watching him as he relaxed.

Her eyes slid over that beautiful countenance, slipping into its crevices and valleys. She was wishing that she were alone with him. So she could bend and kiss his forehead. But, still, his sister lingered. At least, she wasn't her brother.