“I’m honored, Your Majesty. The stitching may be clumsy, but I truly did my best.”
“Everyone has things they’re good at and things they struggle with. What matters most is the effort one puts in, even in areas outside their strengths. The outcome is secondary.”
Sinyeong quietly disagreed. Results mattered—a lot, actually. But he kept that opinion to himself and glanced at Hwayeong again.
When their eyes met, he looked away almost reflexively.
Just then, the Empress spoke again.
“You seem troubled. Is something on your mind?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“But you were walking with your head down—you looked rather serious....”
He nearly asked what sort of scheme she was cooking up again, but with the palace attendants around, he thought better of it.
Even an offhand remark could spark rumors of a so-called ‘close friendship.’
Hwayeong hesitated, then finally spoke, her voice tinged with hesitation.
“My brother recently arrived in the capital out of concern for me... but....”
“But?”
