Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 117

‘We need to reshuffle, not just reinforce discipline.’

The Crown Prince spoke with determination.

“I will lead the soldiers myself.”

“Your Highness?”

The Crown Prince delivered a second shock to the already reeling Sung Gyeom-sabok, who was still stunned by the earth-shattering news of the Ongju’s [Princess’s] kidnapping.

“Your Highness, going in person is too dangerous.”

“It’s likely corruption at the level of a deputy commander, if not the police chief. Rather than handling it half-heartedly, it’s better to root it out completely this time.”

Then, he spoke to Cheonho, who was still dazed.

“You said you know the way? Follow me.”

“Ah, yes.”

He had been worried they wouldn’t believe him, but suddenly the Crown Prince appeared before his eyes. It was bewildering, but fortunate. He couldn’t have been more relieved.

While the Crown Prince prepared, some martial officers, presumably high-ranking, surrounded Cheonho and interrogated him, asking about the distance, terrain, and the number of people inside.

Cheonho drank a bowl of water brought by Se-hwa and told them everything he had seen and remembered.

Strangely, it was comforting to have Sung Gyeom-sabok, whose face he recognized, there. It also helped that Sung Gyeom-sabok testified that he and the Ongju were acquainted, which increased his credibility.

“Ah.”

“……”

Sung Gyeom-sabok, who met his gaze, had a complicated expression, as if he was both displeased and not.

Just before they were about to leave, the formidable Sung Gyeom-sabok quietly asked Cheonho.

“……Is the young lady safe?”

“She was safe when I left. However……”

“However?”

His aura was so fierce that Cheonho felt guilty even though he had done nothing wrong.

“She was crying.”

“What……?”

The Crown Prince, who was giving instructions to the guards, turned around in shock at those words.

The Ikwisa [Crown Prince’s personal guard] officers around him were equally surprised.

“Sia [referring to the Crown Prince] was crying? Is that true?”

“Yes? Yes. The young lady, no, the Ongju, was tied up and locked in the shed, crying.”

Immediately after, she had calmly said, ‘I’m crying on purpose,’ entrusted him with the jade pendant, and told him to inform them that this was an illegal slave trade site.

Snap.

Silence fell with the sound of something breaking.

The first to speak was Sung Gyeom-sabok.

“If there is even a hint of falsehood in what you have said, you will not die peacefully.”

“Everything I have said is the truth, without a single lie.”

Cheonho felt a chill down his spine, but there was truly no lie. And he, too, wanted to save the little Ongju more than anyone.

The Crown Prince, seeing the two of them, ordered his men to bring the horses.

“Can you ride a horse?”

“Yes, I am a good rider.”

“Good. You will guide us.”

***

“Get in.”

Perhaps based on some classification criteria, I was placed in a place with many women and children.

It was like the prison I had seen when I first came out of the cart, but it felt strangely unreal because I had never really thought about being inside it myself.

‘How can I feel like I’m in a folk village prison experience when the situation is so serious……’

Lamenting my own escapism, which I realized thanks to the stinging of my wrist that had been slightly scratched when I was tied up, I decided to first assess the situation.

They say you can survive even if you’re dragged into a tiger’s den if you keep your wits about you, so escapism was not an option.

‘But where is this place, really?’

Looking out from inside the prison, it just looked like the yard of an ordinary house, only a little wider.

Did Cheonho escape safely without being caught? Seeing that he wasn’t caught on the way here, he must be good at escaping.

But can Cheonho really guide the soldiers here?

I did give him the Sajo Dragon Pendant [a pendant symbolizing royal lineage], but will people believe that I gave it to him?

Sighing with these worries, I turned my head inside, and the people inside also sighed when they saw me.

“Oh my, another child like this……!”

“Those murderous bastards.”

Some of those who saw me cursed in small voices, but most kept their mouths shut and stared at the floor with dark faces.

Among them were those holding children who looked even younger than me.

It was a prison-like structure with the front open for easy surveillance, and because there was no privacy and it was cold inside, everyone was huddled together.

“Hey, you can’t stay like that, it’s too cold. Come here.”

“……”

There was no reason to refuse the offer of concern, so I awkwardly looked around and approached the people.

‘Hmm…… Most of the beggars and poor women were absorbed into the Siyoungwon [government relief agency], so where did they bring these people from?’

It was obvious that they had committed illegal acts, as I had been kidnapped, but I couldn’t help but worry.

“Oh dear. Are you alright?”

“I, I’m alright.”

Some of the women comforted me as I sniffled, my face still wet with tears.

“To tie up such young children like this…… What do they think they’re doing…….”

The woman clicked her tongue, seeing the marks still on my wrist where I had been tied up, even though they had been released.

“Seeing that your clothes are neat, it doesn’t look like you were sold.”

“Yes……”

I was caught on the street.

An ajumma [middle-aged woman], as if thinking of something, patted me and wiped my tears with her sleeve.

“Baby, you must not forget your house and your parents’ names. Understand? That way, you can find your way home later……”

“Hey, you there! Be quiet!”

A man shouted towards us.

And thanks to that, the children who had been quietly crouching began to sob, and the man, annoyed, kicked the wooden bars and threatened the people.

“You noisy brats! Can’t you be quiet?”

I think you’re the one who made them cry.

Now that I looked closely, it was the kidnapper I had seen earlier. It seemed he was venting his anger on the helpless children because he felt wronged for being hit in the back.

“Especially you! Just try to make a fuss, and you won’t get away with it!”

“……”

I was just standing still.

It seemed he had been scolded a lot for kidnapping me and failing last time. So, he must want to vent his anger.

When I stared blankly, he seemed even more displeased and approached me threateningly.

‘What should I do? He looks like he’s going to hit me.’

“What’s so great that you’re staring with your eyes wide open!”

It’s not my fault my eyes were born big and round.

Ah, I wondered if I should cry again, and I flinched a little, but perhaps because I had been raised so preciously, I couldn’t help but stare blankly, and eventually, the guy couldn’t control his temper and stormed in.

‘If I’m not careful, I might get hit.’

Since I’m going to be sold anyway, he probably won’t hit me hard enough to kill me, but it will still hurt if I get hit.

Thud!

I braced myself and closed my eyes, but unexpectedly, instead of pain, I felt like I was being embraced by someone.

Surprised by the unexpected situation, I blinked my eyes, and a voice was heard above my head.

“P-Please forgive her. What does this child know?”

The woman who had comforted me earlier was shielding me and taking the hit for me. The woman hugged me and bowed to the kidnapper.

‘I’m definitely going to kill that bastard later.’

I also pretended to be scared and cowered, and the kidnapper sneered with a satisfied look.

“Ha, those who can’t even take care of themselves are protecting someone.”

And then, another man’s voice was heard outside the prison.

“Hey! What are you doing!”

“Ah, no, hyungnim [older brother/superior]. These guys don’t know their place and are acting cheeky, so I was just teaching them a lesson.”

“You bastard! Do you know how hard it is to find a pretty girl these days? If her face gets scarred, can you take responsibility for the damage? You crazy bastard!”

“Argh!”

It seemed that the kidnapper was in charge of being the troublemaker in this criminal group.

‘He’s sloppy in many ways, and he has a bad personality.’

If I get out of here, I’ll never let you off the hook.

As the kidnapper was dragged out, the people inside breathed a sigh of relief.

The woman who had blocked the bastard’s kick also seemed relieved and let me go.

“I’m sorry, because of me. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. They’re nasty, so be careful……”

They seemed to hate us whispering, so everyone was cautious.

“How long have you been here?”

“I was in another place until recently, and I came here today.”

“Everyone else too?”

At my words, the other women nodded. Most of them were not in good shape, but occasionally there were people wearing clothes that looked good even though they were old.

‘It doesn’t seem like I’ll be here for long. Is someone going to buy and take me away today after all?’

If I’m sold to a gibang [traditional Korean courtesan house], I might be able to find a way to live somehow.

Of course, it would be ideal to be rescued quickly.

‘I already sent Soi the information about the illegal slave market, but……’

Considering the distance to get here and the administrative procedures, it’s not that hopeful.

As I was thinking that, unexpectedly, soldiers from the police station suddenly stormed in.

The expression ‘stormed in’ might not be quite right. It felt quite ceremonial.

The kidnappers temporarily covered the prison with something like cloth and threatened that if we didn’t stay quiet, they would find not only us but also our families and not leave us alone.

“We received a report that an illegal slave market is being held. Do you know anything about it?”

“No, who would do such a thing these days without fear? It’s just a rumor.”

“Still, we need to check. Would it be alright to take a look?”

“Ah, of course. We are confident, so please come in.”

Why are you confident?

I was dumbfounded even though I could only hear the voices.

“Shouldn’t we check this side too?”

“Take a good look.”

“Oh my, what’s there to see? Deputy Commander also knows us well, doesn’t he?”

“I know, I know. No, but lately there are so many disturbing rumors going around……”

The police chief and officers, who were saying that, pulled back the cloth and made eye contact with me, who was sticking my head out of the bars.

They were probably going to take a quick look and leave, but they looked flustered when they saw me.

As the sound got closer, I stuck my face out towards the bars, hoping against hope, and I screamed instinctively because I thought I recognized a face.

“Kyaaak! Help me!!”