Page 45 of Gumiho Kiss
Hyun Soo bounded back over to the portrait and held his hand over Lady Lee’s mouth.A chill went down his spine.
“What is it, Hyun Soo-yah?Did something get on the picture?”Dol Sam came up on the right side.His attention went from the portrait to Hyun Soo.
“It’s nothing.”Hyun Soo lowered his hand and forced his cheeks into a grin.“Nothing at all.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.A damaged painting wouldn’t make a very good gift.”
“Gift?”
Dol Sam clicked his tongue.“Weren’t you listening before?I’m planning to give this to Lady Lee.”He ran his hand along the edge of the canvas, gaze distant and dreamy.“So she knows I’m not just marrying her out of duty.I’m marrying her because she’s the only woman I want.”
Hyun Soo’s head jerked toward his friend.“Dol Sam-ah.”His voice was weak.He needed to be louder.“I need to tell you?—”
“It’s so fortunate you came by today.”Dol Sam locked eyes with him.“I need to ask another favor.”
Chapter16
The Letter
Chin Sun paced back and forth on the wooden floor, her soft white socks barely making a sound.A slip of paper lay on the low-legged desk nearby, covered in scratched-out ideas.Dinner was already long past and it was almost time to turn in for the night, but sleep was the last thing on the noblewoman’s mind.
“It’s in your best interest to retrieve the bead in the next eighteen days.Otherwise, you’ll be the one getting dragged off to Jeoseung.”
The grim reaper’s threat loomed, reminding her of how important it was to kiss Mr.Park.Not only was his life at stake but hers as well.
She had nine days left now, having spent the last several trying and failing to convince Mr.Park to train her again.He’d claimed he was too busy, something about needing to search for clues about Gwishin, but she’d gotten the distinct impression he was avoiding her.Especially since he’d asked Pyung Ho or Ah In to come along the few times he’d escorted her into town.
Their almost-kiss in the clearing must have frightened him off.Did he suspect that she’d slipped intentionally?
If he did and was avoiding her because he didn’t think of her in that way ...The thought made something sharp twist in Chin Sun’s belly that she couldn’t identify.
She’d asked Min Joon if he had any other ideas to reclaim her bead, explaining that it was even more important now since a grim reaper was planning to check up on her, but her friend was just as stumped as she was.
And even if she did come up with a good idea, how was she supposed to execute it if Mr.Park wouldn’t be alone with her?
Frustration mounting, Chin Sun balled up her paper and threw it against the wall.She collapsed to the floor in a similar fashion, covering her face with her hands.
“I hope that wasn’t important,” Sang Mi said as she stepped inside.
“Sang Mi-yah.”Chin Sun’s smile was tired but genuine.She stood and took her cousin’s hand.“I’m sorry I haven’t spent as much time with you lately.I’ve been ...distracted.”
Sang Mi’s eyes were sympathetic.“Because of what happened with Gwishin?”
Chin Sun winced.“No, it’s—it’s not that.”She let go of the girl’s hand and turned away, wishing she could confide in her like she used to when they were younger.Before all her secrets had come between them.Back when their hearts beat as one.
She knew Sang Mi felt it, too—the distance.She saw it in every downward turn of the girl’s mouth, every hitched sigh when Chin Sun refused to give her a straight answer.
But Sang Mi—kind, sweet Sang Mi—never wavered in her affections.She didn’t push.She didn’t pry.She just accepted it with a sad smile that broke Chin Sun’s heart.
Chin Sun spun back around, meeting her cousin’s patient gaze.Perhaps it would be all right to share one small piece of her dilemma.A fresh perspective could be helpful.And Sang Mi did have some experience with this.
“I’m struggling, Sang Mi-yah.”
She retrieved her paper and smoothed it out.She offered it to her cousin, cheeks burning.
Sang Mi took the sheet, examining it silently.
Chin Sun didn’t watch as she read it over, but the contents danced in her mind’s eye.
