The Noble

“How could you kill my favorite son?” the old man bellowed bitterly as he flung the glass at the frozen hwarang. It bounced off the wall behind him as it splintered…

“I want to have a little girl, Soo Yeon,” Ban Ryu whispered a couple of hours later as he lay holding his wife in her bed.  A bed that now…

They were in their garden again.  Staring up at the moon.“Soo Yeon?” Ban Ryu queried quietly.“Hmm?”“Where are we sleeping tonight?”She shifted her gaze to meet his.  She smiled.  “Why, in…

“Jung Sook?  What’s wrong, my love?”She chuckled anxiously.  “Your sister asked me if I was nervous today.”“Did she?”  He drew her hand up to his mouth, and his lips lingered…

“Are you nervous, Jung Sook?” Soo Yeon murmured anxiously.The older girl smiled at her.  “I am not.”“You’re not?” she breathed in surprise.Shaking her head, Jung Sook smiled reassuringly at the…

His prayers, as it turned out, were all answered.  Their wedding day dawned bright and clear.  As did his sinuses.“I can breathe!” he exclaimed as he rolled over in his…

“My love,” Ban Ryu queried the next day.  “How soon would you like to marry me?”Soo Yeon glanced up at her beloved.  “Umm…”  She shrugged.“How would four days from now…

“Achoo!” Ban Ryu released another violent sneeze.And Soo Yeon frowned at him.  “Oh, Ban Ryu!  Are you all right?”“I told you.  I’m fine.  Go help Jung Sook with the wedding…

“Have you heard the news?” Soo Ho asked Jung Sook the next evening as they wandered through the garden together.“News?” she echoed, her thoughts still far away.He nodded.  “My sister…

“Ban Ryu!” Soo Yeon called out as she opened the door to his outer room. A moment later, her mother met her.  “Hush!  The man just fell asleep.”“What?” Confused, her daughter…