Startled by the abrupt pause, Hwayeong halted as well and turned toward her. Seonhwa let out a small sigh.
“What is it?”
“...Just be careful.”
The warning came out of nowhere. Hwayeong blinked, confused, and Seonhwa continued in a low, worried voice.
“That maid... she serves a lady named Hongjin, from the capital.”
Seonhwa trailed off there, lips parting as if unsure whether to go on. Her hesitation drew a puzzled question from Hwayeong.
“You know her?”
“Yes. We’re in the same wing. But this Hongjin... she’s a little odd.”
“Odd how?”
“I can’t really say for sure, but... just be careful. Rumor has it that Her Majesty the Empress and the Empress Dowager are both very fond of you. And now, people are saying you have a special relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Hwayeong’s eyes went wide. She had never heard anything of the sort.
The part about the Empresses might be thanks to those cursed physicians and physiognomists, but the rest? Absolutely not.
