Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 2

Born as a Daughter of a Lowly Concubine (2)

“?!”

With a thud that resonated through the floor, an unexpectedly strong force pulled me away.

‘What was that?’

“Are you alright?”

Opening my tightly shut eyes, a boy who looked to be around middle school age filled my vision.

It seemed this child had jumped in to catch me right before I hit the ground.

‘Who is this?’

Startled, I stopped crying and stared blankly. The boy smiled gently, relieved, and carefully readjusted his hold on me.

“You seem to be alright.”

Let me be clear, I stopped because I was surprised, not because he was handsome.

Besides, the clothes he was wearing were extraordinary, starting with the color. It was definitely familiar, yet something you could never see casually.

‘Could that be… a dragon robe?’

Often seen in historical dramas, with impressive dragon patterns embroidered in gold thread, the kind only kings and crown princes could wear.

Royal families in the Joseon era [Korean dynasty from 1392 to 1897] tended to marry early, and it was common for the woman to be older, leading to early parenthood. But even so, there was no way this boy could be my biological father, so there was only one answer.

Oh, actually, the fact that the dragon robe was blue made it obvious.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”

As I reached my conclusion, the answer was forcibly provided by those around me.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

“Have you been injured anywhere?”

With a gesture, the boy silenced the crowd swarming around him. Still holding me, he stood up, looking at my dazed face, which was struggling to grasp the situation, and smiled softly.

“I am fine.”

While everyone around him was busy checking on the Crown Prince, his gaze remained fixed on me.

And naturally, my gaze was drawn to the Crown Prince and the clothes he was wearing.

“Our sister seems to be fine as well.”

“Uwah?!

Oh my god, there’s dirt on that dragon robe! The four-clawed dragon patch (四爪龍補: a patch embroidered with a dragon with four claws; the king’s dragon robe uses a five-clawed dragon patch) is scratched on the dirt floor?!

A dumb sound escaped my mouth at the shocking realization I hadn’t noticed when I was just looking at his face.

The Crown Prince frowned with concern.

“…Are you hurt somewhere?”

“Kkyiaaaa?”

At his worried voice, I frantically waved my hand and pointed towards the dragon robe. Noticing my gaze, the boy smiled brightly.

“Oh, are you worried I might be hurt? Don’t worry, it’s just a little dirt on the clothes.”

“Uuu.”

You might be okay, but the court ladies of the embroidery workshop, or the sewing workshop? Anyway, their opinion will be different! That’s handmade, isn’t it?!

Ignoring my protests, the boy held me and gently patted my back.

“You must have been very surprised, but you didn’t even cry. Our youngest sibling is very brave.”

The soul inside is older than you, you know?

“Awoo.”

I just can’t talk yet.

Anyway, seeing that he’s the Crown Prince’s youngest sibling, it seems my assumptions were correct.

‘I’ve gained an unexpected half-brother.’

I rested my chin on the shoulder of the future heir to the throne and sighed in relief.

As the Crown Prince, he must have been raised far more preciously than a daughter of a low-ranking concubine like me. If he was willing to throw himself to save his younger sibling, his character was at least trustworthy.

I was relieved and entrusting myself to him when I heard a voice I had forgotten.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince. What brings you to a place like this?”

“I merely stopped by to see if I could catch a glimpse of my sister, who was born sickly and couldn’t even have a hundred-day celebration. Instead, I almost witnessed a terrible accident.”

“!”

I couldn’t see them because my back was turned, but I knew everyone must be on edge.

“So, what exactly happened here, Consort Yeong?”

“Your Highness, please do not misunderstand. His Majesty the King entrusted the care of the princess to me, so I was escorting her to my residence, Chwiyoung Hall. It’s just that Court Lady Yoon presumptuously refused to let the princess go, and a commotion ensued.”

At Consort Yeong’s excuse, the boy’s voice, which had been so kind and gentle just moments ago when he called out to me, lowered.

“I am asking why my sister, the King’s only daughter, was put in such a dangerous situation.”

“I am sorry, Your Highness.”

“Do not forget what it means that His Majesty entrusted the child to Consort Yeong.”

What does it mean?

I wish someone would tell me…….

I didn’t know anything about Consort Yeong, so I had no idea what he was talking about.

The Crown Prince soothed me and spoke to Consort Yeong in a slightly softer voice than before.

“My sister seems to be very startled. How about Court Lady Yoon, her birth mother, soothes her a little more before taking her away?”

“His Majesty’s orders are strict, so how dare I disobey?”

“It cannot be easy to separate a newborn baby who has barely recovered from illness. Perhaps Consort Yeong could show a little more kindness. It would not be difficult for me to personally inform Father about the princess’s well-being.”

“Your Highness is wise, so please do not misinterpret my intentions. How could I not deeply care for the princess? I will grant Court Lady Yoon some time.”

So, the Crown Prince, worried about me, told Consort Yeong, ‘Stop it and take the child later.’ Consort Yeong retorted, ‘I’m just following orders, what are you going to do?’ Then the Crown Prince threatened, ‘Can I tell the King about this situation?’ And Consort Yeong finally said, ‘Since you put it that way, I’ll wait a little longer’?

‘This feels ominous.’

I thought that being born as a princess meant I wouldn’t have to worry about making a living, but it seems I have other worries now.

Court intrigues are only interesting when they don’t involve me.

Being in the middle of it is not enjoyable at all.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince. You are late for your lecture.”

“Oh…….”

The Crown Prince looked troubled at the eunuch’s cautious words.

However, even if he stayed here longer, the Crown Prince could not simply disobey the royal command.

“Haoooo!”

No. Don’t leave me behind…….

Noticing my distress, the Crown Prince gave me one last pat on the back and whispered.

“Do not worry too much. I will speak to Father.”

“Heooo…….”

Excuse me? Are you talking as if a newborn baby would understand?

Of course, I understood.

The Crown Prince approached my… no, my biological mother, and entrusted me to her, giving Consort Yeong a final word.

“Consort Yeong. I leave her in your care.”

“Do not worry. Prince Gyeong-eon is also waiting for his only sister.”

Tsk. It seems there’s at least one more prince.

But does that mean she’s going to take me to her residence soon? Even though the Crown Prince specifically told her to take me later.

‘This is unsettling. A concubine who bore a prince, openly defying the Crown Prince, means an uncertain future!’

But for now, I was grateful to the Crown Prince for preventing me from being separated from my sister.

I clung to my sister as if determined not to be separated this time.

Consort Yeong couldn’t take me away in that situation, so I was able to return to my familiar sister’s residence.

My sister stroked my small hand, tears streaming down her face.

“Awoo awoo.”

I wanted to comfort her, but words wouldn’t come out, and my arms were too short.

My sister smiled faintly as I made crying noises.

“It’s alright. It’s unavoidable.”

When our parents passed away and it was just the two of us, my sister held me like this and cried.

“Heeing…….”

As I started to sob, my sister carefully soothed me, telling me not to be afraid.

Perhaps the events of today were too shocking for a newborn’s body. Exhausted from crying, I drifted off to sleep in my sister’s arms.

‘Maybe it would have been better for my sister if I wasn’t here.’

My sister would have been more comfortable without me.

If I had been born a prince, I would have been treated better…….

***

“Hey, hey. Wake up.”

Someone was poking me, being a nuisance.

‘Oh, it’s Si-woon Yoon again, doing that again.’

The youngest, the late child, and the only son, the youngest was somewhat rude as a child, often kicking his sisters as he played. Our parents only doted on him because he was a child and didn’t properly discipline him.

Since our parents were excessively doting, the education was naturally up to the two older sisters.

As we got older, we realized that we couldn’t raise him like that, so my sister and I often rolled up our brother in a mat and educated him when our parents weren’t watching.

No matter how much he resisted, there was no way he could beat his sisters, who were more than 8 years older than him.

Thanks to our tearful education, our younger brother, who had his personality corrected, was popular among girls of his age.

Of course, his natural good looks also played a part.

‘Education is important after all.’

Some people are hopeless, but at least we could make him act like a human being.

It was all in vain, as he died tragically in an accident.

‘……Then who is kicking me now?’

As I recalled my brother’s death, my eyes snapped open, and I instantly remembered the reality I was currently facing.

“!”

“Oh? You’re awake.”

When I opened my eyes, a young boy with upturned eyes was looking down at me.