Secret of the Red Lotus Flower (빨간 연꽃의 비밀)

Chapter 27

Yeo-jin struggled against the tight grip as she was pulled deeper into the storehouse, her feet dragging along the dirt floor. The hand over her mouth muffled her shouts and prevented her from getting any outside help. Despite the dim light, the young maid could still make out the outline of the door and the shelves of clay pots filled with household supply.

She didn't know who could have grabbed her, but they were very strong. Whoever her assailant was, they seemed determined to get her deeper into the dark confines of the storehouse. Disregarding the terror she felt, Yeo-jin knew that she would not go peacefully.

Yeo-jin found enough purchase with one foot to drive her other heel into the person's foot as hard as she could. The hand over her mouth loosened enough of her to bite deeply into their palm, which caused them to finally release her. Yeo-jin grabbed one of the pots and smashed it over her assailant's head, filling the air with the spices contained within. As the person wheezed for breath, Yeo-jin made a dash for the storehouse door.

"Yeo-jin! Stop! It's me!" At the sound of a familiar voice, Yeo-jin paused with her hand on the door knob. She turned around to get a better look at her attacker.

"Kwang-sun? Is that you?" Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light and she could finally make out the palace guard that she had been flirting with for the past few months. "What the hell?"

"I wanted to surprise you and didn't want anyone to see us together. No one here knows about us yet," Kwang-sun said as he limped over to Yeo-jin. "Um, surprise?"

"Of all the idiotic- I thought I was going to die!" Kwang-sun grimaced as Yeo-jin punched him in the shoulder as hard as she could. "You didn't want me to reveal to anyone that we knew each other and your bright idea was attempted kidnapping? You could have just gone 'Psst, Yeo-jin, keep quiet and look over here.'"

"Oh... I didn't think of that. I was just so excited to see you that I acted without thinking. Sorry," Kwang-sun said.

Kwang-sun looked abashed as he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. Yeo-jin felt her resistance melt a little bit at his apology. Why did I have to fall for such a lovable buffoon?

"Wait... How are you here? I didn't see you with the carriage or any of the wagons," Yeo-jin asked. She looked at him again and realized that he wasn't wearing the uniform of the royal guard but the livery of the Min household instead. "Oh my goodness, are you undercover?"

"What? No. I was merely checking the storehouse for the fox," Kwang-sun asked. "Why would you think that I was undercover?"

"Because of what you are wearing, you oaf!" Yeo-jin said as she gestured at his clothing. Kwang-sun looked down at his uniform and she could see the realization in his eyes as he finally put together what she was saying. "Why else would you being wearing that instead of your normal uniform?"

"Yeah... about that. I don't work for the palace anymore," Kwang-sun explained. "I got a job offer here and took it."

"Why would you do that?" Yeo-jin asked. She didn't know how much Lord Min paid his guards, but she was certain that it was less than what the palace did.

"For you, of course," Kwang-sun replied. "I wanted to be with you and see where our relationship took us. However, I knew that you couldn't stay in Hanseong forever and I found a way to get transferred to your home. Did I misread your signals and make a mistake?"

Yeo-jin was about to make a caustic remark when she paused to consider his words. She knew that she hadn't been allowed to stay within the palace at night and, in hindsight, it was foolish to think that Lord Min would indefinitely pay for her stay at an inn to look after his daughter. Lord Min was her master and could recall her back to the Min manor whenever he desired. When that inevitably happened, her mistress would be alone again.