The Innocent: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #3

Chapter 36: Unveiled

He gazed up at Jung Sook. "I need to bring a magistrate. And to find my father." He frowned. "But I don't want to leave you alone. I don't want to leave you here."

He stood up. "Let's all go. We'll lock your door."

"And leave him here alone?" came the child's quaking voice.

Soo Ho sobered. "He's gone, Bo A. It won't hurt him to leave his body here for a few minutes."

She was still shaking like a leaf. Jung Sook pulled her towards the door. And then glanced back at her once happy home.

"I won't be able to live here anymore," she mumbled sadly. She was feeling badly shaken herself. As violent as her own father had been, only Dong Nam had been as terrifying as Bo A's father. And, at least, her husband had never pulled a knife on her.

Soo Ho stopped her suddenly. "Wait." He reached up, and his fingers brushed her chest.

And she flinched.

His heart sank. "Let me cover you."

"You can't. He cut my undershirt."

"Yes, I just realized that. Can I get you a clean shirt?"

"Just grab my outer robe. It's on that chair over there."

He helped her put it on as he leaned over her. "Please," he whispered. "Don't be afraid of me."

She glanced up at him in surprise. "I'm not."

"But...you flinched."

"It's just the trauma, Soo Ho," she soothed him. "It's not you."

He rubbed his hand up and down her arm comfortingly. "Okay," he responded in a small voice.

"Soo Ho," she breathed. "You just saved my life. And my virtue. I am not afraid of you."

It was completely true. Had she still entertained any doubts concerning Soo Ho, they had all fled the instant that he'd run his sword through her assailant.

He nodded and steered them towards the door. "Let's go."

––

They stopped first at his father's house.

"Appa," Soo Ho spoke as he ushered them over the threshold. "This is my friend, Gwan Jung Sook, and her charge, Bo A."

As his father glanced up in surprise, he continued, "They were attacked tonight. By Bo A's father." He paused a moment. Then, he enunciated quite clearly. "I killed him."

"What?!" his father exclaimed as he shot to his feet.

"He had a knife pressed up against Jung Sook. And he was attempting to..." He glanced at the child.

"Your son saved my virtue tonight, sir," Jung Sook smoothly came to his rescue.

"Your virtue?" the man asked, frowning. "Aren't you a widow?"

She instantly flushed. "Cannot a widow have virtue, sir?"

His eyes perused her intently. "Are you all right, my dear?" he questioned her in a suddenly soft voice.

She smiled at the kind man. "I am." She drew a steadying breath. "I will be."

"Appa, can they stay here while you and I go back to Jung Sook's house? The man is dead, but I had to leave him there. I didn't want to leave them alone. So I brought them here. I need to get the magistrate."

His father nodded, and his mother appeared in the doorway.

Jung Sook glanced at Soo Ho. "But don't you need me to go with you? I'm going to have to give him my account of the matter."