Page 21 of Gumiho Kiss (Realm of Eternal Blossoms #1)

“Of course your parents didn’t want you. Why would they?” “You’re nothing special. Your aunt and uncle must be so disappointed.” “I bet your parents wanted a boy, so they got rid of you.”

The taunts had started as early as she could remember.

The hitting and shoving soon after that.

Always when Aunt wasn’t looking, and once Sang Mi was walking, that happened more and more.

Not that Chin Sun blamed Aunt. She couldn’t have kept an eye on Chin Sun every second they were out in public; she’d had to take care of the whole household, not just her orphaned niece.

Mr. Park’s expression softened. “Because you didn’t have parents?”

Chin Sun looked away. “Does it matter? Min Joon helped me for as long as he could. Once my uncle found out what we were doing, he told Min Joon’s parents and they moved to the other side of the city to keep us apart.”

Her cheeks tinged. She hadn’t intended for it to sound so dramatic. Like childhood sweethearts separated, only for fate to bring them together again years later.

“I didn’t mean it like that. Our relationship never went beyond friendship, I assure you. Min Joon is only?—”

She winced. Calling him by his given name instead of Inspector Kim certainly wasn’t helping her case. She didn’t even use Young Master Kang’s given name, and he was her fiancé.

She peeked at Mr. Park, fear skipping through her chest. He and Young Master Kang were friends. If he claimed something inappropriate was going on between her and Min Joon, Young Master Kang might call off the marriage.

The bodyguard was watching her carefully, but beyond that, his face was impassive. Finally, he said, “So, I have him to thank for your poor technique?”

P-poor technique?

Her eyes narrowed just before she lunged, blade crashing into his with a zing. “You call this poor technique?”

Mr. Park pushed her away with a laugh. “There we go. Now you’re not holding back.”

Chin Sun’s lip curled. She didn’t like being baited. Even more than that, she didn’t like falling for it.

Time to return the favor.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Mr. Park’s wicked grin was all the answer she needed.

She flew forward in a blaze of movement, striking again and again.

She may not be as fast without her bead, but that didn’t mean she’d forgotten the intricacies of swordplay.

For the next half hour or so, they sparred, testing each other for weaknesses, goading each other to try harder.

Chin Sun was the more cunning of the two, her attacks less predictable.

But Mr. Park was the greater swordsman by far, besting her three times to her one.

He not only had experience on his side but also strength and speed.

Once they’d gotten into a good rhythm, Chin Sun changed tactics, doing all she could to keep Mr. Park on the defensive so he wouldn’t notice the group of tree roots she was herding him toward. Just a bit farther, and they’d be in the right position for her to stumble and stage an accidental kiss.

But keeping his focus was only one of many pieces that had to align for her scheme to work.

If Mr. Park didn’t react quickly enough, she might end up getting stabbed instead of falling on him.

She also had to make sure she didn’t tip forward too early; otherwise her mouth wouldn’t land on his, and all this would be for naught.

“So, what about you?” she asked. “What made you decide to become a soldier?” Her question was meant to keep him distracted, but she was also genuinely curious. Many sangmin joined the military because it offered the greatest opportunities for advancement.

He blocked her strike, seemingly unaware of the roots at his back. “Joining the military was always meant to be a stepping stone, but when I became a royal guard, I found I enjoyed the position so much I didn’t wish to leave it.”

Chin Sun’s mouth curved downward. “Then what was your original goal?”

“To become a minister in the royal cabinet.”

Her sword slipped at his next attack, then fell to the ground unnoticed. “The royal cabinet? But that would mean you’re a . . .”

Mr. Park’s eyebrows rose. “A yangban? Yeh, I used to be.”

She swallowed, throat suddenly thick. “But I thought you said you didn’t have any family.”

He didn’t answer, something wavering in his gaze. Then he broke eye contact and waved at her fallen blade. “Are you going to get that?”

“Ah, yeh.” Chin Sun picked up the sword, but her thoughts were so scattered she nearly dropped it again.

If Mr. Park was a yangban, he outranked her.

How could she have been so stupid! Of course Young Master Kang’s friend was a yangban, not a sangmin.

And she’d been so arrogant when he’d first arrived.

“If I am to trust you to protect me, I need to know your word means something.”

“I apologize for my word choice, but I assumed you knew I wasn’t including the Lee family.”

“My servants are family. You do not touch them.”

Her face flamed up at the memory. She’d been so angry over how he’d treated Pyung Ho, but now his behavior made sense. If he’d grown up in a yangban household, it would have been normal to think of his servants as little more than animals, not people with hopes and dreams much like his own.

But why on earth would a yangban have become a jungin’s bodyguard?

Her mind flew back to what he’d said a moment ago. “A yangban? Yeh, I used to be.”

As in, he wasn’t anymore. Did that mean he and his family weren’t on good terms? Had his parents cut ties with him?

Her heart swelled with sympathy. To lose your family was one thing; to be abandoned was quite another.

She dipped her head. “Mr. Park, I owe you an apology. Please forgive me for being so disrespectful. I didn’t realize you were highborn.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Like I said, I only used to be one.” The grief in his voice was palpable, calling to her own.

Chin Sun aimed her sword at his chest, but he twisted out of the way and grabbed her outstretched arm, locking her in place. She peered into his eyes—if she wasn’t mistaken, they were wet with tears.

It was the first time she’d seen him so open, so vulnerable. Their faces were close now, close enough that she could fall forward and make it look like an accident.

But she was barely thinking about the mission anymore. She was too focused on the wounded man before her, a man who'd undoubtedly been treated worse than he deserved.

“I . . .” Chin Sun swallowed. “I know what it’s like to feel alone, to feel lost. It’s a pain that can eat you up if you let it. The fact that you haven’t says a lot about the kind of man you are.”

“And what kind is that?”

“A brave one. One I’d be honored to call a friend.” She kept her gaze fixed on him, hoping he could see her sincerity.

The way Mr. Park’s eyes widened told her he’d gotten the message, loud and clear. He gave her a small smile. “Thank you, Lady Lee. The honor is all mine.”

Chin Sun smiled in return, unable to look away even if she’d wanted to.

But then he pushed her back with a cough, severing the connection between them.

Chin Sun grimaced. She’d meant to distract him , not get distracted herself. He was almost in the perfect position. She needed to make the kiss happen now before the moment passed her by.

She swung toward his legs and, just as she’d predicted, Mr. Park swerved to the left, his heel sliding back until it was a hairsbreadth from one of the gnarled roots. He was slightly below her, courtesy of the uneven ground.

He started to move in for another attack, but she rose to her full height, lowering her weapon as though she were tired. “Maybe we should take a break?”

Mr. Park’s lips were tight with disapproval, but he sheathed his blade. “Giving up already?”

She ignored the jab and held out her sword. He reached for it, but then she took another step, her foot hitting the edge of the dirt mound she stood on.

She wobbled forward, free hand latching onto Mr. Park’s hanbok. His lips parted in surprise as she drew nearer, nearer.

But his reflexes were too quick.

Rather than tumbling to the ground, he managed to plant his right foot, one hand wrapping around her back while the other landed just below her ribs.

Chin Sun hissed as pain shot through her abdomen. She glanced down at the spot where his hand rested—right on top of the wound he’d given her the night he’d swallowed her bead.

It wasn’t bleeding anymore—she’d even called Hae Rim back after the fight in the schoolyard to make sure all was well—but she knew her behavior must seem suspicious. Had she just blown her cover?

But Chin Sun’s fear melted away as her gaze locked with Mr. Park’s, something new sparking between them.

She was suddenly very aware of how their bodies were pressed together, her hand splayed across his chest while his gingerly held her in place.

He, too, stood frozen, watching her with an unreadable expression.

But beneath her hand, his heart thumped erratically.

Seconds passed, or maybe none at all—Chin Sun didn’t know anymore. All she knew was Mr. Park’s nearness, his warm breath on her face, the endless depths of his eyes, the way his touch sent tingles through her skin.

His gaze dropped to her mouth, something smoldering in his dark eyes. Chin Sun’s stomach tightened as he leaned in. Her eyelids fluttered closed.

But then she was standing upright on shaky legs while he hovered two steps away, expression neutral. “You really ought to watch your footing,” he said hoarsely.

Chin Sun’s jaw dropped. Wait, what? She blinked a few times. Had he just?—

When he motioned for her to raise her hwando, she grimaced before she could stop herself. Was he trying to pretend like that hadn’t just happened?

“Mr. Park, I?—”

He swiped forward, forcing Chin Sun to leap to the side to avoid the blow. He raised his eyebrows, then pointed at her weapon again.

She huffed but did as instructed. Fine. He could have it his way.

Mr. Park came at her again, but this time, she sidestepped into a twirl and pressed her blade to his back. “Who needs to watch their footing?”

He turned around with a bright smile. “Nicely done.”

“Coming from someone with your skill, that’s high praise indeed.” She beamed.

The grin fell off Mr. Park’s face, and he looked away, almost as if he’d seen something unnerving. Chin Sun glanced behind her, but there was nothing there.

“Mr. Park? Are you all right?”

He slipped his sword back into its scabbard. “Let’s stop here for today.”

Chin Sun blinked in confusion but didn’t argue. It probably was best that they get back. Sang Mi would be wondering what was keeping her. Maybe she could orchestrate another “accident” at their next training session, one that would actually be successful.

“Thank you for letting me use this.” She held out the sword she’d borrowed, but the bodyguard didn’t take it. “Mr. Park?”

“Promise not to slip again?” His tone was light, teasing.

Chin Sun’s face heated with embarrassment, but she boldly met his eye. “Why? Afraid you won’t be able to catch me this time?”

He grabbed the sword, expression turning somber. “I’ll always catch you.”

Before she could process what he’d said, he lumbered off in the direction of the city. She hastened after him, wondering if she’d misheard.

And why her stomach wouldn’t stop doing somersaults.