Clink, Ham Seokjeong set her cup down.

"It’s been a while."

"Yes."

Silence followed. Uijae waited patiently. The once familial bond between them had grown distant over the years. She turned her head, covering her mouth with her hand as she coughed lightly. Her complexion wasn’t good. Ham Seokjeong struggled to suppress another cough.

"Have you been well?"

"For the most part, yes."

"That’s… good to hear."

Uijae’s eyes drifted to the cane leaning against the chair beside her. It was the same one he’d seen during her press conference.

"You’ve been using a cane."

"Oh, you saw that on …