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She stepped into his room, instantly facing him.  He stood only about four feet from her.  His eyes searched her countenance for a moment.  Then he stepped closer to her.  So that she could see his face.  Particularly, the heat emanating from his gaze.  Finally, less than a foot from her, he spoke.  His voice a caress.

“The king needs you to warm his bed,” Jin Heung muttered provocatively.

She stiffened, shocked at his bold words.  She had not expected them.

“The king does not.  It is the middle of the summer, your highness,” she retorted hotly, as a flood of intense pink spread out across her cheeks before staining her entire face crimson.  “Your bed is already warm enough.”

He smiled at her.  Provokingly.  “That isn’t the kind of warming I was referring to.”

She cleared her throat and looked away.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” he murmured.

“Intensely.”

“Why?  Is it because you don’t wish to join me in that bed…or because you do?”

Her eyes crashed into his.  The man was positively infuriating!

His attractive grin appeared, making his countenance even more endearing than it had been before.  Suddenly, he dropped onto his knees before her.  And reached for her hand.

“Marry me, Eun Sook.  Make me the happiest king in the world.”

She gasped.  “Marry you?!  But…how?  You couldn’t possibly marry me.”

“I will choose my wife.  Not the council.  Not my peers.  Not some system that should have died a violent death long ago.  I want you.  I choose you.  I love you.  Marry me, Eun Sook.”

She blinked at him.  And hesitated.

His heart sank.  “What is it?  I know you love me.  Don’t you?” his voice wavered.

She nodded.  “Yes, but…there’s something I’ve never told you.”  She winced.  “I…”

He stood up to face her.  “What is it?  You can tell me anything.”

“I…”

“I don’t care that you’re not a sacred bone.  If that’s what’s bothering you.  It doesn’t matter.  I love your heart.  And your face.  And your voice.  Not your ancestry.”

She stared up at him as a war erupted in her countenance.  Finally, she sighed.

“Can I finish the story?”

He frowned.  “What story?”

“The king’s story.”

“Ah.”  His face brightened.  “Yes, I want to hear it all.  But…will you tell me your secret when you are done?”

She nodded her head.  “I will.”

“Promise?”

She sighed, “Yes, I promise.”

“In that case, my love, come sit on my bed with me.”  He reached out and took her hand, tugging her towards his bed.  She was about to warm it with her words.

––

“The days passed, and the hwarang grew stronger, faster, wiser, and closer.  Yong Joon was now surrounded by allies.  Boys who were becoming his friends even.  But the king could not forget a sparkling pair of emerald eyes.  Or the way those eyes had supported him.  He longed to see Su Bin again.

“Then one day, she arrived at the gates to the hwarang compound.  She was admitted by a servant who led her to a certain courtyard where her brother was fencing with Yong Joon.  The boy glanced up and saw her.  His face lit up in surprised joy.  But she’d distracted him, and Yong Joon suddenly hit him with the flat of his sword.  The boy fell back, grabbing his side as he bent over.

“‘Yun Seo!’ cried the king.  ‘Are you all right?’  Yong Joon fell to his knees next to his young friend.

“The boy nodded.  ‘Just…winded…I think.’   He groaned and lay still, trying to catch his breath.

“Su Bin came flying across the courtyard.  ‘Yun Seo!’  She too fell to her knees next to him.

“She glanced up at the king.  ‘Is he okay?  Is he hurt?’  She reached for his arm where he was cradling his ribs.  She drew his arm away and delicately pressed against his torso.  She gasped.  ‘I think you broke a couple ribs.’

“Alarmed, the king glanced up at her.  ‘You do?’

“She nodded.  ‘Can you fetch the doctor?’

“Yong Joon jumped to his feet and ran off in search of the woman who cared for their wounds.”

“Wait a minute,” Jijin interrupted Eun Sook.  “How did you know our doctor was a woman?”

She shrugged.  “I overhead a discussion in the village.  I considered creating a romance between her and the king, but it just didn’t feel right.  Besides, in order to be with her, he would have had to give up his kingdom.”

Indeed.  Didn’t Jin Heung know the truth of that statement?

Eun Sook continued her tale.

“The king soon returned with the doctor.  She treated the lad’s wounds while his sister assisted her.  Then Yong Joon helped the boy to his feet.

“‘I’ll help him to his room,’ he offered.

“Su Bin glanced up at a man she was beginning to see as her hero.  ‘Thank you.’  She watched as the doctor left them alone.  ‘I’ll wait under the tree over there for you.’  Without another word, she walked away.

“Quirking a dark eyebrow, Yun Seo glanced up at his friend, ‘Why is my sister waiting to talk to you?’  A crooked grin overtook his pained face.  ‘Is she in love with you?’ he gasped, ribbing the older man.

“The king shrugged.  ‘I very much doubt that.  We’ve only met a couple of times.’

“But that wasn’t quite true.  They’d met four times now, and he had rescued her or her brother every time.  Although, today he could also be blamed as the cause of her brother’s trouble. 

“‘Come on, you young rascal, let’s get you to your room.  If you’re not in top shape by the end of the week, Hwa Gong is going to ride me.’

“‘But he’s your uncle.  Why would he side with me instead of you?’ the boy asked logically.

“One corner of Yong Joon’s mouth twitched.  ‘Because I should have been paying better attention.  You are a most prized hwarang.’

“‘You mean because my father is so powerful?  That’s nonsense!  I’m the one who should have been paying better attention.  If I hadn’t been distracted by my sister, you never would have hit me.’

“Yong Joon didn’t want to quibble.  He wanted to talk to Su Bin, so he hurried the boy towards his room.

“A few minutes later, the king approached the beautiful girl.  And felt his heart releasing a pang.

“‘Would you care to take a walk with me?’ he queried as he stepped in front of her.

“She nodded.  And he led her away to a more private spot.

“‘Thank you,’ she murmured.

“He glanced her way.

“‘For helping my brother.’

“‘Don’t you mean for wounding him?’

“She winced.  ‘That wasn’t your fault.  It was my fault.  I’m the one who distracted him.’

“‘He should not have allowed himself to be distracted.  That’s the first lesson we learn in swordplay.  Never take your eyes off your opponent.’

“She sighed.  ‘Perhaps.  But the truth remains that he wouldn’t have been hurt if I hadn’t shown up at that precise moment.’

“‘How was he to ignore such a pretty girl?’ he queried provocatively a moment later, his eyes intense on hers.

“She swallowed and averted her gaze. 

“‘Why did you want to talk to me?’ he inquired.

“She was still studying the scenery.  ‘Um…’  She had no ready excuse.  She kicked herself.  Why had she not given thought to one while he escorted her brother back to his room?

“He smiled at her bowed head.  ‘I wanted to see you too.’

“That made her look at him.  ‘You did?’ she asked, surprised.

“‘Very much so.  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I last saw you.’

“‘Why?’ she breathed in wonder.

“‘Because you’re quite beautiful.  And you have an intriguing heart.’

“‘I do?’ she gazed up at him curiously.

“He nodded.  ‘Tell me more about your feelings for the hidden king.’

“She swallowed.  Was she wise to talk to this man about her private thoughts concerning that poor royal?  Could she trust Yong Joon?

“She studied his face for a few moments.

“‘I promise your remarks are safe with me.’

“‘Why do you want to know how I feel about him?’

“‘Because he intrigues me too.’

“Surprise flowed across her face.  ‘He does?  Why?’  She narrowed her eyes at him.

“‘Because I think that old men love power too much.’

“Her eyebrows flew straight north.

“‘And the people too little,’ he finished.

“‘I agree,’ she breathed.  ‘That’s it exactly!  And I can’t help but believe that a boy who was raised among the people would have more fellow feeling for them!’

“‘But why do you have so much feeling for them?’

“‘Because I know what it is to be removed from a place of honor.  And to grow up among the poor.’

“Confused, he puckered his brow.  ‘How so?  Aren’t you the councilman’s daughter?  I would have thought that you had grown up privileged.’

“She shook her head.  Then she glanced around.  ‘I am not the councilman’s daughter.’”