Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 123

“Oh, I went to the sea for the first time! It was so much fun.”

“I also went to the beach for the first time. It was absolutely amazing!”

“Me too! They were selling strangely shaped fish in Hanyang [Seoul] that I had never even heard of.”

The children, back from their long trip, were gathered together, chattering excitedly.

“And we brought a gift for you, Little Miss!”

“A gift?”

“Yes, you’ll be surprised!”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll go get it soon.”

*For me?*

*Is it some kind of local specialty?*

But most specialties are presented to the royal family, so there shouldn’t be anything that would surprise me.

Should I pretend to be surprised?

But I don’t think the kids here would be fooled by that.

When I first selected the children to send to the provinces, the most important criteria that I, Court Lady Min, and the Chetamin [a group of eunuchs] considered were that they wouldn’t get backstabbed while they were away.

They were chosen for their intelligence, quick wit, knowledge of self-defense, and social skills.

It was also meant to give them some experience of the world, as they seemed to be living only within Siyeongwon [a royal residence].

*It seems like they’ve all been doing relatively well.*

It’s only natural. It wasn’t a town with no connections at all, and they went to an area where I own land. Not many people are bold enough to harm the landowner, especially someone sent by a member of the royal family.

While I was thinking that, some of the children who had left to get the gift returned, struggling with something heavy.

“??”

“Oh, it’s heavy!”

“You wouldn’t be able to carry this, it’s so heavy!”

They giggled and demanded that I open the bundle, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

*What is it?*

Feeling the weight of their expectant gazes, I untied the knot and found… books.

*Did they collect rare books… Huh?*

But it was in the children’s familiar handwriting.

And the contents were…

“Oh my god?!”

I had only checked a few books, but my jaw dropped open.

What on earth did these kids create?

“I love you, kids!”

“Yay!”

***

Cheonho flinched at the loud noise coming from the main hall and turned his head. The children laughed gleefully, as if it was the funniest thing ever.

“It’s nothing, don’t be surprised.”

“What’s going on?”

The children, who had become friendly with Cheonho, looked towards the hall and kindly explained.

“It seems like the Little Miss really likes the gifts the older siblings brought.”

“See? I told you it would suit her taste!”

“Hmm?”

When Cheonho tilted his head, looking confused, the children smirked, acting like they knew everything.

“We know more about the Little Miss than anyone! Ask us anything.”

“Anything? Really?”

“Well, we don’t know *everything*.”

They didn’t know what the Little Miss was like in the palace, so they couldn’t say for sure.

She seems so comfortable here, but wouldn’t princesses and other high-ranking people usually carry themselves with more poise?

The children vaguely thought so.

“Still, the Little Miss we see is the *real* Little Miss.”

“Um. Yeah. I think that’s right.”

“Right? Right?”

Cheonho, who had played with the children after riding the swing a few times, dusted himself off and came out. The Seong Gyeom Sabok [Royal Guard], who had been watching him, patted him on the shoulder, saying he had worked hard.

“You’re strong and have a good physique… You could aim for the military examination. Have you ever thought about it?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Why do you want to stay by the Little Miss’s side? You’ve only seen her a few times. There are plenty of ways to earn a living without being the Little Miss’s guard.”

If Sia had heard, she would have said that Seong Gyeom Sabok was in no position to talk, but the Princess was busy giving the children who brought the gifts a passionate thank-you hug, so she couldn’t have heard their conversation.

“Well, realistically speaking, if I’m by the Princess’s side, I don’t have to worry about making a living. And I know it sounds strange, but when I see the Little Miss, I feel like I have to protect her.”

Seong Gyeom Sabok frowned at Cheonho’s vague words and continued to press him.

“Why?”

“Well, maybe…”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe it’s because when I first met… no, *found* the Little Miss, she had been kidnapped and escaped, and was collapsed in the mountains.”

“……”

“And then, when I met her again, I took her out of a *gibang* [a traditional Korean house of entertainment] where she was about to be caught listening to the kidnappers’ conversation, and then a scary man suddenly pulled out a sword and rushed at us.”

“Ahem.”

The scary man, who had nothing to say, coughed awkwardly.

“And then, the next time, she was kidnapped by a strange guy the moment I tried to talk to her on the street.”

“……”

“When I said I would chase after her and save her, she told me to go and tell you her location. I brought people to help as she asked, but in the meantime, she was being threatened by the kidnapper…”

“……”

Even Seongyun couldn’t find anything to say.

“For some reason, she’s always like that whenever I see her… Of course, I’m worried when I see her like that. No, how can you let her walk around alone when she’s so vulnerable?”

Somehow, Cheonho was now the one doing the questioning.

“No, usually… it wasn’t like that…”

Looking at it this way, even a complete stranger would have to be a little worried.

*Come to think of it, when I first met her, she was being robbed by thugs on the street, and then when I met her at Saboksi, she was in danger because of the runaway rebels.*

At that time, he also thought that he shouldn’t leave the small Princess alone in danger.

*Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for me…*

Then what is it for this kid?

In fact, even a fool would know that there would be a lot to gain by being by the Princess’s side, so it’s not strange that people are flocking to her.

From Seongyun’s point of view, he didn’t like the idea of keeping a guy who wasn’t from Siyeongwon and whose identity was unknown by the Princess’s side.

Of course, he acknowledged that this guy had saved the Princess several times, but what if he was a strange guy?

Besides, it felt like a rolling stone was trying to dislodge a stone that was already in place, which wasn’t very pleasant.

The same goes for the boy’s uncle.

*It’s not just because he found the location of the illegal slave market before I did.*

He hasn’t met him yet, but what kind of person is he to be so capable?

Of course, he was a Chakhogun [tiger hunter] who hunted tigers, so his ability to suppress his presence and track was beyond question.

If this boy had been properly educated by his uncle, he wouldn’t be like other ordinary children his age. He was definitely not an ordinary guy when he crossed swords with him the other day.

*His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seemed to like his and this boy’s abilities.*

He wouldn’t keep them close until their identities were verified, but once their identities were confirmed, he might bring them into the palace.

*Well, it’s not like I’m trembling with anxiety about losing my position now.*

Rather, he would be grateful if the Crown Prince let him go thanks to that guy.

He didn’t have any ambition for success from the beginning. Now, he just wants the Princess to live peacefully and happily for a long time.

It’s already been eight years since they first met, and the Princess, who is still as small as Seongyun’s waist as she was on the first day they met, came running, hugging something tightly and jumping up and down.

“Seong Uncle! Cheonho! Let’s go now!”

“…Yes, Little Miss.”

Seong Gyeom Sabok didn’t bother to point out that the title she used to call him was a little strange.

*Come to think of it, wouldn’t the title change to that when he quit Gyeom Sabok?*

It’s friendly, but it also feels a little off?

“Soi, please load this onto Jeokah [a type of carriage].”

“Is that the thing you received from the children earlier?”

“Yeah. I’m going to read it when I get back to the palace.”

It seemed that the children had given her something as a gift, and there was quite a lot of it, so she couldn’t take it all at once and was only taking a few volumes with her.

“Shall we move the rest to your residence, Little Miss?”

At Jia’s words, who had come to see her off, the Princess hesitated for a moment and shook her head.

“There are still some that haven’t arrived, and you said there are many parts that haven’t been sorted out, right? Once it’s organized, let’s make a list and bring another copy of each book. Of course, I’ll pay you for the transcription.”

“You don’t have to.”

“You can’t keep trying to volunteer for free. It becomes a habit.”

“Yes.”

Jia, who was giggling, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the Princess, who was about to get on the horse, and whispered something quietly.

“?”

Those who were preparing to leave were puzzled, but everyone except Cheonho knew how close Jia was to the Princess, so they didn’t think deeply about it.

The Princess frowned slightly at Jia’s words, but soon smiled as if nothing had happened.

“…Um. It’s okay. It’s probably just a rumor.”

“I hope that’s the case.”

“Still, it’s better for me to know in advance. Thank you for letting me know.”

With those words, the Princess patted Jia on the shoulder and got on the horse.

“Did something happen?”

Soi, who was holding the reins, asked cautiously, and the Princess shook her head.

“Hmm. It’s not a big deal.”

But it was clear that the Princess’s face was a little gloomy as she left Siyeongwon.

***

*Grand Prince Gyeong-eon is alive.*

That was the last rumor Jia heard before leaving Jeolla-do.

The prince who drank poison and died was actually alive and cursing his father and younger brother who killed him.

*Whatever.*

Frankly, now that the Crown Prince’s position is secure, it’s not surprising or even ticklish that a prince from a concubine is acting up.

But even a prince who was given poison for treason is actually alive?

He’s a target to be suppressed by sending government troops.

Of course, if they are really plotting a full-scale rebellion, there is a possibility that they will somehow catch him and use him because he is a member of the royal family… but is there really any merit in doing so?

In fact, those who have experienced Grand Prince Gyeong-eon wouldn’t even think about it.

I smiled nonchalantly at Jia, but when I heard that he might be alive, I felt a little suspicious about the conversation I had heard from those kidnappers before.

*I think there’s little chance it’s true… but I’m still worried. It’s better not to let the Crown Prince, who is very busy, hear about it.*

A lot has happened since the last kidnapping incident.

Of course, I couldn’t get involved in any way, so I, the poor victim who was kidnapped by the monsters, was just rolling around on the floor, barely hearing the news that the palace people were telling me.