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“All kidding aside, Sook Myeong, the prince’s wound is quite serious.  He is going to be confined to that bed for several days.  And his movement restricted for several weeks.  If not months,” Jin Heung asserted an hour later as she sat down to dinner with him.

She glanced up at him.  “I know.  He’s very fortunate that he didn’t die in that forest today.  For a little while, I was concerned that he was going to bleed out.  But the wound was fairly deep.  And we have to be on our guard against infection.  If you didn’t have such a skilled surgeon in the palace, I fear we might have lost him.”

Her brother eyed her carefully.  “Sookie and I have discussed it.  We cannot wait until her brother recovers to marry.  Once the king gets wind of his brother’s injury, he may come here.  We need to be married before any such eventuality occurs.”

She studied him curiously.  “When?”

“Tomorrow.  As long as Jong Su is well enough to observe our vows.”

Her eyes widened.  “You’re going to marry her in his bedchamber?”

He nodded.  “Yes.  She wants him present, and it’s important that he remains in that bed.  Resting.”

“What time?”

“First thing in the morning.”

“You’re not going to give your bride any time to get all prettied up for you?”

His eyebrows flew up.  “Goodness!  Is that really important?  I mean, given the circumstances…”

“Yes, it’s important.  Jin Heung, your fiancé is a princess.  Who grew up like a pauper.  She’s about to marry a king.  She needs to feel like a queen tomorrow.  You must give her some time to get ready.  I will assist her.  You can marry at eleven.”

“Eleven?”

She nodded her head firmly. 

But he responded, “I don’t want to wait too long.  I don’t want to wear out Jong Su.”

“The man is in pain from a grievous wound.  He’s going to hurt no matter what time you get married.  Eleven o’clock is still in the morning, so hopefully his pain won’t wear him out before then.  But if it does, we’ll just let him take a nap, and you can marry her in the afternoon.  You’re the king.  The priest will work around your schedule.”  She took a bite of rice as she let her words soak in.

“You drive a hard bargain, you know that?” he murmured with a quirk of his lips.

“I just happen to like your fiancé, that’s all,” she muttered, embarrassed.

“Do you know what I think?”

She was afraid to ask.  So she didn’t.

“I think that underneath that icy demeanor of yours lies a heart of gold.”

She closed her eyes.  He was the third man who had implied – if not flat-out said – that she was good.

“I just know what befits that girl’s station in life,” she sniffed.

“See there?  You’re trying to cover the pleasing motives of your heart with an excuse.  Making yourself out to be a haughty snob instead of a generous sister-in-law.”

She shook her head.  “I’m not who you think I am.”

“No, Sook Myeong.  You’re not who you think you are.” His eyes challenged her lovingly.

She bent her head and concentrated on her food. 

Why did everyone keep treating her like she was so wonderful?