Page 8 of Gumiho Kiss
The boy’s eyes widened, but he glanced at Chin Sun to make sure it was all right.
She didn’t want to agree, but the hopefulness in her cousin’s eyes was her undoing.“Aigoo, I suppose.”
Sang Ook marveled at the gleaming metal, but when he went to grab the blade, Mr.Park shifted his body away, the movement so swift it was almost fox-like.Sang Ook looked up at him curiously.
“I said you could look, but to place this in the hands of one so young would be irresponsible.”His tone was kind but firm, and Chin Sun got the distinct impression that if she hadn’t interrupted earlier, Mr.Park would have moved before the boy’s fingers had reached the sword.“But don’t worry, Young Master Lee.Your day will surely come.”
Sang Ook’s shoulders fell, but he didn’t protest.Instead, he stared up at Mr.Park with unadulterated admiration, as only the young were bold enough to do.
The bodyguard grinned.“In the meantime, your cousin here will look after you, I’m sure.”
Chin Sun’s lips twisted into a ghost of a smile before a thought shattered her composure.An opponent with such quick reflexes might prove difficult to defeat.
Gone was the flicker of respect she’d felt toward the mysterious man her fiancé had entrusted with her safety.At best, he was an obstacle to her plans.At worst, an enemy she might have to kill one day.
Mr.Park’s gaze slid toward her, but Chin Sun refused to meet his eye, focusing instead on Sang Ook.“Dongsaeng, you really should be getting to school.”
The boy gasped, then turned sheepish.“Ah, yeh.I’ll be going, then.”He bowed before scurrying off.
Leaving Chin Sun alone with the man who’d sworn to kill her.
* * *
The boy’s padded footsteps became muffled as soon as the screen door shut behind him, but Hyun Soo’s ears stayed alert.Attacks often came when one was least expecting them, and he was nothing if not prepared.
His mistress didn’t acknowledge him, instead staring in the direction her female cousin had gone as though considering whether or not to follow her.Finally, Lady Lee turned away and floated into the courtyard with all the grace of a crane.Hyun Soo followed softly behind her, keeping three steps between them as she entered a separate building he assumed was the kitchen.
“Good morning, agasshi,” the servants greeted, bowing politely.There were four in total, three women and a man.Two of the women were much younger than the third, who stood near the hearth with a nervous expression and so many frown lines it looked as if she’d never smiled a day in her life.The man held a long broom that could be a formidable weapon if wielded properly.
Could he be Gwishin?He looked well-fed and was fairly young, perhaps in his early thirties.Gwishin was known for his ability to easily scale buildings and dodge arrows.
But Kang Dol Sam had told him Gwishin got shot in the arm the other night....
“Everyone, I want you to meet Mr.Park Hyun Soo,” Lady Lee announced.She turned to him with tight lips.“He’ll be staying in the spare room at the servants’ quarters for the foreseeable future.Young Master Kang hired him to be my bodyguard.”
The servants bowed in greeting but didn’t speak, instead eying him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
“It’s good to meet you.”Hyun Soo bowed in turn.
Lady Lee gestured first to the man, then to the young women.“This is Pyung Ho, and these ladies are Ah In and Ye Seul.”She turned to the older woman.“And this is Na Ri, the most wonderful cook in all of Sokju.”
Na Ri flushed but didn’t contradict the claim.“I trust breakfast was satisfactory?”she asked Lady Lee.Her hands shook with what was probably arthritis.
“Indeed.It was quite excellent,” Lady Lee replied, voice ringing with sincerity.“Thank you all for your efforts.I know it must have taken a long time to put together.”
The older woman beamed with pride, transforming her wrinkled features from off-putting to welcoming.“Yeh, but it was worth it to make your first meal with your betrothed special.He did like it, didn’t he?”
Lady Lee nodded.“He was very complimentary, as is only fitting for someone lucky enough to enjoy your cooking.”
Hyun Soo watched the exchange with puzzlement, wondering at the relationship between the two.It seemed far too intimate for people of such different social standing.Did this servant have some kind of hold over Lady Lee to the point that she felt the need to fawn over her like this?
Movement caught Hyun Soo’s eye.The male servant was sneaking out of the back door.Without hesitation, Hyun Soo marched over and grabbed the man’s arms, digging his fingers in.
The servant lurched back with a yelp.
“What are you doing?!”Lady Lee jumped between them, planting herself in front of the servant like a shield.Her eyes blazed, much as they had when he’d accused her of looking down on Kang Dol Sam’s affection.It was a look that said,Remember your place, or I shall make you remember it.
But no matter how she glared, Hyun Soo had a job to do, one he wouldn’t be swayed from.“What Young Master Kang hired me to do.”
