The Bride: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #7

Chapter 10: Another World

"Would you like to see my paintings?" she asked him softly. Still unsure how to respond to many of his remarks.

His face brightened into a wide smile. "Absolutely."

She led him into the next room. This room was also full of light. Even though only one window illuminated it too.

He gasped as his eyes studied the paintings lining the other three walls. There were also several more of her marvelous creations resting in piles on the floor.

"These are...beautiful," he breathed.

Though truly such a description felt woefully inadequate.

He crossed the room to stare at a painting of a blossoming cherry tree. His eyes studied the intricate details of its white and pink petals. So miniscule. So perfectly proportioned. They seemed so...lifelike. He felt as though he could reach out and touch one. And perhaps even smell its tantalizing fragrance. And feel the silk of its petals.

Of course, she had painted it upon a piece of silk. So maybe the tender touch of one of those pink petals wasn't so beyond his reach. Still. This painting was a rare beauty. Like all the pottery she had created.

He moved towards another painting. This one was of a sunset. It had painted the sky with brilliant hues. That elegant dome was lit up like a rainbow. The dying sun emblazoning its last shards upon the horizon in hot shades of pink, orange, and gold. Which blended into green, blue, and indigo, where its reach topped the heavens. It was...glorious. She had captured the exit of the sun with such utter precision. And awe. Beauty. And grace.

The third painting was of a child. A tiny girl. With midnight pigtails. And great, dark eyes. The beauty of this portrait dwarfed the grandeur of the first two paintings. Her true gift lay in portraiture, surely.

"Miss Choi, I have no words. These are all...superb. But this one," he pointed at the little girl, "is a masterpiece."

Her cheeks flooded with sudden color under his generous characterization of her artwork.

"Thank you," she whispered.

His eyes instantly collided with hers. "You're embarrassed? By my compliments? I assure you, my dear, every word is true. You are amazing," he murmured as his tender, jade eyes seemed to caress her.

And she felt that heat flooding other areas of her anatomy now.

She turned her head away from him and cast her glance at the floor. He studied her for a moment before turning back towards a fourth work of art.

"May I say...you seem different too, Miss Choi," he breathed quietly after a couple of silent minutes spent staring at her paintings.

She raised her gaze to his face then. But found only his back. So she remained silent.

He turned towards her. "Thank you for sharing your beautiful world with me. I am truly honored."

Her heart melted at his words.

"Anytime."

"Do you mean that?" he prodded her gently. "May I come visit you? Anytime?"

She held her breath for a moment. Before nodding her head. "I...I'd like that."

"Would you?" he asked curiously. An edge of surprise sliding along his words. "Truly?"

Would she be, perhaps, not indifferent to his attentions then?

A bright smile, like a brilliant sunbeam, burst forth from the center of her countenance just then. "Truly."

He found himself smiling in return.

This girl seemed very promising. Even if she wasn't Soo Yeon.