Ice Island Palace Chapter 15

"Desssss!"

The tiger's head, smashing into the large rock, instantly burst open, and its body convulsed in death throes. Suma Hoat paid no further attention to the tiger's carcass and quickly ran toward Kim Hwa's body, which lay unconscious on the ground.

"Kim Hwa....!"

He called out and shook the maiden's shoulders, but Kim Hwa did not respond, and her body was limp. When Suma Hoat felt her forehead, he found it was hot! He realized that anxiety and fear had caused the maiden to faint, and there was a danger she might contract a fever. He quickly left the unconscious girl to find water, as cold water was crucial in such a state to cool her head and forehead. He had to go quite far to find water in a small stream. While he was confused because he hadn't brought a water container, he took off his robe and dipped it into the cold water. Suddenly, his horse neighed loudly, followed by Kim Hwa's scream!

"Hwa-moi....!"

Suma Hoat shouted, tucked the wet robe onto his back, then leaped and ran swiftly back to where he had left the girl. He was utterly shocked when he saw his white horse had fled, and Kim Hwa was standing, eyes wide with terror, staring at a massive tiger standing very close in front of the maiden! Suma Hoat was surprised and puzzled. Glancing toward the tiger carcass still lying in the previous spot, he realized that this second large tiger was a tigress. Apparently, there were two tigers, a pair of enormous beasts that had been disturbing the village. Suddenly, the girl screamed and tried to run, but the tiger pounced forward, and the maiden fell backward.

"Hwa-moi....!"

With just a few leaps, Suma Hoat arrived, snatched the tiger's tail, and yanked the beast away from Kim Hwa's body.

"Breeeettt!"

Kim Hwa's clothes were torn away by the tiger's claws, and a little blood was visible on her smooth white chest. Suma Hoat, feeling extremely worried and enraged, drew his sword, and a flash of light appeared, followed by blood spurting from the tiger's neck, which was nearly severed by the blade!

"Kim Hwa....!"

Suma Hoat quickly knelt beside Kim Hwa. The maiden moaned and opened her eyes. When she saw that the one cleaning the small wound on her chest with the wet robe was her young rescuer, she let out a choked cry and wept.

"Be quiet, Moi-moi, be quiet, sweet one.... thank goodness you are only slightly wounded, scratched by the claw of that accursed tiger....!"

Suma Hoat had placed powdered medicine onto the small wound.

The bleeding had stopped, and now, as if unconsciously, his fingers stroked the skin around the wound. His eyes never blinked as he gazed at that face, that exposed chest, that neck, and he was captivated. Kim Hwa had initially closed her eyes, then her consciousness returned, and she began to feel how her chest was uncovered, how that warm, trembling hand was stroking and caressing her. She slowly opened her eyes to see the handsome face, the eyes full of tenderness gazing at her, and that broad chest, which was also bare because his shirt had been used to clean her wound. A strange and intimate feeling filled Kim Hwa's heart. As if startled, she caught the hand that was stroking her chest, brought it to her nose and mouth, kissing the hand of the young man who had saved her life twice.

"Moi-moi....!"

Suma Hoat could not restrain the trembling of his heart, and he lowered his face onto that chest.

"Koko....!"

Kim Hwa sobbed, hugged his head, then slowly pulled his head closer, with eyes radiating all the feelings in their hearts, with ragged breaths blowing across their faces, then the two equally beautiful faces drew near each other, two pairs of arms embraced, holding each other close.

"Moi-moi....!" "Koko....!"

They sobbed, kissing as if they were no longer conscious. Finally, Suma Hoat was startled. He had never felt this way before. He was accustomed to playing at love with beautiful women, but those were women who sold love! And he had merely followed the impulse of lust. Now, the difference was vast! Alongside the surging, overwhelming lust that burned through every nerve in his body, there was another feeling. He did not want to trouble Kim Hwa, he did not want to disturb this maiden; he felt extraordinary pity and affection for her.

He was willing to die for this maiden's happiness! Truly, the difference was like heaven and earth compared to the women he usually loved. The caress of this woman's fingers on his cheek, his neck, his chest, her reciprocal kiss was so soft and intimate, and he felt pure love behind this tenderness, which deeply moved him. When he lifted his face to look at her beautiful features, Suma Hoat's eyes became wet. He also saw Kim Hwa shedding tears that streamed down like pearls, yet her red, warm mouth smiled, shyly and intimately. Two pairs of eyes met, questioning and answering each other. However, Suma Hoat still dared not confirm his feelings, so he whispered softly near Kim Hwa's ear.

"Moi-moi.... may I....? Is this real....? Ahhh, how much my heart desires to possess you, to make you mine, body and soul, heart and flesh.... but... you are an honorable maiden.... even the future wife of another man.... ahh, Moi-moi, tell me, no matter how great my love, no matter how great my heart's desire to possess you—so much so that if it is not fulfilled I will die of sorrow—yet I would rather die than force you, than trouble you.... Moi-moi, answer me, may I....?"

Suma Hoat's voice contained a sob, mixed with the lament of his heart, and two tears wet his cheeks. Kim Hwa smiled, a smile full of understanding possessed only by a woman in love, a smile possessed only by a mother toward her child, even though her own tears were dripping. Then the maiden raised both hands, wiped the two tears from Suma Hoat's cheeks, then those two arms embraced his neck, her mouth whispering very softly.

"Suma-koko...., I.... I willingly surrender my soul and body to you.... let me enjoy this one day of happiness with the man I love with all my heart.... before I enter hell with the man chosen by my parents.... Koko.... love me.... I surrender, completely willingly, before Heaven....!"

"Moi-moi...!"

Suma Hoat hugged and embraced her, his heart overflowing with tenderness.