Page 34 of Gumiho Kiss
“I ...”Her gaze flicked to Hyun Soo, but he had no idea what to say either, so he gave her a subtle head shake.There was something a little off in her behavior, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
She said to the inspector, “He must have made a mistake.I know for a fact that the vigilante didn’t do this.”
Hyun Soo cocked his head to the side, curiosity snagging his thoughts.Lady Lee’s voice had wavered when she’d begun speaking, but during that last sentence, it had hardened with resolve.Why?Why was it so important that the inspector knew Gwishin wasn’t responsible for this?She couldn’t be a supporter, could she?
“Did you see the perpetrator?”Inspector Kim pressed.
“Yeh, we did,” Hyun Soo supplied.“He got past me and ran off.”
The inspector glanced between the two suspiciously, then his expression turned smug.“Not a very proud moment for you as a bodyguard, hmm?”
A barb danced on Hyun Soo’s tongue.“Actually?—”
“He did his job very proficiently,” Lady Lee cut in.“If he hadn’t protected me, I wouldn’t be standing here, Inspector.I’d be lying on the ground with that scholar.”
Hyun Soo gaped at her.She was defending his honor now?Even though they’d both nearly died?There was no need for her to do that.He hadn’t protected her as he should have.Why was she helping him?
She met his eye and gave him an encouraging nod, which sent warmth skittering through his heart.She didn’t see him as the enemy anymore, did she?She was helping him because she wanted to.
Just like when she’d put herself in harm’s way to save him.
He’d been wondering if he’d misjudged her before—now he had his answer.Lady Lee might be headstrong and more prone to join a fight than flee one, but she wasn’t a bad person.She was ...well, Hyun Soo didn’t quite know what she was, but he felt better now about Dol Sam marrying her.It seemed his friend had made a wise choice, after all.
Inspector Kim asked a few more probing questions, to which Lady Lee and Hyun Soo answered honestly whenever possible, though there were a few times when the best they could offer were half-truths.
“Chin Sun-ah?”came a strained voice.
The trio turned as Lord Lee scurried over to them and caught his niece up in an embrace.“Oh, my dear one.I thought I’d lost you.How is it you’re still here?Why didn’t you stick closer behind me?You’re not hurt, are you?”He examined her face and hands for marks and, finding only some dirt and scratches, hugged her again.
Lady Lee readily accepted his affection, squeezing him back.“I’m all right, Uncle.I’m sorry I lost you in the crowd.You don’t need to worry.Mr.Park took care of me.”
Lord Lee drew back and addressed Hyun Soo, gratitude sparkling in his eyes.He bowed.“Thank you, Mr.Park, for watching over my niece.I wasn’t sure about you initially, but now I’m relieved Young Master Kang hired you.”
“So, you were here when the murder took place, Lord Lee?”Inspector Kim asked.
Lord Lee lit up in recognition as he turned to the officer.“Kim Min Joon, I almost didn’t recognize you!The last I heard, you were leaving to study in Ming.When did you get back?”
Inspector Kim grinned.“I’ve been home for a year now, but I became an inspector about six months ago.”
“How exciting.You’ll need to tell me all about what you thought of Ming—” He broke off with a wince.“After you’re finished with the investigation, of course.I’m happy to do what I can to help you.What was it you were asking?”
Teachers and scholars started drifting back into the courtyard, so the inspector pulled Lord Lee aside to speak privately.
Hyun Soo wandered over to Lady Lee, eager to get his own private word in.“My lady, you didn’t finish what you were trying to tell me before.Who took the ghost away?”
The young woman peeked over at her uncle and the inspector, then leaned in to whisper near his ear.“He didn’t identify himself, but he looked like ...a grim reaper.”
Ice seeped into Hyun Soo’s bones as she described a dark figure that had appeared at the edge of the schoolyard and overpowered the ghost as if it were child’s play.He’d summoned a red rope out of nowhere, tapped the monster’s shoulder, and then both had vanished.
Gumiho, ghosts, and now grim reapers?Was he in some kind of nightmare?All his training, all his battles, none of it had prepared him for enemies like these.Monsters straight from folklore that were nigh unbeatable.
His chest tightened.The vigilante was nothing compared to this.This was an entirely new level of danger.Threats that weren’t bound by the laws of nature.Threats that could disappear and reappear at will.
He gripped the back of his neck, knowing his unease must be bleeding onto his face.He had to get it together.
His gaze turned to his charge, wondering how she was so calm, so collected, even in the face of such frightening circumstances.Her hands were steady at her sides, her mouth a neutral line.
She had to be faking it.Didn’t she know how close they’d come to perishing?Only a fool would be unaffected by something like that.It must be that she just didn’t want him to know how upset she was.
