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

Chapter 36: Reassured

Beom Sook left Dae Hee's room to leave Na Mi alone with Ni Na for a while. Instinctively, he knew that the girl would feel more comfortable with that capable young woman if he weren't there. As he wandered his massive house, noting all of the changes that had taken place in that space in just a few short days, he recognized that only one person could have inspired him to give his home such a makeover. Or to adopt two dozen children. Only one woman had that kind of power over his heart.

Ni Na.

He couldn't explain how she had made such a home for herself in that preoccupied heart. He had once believed that Soo Yeon was taking up too much space in that noble organ for him to ever set it upon anyone else. But that had been before he met Ni Na. She was the most remarkable woman of his acquaintance.

He reflected upon the character of the young woman comforting that hurting girl right now. He contemplated the heart of the fascinating creature whom he had met just eighteen days ago. Only a few months older than the girl, Ni Na still possessed the wisdom and compassion required to solace her in this traumatic moment.

He recognized something. The more time that he spent with Ni Na, the greater depths of her heart he fathomed, and he was now absolutely certain that she was the woman whom he desired to make his wife. Could anyone else possibly possess the strength of character and the width of heart that this girl did? She might be twelve years younger than he was, but she possessed a maturity beyond her years.

And he wanted her.

He sighed. He had planned to woo her today. He'd arranged for his chef to cook them an amazing luncheon. He'd been planning to escort Ni Na back to his house for a picnic on the back terrace. The weather today was unseasonably warm and would have supported his endeavor perfectly.

But...now his plans would not come to fruition. He made a quick decision. He informed his mother of his plans and left the house. He didn't return for another hour. By the time he entered Dae Hee's room again, Ni Na was alone with the tiny child. The little girl was sound asleep. Ni Na was sitting on her bed, her back up against the wall.

She glanced up at him in surprise as he strode through the open doorway. But when she saw him, her face lit up, and a smile illuminated her eyes.

"How is she?" he asked.

A frown wrinkled her forehead. "She's been asleep this whole time. She's burning up, Beom Sook."

He could hear the worry in her voice. "She's going to be all right."

"I know. It's just...this is the scary part."

"The scary part?" he queried, perplexed. But before she could respond, he answered himself with enlightened accuracy. "Your mother."

She nodded.

"We'll let her sleep a couple more hours. If she doesn't wake up on her own, we'll wake her, and we'll make sure she drinks water and takes some medicine," he uttered confidently. "She'll make it, Ni Na. We're not going to lose her."

Her head bobbed up and down again. But her teeth were chattering, and he could see her shivering.

"Ni Na?"

He recognized the enemy which she was battling. Fear.

The fear of loss.

And he recalled her words of earlier this morning.

"I love her, Beom Sook. I feel like she was supposed to be mine. Had my life gone a little differently, had I been matched with a husband as early as some of my acquaintance, I could have been that child's mother."