“So to sum up: Sinyeong snuck out again last night to meet you, then ran off in a panic and collapsed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And when he briefly woke, you two shared a kiss—after which his fever flared again.”
“Yes.”
Led by the Empress to the Daeyeong Lodge’s tea room, Hwayeong recounted the events of the past few days in full, figuring there was no point hiding anything now.
When she finished, the Empress let out a long, measured sigh.
“I knew something was strange. He’s always been in good health—suddenly falling ill like this didn’t add up.”
“My apologies.”
She couldn’t help but feel guilty, like she’d teased someone raised in a glass case into catching a fever.
The Empress fell silent for a moment—then spoke again, calmly.
“From now on, don’t meet him at dawn. See him during the day.”
“...Pardon?”
