The last snow of the winter was only days after Sooyeon's birthday. After that, the weather gradually warmed up. Two months later, it was warm enough that she could go out on picnics with Yul. At first they went with her parents. She did not mind much because her parents were getting to know the nobleman more and because it was traditional that parents spend time with each new suitor until they believed him honorable enough to let their daughter be alone with him.

It was less than a month after that that her parents decided to let them be on their own. Yul seemed very trustworthy so they did not believe that he would do anything lewd with their daughter. And Sooyeon liked finally getting to spend time alone with the nobleman. She could flirt more without her parents around. One thing, though, that did not seem to change yet, though, was that Yul had still yet to kiss her on the lips even once. He still only kissed her hands or her cheek or her forehead. She was about to take the initiative and kiss him on the lips but she did not know how he might react to her being so forward.

Yul usually came to see her weekly. Today was not one of his normal days and Hyoyeon had given her several days off since the elf had gone to the capitol in person to see the queen about several dresses her majesty had ordered for a wedding. She had spent a lot of time helping her mother around the garden with weeding and getting rid of any vermin. She had also spent a lot of time up on Taeyeon's mountain drawing the flowers.

The dragon lord had not come to see her much since the weather had warmed up. He had spent time with her the day before but could not stay long. He had said he had somewhere to go outside the valley. When she questioned him about leaving the valley he protected he smiled and said the spells of guardianship allowed him to sense any danger even if he was away and he could return instantly to assist the town if it were needed. He also assured her that he could still protect her if he did not return by nightfall and that he had done so before.

Today, the sun was nearing its zenith by the time Sooyeon reached the field. She smiled at the daisies and blue bells swaying in the wind – and especially at the single orchid near the boulder under the tree. She was not here to draw today, though. She continued up the side of the mountain along the edge of the stream to the waterfall that spilled down from the pool above it. Since she had gotten Taeyeon's permission to bathe there whenever she wished she had come to do so every now and then. She enjoyed it very much, even if she always worried a little that Taeyeon might be watching her in secret.

Sooyeon swore that Taeyeon had somehow made it easier for her to climb up the rocks by the lower waterfall to get to the pond. She peeked over the spillway to see if Taeyeon was up there by chance. She had never seen him, but she always checked. It was his mountain, after all. She did not want to invade his privacy if he was up there bathing. She blushed at the thought of him in his more human form with the water cascading over him... then she shook her head. She should not be thinking of her dragon that way.

Once she had undressed at the edge of the water and put her dress on top of the same rock as always. She had her bar of soap in her hand as she waded into the cool water. She shivered little as she went out further then once she was up to her hips she dunked her whole body under the water. It was very refreshing after a long morning helping her mother with the garden. She then continued through the fairly shallow water to the base of the larger waterfall. She sighed as the water cascaded over her.

As she began to lather the soap in her hands, she froze. Taeyeon was there... She knew he was. She had grown to know the feel of his eyes on her. She looked over her shoulder and saw him. He was literally standing on the surface of the pond. She blushed red as she instinctively tried to cover herself from his gaze, regardless of the fact she