Page 19 of Gumiho Kiss (Realm of Eternal Blossoms #1)

The Offer

C hin Sun tried to speak, but her throat was so tight nothing would come out.

She stared up into her bodyguard’s eyes, and within those dark orbs, she could almost see the life she’d built falling apart.

Had he put the pieces together? Did he know she was Gwishin? Or worse, the gumiho from the woods?

She stumbled back a few steps, eyes darting about for an escape. Uncle was completely focused on Inspector Kim right now; he wouldn’t notice if she disappeared. The other officers were busy moving the body and questioning witnesses. If she made a break for the gate, she could make it.

She started to lift her foot, then hesitated. What difference would it make if she ran? Mr. Park wouldn’t keep her secret.

“Lady Lee,” the bodyguard said, drawing her eye. He ducked his head, chagrin marring his handsome features. “I apologize for my outburst. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Chin Sun nearly toppled to the ground. What? He . . . he thought she was scared because he’d shouted?

Her shoulders sagged with relief, a laugh bubbling up in her chest. She coughed to hide her amusement. “Thank you for apologizing, Mr. Park. I?—”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” His gaze locked with hers.

“Even if it’s inappropriate for me to reprimand you, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re reckless.

And since my ultimate priority is to protect you, that includes protecting you from yourself.

Going into a fight unprepared is the quickest way to lose your life. ”

Chin Sun took a breath to say that it was her choice which fights she engaged in, but before she could, he continued, “And since I get the feeling you don’t intend to stay out of trouble anytime soon”—his lips quirked up into an almost teasing smirk—“that leaves me with only one option.”

She closed her eyes, waiting to hear the words, “I’ll have to tell your uncle to lock you up” or “I’ll have to let your fiancé know you’re unfit to be his wife.

” That was how the general public would deal with a rebellious maiden like herself.

She tried her best to be virtuous in the ways a noblewoman should be, but she couldn’t fully tamp down her willful spirit.

Instead, she’d hidden it behind demure smiles by day so she could embrace it as Gwishin by night.

Until this infuriating bodyguard had pierced her facade.

And now she was about to lose the little freedom she’d carved out for herself. Reckless was a good word to describe her. Far too reckless.

“I’ll just have to train you myself,” he finished.

“What?” Chin Sun opened her eyes. “You want to . . . train me?”

It was a joke, right? He couldn’t actually?—

But there was no humor, no trickery in his steady gaze. Her jaw dropped, all thoughts of maintaining composure forgotten. This bodyguard—this former soldier—wanted to teach her, her , how to fight. “You’re serious.”

Mr. Park nodded. “Once Gwishin is no longer at large, I won’t be needed anymore. It would put my heart at ease if I knew you could defend yourself when I’m not around.”

Chin Sun stiffened, something stirring within her at his words. Or maybe it was the way he’d said them, as if his desire to protect her had nothing to do with duty.

“Lee Chin Sun-sshi!” a voice cried.

The two of them whirled toward it and found a familiar figure sprinting across the courtyard, unconcerned with the impropriety of his actions.

His black robe bore a pattern of purple peonies that matched the soft purple sleeves under his jeogori.

He careened to a stop a few paces in front of them, eyes fixed on Chin Sun.

“Young Master Kang, I didn’t expect to see?—”

He gripped her hands, panting like he’d just run halfway across the city. “Lee Chin Sun-sshi, I heard what happened. What are you doing here? Is your uncle all right?”

Chin Sun gestured to Uncle and Kim Min Joon. “He’s fine. Thank you for your concern.”

Young Master Kang let out a sigh. “What a relief. I’m so glad Gwishin didn’t hurt him.”

“Gwishin?” She drew her hands away, feeling lightheaded all of a sudden. “What are you talking about? Gwishin didn’t do this.”

“It’s all over Sokju. The vigilante killed a scholar in cold blood. There are multiple witnesses who attest to it.”

“Witnesses? That can’t be. . . . We saw the killer ourselves.” She turned to her bodyguard. “Tell him, Mr. Park.”

Mr. Park bowed in greeting. “What she says is true. The cre—person we encountered was most definitely not Gwishin.”

Young Master Kang rubbed at his forehead. “Are you sure? Everyone else is saying so. It sounds like the magistrate intends to tighten security around the city. More officers on patrol, and not even women will be allowed out after curfew.”

“He can’t do that,” Chin Sun blurted. “The other yangban would never allow it.”

“I don’t know. . . .” Young Master Kang said vaguely. “The people are more upset than I’ve ever seen them, nobles and peasants alike.”

What? The sangmin, too? Had one false accusation been enough for even the common people to lose faith in her?

“But they’ll listen to you, right? If you tell them they’re overreacting?” She tried to keep her anger pinned down, but her tone came out a little too biting.

How could they do this to her? She’d fought for them, bled for them, and instead of believing in her when she needed them most, they’d rally against her?

“Are they overreacting though? Someone is dead, and this time, there’s no way it can be justified.”

“But it wasn’t Gwishin who did it,” she insisted. “You don’t want them to arrest the wrong person, do you?”

Young Master Kang leaned back, visibly startled by her intensity. “Even if Gwishin didn’t do this, he’s still a criminal, Lady Lee. I don’t understand why you’re defending him.”

Chin Sun slammed her mouth shut, the blood draining from her face.

She’d made a mistake. She patted her hair as if trying to make sure it was neat, then put on her most innocent expression.

“Me, defend that lowlife? I’m not sure how you reached that conclusion.

I just don’t want to see my beloved Sokju in a state of panic. It could be dangerous.”

Mr. Park snorted, which earned a subtle glare from Chin Sun and a confused look from Young Master Kang before her betrothed smiled at her like she was both charming and hopelessly naive.

“Your kind heart is admirable, Lady Lee, but I’m afraid this is out of my hands. Anyway, I’m glad to see you and your uncle are well.” He turned to Mr. Park and encouraged his friend to come by for a visit when he got the chance, then excused himself.

Leaving Lee Chin Sun to try her best not to show how distraught his news had made her. Were the people really going to abandon her so easily?

She glanced at the faces of the scholars and teachers around her. She took in their fear, their hopelessness, their grief. She’d wanted to save them.

But now she knew they’d have responded the same way Aunt had when she’d found out what Chin Sun truly was. The moment was just as clear and heart-wrenching as it had been four years ago.

Chin Sun was only fourteen, in the thick of learning all that was expected of a noblewoman.

She and her sungmo were walking at the edge of town, by the rice paddy fields, and Chin Sun was angry with herself for making so many mistakes with her sewing.

She’d messed up five times and even pricked Aunt’s hand.

She felt like such a failure, but Sungmo kindly told her it took time to gain skills, and the important thing was to keep trying.

Chin Sun glanced over at her aunt with a grateful smile, but then something flashed in the corner of her eye.

A dagger catching the sunlight.

“Aunt, watch out!” she cried.

But the call came too late. By the time her aunt had turned, the man wielding the blade had already stabbed her stomach.

Aunt fell to the ground, blood pouring from the open wound. The cutthroat grabbed at her clothes, searching for valuables even as she struggled to stay conscious.

Rage flooded Chin Sun’s heart, lining her vision red and sending energy through her limbs. She charged at the thug and slammed his body into the dirt with a strength she hadn’t known she possessed.

He let out a cry of alarm and tried to get back up, but she ripped his knife from his hands, then drove it straight into his chest.

He fell backward, red seeping into his jeogori and a look of shock all over his face.

Chin Sun dropped the dagger and turned to her aunt. She was still on the ground, but she’d pulled herself into a sitting position. Her pallor was ghostly pale, her gaze unfocused. The scent of blood was overwhelming.

“Sungmo!”

The older woman’s eyes locked with Chin Sun’s, then widened in fear. “M-monster.” She scooted back, then yelped in pain. “Don’t come any closer.”

“Aunt, it’s me, Chin Sun. What are you—I need to get you help. Can you stand?” She moved to touch her sungmo’s shoulder, but Aunt flinched away.

That was when Chin Sun noticed the claws on her hands. Long and thin—like an animal’s. Nausea rose in her gut. “W-what is this? Aunt? What’s happened to me?”

A dreadful sort of resignation settled over Aunt’s features. “I should have known. The night we found you—I should have known then. If only I hadn’t been so happy to find a baby, I would have realized you were just like the dying monster I saved you from.”

“Monster? Sungmo, you’re frightening me.” She reached out again, but Aunt slapped her hand away.

“Don’t touch me! Do you still not understand? I’m not your aunt. You’re not even human. And now I’m going to die and your horrible face will be the last thing I see.”

Hot tears dripped down Chin Sun’s cheeks. She couldn’t process everything, but she knew she didn’t want Aunt to die. “I’m going to get you help.” She stumbled to her feet. “Just stay there, and I’ll be right back.”

Water blurring her vision, Chin Sun sprinted back into town, not stopping until she reached her house.

She banged on the gate, crying for someone to let her in.

When Uncle appeared on the other side, she fell into his arms, sobbing.

Between breaths, she told him where Aunt was—how they’d been attacked.

The two of them hurried back to Aunt, but by the time they reached her, she was already gone. Chin Sun had been too slow to save her.

Footsteps interrupted the downward spiral of her thoughts.

It was Uncle and Kim Min Joon coming back over.

Chin Sun took in a sharp breath, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall anytime she thought about what happened to Aunt.

She’d never told anyone all the details from that day, and she never would.

“Was that Young Master Kang?” Uncle asked.

Chin Sun shared what Kang Dol Sam had told her, making sure to mention the people’s change in sentiment toward Gwishin so Kim Min Joon would hear. When she mentioned the magistrate’s call for a manhunt, the inspector’s expression darkened before he excused himself on “official business.”

Relief blossomed in Chin Sun’s chest as she watched him march out of the gate in the direction of the magistrate’s office. If anyone could stop Magistrate Hong from this madness, it was Min Joon.

“Chin Sun-ah?” Uncle stood in front of her with a concerned look. “You’ve had a long day. In fact, we both have.” Uncle took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before nodding to Mr. Park behind her. “Let’s all go home.”

As they made their way out, Chin Sun peered into the eyes of those she passed, wondering if they all were as hostile toward Gwishin as Young Master Kang claimed.

It’s not true , she wanted to tell them. Gwishin didn’t hurt the innocent. The real danger was gone.

But such words had to remain buried inside her, never to see the light of day.

The people weren’t ready for the truth. She could hardly believe it herself.

No one would have taken her seriously if she’d admitted a goblin was responsible for the scholar’s murder.

Maybe in a smaller village where the old lore was more than fairytales but not here in Sokju.

The people were too wise, too advanced, to believe such nonsense.

She needed to focus on the bigger problem. This was the second time a goblin had shown up and tried to steal her fox bead. A scholar had died, and without her powers to protect her, she’d nearly died, too.

She glanced at Mr. Park with a renewed sense of determination. The longer he had her fox bead, the greater the risk for the people of Sokju. And even if they’d abandoned her, she refused to abandon them.

An idea began to form in her mind. He’d offered to train her, which meant they’d have to go somewhere private to avoid being seen. A small smile spread over her face.

How wonderful.