Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 108

I was born the daughter of a low-ranking concubine, and the physicians, knowing I’m not growing as expected, often pepper me with questions, trying to pinpoint a symptom.

It would be a major issue if they were carelessly inquiring about the King’s health, but they seemed to be asking about family history, so I didn’t bother to correct them.

I simply answered that I was healthy.

Seongji, having witnessed similar interrogations, seemed anxious, unsure whether to intervene. But I answered with practiced ease.

Some might consider it rude, but I appreciated their strong sense of professionalism.

While Sehwa was lost in thought after hearing my response, I spotted the book rental shop.

“We’re here.”

“Um, Little Miss…”

I didn’t quite catch what Sehwa was trying to say, and the sight of the book rental shop drew me forward.

As I entered, Mr. Jang, who was leisurely tidying up, greeted me.

“Welcome. Little Miss, you’re here?”

“Yeah. I came about the book.”

“The book?”

“This.”

I’m here to exchange a damaged copy.

After ensuring we were alone, I showed him the cover, and Mr. Jang led us further inside.

I pointed out the damaged section I had found earlier and said,

“If the condition isn’t up to par, you should add more to it. How can you sell it like this?”

“Ah, my goodness… I’ll have to be more thorough with inspections from now on. Fortunately, we’re not selling it yet, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

“?”

“It’s a prototype, made to show to those involved first. Oh, and of course, I set aside a copy for you, Little Miss.”

“Then this one?”

“Didn’t we agree to get the author’s signature for the limited edition? So, I showed it to the original author first.”

“The original author??”

Turning around, I saw Sehwa, who had followed me, offering an awkward smile, as if she had overheard the conversation.

Seongji and Soi, who were also listening, looked equally surprised.

“Ah, I was going to tell you earlier, but you found out.”

“You’re a medical woman who also writes novels?”

Oh, a side job?

“Actually, my medical work barely covers my mother’s medicine costs. Fortunately, I receive assistance from various places because I’m a medical woman, but it’s still going to be expensive in the long run.”

So, she has a sick mother.

“But how did you get into writing novels?”

“My mother seemed lonely while bedridden, so I started making up stories. She enjoyed them, so I wrote them down, and then I thought I might be able to make some money, so I brought it to the book rental shop.”

And Mr. Jang, with his keen eye for talent, offered her an exclusive contract after reading the novel Sehwa brought in.

As expected, this guy has an eye for talent. I did well to hire him.

“I thought the medical descriptions in the novel were strangely realistic, and now I know why.”

“Since it’s a field I know, the descriptions become more detailed.”

Soi’s eyes were sparkling from behind, but I pretended not to notice and continued my friendly conversation with Sehwa.

To think I’d discover the author of in a place like this.

‘There was no mention in the original work of the female lead writing a novel. So, Sehwa isn’t the female lead, then…’

Even so, she seemed like a strong candidate.

Well, that’s not important right now. I brought up the play adaptation I had mentioned earlier.

“This is perfect. How about the play adaptation I mentioned before? If the original author approves, someone else can handle the adaptation, so it won’t be difficult, and I’ll ensure you receive a generous royalty.”

“Can I really do that?”

In reality, she was working extra jobs at night to make ends meet.

Writing during the day would be better.

“You’ll ruin your health.”

“I’m quite healthy. Besides, this time it was a translation, so it wasn’t a difficult task.”

If that’s fortunate, I should say it’s fortunate.

Since I had the author in front of me, I asked a question any reader would ask.

“By the way, are you planning to release a new book?”

“Yes? Yes, not yet.”

Author, please release a new book. But with a side job, I guess you’re too busy to write.

“Do you have any content you want to see?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

I was answering Sehwa, who was smiling brightly, but I paused as something suddenly occurred to me.

“Have you ever considered writing a romance novel with the Crown Prince as the male lead?”

“Yes?”

Sehwa, looking bewildered, repeated the question.

“The Crown Prince… His Highness… as the main character?”

“Yeah.”

Having the Crown Prince as the main character doesn’t necessarily mean that the real Crown Prince is the main character.

But humans unexpectedly blur the lines between fiction and reality.

‘If a drama is a hit, even if you know that the character in the drama and the actor are separate people, you overlap the character in the drama with the actor and cheer.’

Of course, the Crown Prince is not an actor.

Just as people familiar with animations featuring princes and princesses harbor unnecessary fantasies about the princes and princesses of monarchical countries, it wasn’t impossible to project fantasies onto people who are distant and unattainable.

At the very least, wouldn’t it be possible to counteract the perception that the Crown Prince has a problem with a different narrative?

“Um. For example, a Crown Prince who can’t forget the girl he met in his childhood and fell in love with at first sight.”

“A girl he met in his childhood?”

“Yeah. Say, for example, the first love is falsely accused and her family is ruined, leading to their separation.”

“…”

I was just brainstorming, but thinking about it, isn’t this a request to reproduce the original story?

“And the girl who returned to take revenge and the Crown Prince accidentally meet and fall in love again… Um. Is this a bit cliché?”

“Ah, no.”

Sehwa shook her head, but her reaction didn’t seem very enthusiastic. It’s hard to get honest opinions when I’m in a position of power.

“No, I’m not forcing you, am I?”

“No, no. I’m just wondering who the culprit who falsely accused the girl’s family is, or who it should be.”

“Well. How about it turns out that a minister plotted it to push his daughter into the position of Crown Princess? That’s right, so the Crown Prince refuses to marry!”

The situation is completely different from our Crown Prince, but.

By then, the reasons why the Crown Prince couldn’t get married would have become somewhat vague, so it didn’t matter what reason was given in the novel. Just don’t portray him as having any mental or physical problems.

Those who didn’t know my inner thoughts praised me with curious or ambiguous expressions.

It was the difference between people who didn’t know I was a Princess and those who did.

“I didn’t know you had such talent, Little Miss.”

“I don’t have talent. I just threw out some ideas that came to mind.”

I vaguely brushed off Mr. Jang’s words, but the reason I came up with these ideas was because I was a little concerned about the conversation I overheard from those kidnappers today.

‘It would be a problem if the Crown Prince is really considered to have something wrong with him because he doesn’t get married or have concubines.’

But what if there’s a problem that I really don’t know about and can’t even talk about?

‘No, the female lead’s official setting is a famous doctor… She’ll fix it even if there’s a problem!’

If I make a mistake, the genre might change a bit! I think it’s okay to change from romance to romantic comedy!

Come quickly, female lead!

While I was lost in such serious thoughts, everyone was showing interest in the story I had brought up.

In particular, Soi was a little proud because it was a field she knew well.

“Why don’t you write it? I can help you with the historical research.”

“Yes? But wouldn’t it be a crime of lese-majesty [the crime of insulting or showing contempt for a monarch or other ruler]?”

The others seemed to be fine as long as they could see the new work, but the person who had to write it seemed to be in trouble.

“Lese-majesty? What are you thinking of making the Crown Prince do…”

“I don’t know what I can make him do.”

“Um. I think it’s okay to just make him handsome, capable, and not a bad guy. That’s about the truth. No, just don’t write bad things.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s a novel, so what does it matter? If the material is good, think about it. It doesn’t have to be the content I said.”

“Haha. Yes.”

We first discussed the limited edition publication, had a proper discussion about the play adaptation, and then left the book rental shop. It’s a bit chaotic because there are so many people, but it wasn’t bad to have various opinions.

“The Crown Prince’s first love…”

“?”

Sehwa, who was muttering to herself, made excuses as if she was embarrassed when she met my eyes.

“No, I was thinking about the material you mentioned earlier, Little Miss, and I was wondering if it was possible for His Highness the Crown Prince to have such a first love.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be possible in a normal way? Like in erotic novels, if you are forced to break up with someone you like, you become more affectionate.”

“Little Miss, you’re too cold-hearted.”

Soi grumbles while Sehwa is still.

I wanted to spend more time chatting, but Sehwa had to return to the Hyeminseo [a government-run clinic]. I had to go back to the palace quickly, too.

Hugging the author’s first signed copy, which Sehwa signed in front of my eyes, I hurried back to the palace.

I re-examined the books that Mr. Jang had set aside for me, and the condition was okay, so I took only one and told Sehwa to take the one in good condition.

She was embarrassed that she was not used to writing her pen name in such a place, but she wrote her pen name, Jicheon Teacher.

Soi also received a copy. She’s been chasing me around and her mind and body are tired, so she needs some of this bean flour [a metaphor for something enjoyable or beneficial].

Looking at her face, she seemed satisfied.

‘Hoo, it was a tiring day.’

Some days I roll around on the floor doing nothing, and some days I sneak into a gibang [a traditional Korean house of entertainment] to check the faces of kidnappers. It’s a very spectacular life.

‘I wonder if Seong Gyeomsabok is okay.’

I was uneasy because I had stepped into a dangerous job, but thanks to the first limited edition I received after a long time, and even a signed copy directly from the author, I felt a little better.

So I didn’t leave even one book to Soi and hugged it precious. Today, I’ll check how the parts with illustrations and my favorite parts were translated, and I’ll read it carefully tomorrow when it’s bright.

To think that Medical Woman Sehwa is an author. I didn’t even think about it.

‘Um. Come to think of it, she seemed to be trying to say something to me before entering the book rental shop. Was she trying to reveal that she was an author?’

Seeing that she came to the book rental shop with me, it seems like she was thinking of telling me from the beginning.

It was not impossible that she revealed it on purpose because she knew that I was a fan of her novel. The reason is, well, it’s not strange because it’s natural to be good to me if you get close to me.

‘She didn’t look like that type, but. If her mother is sick and she needs money, she might.’

Still, she must have made a lot of money because her novel was a hit, but is her mother’s condition very bad?

Seongji, who had accompanied us halfway, said that she was knowledgeable and skilled in medicine, no less than the medical officers of the Hyeminseo.

But the fact that she can’t fix it means that it’s likely that it’s not a curable disease.

That doesn’t mean you can stop treatment, so money goes out endlessly.

‘If you have a patient at home, the family will inevitably decline. Then and now, or in the future.’

Recalling the worries about my parents’ hospital bills in my previous life, Soi and I hurried into the palace.

“I’m afraid it’s too late because I stopped by the book rental shop.”

“Still, you don’t feel bad because you unexpectedly received a book, right? Later…”

I was chatting with Soi and entering my residence when I heard an unexpected voice.

“Why are you coming in now?”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince? Why are you in my residence at this hour?”

“I came to find you, but the palace people in your residence couldn’t answer where you were.”

Even if we are siblings, you came without contacting me. How rude.

“Her Majesty the Queen is urgently looking for you, but you were not in your residence, so the maids in your residence came to the East Palace [the Crown Prince’s residence] to ask for help. I pretended that I had asked Her Majesty to do something and passed it on, but I can’t just let it go, can I?”

“Um. Sorry. Thank you.”

Because the relationship between me and the Crown Prince is strong, it has become common for the palace people to go to each other’s residences to ask for help if they think it’s urgent.

Thanks to this, I was able to pass it on without being caught by the King and Queen, but the Crown Prince was angry.

“You’ve been wandering around too much lately. Where have you been and what have you been doing until this time?”