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

Chapter 28: Making a List...and Checking It Twice

Beom Sook's eyes found Ni Na's later that afternoon as he returned to the orphan house with his mother. The young woman's eyes widened in surprise.

"Lady Lee!" she gasped as she rushed forward to greet the older woman. "I didn't know that you were joining us for dinner!"

"Have you enough food, my dear?" that kind lady queried with a smile. "You have so many mouths to feed now."

"Of course, we will always have room for you, my lady!" Ni Na beamed at her.

"Oh, my dear. You are such a darling!" That noble lady embraced her as her eyes connected with her son's. Giving him a private lecture.

He refrained from rolling his eyes and turned aside to say hello to Ae Ri. "Are the children still sleeping?"

Ae Ri tittered. "Hardly. They're all running around out back. Full of energy is that troop. I don't envy the two of you," she glanced at her best friend, "trying to keep up with all of them in a classroom each day. You're going to have your hands full with those boys, my lord."

"Am I now?" he asked in an amused tone. He narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you, seventeen?"

"Aye, my lord," she bobbed her head.

"Ah, you must think me ancient then," he scoffed.

"Hardly," she giggled.

He glanced at her sharply. Wondering what on earth that was supposed to mean?

She smiled up at the dashingly handsome man and sighed. Lord Han was even more beautiful than Lord Lee. But despite their engagement, she hadn't seen him in ages. And even when she had, it had been clear that she meant very little to him. She feared a marriage to him. Instinctively knowing that it would be the sheerest kind of torture to be in love with a husband who was indifferent to her. Of course, right now, he was immersed in hwarang training. She was beginning to think that his duties to the king might always steal him from her.

Lee Beom Sook stared at the young girl. Her face had suddenly become bogged down by a thundercloud. He wondered what was bothering her.

"Are you all right, Miss Sung?"

"Hmm?" She glanced up at him while his mother chattered with her friend. "Oh," she pasted a fake smile on her face, "yes, I am perfectly all right."

He frowned at her. "I hardly think that that is true," he murmured.

Alarmed by his perspicacity, she opened her eyes wide as she peered up at him. She sighed and stood up before crossing the room to stare out the window. Curious, he followed her.

"What is it?"

She turned to gaze up at him, "I am engaged to be married."

"Are you?" His eyebrows bounced up. "Congratulations."

"Hardly," she whispered.

"What's wrong? An arranged marriage, I suppose? You don't like the gentleman?"

She shook her head. "No. My problem is the opposite. The gentleman has no fondness for me. But I cannot say the same of myself."

Ah.

"You love him?"

She nodded as tears sprang to her eyes. "What am I to do? How horrible must it be to be married to a man who is indifferent to one?" she whispered.

A deep valley popped up between his midnight eyebrows. "Are you absolutely certain that he is indifferent to you?"

Her head bobbed up and down.