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Jung Sook held her secret close to her heart.  Like a protective shield.  And eyed Soo Ho with suspicion.  She had seen the man flirting outrageously with any lass who would look his way.  She’d been watching such behavior on his part for the past couple of years.  She wasn’t about to let that boy charm his way into her bed.

And he was a boy.  A mere eighteen years old.

Unlike her husband had been.  When she’d been forced to marry the man, he’d been forty years old.  She cringed as she thought of him.  She’d been an innocent girl of sixteen slim years then.  Two years ago. 

She was the same age as Soo Ho.  But where he was clearly still a child interested in playing games, she was a mature woman.  In some ways, at least.

She had learned much from her brief marriage.  As she had from watching her own parents’ relationship progress over the years.  Souring a bit more with each passing month.

She sighed in relief.  At least, her own marriage had been blissfully brief.  Three short weeks.  That had felt like months.  Possibly even years.  But it had been long enough to free her from the obligation of ever marrying again. 

Which pleased her perfectly.  She had absolutely no desire to marry again.  Ever. 

Dong Nam had soured her on marriage.  And on men.

She still vividly remembered the twenty nights which she’d spent with him before he’d died.  She winced as she recalled the numerous beatings.  He had blamed her for his own inadequacies.  And made her flesh pay the price.  She wasn’t about to let another man touch her.  Ever again.

Her only regret was that she still wanted children.  But not enough to brave the dangers of another relationship.  And, thankfully, the one kind thing that Dong Nam had done for her had been to leave her a wealthy woman.  She had no need of another husband.  Her father had arranged her marriage to the businessman, Gwan Dong Nam.  And in addition to business savvy, he had wielded great wealth.  Which, upon his death, had passed to her.

Freeing her to choose her own path in life.  Which had enabled her to pursue the thing she loved most.  Molding young minds.  She had opened a school for girls.  To train them in reading, and writing, and arithmetic.  She taught them how to sew and embroider.  She also instructed them in the basics of doctoring so that they could take proper care of their children.  But she went further than that; she taught them to think for themselves.  If she could save even one other girl from the torture which she’d endured, she would have done her job well.

She might never have any children of her own.  However, she spent her days delighting in other people’s daughters.  And teaching those young ladies how to excel at their studies.  And how to love themselves.

She hoped none of them would ever have to endure the suffering which she’d gone through. 

––

Soo Ho was convinced that the girl was just playing hard to get.  He’d encountered her type before.  She was just teasing him with her cold front.  But underneath that frigid demeanor lay a heart ready to be lit on fire.  By him.  He was sure of it.

She just needed a gentle touch.  Soon enough, he’d melt right through that ice.  She’d been married, so he didn’t need to approach her as he would a less experienced girl.  This girl would understand what he was about. 

Since his time acting as the queen dowager’s bodyguard, his views on women had begun to change.  He had been absolutely horrified to discover that the queen had willingly drunk poison every day for years.  He’d found it even more horrific that several people had been complicit in the numerous acts of intentional poisoning that she had endured and which would, surely, culminate in her death – and which had already led to years of her suffering beforehand.  Such horrid actions had been abuse at its very worst.  And he didn’t take kindly to a man abusing a woman.

It was one thing to charm a few kisses from a girl.  Or to whisk her behind a tree to give her a hug.  It was another thing altogether to harm her person.  Or endanger her health. 

He had even ceased to chase innocent girls.  No more trying to coax a kiss out of the village lasses.  He was searching for a more serious relationship with a mature woman. 

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have pursued Jung Sook.  He would have thought her too young.  But she was a widow.  So, in the ways of the world, she was no longer a child.  He was certain she was ready for a mature relationship.  And mustn’t she be lonely since her husband’s death?  Surely, she was looking for a little comfort.

Soo Ho was quite surprised that she hadn’t remarried yet.  She was still young enough to be tempting to the vast majority of men.  She could yet produce heirs.  And she ought to be easily molded to seeing the world from her husband’s viewpoint.  So…why was she still single?

Although, come to think of it, she was pretty plain.  Nothing too attractive in her countenance.  And the shape of her body left something to be desired too.  Though, honestly, it was mostly hidden under her voluminous clothes.

Maybe he wasn’t the only man to whom she’d shown a cold shoulder.  Whatever her reasons for being alone, he felt himself oddly drawn to her every time he crossed her path.  In fact, each time he saw her, his interest in her increased.  Despite her unloveliness.

The only question was…what was the best approach to convince her to engage in a little dalliance with him?  Before he was forced into some distasteful marriage with a simpering miss to please his father?