“Quite decent. I’d say... maybe twenty times what you receive now.”
She spoke airily, as if it were an afterthought—maybe, maybe not—but it was enough to make Sohwa falter.
“...And the residence?” she asked cautiously.
“That will be provided by the royal treasury. As for a trading guild, I’ll see to it myself. Father will help—he’ll have to, it’ll come out of my dowry.”
She gave a firm nod, as if it were already a done deal.
Sohwa fell silent, lips pressed tight, then spoke again after a moment’s thought.
“...And my father’s work?”
“I’ll find him a respectable post near the palace. Somewhere I can keep an eye on him. If he so much as tries his old mischief, I’ll see to it he’s too busy to gamble again.”
“....”
“Not bad, is it?”
“....”
“Well?”
Sohwa finally looked up, expression blank.
“So you really are staying in the palace?”
“Mm-hm.”
Her answer was firm and unflinching.
Sohwa lowered her gaze to the floor, then stood up without another word.
