Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 62

“Why are you here, Your Highness?”

“Does a brother need a reason to visit his only sister?”

“You’ve been so busy lately, I assumed you only came when you had a reason.”

“Oh, so you’re not happy to see your brother?”

“I’ll have to consider that.”

Anyone overhearing our conversation might have wondered, but both the Crown Prince and I were smiling, which seemed to reassure the court ladies and his attendants.

The Crown Prince glanced at the snacks Sung Gyeom-sa-bok and I were eating and grumbled.

“You never visit your brother these days, yet you’re giving all these delicious treats to Sung Gyeom-sa-bok.”

“What can I do if my brother isn’t entertaining, Your Highness?”

“So, Gyeom-sa-bok’s stories are more interesting?”

“Indeed. Perfect timing. Sung Gyeom-sa-bok seems reluctant to work, so why don’t you take him with you, Brother?”

“Aren’t you going to offer me any snacks?”

“How could I offer the Crown Prince of the nation something that’s already gone cold?”

I said, getting up from my seat.

Sung-yoon, startled by the Crown Prince’s voice, also rose to leave, but I turned and subtly shook my head.

“Since you’re here, let your attendants take a break as well. Song-bi, prepare some simple refreshments.”

“Yes, Princess.”

I quickly rattled off the instructions before anyone could interject.

“I’ll have something made fresh for you, Brother, so please wait a moment. Sung Gyeom-sa-bok, keep the Crown Prince company for a while.”

“Yes, yes, Princess.”

As I left, ushering out even the Crown Prince’s entourage, the area became quiet in an instant.

Only Chief Eunuch Song, who always attended the Crown Prince, remained.

I made sure no one was left nearby and instructed the court ladies to keep everyone away.

Hiding around the corner of a nearby building, I was out of sight from the Crown Prince and Gyeom-sa-bok.

The court ladies would be serving the refreshments I had prepared, and no one would enter this area until Song-bi brought the toast.

Soon, the Crown Prince’s voice could be heard.

“Does the Princess ever give you a hard time?”

“How could the Princess ever do such a thing?”

“Tell me honestly.”

Despite the Crown Prince’s playful tone, Sung Gyeom-sa-bok remained cautious.

“Whenever the Princess calls for me, she never fails to offer something. Any man with a tongue would be delighted to be summoned by the Princess.”

“I think I know where that confidence comes from. There are more than a few people in the palace addicted to the Princess’s food. You must be one of them. If the Princess ever mistreats you, tell me anytime.”

‘Crown Prince, do you have a problem with me…?’

Should I only feed him the burnt crusts of the bread from now on?

Unlike someone else, Sung Gyeom-sa-bok made me feel rewarded for feeding him so well.

“The Princess is kind-hearted and full of warmth.”

“She’s curious and fearless. Make sure she doesn’t do anything reckless.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

With me as a common topic, the small talk ended, and the conversation moved on to the main subject.

“Do you happen to know anything about Lord Kim Seon-ik?”

Sung Gyeom-sa-bok didn’t waver at the Crown Prince’s words.

“I merely travel across the border and don’t have deep ties with the Lord.”

“No, I asked the wrong question. I was asking if you knew anything about someone already branded a traitor.”

Sung Gyeom-sa-bok, who undoubtedly knew why the Crown Prince was asking, answered directly.

“I have heard rumors that Lord Kim Seon-ik’s daughter was a candidate for the Crown Princess.”

“The word had already spread as far as Hamgyeong [a northern province of Korea]?”

“Information gathering is my duty, so I’ve heard a little.”

“What kind of person was Lord Kim Seon-ik? I’m just curious if the stories I hear from Hanyang [the old name for Seoul, the capital of Korea] match what those who experienced him directly have to say.”

“As far as I know, Lord Kim was highly respected by the soldiers within the garrison. But I know nothing about the treason.”

“I see…”

The Crown Prince sounded disappointed.

He must know. The person who least wanted to believe that Lord Kim Seon-ik was involved in treason was probably the King himself, so he must have investigated him thoroughly.

“Those who were under Lord Kim Seon-ik brought evidence that he was involved in treason.”

“I see no reason for them to slander him. His Majesty knows that best.”

“Is that so.”

“If I may be so bold, may I offer a word?”

“Speak.”

“Even if it were true that Lord Kim Seon-ik was involved in treason, he would not have made such a choice because of the unsavory rumors surrounding Your Highness.”

“…Thank you.”

Listening to the conversation winding down, I spotted Song-bi approaching hesitantly with a small table and nodded to signal that it was okay.

‘So, that’s why he wanted to meet Sung Gyeom-sa-bok.’

It would have been better to ask through me, but he wanted to confirm it himself?

No, he was asking about a traitor, so he was trying to exclude me?

‘But isn’t this more troublesome?’

Well, if he wants to do it himself, what can I do? But it’s a bit annoying to bother people like this because of it.

Well, even though descriptions are often omitted in novels, a male lead who does nothing for the female lead is not attractive.

I stepped forward as if I had made the food myself and approached the two of them.

“Did you perhaps harass Sung Gyeom-sa-bok while I was away, Your Highness?”

“No, Princess.”

“If the Crown Prince harasses you, you must tell me.”

“Yes, Princess. I will only trust the Princess.”

Sung-yoon replied playfully, and the Crown Prince looked sullen.

“I was just saying that the Princess’s food is the most delicious, but I don’t know why you’re so cold to your brother.”

‘How amusing.’

Song-bi, who had followed me, placed the small table in front of the Crown Prince and stepped back.

“Here, eat.”

“Hmm. So, this is the new snack you made. You only offer it to Mother and Grandmother, and this brother is last in line.”

“The Queen and the Dowager Queen prefer soft foods.”

I’m worried that you’re not eating properly and only working, so I’m wondering if I should feed you liquid food… but you’re still young, so it’ll be okay.

“By the way, did the Dowager Queen eat it?”

“Hmm. When I went to greet her today, I saw it placed by her bedside, so I suspect she’s eating it secretly.”

‘Hoh. Is that so.’

“I heard she’s still refusing your greetings. I’m sorry to you.”

“It’s better than Your Highness being at odds with the Dowager Queen.”

The Dowager Queen was still angry.

The Crown Prince knew what started this, so he looked quite apologetic to me.

‘Anyway, if the person who committed the crime is the elder, the younger person is always wrong.’

In fact, I was considering spreading a mat in front of the Dowager Queen’s residence and begging for forgiveness, but the King and the Crown Prince heard about it during the preparation stage, so I was almost confined to my residence instead.

Instead, I ended up being scolded by the Queen again, but the Dowager Queen was still refusing my greetings, so I was just being disobedient.

‘Am I living too carelessly…?’

I wonder if it’s okay to be like this in a Confucian country, but aren’t people lenient with sick children everywhere?

If you asked which of us was at fault, all the Confucian scholars would say it was my fault, but they couldn’t tell me to prostrate myself and beg for forgiveness.

Still, it was a good sign that she was secretly eating the snacks I sent.

“It’s delicious. By the way, what did you name this?”

“It’s bread.”

“…What?”

“Bread.”

“…Are you perhaps cursing me?”

“Pardon?”

‘No, how did he come up with that idea?’

Hiding my shock, I shook my head, pretending not to know.

“I don’t know what you mean, but I named it ‘bread’ because it’s made with edible (食) ingredients and it’s well-risen and puffy.”

I made something up, and it sounded plausible even to me.

The Crown Prince looked suspicious but nodded as if he understood.

“Well… it’s better than ‘Tang-geul-i’ [a nonsensical, cutesy name].”

“You don’t have to eat it if you don’t like it.”

“No. I’ll eat it.”

Seeing him defend his plate with a serious face, it must be delicious.

“Come to think of it, the selection of the Crown Princess will likely be postponed because of these events.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

There was quite a bit of bloodshed because of the treason, and since many people were involved, I think they’ll probably start over with the candidates. It didn’t seem like a good time for the Crown Prince to choose now.

But the Crown Prince said something unexpected to me.

“Thanks to you, even the selection of a royal son-in-law has been postponed, so I’m sorry.”

“I don’t particularly want to get married early.”

“But aren’t good families and decent young men usually betrothed early?”

You’re not in a position to be talking about others.

Originally, the Crown Princess was often slightly older than the Crown Prince, in order to see royal descendants early.

But our Crown Prince might end up marrying a Crown Princess younger than himself.

‘No, but then what happens to the female lead?’

I know the story has changed a lot from the original, but surely they won’t not end up together, right?

But if they end up together, what about the Crown Princess?

Even if it’s natural for the King to take concubines, the sentiment might not match… or will it?

Wasn’t the male lead unmarried until he reunited with the female lead in the original story? There was definitely no Crown Princess.

I vaguely recalled my memories and answered absentmindedly.

“There will be even younger men left then.”

“……”

The Crown Prince looked at me with a dubious expression.

No, what do you think I am, being only eight years old??

Ah, why. Originally, in the Joseon Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 1392-1897], couples were matched based on factions and family status, so there were cases where the woman was much older because they couldn’t find a match.

As I sent a glare mixed with annoyance at the Crown Prince’s dubious gaze, he avoided my gaze and said something unexpected again.

“Actually, His Majesty mentioned what you did in court the other day for that reason.”

“?”

Is he talking about me creating a shelter for the beggars? Why is that?

The Crown Prince smiled, amused that I didn’t understand, and answered my silent question.

“Since you are so intelligent and favored by His Majesty, it means that families who want to be your in-laws should act accordingly.”

“?!”

“He’s hinting that it might be difficult for you to marry until I take a Crown Princess, so he’s giving you a hint.”

I widened my eyes at the unexpected information.

‘That was the intention?!’