“If all you needed was time, you could’ve said access was restricted. Why fake an injury? You just wanted to hang around in the capital, didn’t you?”
Bullseye. Hwaan’s face turned red.
“I couldn’t say that! If I told you the pass wasn’t issued, you would’ve gone berserk. You’d have stormed the palace gates!”
“What was I supposed to do? I was already stuck in there. Raising hell wouldn’t have changed a thing. If you’re going to lie, at least pick a better one.”
“I was just trying to look out for you—”
“I’m counting to three. If you’re not telling the truth by then....”
She raised a hand.
“One.”
At the soft, deliberate count, Hwaan’s eyes darted back and forth in a panic.
Clearly scrambling to come up with a lie, he froze when Hwayeong raised her second finger—and suddenly blurted,
“You’re in the capital, so why can’t I be? I just wanted to look around, alright? What, am I supposed to rot in Hwacheon forever?”
