Page 34 of King Foretold
“Thank you for the reminder, Captain,” Ethan says coolly, his narrowed eyes belying his words.
Jihun rises to his feet and bows his head. “Of course.”
When Ethan turns toward the doors once more, I think he’ll leave without a word to me. But he pauses with his hand on the door and murmurs, “Get well, Sunny.”
I stare at his back until the door slides closed behind him.It’s for the best.Too bad I don’t believe it for a second. Doing the right thing shouldn’t feel this apocalyptically wrong.
“I need to sleep.” Numb and hollowed out, I lie down and turn away from Jihun. “Thanks for letting me stay at the Sunset Pavilion.”
“I told you.” If he’s offended by my terseness, I don’t hear it in his voice or feel it in the tender way he pulls the blanket over my shoulder. “You’re always welcome here.”
Jihun blows out the candle, plunging the room into darkness, and lets himself out with steps so light that I don’t hear them fall. Then, I close my eyes against the darkness, feeling more alone than ever.I’m so sorry, Ethan.
I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but I fall asleep before the first tears fall.
Chapter Ten
Everything hurts.But what’s new?
With that lovely thought, I open my eyes to the muted morning light brightening my room at the Sunset Pavilion. Gods, I love this room. I love everything about it. The wooden armoire with the brass appliqués, the matching dresser, the low desk in front of the ...
“Hello lover,” I say to the silk embroidered room divider, my gaze roaming over the delicate details of the flowering branches and the birds perched on top. I’ll figure out a way to smuggle it out of the Kingdom of Sky when I return to the Mortal Realm. I just have to make sure my hwando, my other prized possession, doesn’t get jealous. I snort at the image of a frowny-faced short sword.
Shit.
I scramble up to sitting and frantically pat the floor around me until my hand wraps around the hilt of my hwando. I release a long breath, which immediately hitches again when I remember why I’m back at the Sunset Pavilion. I gingerly lay a hand on my stomach. It hurts much less than last night, only feeling slightly bruised.
“My lady.” The door to my room slides open after a soft knock. “I hope you had a restful sleep.”
“Miok?” My lips spread into a wide grin at the welcome sight of the handmaiden. She cared for me with such genuine warmth from the moment I set foot in the Kingdom of Sky—always kind and without judgment. “What are you doing here?”
“I have the honor of serving as your handmaiden again,” she says with a gentle smile. My bottom lip trembles at her friendly face before I can check my emotions, and Miok’s eyes widen. “My lady? What is the matter?”
“It’s nothing.” I dash away my tears with an impatient swipe of my hand. My argument with Ethan might have ruined me.Stop being so wimpy, Sunny.“I’m just salty that everyone at the Suhoshin headquarters hates me.”
“What? Who hates you?” She pushes up the sleeves of her jeogori past her elbows. Even with a ferocious scowl, my handmaiden looks perfectly poised. “Please provide me with their names.”
“What are you going to do, Miok?” I laugh, affection warming my chest. “Go beat them up for me?”
“If needs be,” she says in a voice laced with steel. I definitely shouldn’t give her any names.
Despite her refined manners, my handmaiden has backbone. I saw it during my first stay at the Sunset Pavilion when she put me in my place—a place of honor as Jihun’s guest that I was too embarrassed to readily accept. She was unintimidated by my tough facade and made me feel deserving of care and respect.
“Thank you, Miok, but don’t trouble yourself. They’re not worth it.” I sigh and glance around the room. “And I don’t think I’ll be needing much assistance from you today. My orders are to eat and rest all day.”
As much as I love this room, I’m not looking forward to being confined to it all day. My hands and feet already feel wiggly with restlessness.
“And my orders are to prepare you for an outing.” A mischievous light enters her eyes. “You don’t need to eat and rest only in this room.”
“An outing?” My brows pull together. “With who?”
“You will see, my lady.” Miok demurely lowers her head, but I spy a smile at the corners of her mouth. “Please come with me. I have a bath prepared for you.”
“I ... I’ll wash up on my own,” I stutter, self-conscious about someone seeing the rune on my back. “I’m used to it. Cadets don’t have attendants washing their backs.”
“There won’t be any attendants,” my handmaiden says gently. “I’ll assist you myself this morning, my lady. You have nothing to worry about.”
Miok is as good as her word, discreetly averting her eyes as I chuck off my dobok and climb into the wooden tub. Even when she washes my back, she doesn’t so much as gasp. Scrubbed squeaky clean and dressed in a simple white hanbok, I walk back to my room, with my handmaiden behind me.
