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Soo Ho stood staring at her.  She had just rounded the corner with Bo A.  And the rising sun was painting her face with its glory.  He felt his heart catch in his throat.  Jung Sook was stunning.  So beautiful to him.  He wondered how he could have ever thought her plain.

He missed her.  So much.

He had waited patiently.  For two whole weeks.  Waited for her to speak to him.  But she never had.

He was beginning to despair.  But Ban Ryu had insisted that he should continue to remain silent.  While he persisted in protecting her and the child.

However, Soo Ho was losing hope.  What if Jung Sook had meant the disturbing words that she’d thrown like daggers at his head?  What if she really didn’t want anything to do with him?

Suddenly, she looked up.  And their eyes collided.  And he could feel her suffocating.  He watched as pure panic slid across her features.

And his heart convulsed. 

She loved him.

He knew it in that instant.  Like a veil had suddenly been torn off her countenance, revealing her heart to him. 

Jung Sook loved him.

He rushed forward to meet her.

“I love you,” he gushed.  “I adore you!  I am so sorry if I ever made you doubt my devotion to you.  I don’t care whether you have any silver or not.  If you do, I’ll sign anything you want so you can keep it all.  I just want you.  If you have no silver, and you need someone to take care of you,” he glanced down at the child standing at her elbow before continuing, “both, then I will.  I make enough serving the king.  I can take care of you.”

His little speech came to an abrupt end, and he stood staring down at her hopefully.  And her heart broke.

“You’re not upset with me?” she asked, her voice following her heart, breaking on the last word.

He stepped forward then and reached for her, and his heart rejoiced when she did not flinch.  Not one bit.  But instead, she melted into his arms.  Embracing him gladly.  As he embraced her.  He hugged her tight.

“I missed you so much,” he breathed into her ear.

“I missed you too.”  She attempted to stifle a sob but failed miserably.  She stood weeping against his shoulder for a few weak moments.

During which he beamed down at Bo A, who stood staring up at him as a wide smile illuminated her face with joy.

He wanted to kiss Jung Sook, but he restrained himself, satisfying himself by clinging to her instead.  But then he realized that the sooner they arrived at the empty school, the sooner he could have his heart’s desire.  So he squeezed her tight one more time before offering her his handkerchief.  She blew her nose before stuffing the square of fabric into her pocket and thanking him prettily.

“Come,” he whispered as he released her before sliding his fingers along hers as he sought to hold her hand. 

She let him, slipping her hand into his, as he drew her towards the school.  He also reached down on his other side and captured a certain little hand that was waiting for a hero’s touch.  The three of them walked along for several moments in silence, only their hands touching.

Finally, Bo A glanced happily up at him.  “Oppa Soo Ho, does this mean you’ll be joining us for dinner tonight?” she hinted widely as a great grin lit up her tiny face.

“Only if I can cook,” he responded cheerfully.

“You can cook?” Jung Sook queried in astonishment.

“Not one whit,” he muttered truthfully.

She laughed, and his heart flew into the heavens at the sound of such beauty.  He had missed her voice too.

“You may most definitely not cook then.  But you may join us for dinner.  If you want,” she added a little uncertainly.

He bent towards her and growled affectionately into her ear, “I will join you every night for dinner.”

Her eyebrows flew up.  “Can you escape from the hwarang house that often?”

“Yes.  I shall manage it.”  He paused.  “Somehow.”

She glanced at him doubtfully.  “Please don’t get yourself into trouble for me.”

“I have already gotten myself into loads of trouble for you,” he uttered quite happily.

And she reached out with her free hand and smacked his shoulder with her fist.  His eyes flew wide open. 

“Did you just inflict physical damage upon my person?” he asked in mock horror.

Her eyes flew wide as she realized how free she’d just felt to gently assault his shoulder.  Simply because he’d teased her.  She nodded at him. 

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” she whispered.

He suddenly roared with laughter.  “Not in the slightest.  You’re really quite a wimp, you know.”

She huffed at him.

“Unless I put a sword in your hands,” he instantly sobered.  But then his brilliant grin broke through again.  “Then you are really quite magnificent,” he declared proudly.

She tilted her head to the side and studied his happy face.  “So when, good sir, are you going to give me another lesson?”

“Hmm…tomorrow night, perhaps?”

“A splendid notion,” she asserted.

“You’re teaching Unnie Jung Sook how to fight with a sword?” Bo A breathed in awe.

“Absolutely.  When you’re older, I’ll teach you too,” he offered generously and smiled with delight as her eyes grew as large as tea plates.

“Will you really?!” she uttered with great joy.

He bobbed his head.

But Jung Sook doubted very much that her father would allow such a thing.  However, she kept her thoughts to herself.  And simply basked in the pleasure of holding Soo Ho’s hand and listening to his gentle voice regale Bo A with an amusing tale.  All the way to the school.