Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 69

“I, I… no, *this* one can draw! I can draw!”

Oh, drawing. I hadn’t considered that.

“Genre paintings… and portraits?”

“Yes, I can!”

I had been sitting in the back, quietly observing, and when I spoke, I noticed the atmosphere shift.

‘Right. It would be good to have paintings of the scenery here and the children’s lives to remember this place.’

I could summon a painter from the Bureau of Painting, but that would cost money, of course, and it would be a hassle to bring them here every time. If we could handle it ourselves, that would be ideal.

Following my words, Court Lady Min and Gaia wrote down the names of the girl who had spoken up first, as well as a few others who had raised their hands. Emboldened, others eagerly raised their hands as well.

“This one can play musical instruments, but… would that be acceptable?”

“Hmm. Musical instruments.”

Musical instruments are good for refinement, but I wonder if they’re useful in this era.

Wouldn’t teaching the children instruments lead to misunderstandings that I’m raising courtesans [highly skilled female entertainers] ?

In this era, musicians weren’t treated very well, and the Royal Music Academy, the best possible outcome, wasn’t open to just anyone.

‘As it was then, so it is now; arts and physical education are difficult paths for employment…’

Seeing me troubled, a little child who was quite familiar with me ran up and shouted.

“I want to learn an instrument!”

“Hey, hey, don’t cut in!”

The little leader, who had been watching from the side, immediately grabbed the child, flustered.

“You’re going through a lot…”

“……”

I chuckled as I saw him retreat silently, taking care of the little one, perhaps sensing the pity in my gaze.

I decided to record it for now, as it might be useful later. Then, it suddenly occurred to me.

“Anyone here know how to ride a horse?”

One person raised their hand.

I was slightly suspicious.

It was the person who had raised their hand in every category except cooking.

“Really?”

“That is the truth.”

“Can you shoot a bow, by any chance?”

“My skills are lacking, but…”

What is this? A Mary Sue [a character, often in fanfiction, who is unrealistically perfect and skilled]?

‘At this rate… could they be the protagonist of another novel?’

Writer, are you perhaps writing another story in the same universe?

While I was having such useless thoughts, Court Lady Min and the maids diligently finished the classification.

In particular, they checked the level of those who knew Chinese characters and subdivided them.

It seemed they hadn’t thought of using the slaves in this way. This is why stereotypes are scary.

Child education was already a tough job, and with the lack of manpower compared to the number of children to teach, they seemed very excited about the fact that the workforce to help with education was increasing.

Come to think of it, their eyes were sparkling with energy, but they seemed a bit thinner than the last time I saw them.

‘I feel bad for giving them too much work…’

Should I give them a gift or something?

While I was pondering, the court ladies and maids around me stepped back, and as if they had been waiting, the children gathered around.

“Why are there so many people all of a sudden?”

“It just turned out that way…”

As I was receiving the list of women who knew how to read, which Court Lady Min had left for me, the children grumbled and peeked at the paper. They had learned some letters in the meantime, and it was quite admirable to see them reading haltingly.

“Hmph. Even as slaves, they have surnames.”

“Huh? Well… I guess…?”

There’s no need to get rid of the surnames they had just because they became slaves. Of course, it’s a sad slave’s lot that they can’t refuse if the master wants to change their name.

But I don’t think these kids were thinking about that.

“Do you perhaps want a surname?”

“What, no, no!”

“I want one.”

The little one pushed away the little leader who was denying it and clung to me. This child seemed to have made it a habit.

“I don’t like my current name either. I want a different name.”

“Your current name?”

“Don’t say it!”

The little one shouted, but the children next to them didn’t stop.

“Baby. It’s Baby.”

“Baby?”

In the end, the little one, unable to stop the older siblings from speaking, pouted resentfully.

“I didn’t make it up!”

“Yes, I know.”

I heard that some of these children were abandoned, and some had lost their parents, but they weren’t old enough to name themselves.

The little one’s eyes sparkled as they clung to my skirt.

“Hey, big sister. Can you give me a new name? Huh? A pretty one.”

“Me? Uh… How about asking Court Lady Min to name you?”

“No! I want you!”

“Ugh.”

The child shook their head firmly, saying they didn’t want anyone but me.

‘Well, names are important…’

Wasn’t I the one who named myself to avoid a strange name?

Perhaps realizing that acting spoiled would work, the other children swarmed around, shouting, ‘Name! Name!’ I had no choice but to promise to name the children.

The first was, of course, the little one who had expressed their opinion first. I guess this is what they mean by ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease.’

“I want a cute and pretty name!”

“Hmm. Then how about Ah-young?”

“Ah-young! I like it! Is it a Chinese character name too? What does it mean?”

“That is…”

I see. I have to decide on the Chinese characters too…

As I pondered and said the characters, one of the maids who was waiting nearby wrote down each of the children’s names.

The maids seemed to know the children’s original names.

The children were generally satisfied with the names they were given and ran out, shouting their new names.

‘I wonder if they’ll get confused among themselves.’

Well, it’ll be fine since the maid is writing it down next to them because of that.

As I was giving the children names one by one, I felt a piercing gaze from the side.

It was the little leader.

“…Do you want me to name you too?”

“Wh-who! Wants! One!”

I’ve known them for quite a while, but is this why they haven’t told me their names?

‘I didn’t say mine either, though.’

But if these children went around calling my name, which was obviously from a noble family, something bad might happen.

“It’s okay. What kind of name do you like?”

The children generally wanted names that were cute, cool, or impressive.

They seemed to think that Chinese character names looked better, so they rejected Korean names, which was a bit disappointing, but what could I do if that’s what they wanted?

As I was playing the role of a name-giver, which I wasn’t cut out for, I had to dredge up the names of celebrities, politicians, and acquaintances that I remembered to name the children.

Maybe there are names of novel protagonists too?

But in the end, the child who just sat next to me without saying anything until I had named all the other children quietly left.

‘That kid, too.’

Well, I heard that they’re smart and quickly learned to read, so maybe they can name themselves.

‘It would have been nice if they had at least told me their name before leaving.’

After naming everyone in line in front of me and barely escaping the naming hell, I collapsed from exhaustion, and the maids quickly brought tea.

Hmm. At this rate, wouldn’t the slaves from noble families all realize who I am? But if they’re perceptive enough to realize that, they wouldn’t spread rumors anywhere.

“But why are they all asking me to name them?”

I could understand the children who were familiar with me, but even the children I didn’t know well swarmed around and lined up to ask me to name them, so I had to think hard for a long time to name them.

The maid who was diligently writing down the children’s names next to me, as if trying to remember them, smiled and gave an answer.

“That’s because those children also know that you are of a ‘higher status,’ young lady.”

“Is it better if someone of higher status names them?”

“Of course, wouldn’t they think that a name given by a more precious person is better? Besides, you put a lot of thought into naming each and every one of them, didn’t you?”

“I did put a lot of thought into it, but I’m confused too. There aren’t any duplicates, right?”

“No, young lady.”

I don’t know if the names are appropriate for this era, but I gave them a lot of names according to their wishes, and I was tired.

“I hope they’ll be okay.”

The maids answered without hesitation to the words that had neither subject nor object.

“They’ll be fine. Women and children adapt quickly.”

That’s how it would be from the perspective of the palace maids who enter the palace at a young age.

Their status was now commoners, but they were my slaves.

‘It’s sad, but a slave in a wealthy family is better than a poor commoner.’

And usually, public slaves are said to be better off than private slaves, but for a woman, a princess’s private slave might be better than a public slave.

“There was no one in the palace who didn’t know that the princess was generous to her inferiors.”

“Was I…?”

“Most of the slaves who came to Siyoungwon [a facility or organization] are mothers and children together, so that alone is something to be grateful for.”

Keeping families together as much as possible was also a great act of kindness.

Although there are many cases where there is no father.

‘Well, judging by their behavior, most of them seem to be from noble families, so they were probably all executed.’

It’s someone else’s business, but seeing their faces doesn’t make me feel good.

Well, if the coup had succeeded, my position would have been the opposite… or at least quite difficult, so it wasn’t the time for me to worry about others.

‘Hmm… what happened to the daughters of the deposed king?’

Were they just demoted to commoners?

Of course, compared to the king and crown prince being confined after being deposed by a coup, it’s a privileged thing to say, but it was obvious that life would have been tough.

I had some discussions with Court Lady Min about the operation of Siyoungwon and the slaves inside, and then got up to return to the palace.

“I’ll check in from time to time. Take good care of them. They lost their families and became slaves in an instant, so they are pitiful.”

“You are truly a compassionate person, princess.”

“Not really. I can be generous because I don’t think they can harm me.”

Court Lady Min hesitated at my words, as if something had occurred to her.

“Who would dare to harm you? Now… that deposed Lee Soo is gone.”

“Yes. That’s right. The one who could harm me is dead. The one who tried to harm me, harmed my birth mother, and tried to harm my brother.”

“Princess.”

“That person was also my blood relative. But I’m not sad at all. Rather… I felt relieved.”

“That’s natural. How could you forget that resentment?”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. And in fact…”

“?”

“The maids also heard the news and, after confirming it was true, secretly gathered at night after putting the children to bed and toasted.”

“…Court Lady Min?”

I always thought she was someone who adhered to principles and was strict with herself.

This person drank alcohol because she was happy? And that too, at the news of someone’s death?

“Yes. Wasn’t that person an enemy to us as well? How could we not rejoice at the death of an enemy?”

“……”

“Please don’t dwell on that person. Weren’t they the ones who dared to harm the crown prince? His Majesty made the right decision for the sake of the current Crown Prince. Or is that not so?”

“…It makes me feel a little better to hear you say that. Thank you, Court Lady Min.”

“It would be enough if the words of this insignificant one did not defile the ears of a precious person.”

Saying that, Court Lady Min lowered her body and met my gaze.

“You are welcome to come anytime if you feel stifled, but those who serve you will be very worried. Please don’t torment Gaia and Songbi too much.”

“I’ll be lenient.”

Court Lady Min smiled faintly at those words.

“How can we bend your will? Please always take care of yourself.”

“Yes.”

As I left the door with Court Lady Min, Gaia’s gaze, who was discussing the budget with the maids of Siyoungwon, turned this way.

“Let’s go home now.”

“Yes, young lady.”

I waved to Court Lady Min, who had come to see me off at the door, and secretly sighed.

‘Hmm. As expected, a court lady is different.’

I didn’t expect her to tell me it was a good thing.

Is this experience?

‘When Yeoju comes back later… it might be okay to assign Court Lady Min to her.’

By that time, the operation of Siyoungwon will be stable, so it will be okay even if Court Lady Min doesn’t continue to manage it like now. After all, shouldn’t I keep someone I can trust by her side?

It’s a distant future, but I drew a slightly bigger picture.

Of course, what Yeoju thinks is important.

‘By the way, where did the kids go?’

They were excited and left after receiving their names, but they weren’t even showing their faces as I was leaving.

Not just the little ones, but even the little leader.

And of course, I ran into them when I was feeling so disappointed.