Yeo Wool was seated in the sitting room of the elder of his two sisters once more sharing tea with his little nieces. He was studying the piquant faces of those two adorable girls. And recalling Sam Sook’s younger daughter. She would complete the stairsteps here. She’d appeared to be about three years old, stuck right between Ae Ri and Ae Ji.
He wondered what that cute little one’s name was. Though he had followed them home, back to Sam Sook’s parents’ house, he hadn’t caught their names. He hadn’t seen any sign of Sam Sook’s husband either.
Yeo Wool had decided not to call on Sam Sook yet. He was wondering how such a meeting could be anything but awkward at this point. But he truly wanted to become reacquainted with her.
The younger of his two sisters suddenly called out to the older one.
“Yeo Ri, do you remember when we used to dress this one in our old clothes? Like a little doll?”
“Yeo Wool was our little doll,” their older sister laughed. “He looked adorable in your robes.”
He cringed. Sometimes, it was a trial having two older sisters. And no brothers.
“You two are completely unfair. You gang up on me! How is a guy to defend himself against two such strong personalities?”
“You’re not,” Yeo Jin reflected. “You are supposed to give in gracefully to our superior wisdom and intellect.” She put her pert nose high in the air.
He scoffed at her. “You’re only three years older than I!”
The same age as Sam Sook.
“And I’m an experienced mother now,” she insisted as she gazed down at her two-month-old.
“Ha. Quite experienced.”
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“Oh, yes! You are so much more mature than I am,” he averred, rolling his eyes.
“Now I see that the two of you are at it again,” Yeo Ri commented.
“Always,” Yeo Jin responded blithely. She loved teasing Yeo Wool. He was such an easy mark.
Her brother had long been compassionate and sweet. And very sensitive to the concerns and needs of others. But he was also easygoing and fun-loving.
“He knows I adore him,” the younger girl asserted.
He cocked one dark eyebrow at her, but then he smiled and murmured, “Indeed.”
They grinned at one another, knowing that each perfectly understood the other.
“I have missed you all,” he murmured.
“I’m just glad that you have a bit more time to come and go as you please these days.”
“Hmm. The king is staying close to home. The princess is safely ensconced in her new home in Goguryeo. And the major part of our training has come to an end. Finally. Things should quiet down more as we approach winter too.
“Mostly, we’re spending our time sparring to remain fit enough to fight. I spend most of my time engaged in swordplay and martial arts. Thankfully, most of our academic learning has come to an end. Of course, Hwa Gong is always teaching the younger recruits as they come into the fold. But for us more experienced hwarang, we’re getting a bit of a break from the classroom, at least. Hence, I have more time to visit with you lovely ladies.”
“Hmm,” responded Yeo Ri. “Yeo Wool, are you spending much time with the other guys?”
He shook his head. “Most of my close friends – as I believe I already attested to the other day – are now married. So they head home to see their wives at the end of the day. But some of my evenings have been full. I have been spending some time with one other man. Moon Won. I’m training him in sword-fighting. He is the head of security for Lady Yang.”
“Lady Yang?” Yeo Jin queried. “Hmm. I haven’t seen her since her husband died.”
He frowned. He hadn’t realized that Sam Sook’s father had died.
“When was that?” he quizzed her.
“Oh, that’s right. You were in the thick of it with the other hwarang when he passed. It was nearly three months ago now.”
He frowned. Was that why Sam Sook had come home to visit her mother? To offer her condolences? Had she left her husband behind then? To carry on with his business while she stayed to comfort her newly widowed mother?
