Her footsteps faltered. Just for a second.
But she forced herself to keep walking.
Straightened her back.
Lifted her chin.
Pretended like it hadn't happened.
Like she hadn't just been humiliated in front of everyone.
But she knew.
Everyone knew.
"You cannot even keep the attention of a prince on you. What is the use of all those years of training, the teachers, the resources we spent on you?"
King Seungho's voice was sharp, his words cutting deeper than any blade. He didn't wait for a response.
With a look of sheer disappointment, he turned on his heel and strode away, the rest of the royal family following without a second glance.
Cha was left standing there. Alone.
The whispers had stopped.
The laughter had died down.
But the silence was worse. It pressed in on her, suffocating, heavy with unspoken judgment.
