My Darling

---At medicine room---

"Here hold my hand." The little white hand came forward and Mingyo couldn't help but hold it in urgency. The pain in her knee was getting the best of her fear, but in reality, she trusted Chungyong this much to at least hold his hand which had offered nothing more than help till now. She closed her eyes fractionally when the pain from the ointment increased. Her welled up eyes started to leak tears but Chungyoung's sweet talks rang in her ear once again and she felt a bit of chill.

Finally, the pain died slowly and she started feeling a bit calm now. Her breath was still heavy but the constant painful itching was no more. She looked at Chungyong and he was looking back at her, with a smile on his face which made Mingyo realize she had never seen someone this happy with her. Chungyong said, "You did great work. You stayed strong. I am so proud of you."

Though Mingyo wanted to think otherwise, since her parents always keep nagging her about how much of a coward she is, but Chungyong's words made a place in her heart and she felt that she really is strong. Her lips curled up in a small smile as she looked at Chungyong who let go of her hand and went to the nearest drawer, he came back along with some bandages. He said, "Just sit still and let me bandage you, I promise this won't hurt after this."

Mingyo couldn't help but flinch a bit, but when Chungyong placed his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes asking, "Will you be strong enough for me, my soldier?"

Mingyo didn't understand what he was trying to say so she asked, "What's a soldier?"

Surprised hearing her voice, Chungyong looked at her with glowing eyes. He couldn't help but smile, which made Mingyo think she asked something dumb and she started to well up again, but Chungyong said, "The people who fight with enemies for us are called soldiers."

Mingyo thought for a moment and Chungyong started to work on her knee and after some time she asked again, "So soldiers are strong?"

He nodded busy focusing on his work. She again started to think something and went back to her dreamland. As Chungyong finished his work, finally knotting the open ends, he said, "Done."

But Mingyo, as if she snapped out of her dreamy world, stated, "I am a soldier too."

Her eyes were serious and she looked at Chungyong with a fierce face, he looked at her with wide eyes. Thinking what could've made the girl say so. But after a minute of silence the room filled with Chungyong's long laughs. But Mingyo looked at him with a frown painting her forehead, she asked, "W-What?"

Chungyong stopped a bit and had to bite her inner lip from laughing anymore as he said, "Y-Yes you are. You are my brave soldier." With the end, his voice was calmer and was holding more genuinety than before, which made the little Mingyo believe his words.

The girl started to stand up by jumping from the small chair, but her hurt knee didn't stand her balance making her fall again. But unlike last time when she hurt not only her knee but her bum also, she was offered help but her companion's hands, who grabbed her in time. As she hardly missed the fall Chungyong couldn't help but ask, "Where are your parents, um..."

As he wandered off, Mingyo understood what he was searching for and cared enough to fill in, "Mingyo Shuyia Mink Moyojo."

His eyes, for a split second, widened but came back to normal before the little girl can catch. He smiled at her and said, "I know where you can find your parents."

Before Mingyo can protest Chungyong helped her shoulder and started to make her walk, so very gently, back to the meeting hall.

---In the meeting hall---

As the little figures arrived at the back gate, they instantly saw both their parents talking to each other. Soon the little couple reached the professionals and Chungyong being a careful child, said, "Mother?"

This caught the attention of all four people. The looked at the two younger ones and their eyes hold different emotions. But Shuyia was the one to react, "Mingyo?"

Her voice was full of distaste which was clearly oozing out of her eyes as she looked at the girl from up to down. But before she can say anything, the other lady added, "Oh, I am so sorry Chungyong I forgot about her completely. But you didn't need to bring her here. I could've come."

Chungyong's lips stretched in a thin line as he eyes both the parents of the little girl, he at once knew something was off, but kept it to himself, at least for now. He said, "It's okay, mom. I bandaged her. Plus I had to bring her to her parents."

He pointed to the other couple who was now standing there with obviously forced smiles plastered on their faces. They were so close to convincing the Qyunshus' but their own daughter had to spoil it. But Shuyia tried again with, "Oh, Mingyo, where were you my doll? I tried finding you so much."

With that, she started to Mingyo, but she flinched back at Chungyong. But Chungyong leaned down to her whispering, "Aren't you my brave soldier?" She looked back at him and all he did was smile genuinely at her. She knew she had to face her and her sweet time with her newly found friend was over. So she nodded lightly and baid her last goodbye with a small smile.

Soon her mother snatched her from the little bit who was being her support. She stumbled a bit but got her strength back from newly found confidence and stood back. As the matter with children was solved the elder started to talk again. Mink said, "So Mr Qyunshu, how'd you like it?"

The other man couldn't help but smile happily at the Mink as he mouth, "The deal is sure appealing. I would've loved to sign, but..."

As Mink raised his brow, the man replied, "But I want to discuss it with my son Chungyong."

Both Shuyia and Mink was shocked to one extent and they both eyed the small five years old standing there innocently looking at the floor, his eyes devoid of any emotions. He stood so still that it shook both the elders. But the man added, "Let the dark queen come and then we can finally finalize which deal we will accept."

They nodded, but before they can ask any further, Chungyong asked, "Can I see the file, Mr Moyojo?"

The man was a bit taken back and obviously, his ego hurt by seeing a small boy asking for the file, but he knew the business better than throwing the tantrums, so he hesitantly handed him the file over. Chungyong gladly took it and added, "If I may ask for the young lady's hand, Mr Moyojo?"

This caught him off guard, but before he can reply, his wife butted in saying "Of course you can." As the man started glaring at his own wife, she didn't spare a single glance at him and pushed her daughter further to him. Chungyong stretched his hand and Mingyo looked at her mother as if asking if she is allowed or not. But all her mother did was push her further and said, "Go along with the Prince, my darling."

She empathized on the word darling to push her more, but Mingyo who was more than happy to join him gladly ran to him, not before stumbling a bit. But again, this time she had her support with her, who got her before even touching the ground and like that both the children ran in a different direction, not before Chungyong giving another cold glance to Shuyia. Who surely knew there was something more to Chungyong than a simple child.