Page 26 of Gumiho Kiss
But neither footfalls nor voices reached her ears.
After a few minutes, she peeked around the shed.The courtyard was empty, and the only lights were the paper lanterns that always hung from the main pavilion’s eaves.She’d gotten away.
Chin Sun sighed, but her relief quickly shifted to dismay.She’d been so close to getting the bead!It had beenrightthere.
She shook her head.More like so close to getting caught.That couldn’t happen again.She had to come up with a new plan.
Chapter10
The Dream
Hyun Soo woke with a start, images of terrifying monsters lingering at the back of his mind.He’d been having nightmares ever since he’d attacked that creature in the woods; he could still hear its haunting voice, feel its murderous aura brushing against his skin.
He opened his door and grabbed the small basin and washcloth the servants left outside his room every morning.He splashed some water on his face, effectively banishing the visions, then took a deep breath.Maybe he’d find something useful today.
He and Dol Sam had discussed everything he’d learned about Gwishin the day before, concluding that if the yangban and jungin had nothing more to give, it was time to start questioning the lower classes directly.That meant not only talking to sangmin, the commoners, but even going so far as to meet with cheonmin, the lowest class in the Joseon caste system.Jail keepers, butchers, entertainers, and the rest of the unclean were people Hyun Soo typically avoided.But if that was what it took to find Gwishin, so be it.Their testimonies were the most sparse in the police reports, but also the most positive.Perhaps the police hadn’t questioned them as thoroughly for fear of stirring up the highborns with talk of Gwishin being a hero to the masses.
Hyun Soo turned to gather his weapons, then paused.Hadn’t the vigilante’s hwando been beside his own last night?He checked the small room, trying to recall where else he might have lain it, but neither the sword nor a memory of moving it surfaced.
A sour taste filled Hyun Soo’s mouth.If he hadn’t misplaced the sword, that meant someone had taken it while he was sleeping.But who would be bold enough to?—
His nostrils flared.A burglar would have taken Hyun Soo’s sword as well, yet only the vigilante’s blade was missing.And who had even known it was in his possession?
Only Gwishin himself.
Hyun Soo finished getting ready, letting the revelation sink deep into his bones.But as sure as he was that the vigilante must have taken the sword, there was one detail he couldn’t make sense of.
Why hadn’t Gwishin killed him when he’d had the chance?
A thorough search of the room and corridor revealed no evidence of the vigilante’s visit, and when he questioned the servants—subtly, so as not to raise alarm—they told him they hadn’t heard or seen anything out of the ordinary the night before.Which left him with nothing to go on, except the knowledge that the vigilante had eluded him.Again.
The other servants ate together in the kitchen, but Hyun Soo’s working hours were so different from theirs he had his meals on his own, which typically consisted of leftovers from the previous meal.The cook made some of the most delicious stew he’d ever eaten, and that was saying something when the food was usually cold by the time he got some.
Once he’d finished his breakfast, he marched past the pond in the courtyard and headed toward the main gate to continue his hunt.There had to be something out there, some clue to track him down and stop this criminal for good.
“Mr.Park,” a servant called.It was the young man Lady Lee had defended so vehemently—Pyung Ho, if Hyun Soo wasn’t mistaken.The servant scurried over and bowed.“Lady Lee has requested your presence in her chambers.”
“Is she all right?”Hyun Soo gripped the hilt of his sword.He hadn’t seen his charge since she’d fallen ill; perhaps something had happened to her in his absence.
Pyung Ho’s complexion whitened, eyes homing in on Hyun Soo’s blade.“Sh-she’s fine.She’s feeling better, actually, so she’s ready for you to resume guarding her.”
Hyun Soo’s hand relaxed.“Ah.Thank you for letting me know.”
“The Lees already ate their breakfast, so she’s waiting in her chambers.”Pyung Ho bowed sharply before darting toward the kitchen like a mouse fleeing a cat.
Maybe he’d been a bit too harsh with him the other day....
When Hyun Soo reached the lady’s quarters, he announced his arrival and waited for a soft “you may enter,” then stepped inside.
Lady Lee sat with a needle and thread in front of a folding screen depicting a flock of cranes.Her green jeogori bore a black floral pattern, while her skirt was a deep burgundy.A black flower pin rested just above her forehead against her hair.Her face was paler than usual, as though she truly had been fighting an illness, but her expression was pleasant as she stitched a butterfly into a small pillow.
And then she looked up.
The moment their gazes met, a vision flashed through Hyun Soo’s mind.Lady Lee hovering over him in the shadows, lips poised for a kiss.
Heat filled Hyun Soo’s cheeks, as much from shock as embarrassment.Though his charge was strikingly beautiful, he’d never been one to indulge in fantasies.Especially about his friend’s fiancée.
Or so he’d thought.
