Hwayeong, despite her height and rough-and-tumble strength, looked more like she was being swept along than walking on her own.
Sinyeong watched her with growing unease—just as she was suddenly swept away to the right.
“Whoa—hey!”
She was gone in seconds, swallowed by the tide of bodies. Acting fast, Sinyeong reached out and yanked her back by the arm.
She stumbled to his side, startled.
He gave a sheepish shrug.
“Well, what else is strength for, if not times like this?”
“True enough.”
Still catching her breath, Hwayeong blinked down at where his hand was gripping her arm.
“You’re stronger than you look.”
“Stronger than you, that’s for sure.”
“I figured Your Highness was just the scholarly type—always getting dragged around by the likes of me.”
She gave him a once-over with mock admiration, her grin betraying just enough truth to sting.
At one point, she really had wondered what kind of Crown Prince let a woman choke him, drag him, even toss him around.
