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

Chapter 27: The Bravest Girl

"Sit, my love," Jong Su greeted his fiancé the next morning. "Tomorrow I get to sit up."

"Oh, how delightful!" she intoned sarcastically.

"Hey! It is! I've been lying flat in this bed for four days."

Her eyes caressed his. "But I'm worried that your shoulder will aggravate you."

"My shoulder is already aggravating me. Sitting up isn't going to make it worse. I will be less frustrated when I can face you easily across this short distance. Instead of staring at the ceiling all day long for days on end."

She nodded sympathetically. Sook Myeong was feeling a bit shy this morning. Uncertain how to be around Jong Su today after revealing her heart to him yesterday.

"I'm glad you're here," his voice stroked her lovingly. "I've been awake since dawn. So I've prepared a little something for you."

She quirked one flat, dark eyebrow at him.

He smiled at her as he opened his mouth to speak again.

"Once I wandered lonely and sad.

But now your heart has made me glad.

You finally looked my way too.

Therefore, I am no longer blue.

"Once I wondered if I could find

A girl like you who would be mine,

Soft and sweet, compassionate, true,

Bright and lovely, ready to woo.

"Then one bright day you looked my way,

Opened your mouth, prepared to say,

That you were mine and I was yours.

You opened to my heart your doors.

"You let me in, prepared to stay

Close by your heart every day.

Surrendered to me your sweet lips.

Carried my heart on lovely trips."

He fell silent, and Sook Myeong simply stared at him. Her face a study in vulnerability.

"I love you," he whispered.

And she blinked. His words washing over her in an endless tide of beauty.

His eyes fluttered shut. And no other words escaped him.

"Your words are lovely," the princess finally admitted softly after many seconds of silence.

"What?" he breathed. "No critique? No criticism?"

"Everything rhymed. In perfect time. But it was the sentiments of your heart that caught mine," she whispered.

His lips quirked upward. "Princess, I think you may be a poet too."

"Nah. I'll leave that job to you. You're much better at it."

"Okay. I'll leave the shooting to you then."

Her eyes riveted to his. "I told you. I'm not practicing anymore."

Sober now, he gazed at her. "Then who will save my life the next time I'm in peril?"

She held his stare. But remained silent.

"I'll go with you. Next week. To the practice field. You can show me how it's done," he murmured.

Still, she didn't speak.