Page 12 of Gumiho Kiss
Lady Lee stepped toward him, a nervous hand pressed over her chest.“What’s the matter, Mr.Park?Did you get injured?Should I ask someone to find a physician?”The syrupy-sweet quality in her voice was indeed as enchanting as the gayageum, but unlike the precious instrument, her words elicited a thrum of dread in his heart.
For even the prettiest of strings could strangle someone.
He’d only met her this morning, but at that moment, there was one thing Hyun Soo was absolutely certain of: this woman was a liar.
And he hated liars.
Chapter5
The Partner
The pair headed home once they’d collected all the items Chin Sun needed, with nary another word between them.Mr.Park didn’t seem to be a talkative sort, which she was glad of.His heroic rescue had made quite an impression on her, and she needed time to sift through her thoughts.
He’d overtaken the bandits so quickly that it was difficult to gauge just how skilled of a fighter he was.Still, he’d proven himself both levelheaded and a man of sharp reflexes.If he was also an expert swordsman, he might be more than Chin Sun could handle.
For while her gumiho nature afforded her greater speed and strength than the average human, she was far from invincible.Oftentimes when she accessed her powers, she felt like she was hitting an invisible wall, one she had no idea how to overcome.She’d only barely surpassed Kim Min Joon during their last sword fight.And though her old friend was a skilled opponent, he couldn’t be the best there was.
What concerned her more than Hyun Soo’s swordsmanship, though, was that he’d noticed her claws.
How could she have been so reckless!
He’d mistaken them for knives, of course, but that was only because she’d come to her senses before he’d scared off the idiots who’d been foolish enough to try to rob her.Maybe sheshouldstart carrying a dagger during the day.That was much easier to explain than claws suddenly growing out of her fingertips.
This was the first time someone had threatened her while she was dressed as a noblewoman.Most thieves were either simple pickpockets or smart enough to wait until nightfall before they made their move.Those men, though, had practically reeked of desperation.
Chin Sun sighed.While she didn’t condone their actions, such behavior was just another symptom of the city’s growing problems.Commoners were forced to pay higher and higher taxes that ultimately went to yangban pockets, and rather than helping those less fortunate than themselves as they were instructed to in school, most nobles were only interested in increasing their wealth and position.
If she weren’t an orphan, would she have turned out the same way?It was only thanks to her aunt and uncle’s benevolence that Chin Sun enjoyed such a privileged life.She saw herself in every beggar she passed, every gisaeng faking a smile on her powdered face, every slave crying out to his master for mercy.
Once they arrived at the Lee residence, Mr.Park took his leave so he could guard the perimeter while Chin Sun went about her household chores.She tried to talk to Sang Mi, but the girl refused to leave her room, so Chin Sun simply placed the new book she’d purchased on the floor outside.
When the family came together for the evening meal, Sang Mi finally emerged from her bedroom, eyes puffy and red.The two locked gazes as Sang Mi sat down at the low table next to her brother, and though neither spoke a word, a silent conversation passed between them:
Please don’t tell Father, Sang Mi pleaded.
All right, Chin Sun replied,but I expect a full explanation later.
They broke eye contact when the servants brought out trays of hot food and alcohol.The heady aroma of hotpot, pickled cucumbers, seasoned bean sprouts, and rice filled the air, making Chin Sun realize she’d been so worked up by the morning’s events that she’d forgotten to eat lunch.
“How was school today, Sang Ook?”Uncle asked.
The boy began sharing what he’d studied, and Samchon happily talked with him for the next several minutes.The girls chimed in a few times when they had something to add, but both were quieter than usual, and Sang Mi ate hardly anything.
“Did you find everything you needed at the market?”Uncle finally asked, gaze going from Sang Mi to Chin Sun.
Sang Mi paled, her grip on her chopsticks a bit more rigid, but Chin Sun spoke up.“Yeh, we did, Samchon.”
“I trust your new bodyguard was helpful?”Uncle’s tone was casual, but Chin Sun could tell by the way he leaned slightly closer that he was very interested in her response.
Chin Sun debated how much she should share about the incident with the thieves.She didn’t want Uncle worried about her safety—then he would agree with Young Master Kang that a bodyguard was necessary.But she couldaccuse Mr.Park of negligence, as the man himself had confessed to, and perhaps that would result in his dismissal.
She opened her mouth to do just that, but to her shock, she hesitated, a vision filling her mind of him leaping to her rescue with no regard for his own safety.
Shewas the one who’d put herself in danger by willfully running away from him.Was it wrong to call his capability into question when it was her fault she’d gotten into trouble?
No, it didn’t matter if it was right or wrong.It was too risky to keep him around.If he found out she was Gwishin, everything would be ruined.His reputation was a small price to keep her life intact.
“Actually, he?—”
