Page 28 of The Last Tiger

I know where the tiger is, I want to shout. I could tell them, tell them now, the location of the tiger’s secret hideaway—that cave in the woods, where Seung and I ran past—

But then, suddenly, I have a better idea.

I rush into my bedroom, strip off my drenched, stained wedding ensemble, and climb into a more elastic tunic set. I stuff the ruined kimono unceremoniously into a cabinet above my bed mat. Then I begin the hunt.

If I’m going to make it to Kidoh without being caught—then I can’t just go around as the missing daughter of an illustrious yangban family. No, I’ll need a disguise. And I think I know just the one.

I rush to the edge of the room and kneel down beside the large, wooden chest containing all my old secondary school clothes that we’ve brought over from the colonies.

I begin to riffle through the layers of silk and cotton, reaching my hand to the very bottom and digging around for the patchy material.

My arm and upper torso are halfway buried in the pile of clothing when I hear the sound of footsteps shuffling by the door.

I barely have time to leap into the chest and pull the clothes over myself when the door slides open, filling the room with the pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the ground outside.

Someone rests in the entrance, unmoving. It sounds like they’re just standing there, staring at the interior of my bedroom. I pray that they don’t stay for long.

Then I hear a forlorn sigh. It’s Mother.

She speaks in a voice so soft that I almost don’t even register it.

“Aigoo, Eunji-ya,” Mother whispers, speaking in Tiger language. “Where have you gone?”

I bite my tongue, stomach churning with guilt and anger.

Just you wait, Mother. I’ll turn this around. Just give me a few days.

What could I possibly do for my family that would earn us more grace under the empire than to marry into a Dragon bloodline?

I may just have thought of the perfect key to my freedom, my family’s safety, and the forgiveness of my crime against the emperor.

So the tiger is what Isao wants, huh? That’s the key to his unfathomable appreciation? For once, luck might just be on my side.

Because I know exactly where the tiger is hiding.

I hear more shuffling, followed by the sound of the door sliding shut and feet crunching on gravel, disappearing into the distance.

Once I’m certain that Mother is long gone, I finally soften—and that’s when I find it.

I pull the old cloak out from the chest. That familiar musty scent. It fills my lungs and floods my mind with memories of a life long past.

Now you really look the part! Seung’s laughter rings in my ears.

I sit up, brushing a scarf off my lap. Then I throw the cloak over my head, sling an old schoolbag over my shoulder, and hustle to leave. I hoist myself back up onto the roof and scamper toward the old tree, then leap down outside.

If only Seung could see me now.

I hurry to the back entrance of the manor, stopping by the servants’ compound, which houses the kitchen.

There, I find a basket of untouched kimbap, wrapped in plastic, certainly prepared by Moonhee.

I swallow the bitter taste of acid that springs into my throat as I place the rolls at the bottom of my bag.

Then I turn, exiting through the back gate to the streets—

“Well, if it isn’t the bride-to-be.”

I whip around.

“Oh, Eunji-ji…” Kenzo stands stiffly beneath a thick burgundy cloak, under a large umbrella. “Just where do you think you’re going?”

I blanch.

“Hi,” I say dumbly, my mind racing for an excuse.

“ Hi? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Kenzo speaks coolly, a tick of annoyance underneath. He reaches to pull me beneath his umbrella, but I leap away. “The governor-general’s got the secret police out hunting for you. Are you aware that they’re talking of—”

“Executing me. I’m aware ,” I cut him off, masking my panic in irritation. “Isao’s condemned me.”

Kenzo takes another step forward, his voice darkening. “Not just you , Eunji. You’ve ruined me too.”

Impossible. The empire could never forsake its beloved, perfect Kenzo Kobayashi.

“I’ll have you know, they’ve revoked my position in the Dragon Army. My father won’t speak to me. And Isao says that if word of your treason gets out, it could be the downfall of my entire pedigree.”

Well, I suppose that there’s always a bright side to everything. I try not to smile.

“I’m sorry. That’s a shame,” I say without feeling. “However, I assure you not to worry. I’m going to fix things.”

“Indeed.” Kenzo nods. “You’re going to fix things right now.

You are to march with me to the emperor’s palace, drop to the palace floor, and beg for his forgiveness so that the wedding can continue as planned.

” He turns, gesturing for me to follow. “We’ll say you fainted during the ceremony, you felt ill, you went briefly mad—whatever we need to say to make them forgive me. ”

I don’t move. Kenzo looks back, askance.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” he demands.

For you to get lost, so I can get out of here and on my way to Kidoh…

“Maybe you should go without me,” I say.

“Come on , Eunji-ji.” Kenzo’s voice turns smooth, urging. “Don’t make this any harder than you’ve already made it for yourself.”

Something in his tone makes my shoulders soften. If he’s right—if Kenzo really can convince the empire to pardon us and our families, it would certainly be the easier method of avoiding my execution. Far simpler. I wipe my eyes, rubbing away the last of the paint.

Kenzo transforms back into the beacon of poise that I’ve always known and resented, knowing he’s breaking through to me. He extends his hand again, waiting. I almost take it—

Wait. What am I doing?

“I can’t marry you, Kenzo.”

For a moment, we face off, staring each other down as the deluge lightens into a drizzle. The breeze rustles Kenzo’s jet-black hair as a gleam of annoyance passes through his eyes. But he looks almost equally…impressed.

“Why don’t you want to be with me, Eunji?

” His voice is softer, questioning. As if he finds the very notion absurd.

“I’m smart. Driven. Ambitious, and—yesterday’s blunder aside—I am slated for an auspicious career.

I’m helping your family ascend socially and politically.

And yet you still don’t want to marry me.

Who could be a better partner to you than me? ”

A better partner?

A crooked grin and a messy shock of dark brown hair flash across my mind. I shove them away.

“Do you ,” I find myself asking, “actually want to be with me ?”

“That’s not relevant,” Kenzo replies coolly. “I don’t have any more choice in the matter than you.”

“But what if you did ?” I prod.

“There’s no point in playing with hypotheticals.” He waves me away. “Right now our priority is to get you un-executed and my promotion restored.”

“So you don’t want to be with me.”

“I—” He coughs diffidently. “I want whatever my father wants. And whatever’s best for the empire.”

A light flashes at the end of the pathway, reflecting off the wet pavement. Dragon soldiers or secret police approaching, no doubt. I whip around and begin walking quickly the other way.

“Where are you going?” Kenzo calls, trotting to catch up.

“If you really must know,” I hiss over my shoulder, “I’m going to save us.”

I turn the corner, tugging my hood low over my face. The flashlights continue patrolling behind us around the opposite bend.

“Cute notion. But the empire is—”

“Not from the empire,” I whisper. “I’m going to save us from each other.”

“What are you talking about?”

I whip around.

“Let’s get this straight, Kenzo: You don’t want to be with me. I don’t want to be with you. What if I told you that there was a way for us to please our fathers, convince the empire to forgive us, and call off the wedding?”

“I wouldn’t believe you.”

“Yeah? There’s still a tiger left alive.

The empire wants nothing in the world more than to find it, and General Isao is willing to shower whoever does with wealth, glory, and his ‘unfathomable’ appreciation.

That person—is going to be me. Once I find it, I’ll collect the reward, and Isao’s favor. And I’ll make things right.”

Kenzo scoffs. “A tiger hasn’t been seen since the last Slaying Ceremony in Kidoh.”

“You’re wrong. There’s still one left. I’ve seen it myself.”

“You’re out of your mind.” Kenzo stiffens, looking pale.

“I don’t need you to believe me. I know where it lives. I’m going to go there, find it—and when I turn it in, I’ll be welcomed back to the empire with open arms. Isao said it himself: Whoever finds the tiger will be a hero.”

“And then?” Kenzo’s face is incredulous.

“And then we’ll be off the hook. I’ll collect the reward. Not just the money, but Isao’s favor. The emperor will pardon us. And we can consider this arrangement…unarranged.”

And I’ll finally be free.

Kenzo pauses, glancing down to the soaked gravel beneath our feet, then up at my face.

“All right. But I’m coming with you.”

“No.” I blink.

“Yes, I am.”

“No,” I repeat, “you’re not . I’m doing this alone.”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not?”

“Number one.” Kenzo holds up a finger. “You’ve disgraced me, and I’m not letting you out of my sight until you atone, apologize to the empire, and go through with this wedding as planned.

” He sticks up a second digit. “Number two: I’m reasonably confident that, within a matter of days, I’ll convince you to do so.

And number three”—he adds a third—“this is a stupid idea, and you could be hurt.”

“Why do you care if I’m hurt?” I squint at him.

Kenzo peers at me condescendingly over the arch of his nose.

“When our fathers arranged for a marriage between us, I agreed to protect you, Eunji. As my future wife, you are now my responsibility. Unlike some people , I follow through on what I’ve committed to.

Also,” he adds, flashing a flawless set of ivory teeth, “I’d rather not marry damaged goods. ”

“You’re an ass, Kenzo.”

“Kidding.” He smiles. “But then again…if you really don’t want me to come, I’d be more than happy to give a shout to the Dragon soldiers down the street. I hear the governor-general’s got fun plans in store for you.”

He cups his hands around his mouth, as if to shout. I reach up and bat them away.

“Fine— fine .”

Kenzo quirks his head, feigning confusion. “?‘Fine’ as in I should summon those guards, or ‘fine’ as in you’ve accepted the fact that I’m joining you on your futile mission?”

“The second one,” I snap. “And it’s not futile.”