As they strolled on like that, the entrance to the consorts’ quarters soon came into view.
Sensing the distance shrinking, Sinyeong deliberately slowed his steps, and Hwayeong matched him.
“I’m starting to think someone moved the gate.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s gotten way too close all of a sudden.”
He grumbled to himself. It had felt endlessly far on the way in—so why did it seem so close now?
Hwayeong glanced over at him with an amused look, as if she found his sulking endearing.
Smiling to herself, she walked with him at a slow, meandering pace—as if dragging their feet might delay the inevitable.
Even so, the gate drew near far too quickly. And just like that, their brief moment together was over.
Chapter 13
Summer had arrived in the blink of an eye.
Before she even realized it, the world had turned deep green, the air grown heavy with heat, and she’d swapped her bedding and clothes for lighter ones.
At night, she sometimes slept with the windows open.
