Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 262

“Praise?”

I tilted my head, rising to escort the Crown Prince out as a matter of courtesy. He sighed, looking dumbfounded.

“Isn’t catching a tiger that broke into the palace something to be praised?”

“Ah.”

“Why are you reacting like you just realized it?”

*You* were even there.

*You* even helped.

The Crown Prince was saying all this with his eyes, but I pretended not to notice and avoided his gaze.

Somehow, the fact that we were trapped together and injured at the end had a bigger impact…….

Come to think of it, Cheonho *did* catch the tiger.

‘I definitely saw it myself, but it doesn’t feel real.’

Others around us helped, and I did shoot an arrow to distract it, but it was by no means an easy feat.

The Crown Prince must have received a report and knew the details of what happened.

Thanks to that, another lecture poured out.

“Sia, you should avoid reckless things in the future. Shooting an arrow at a tiger? The target could have easily changed to you.”

“That thing has eyes and a nose, so it would have gone for the small, soft-looking me instead of the big, dark uncles [referring to the palace guards].”

Originally, female meat is tastier than male, and young meat is tastier than old.

“Hey.”

“If there were twenty or thirty people blocking it, I wouldn’t care, but there were only a few. Instead of hiding and getting chased alone after everyone else dies, it’s better to do what I can.”

You know I’m not so bad at hitting the target, and I can usually hit the bullseye at a decent distance, right?

“Seriously, you never back down.”

The Crown Prince, as if his frustration had exploded, grabbed my cheek and stretched it out.

Seriously, this guy. I thought he was being more restrained lately.

“Don’t touch my chewy cheeks! Shameless!”

“Don’t use weird expressions.”

The Crown Prince grimaced at my criticism and let go, but I rubbed my cheeks and continued to complain.

“I knew Oppa [older brother or close male friend] had been eyeing my cheeks for a while……”

“……I haven’t eyed them.”

“Compared to Oppa’s white rice cake-like skin, I guess my chewy skin is enviable, but this is troubling.”

“I’m not jealous! More than that, isn’t that an insult?”

“What? Why is ‘like white rice cake’ an insult? Don’t you know what white rice cake-like white skin is?”

“I don’t think that’s what you meant……??”

“Oh my, I’m worried about Oppa’s vocabulary? Is it because you only work and use Chinese characters?”

As I said that, I glanced around and saw Songbi and Sehwa, along with the palace staff, covering their faces with their hands and sobbing.

Was it that funny?

The Crown Prince noticed the reactions around him and cleared his throat awkwardly, reminding me.

“Ahem. Anyway, be careful.”

“Leave me alone…….”

I do well on my own.

“If I leave you alone, I don’t know what you’ll do; that’s why I’m saying this.”

“I was just taking a walk in the safe palace. But danger came, and I protected myself with my own strength. Is there a problem?”

The Crown Prince looked like he wanted to punch me, but he couldn’t find anything to argue with.

“……Anyway, Father will be coming soon, so don’t say things like that and reassure him.”

“Okay.”

Should I take this opportunity to declare my independence?

“Don’t tell Father you’re going to declare your independence on this occasion.”

“……Oppa knows me too well?”

“Yeah. I’m leaving. Don’t forget to send Cheonho.”

“Okay.”

With that, the Crown Prince sighed and left.

It was quite thoughtful of him to visit me (sort of) after the chaos yesterday.

‘And even the King is coming.’

In fact, I didn’t even get a scratch, but I guess everyone is worried.

I heard they watched me fall asleep like I was unconscious yesterday.

They kept badgering the royal physicians, and only after Sehwa came and checked my pulse and said I was fine did they feel relieved.

‘Their trust in Sehwa has deepened quite a bit.’

Well, she is a famous doctor who cured the incurable disease of a daughter who wasn’t growing, so it’s only natural.

Once the false accusation is cleared, the relationship between the Crown Prince and Sehwa…… will be okay, right?

I feel like I’ve done what I can, but that issue is something Sehwa has to resolve herself.

As I thought that and glanced at Sehwa, Sehwa, who had a calm expression, sparkled her eyes with worry.

“Princess, is there perhaps anywhere else you feel unwell?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Please wait. I will bring you some herbal medicine soon.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“But you must take the herbal medicine.”

“Okay.”

Everyone is too worried.

However, it was certain that the experience of making eye contact with a wild tiger up close without any protection or mental preparation was not good for my mental and physical health.

‘I don’t want to go outside for a while…….’

In fact, if the tiger was determined, it could break through several layers of flimsy paper doors, so it’s meaningless, but it’s a matter of feeling.

So, after taking the herbal medicine, I decided to go for a walk.

To be honest, I don’t really want to move because of muscle pain…….

‘If I stay cooped up in my room, people will think I’m too scared to come out of my residence.’

Of course, that’s not a bad thing.

People can stay in their rooms and rest after a big event.

‘But if someone deliberately let the tiger into the palace…… at least they’d be happy to hear that I’m scared and holed up.’

Listening to what the Crown Prince said earlier, it seemed quite possible.

And if someone did that, the target was likely the Crown Prince.

Of course, the Crown Prince didn’t suffer any real damage, but just the fact that a tiger entered the palace at the beginning of the new year would cause a lot of talk.

Those who remember the rumors that used to be attached to the Crown Prince will be excited to talk about this incident.

Then it would be good to take advantage of those rumors to undermine the Crown Prince.

‘And I generally dislike those who criticize the Crown Prince.’

So, if rumors spread that I was shocked, they would definitely be happy.

‘I can’t stand that……!’

I was going to show everyone that I was healthy enough that facing a tiger was nothing.

It would be a bit much to walk around too much in this chaotic atmosphere, but it would be okay to take a walk.

“Princess, please don’t overdo it and rest. The doctor told you to rest too.”

“Yeah. Just a short walk.”

Songbi’s voice was full of worry, but I waved my hand, saying I was fine.

For reference, Soi and some of the other palace maids who encountered the tiger yesterday are off today.

It was enough for them to stay by my side all night; any more overtime would be inhumane.

‘Maybe they’re clinging to Gai right now because they were scared.’

In fact, except for the muscle pain, my body itself doesn’t hurt anywhere, but I feel a bit sorry because everyone is taking such good care of me.

However, I soon realized that the concerns around me were not unfounded.

“Hmm.”

As I put on my shoes and went down the stairs, my legs unexpectedly trembled a bit.

It would have been fine on flat ground, but unfortunately, I had to go down the stairs due to the building structure.

Songbi’s gaze also seemed a little shaky, but she didn’t stop me.

“Oh, Princess.”

“I said I’m fine.”

I focused on my legs so Songbi wouldn’t be surprised and slowly went down the stairs, but my body tilted as if I had lost strength.

“!”

‘It would be a problem if I got hurt.’

It’s not a high staircase anyway…….

Even in the moment my body was tilting, I was thinking that when someone grabbed me.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah.”

It was Cheonho.

He looked fluffy, having eaten and changed into new clothes. Above all, seeing him properly dressed for the season after being half-naked earlier made me feel much more comfortable.

“Hmm. You look warm.”

“No, this is not the time to say that…….”

Cheonho laughed in disbelief, helped me down the stairs, and then subtly let go of my hand.

“?”

“?”

He failed to get away because I grabbed his sleeve.

“Why, are you holding on?”

“Huh? No.”

I was a little embarrassed and let go of his hand, but I was actually more puzzled.

Why are you suddenly being so formal?

“Are you sure you haven’t hurt yourself anywhere?”

“Hmm. Just muscle pain.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to rest?”

“It’s not good to stay inside too much.”

“……Even after what happened yesterday, you are so consistent, Princess.”

Is that an insult or a compliment?

“Are you complaining?”

“No. The road may be slippery because it snowed yesterday, so I will escort you.”

“Okay.”

Even though he was dumbfounded, Cheonho ended up following me.

Since he wasn’t really supporting me, Cheonho couldn’t stand next to me due to his status.

“But where are you going?”

“Hmm. Just a casual walk.”

Did it snow last night too? When I came outside, snow was piled up everywhere.

There are many people working in the palace, so they diligently cleared the roads for people to walk on, but some places that were already frozen were a bit slippery.

Whether the things I experienced yesterday had spread as rumors, people passing by bowed their heads in front of me, and after passing, they pretended not to notice while glancing at me and whispering.

“But Cheonho, is it okay for you to walk around like this?”

“I wasn’t seriously injured to the point where I can’t move. It’s okay to walk slowly.”

“Hmm. Don’t overdo it. I really didn’t get hurt, but Cheonho did.”

“If I don’t move at all, my body will stiffen.”

That’s about the areas that weren’t injured.

“Oh, Oppa told me to send Cheonho.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince wants me?”

“Yeah.”

Cheonho’s voice lowered slightly at the mention of the Crown Prince calling for him.

“Why…… is he calling for me?”

“He said he’s calling to praise you.”

“Praise?”

“Yeah. You deserve it. You caught the tiger, and I wasn’t hurt thanks to you.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Why is he reacting like he just realized it too?

Perhaps it’s because being pushed back during the second tiger incident was more shocking than catching the first tiger, Cheonho’s reaction was also strange.

“Since His Highness is calling for me, I should go…… but since the Princess is taking a walk, I will escort you to your residence first.”

“I said I’m not doing anything dangerous?”

“I’m worried.”

He really doesn’t listen. Anyway, after what happened yesterday, security has been strengthened inside and outside the palace, so it doesn’t seem like another tiger will come in.

“Then do as you please. It didn’t seem like it was urgent, so it’ll be okay.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me if Oppa says anything weird or bullies you…… Oof!”

As I slipped while talking, Cheonho rushed over as if he had been waiting and grabbed me as I fell.

“……I will escort you to your residence after all.”

“Hmm. I guess so.”

I was a little embarrassed.