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Ban Ryu had slept throughout the remainder of yesterday.  And her mother had returned at sunset to relieve her.  As promised.  Still, Soo Yeon insisted on sleeping on the yo bed in the corner of his room.  She wasn’t about to leave her dear Ban Ryu. 

And, of course, her father heard of it. 

From the doctor.

So the next morning, Lord Kim Seub appeared in Ban Ryu’s room.  To visit his daughter.

But he entered the room while she was still sleeping.  So was the patient.  Lord Kim Seub stood next to his bed and stared down at a face that in slumber looked years younger than it was.  And the noble lord could suddenly see the lad as a young boy again.  Kim Seub recalled a day that he’d forgotten long ago.  And a truth that no one else knew.  No one else living, that was….

Long before Lord Kim Seub had met his wife, he had loved a girl.  Sook Min.  He had been an adolescent.  As had she.  She had also been born to a noble family.  And her father had bought the house next door to Kim Seub’s home. 

She had lived in that house for a brief season.  But it had been long enough for the young lad to take a fancy to her.  She’d been a tender thirteen years old that year.  He’d been fifteen.  It had been a year before he’d met Bit Na. 

He had nursed a soft spot for that other girl for several months.  But as he pondered it, he realized that that soft spot had never hardened.  Not even when Sook Min had been betrothed to another man a few short months after meeting Kim Seub.  Her father had insisted that she marry that other man.  Before her fourteenth birthday.

She, as well as Kim Seub, had been heartbroken.  But she had recognized her path in life, and she had taken it.  Waving goodbye to him one cold night in early spring.  To marry his nemesis.  Park Ho Gong.  Kim Seub had believed that fate was extraordinarily cruel.  Until he’d met Bit Na. 

Still, he had never forgotten Sook Min.  Nor lost his special devotion to her.  She had been his best friend during that happy season of his adolescence.  She had faded from his life for several years.  Until one day, he had run into her again.  After he’d married Bit Na.  And after Sook Min had given birth to her son.  A beautiful, little boy with wide, chocolate eyes.  Just like his eomma.  The lad had been four years old the day that Kim Seub had first met him. 

Sook Min had decided to visit the market herself that morning.  Hungry for a treat from a particular stall.  One that always ran out of its goodies early.  With her little boy in tow, she’d slipped out to the street just after the sun had risen.  And bumped into Kim Seub in front of the stall that sold her favorite rice cakes.

Lord Kim Seub had stood frozen for several long seconds.  Staring down at his first love.  And at the tiny boy clinging to her hand.  That little boy had glanced up at him with eyes fringed by the longest eyelashes Kim Seub had ever seen.  That innocent face had seared itself into his consciousness.  And he had wondered how he could feel such dislike for a guileless child.  The son of his archenemy, Park Ho Gong. 

“Lord Kim Seub,” Sook Min had bowed to him as a great grin had spread across her face, “this is my son, Park Ban Ryu.” 

She had turned to address the boy, “Ban Ryu, bow to this man.  This is Eomma’s good friend.  From long ago.”

But that proud, little boy had refused to bow to him.  Instead, his dark eyes had seemed to challenge Kim Seub.  As though he had known that the man was his foe.

“Ban Ryu!” she had scolded him.  And prodded him.

Finally, the tiny child had relented and bowed to the man.  Stiffly.  Or so it had seemed to Kim Seub.

Now, he stared down at that same face.  Hardened by manhood.  Yet still soft in slumber.  And Lord Kim Seub wondered at the dichotomy. 

Who was the true Ban Ryu?  The respectful lad who had bowed to him and begged a favor of him?  Or the boy who had done Minister Park’s bidding?

And now, Lord Kim Seub had to face another facet of the man’s character.  Now Ban Ryu was also the valiant soul who had braved a sword’s edge to save his best friend.  Kim Seub’s only son.  His heir.  The future Lord Kim.

Kim Seub turned then to face his daughter who was just rising from her makeshift bed.  In the early morning light, with her hair all mussed, she reminded him of the tiny girl whom he had once bounced upon his knee.  A child whom he had sworn to protect.  A girl whose heart was very much at jeopardy in the presence of this courageous hwarang.

But her father could never entrust such a treasure as she to a man of indistinct birth, no wealth, and little favor.  Ban Ryu had lost all of his advantages with the defection of his father.  And the execution of his adopted father.  Perhaps the king’s favor would cause him to rise in rank once more.  But, as of yet, nothing had been announced.  And even if it were, unless his elevation carried some purse strings, the boy would still be penniless.  A devoted soldier of the king, it was true.  But nothing more.

Whereas Lord Lee Beom Sook had every advantage.  From an old and esteemed lineage, a most noble house.  And one that had long been faithful to the Kims.  Lee Beom Sook was several years older than Soo Yeon and owned much property.  Including a beautiful house.  He could take care of his wife in style.  He had also inherited his appa’s seat on the royal council.  And his mother had been a favorite of the old queen dowager, Jin Heung’s eomma. 

Lord Lee Beom Sook was a perfect specimen.  He would surely make Soo Yeon a most excellent husband.  He would be a model son-in-law too.  The lad was always most respectful of Lord Kim Seub and his wife.  And if Kim Seub wasn’t mistaken, the boy was smitten with his beautiful daughter.  A sweet smile lit up his face every time that he saw her.

Kim Seub wasn’t even sure that he’d ever seen Ban Ryu smile.  Did the boy even know how? 

It seemed to him that the boy had always worn a scowl.  His face was twisting into one right now.  Lord Kim Seub watched as the man grimaced.  And heard his groan as he thrashed on the bed.  Then he saw the way that his daughter flew to the young man’s side.  Not even noticing her father.

“Ban Ryu?!  Are you okay?”  She was careful not to touch him this time.  Especially not in front of her father.  Of whose presence she was alarmingly aware.

The young man’s eyes fluttered open.  “Thirsty,” he whispered.

“Water!” Soo Yeon exclaimed as she reached for a cup on the side table.  But her seeking fingers clumsily knocked it over, and the clear liquid went cascading to the ground. 

Quickly, irritated with herself, she righted the cup before bringing it to his lips. 

“Ban Ryu, take a sip.”  She slowly poured the remaining water down his throat.

Hungrily, he sipped it.  Finally, ceasing only when none remained.

“I will get you some more,” she whispered.  Marching out into the hallway to find a servant to fetch her another cup of water.

Her father followed her.  “Soo Yeon,” he cleared his throat as she turned back after issuing a quick order to a waiting servant girl. 

“Don’t get too attached to that young man in there,” he urged rigidly.

Deep crimson flooded her cheeks instantly. 

Was she embarrassed?  Or indignant?

“Appa!  That young man is only lying in that bed because of his attempt to save your son’s life!  How can you tell me not to become attached to the man who saved my brother’s life?  The man who loves me!  And whom I love!” she cried out passionately as tears began to slip down her cheeks.

“There is nothing for it.  You cannot marry him.”

“Even now?” she gasped in shock.  “Even now that he nearly died saving Soo Ho?  You still won’t countenance a match between us?”

Her father shook his head.  “Soon, I will begin talks with Lord Lee Beom Sook.”

She whimpered.  Then her disappointment turned to fury.  “You cannot expect me to marry Lee Beom Sook!  I will not!  If you will not let me marry Ban Ryu, then I shall not marry!  Ever!”  She stamped her little foot again.

Her father happened to glance at the floor just as that elegant foot slapped the ground.  “Soo Yeon!” he hollered.  “Stop that this instant!  Are you a girl of seventeen?  Or are you a child of only seven years!  If you expect me to take you seriously, then you must, at least, act your age.”

“Appa,” she pouted, “you cannot keep me from my Ban Ryu.  Please.  It’s just cruel.  I love him!”

“But I never gave you permission to love him!” he burst out angrily.

“Permission?  What permission?  The heart wants what the heart wants, Appa.  I did not choose him.  My heart did.  And it chose well.  Look at what a splendid man he is!  I cannot think of another man of my acquaintance who would be willing to die for my brother.  Yet Ban Ryu stepped in front of that sword to save Soo Ho.  Maybe you can forget it, but I never shall!” she cried dramatically.

Just then, the servant returned with the cup of water.  She handed it to Soo Yeon before bowing to them both. 

“Thank you,” Soo Yeon breathed in her direction.  “Now, Appa, if you’ll excuse me…I have a job to do.”

She spun on her heel and strode back into Ban Ryu’s bedchamber.  Fully prepared to coax the man into downing this entire glass of water.

Her father simply gaped after her.

Soo Yeon was becoming quite the handful.  Could he really force her to marry where he chose?