Page 15 of Gumiho Kiss (Realm of Eternal Blossoms #1)

The Dream

H yun 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.

His memory of the dream ended there, but that split second of recollection was enough to completely unnerve him.

“Mr. Park, are you well?”

“Of c-course, agasshi.” He tried to even out his voice. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

She nodded toward his hands. “You’re shaking.”

Hyun Soo peered down. Indeed, both his hands were trembling as though wracked with cold. He clasped them behind his back. “It’s nothing. How are you feeling? I was glad to receive your summons.”

“I’m feeling rather . . . bored, actually. It’s a good thing you’re here.”

Hyun Soo frowned, unsure how to respond. What was she . . . ? Her tone almost sounded suggestive, but that didn’t make any sense. She disliked him as much as he disliked her. Perhaps he was still under the influence of that strange dream.

“Mr. Park?”

“Hmm?”

“I said I need you to escort me to the school where my uncle works.”

“Oh.” Hyun Soo winced. “I apologize, my lady. I assure you, I’m not usually absent-minded.”

“I should hope not,” she replied, a mild, almost playful rebuke in her voice. She set aside the pillow and thread and rose to her feet. “Ah In!”

One of the young servant girls entered and gave Lady Lee two small bags.

“Thank you,” she said.

The two shared a smile before Ah In bowed and hurried out. Lady Lee turned to him. “Would you carry these for me?”

Hyun Soo silently accepted the bags, then followed behind her as she exited the pavilion and crossed the courtyard.

A canopy of clouds hung low in the sky as they passed through the main gate and onto the city streets.

They took a different route than last time, avoiding the busy market.

Lady Lee’s gait was brisk, focused, but unlike the last time he’d escorted her, there was an added mindfulness to her steps, and she kept glancing back as if to make sure he was still with her.

She must still have been shaken up from those thieves in the market. Hyun Soo quickened his pace until they were side by side. He may not be fond of her, but he didn’t want her fearing for her safety.

“You’re probably wondering why I wanted to visit my uncle’s workplace,” she said, turning to him expectantly.

“Uhh . . .” No, he hadn’t been. Truth be told, Hyun Soo had been scanning the periphery for threats. The nature of her visit was of no concern to him.

She grinned as she pointed to the bags in his hands. “Uncle has been working so hard lately he’s missed lunch the last few days. I wanted to make sure he gets enough to eat.”

Hyun Soo nodded but said nothing. At least she was filial. He didn’t need to worry about Dol Sam starving once they were married.

“I’m sure you’re very dedicated to your family as well?” She ended the sentence as a question, her expression tentative yet inviting.

What was this? Lady Lee’s personality seemed to shift like sand on the seashore. One moment, she was downright antagonistic, and the next, she was asking about his family. It left him so flustered, he didn’t know what to make of her. Had he misjudged her before? Was he misjudging her now?

Or could it be that she’d changed her opinion of him since he’d saved her?

That idea did make a certain sort of sense. Perhaps she’d been angry with him before because she’d believed she didn’t need a bodyguard, but after the incident in the market, she’d realized she was wrong.

Hyun Soo’s chest tightened. Maybe they’d misjudged each other?

She was still waiting for a response, her honey-brown eyes full of curiosity rather than spite. He cleared his throat and looked away, trying to remember what she’d asked. He’d figure out the answers to his own questions later.

“I . . . don’t have much in the way of family.” He tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. This wasn’t a topic he wanted to discuss. Not with her, not with anyone.

Lady Lee seemed to pick up on his discomfort and looked away. They walked in silence for a few minutes before she asked, “How did you and Young Master Kang meet?”

A bit of the tension eased from Hyun Soo’s shoulders.

Kang Dol Sam was someone he had no trouble talking about.

“We met at the palace a few years ago when Kang Dol Sam and his father were there for an assembly. An assassin infiltrated the palace, but he was spotted before he’d shot his first arrow.

My comrades and I pursued, but he happened upon Kang Dol Sam and pressed a dagger to his throat, threatening to kill him if we came any closer.

I tried to get him to calm down so Kang Dol Sam didn’t get hurt, but the man panicked and tried to stab him.

My comrades and I got the assassin to the ground before he did any real damage. ”

“So, you saved Young Master Kang’s life.”

Hyun Soo rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable when she put it that way. “I was just doing my job, and I wasn’t acting alone. Even so, Kang Dol Sam felt indebted to me, and the two of us quickly became friends after that. You couldn’t have wished for a better man to marry.”