The empress then slowly turned her head to Hwayeong.
“This girl saved you.”
Sinyeong stiffened.
“It may not align with strict court etiquette, but a life-saving act cannot be ignored. I called her here so that you could properly express your gratitude.”
‘Mother, you have no idea. She hadn’t saved me. She had plummeted me into the ground and then pretended to save me!’
The words sat on his tongue, but he barely swallowed them.
After all, thanks to her, he had become the fragile crown prince who had collapsed in the consorts’ quarters.
And now, on top of that humiliation, he had to thank her?
He bit down on his irritation and forced out the words.
“So, you saved me.”
It was an empty statement.
A threat, even.
A warning that she wouldn’t get away with this.
But Hwayeong took it all in stride, effortlessly playing along.
