Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 143

Saying that, the Queen’s gaze turned to me. Following her gaze, Father also called my name with a troubled expression.

“Princess Su-yeong.”

“Yes, Father.”

As this wasn’t a private gathering among family members, both the King and the Crown Prince were addressing me formally as Princess Su-yeong.

“This matter hinges on the Princess’s wishes. What are your thoughts?”

I was lost in thought and hadn’t realized that everyone’s attention was focused on me.

This is overwhelming.

But this was the moment when attention was bound to be focused on me.

And there was only one answer.

“Then I’ll do it.”

I heard small sighs and groans from here and there, whether of relief or surprise.

The Crown Prince also asked with a complicated expression.

“Isn’t that too quick of an agreement?”

“Isn’t this a matter brought up in the royal court? She wouldn’t have brought it up lightly. She must have confidence, and she must also be cautious.”

*Thanks to you, it took me a long time to confirm the female lead. Let’s get this over with quickly.*

“But still, wouldn’t it be better to have multiple people verify the treatment?”

“If we debate the treatment method, it will only take longer. There’s no one else with the same symptoms, so how can we verify it? Originally, medicine can be either medicine or poison depending on how it’s used.”

Even medicinal herbs that are medicine for the sick can harm healthy people.

Especially in my case, it was caused by poison, so I didn’t know what kind of prescription I would receive during the treatment.

So, if the royal physicians verified the treatment method one by one, I didn’t know what the result would be.

I already knew that the royal physicians wouldn’t welcome Se-hwa with open arms, so there was a possibility that they would be more enthusiastic about holding her back.

The problem is that my treatment will be delayed!

The plot development will be delayed!

Korean people, no, Joseon [Korean dynasty from 1392 to 1897] people, hurry, hurry!

“Your Majesty, isn’t this the first time someone has claimed they can treat the Princess’s illness, which no one has found a cure for until now? I think it’s worth trying.”

“If even the Crown Prince, who cherishes the Princess more than anyone else, says so, I won’t stop it. But if anything happens to the Princess’s health, I will never let it go. Do you understand?”

“The doctor is just doing her best to practice medicine.”

“Yes. That’s what you should do.”

Saying that… wouldn’t even a good person be too scared to proceed?

Even in this era, the king is an object of reverence that one cannot dare to look at directly.

“The Crown Prince has been deeply interested in medicine since he was young, so he will be more capable than I am in this matter. I will entrust this matter to the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“No matter how urgent you are, you must never be impatient.”

“Yes. I will keep it in my heart.”

In contrast to the relatively amicable beginning, everyone left the royal court with tense faces, each with different thoughts.

As soon as they left the royal court, Se-hwa and Seong-ji, as if relieved, stroked their chests, and then bowed again in surprise when I approached.

“Greetings, Princess.”

“It’s nice to see you here. You must have been nervous in the royal court, so let’s go to my residence and rest for a while.”

“Yes, Princess.”

The two followed me with relieved faces.

After all, they knew my face. It was natural that they would be more comfortable with the Princess than with the King.

“I’m sorry, Princess.”

“What is it?”

“It seemed like the right thing to tell the Princess about this matter first, but I was afraid that others might not allow it, so I dared to ask for permission in this way.”

It meant that they thought the opposition would be severe, so they just went ahead and did it.

“I was a little surprised to hear about it, but it doesn’t matter.”

Because nothing will change anyway.

“Maybe if you had told the other royal family members first, it would have been troublesome in its own way? You might have thought that if it failed, the disappointment would be great, so you decided to hide it from me.”

“Princess.”

“I thought I might never be able to cure it, but the fact that there’s a way to cure it means there’s some hope, right? Or is it not?”

At my words, Se-hwa made a determined expression.

“Don’t worry. I will definitely cure the Princess’s illness.”

Oh, the protagonist’s bold statement.

I felt like I had to shout ‘I believe you,’ but an unexpected voice was heard.

“You better.”

“Brother.”

The Crown Prince, who seemed to have followed me, sighed and asked Se-hwa.

It felt more like concern than accusation.

“How could you rashly declare in front of His Majesty that you could cure it? If you fail, how will you handle the aftermath?”

“However, Your Highness, if I hadn’t done that, no one would have recognized me and entrusted me with the treatment of the Princess.”

“You’re very fearless. You seem confident in your skills.”

“How could I have dared to open my mouth in the royal court without that much confidence?”

Saying that, the two exchanged glances for a moment.

From the conversation and everything, you guys are subtly showing affection, huh?

Um, but is this perhaps… is it sparking?

Even if it’s not the direction I want, it was a spark of affection anyway.

Looking up at the two, I turned my gaze to Seong-ji, and Seong-ji also looked at the two alternately with a strange face and met my eyes.

We lowered our eyes and nodded as if we had promised.

‘Let’s pretend we didn’t see it.’

But our consideration did not see the light.

“You’re thinking strange things right now, aren’t you?”

“Strange things? I was just thinking that His Highness’s eyes were a little suspicious.”

“What?”

The Crown Prince had a bewildered face as if he hadn’t expected it, but I smiled generously and patted the Crown Prince’s arm.

It’s the age for that… no, that age has already passed a bit…

“Well. If you don’t want to go right away, it’s okay to take a light walk… Ugh?”

I was going to guide them to a place where they could have a more atmospheric conversation, like a matchmaker who was going to set them up and disappear, but the Crown Prince unexpectedly picked me up.

“I think we need to talk more about the Princess’s condition, so come with me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Unlike the two who nodded politely, I struggled and protested.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to your residence. Shouldn’t we check the opinions of your guardians there?”

“My guardians?”

Who?

“Is it really true that you can cure the Princess’s illness?”

Gai’s eyes turned red as he said that.

I guess he was quite worried even though he didn’t say it.

I felt a little sorry and patted Gai on the back.

*Sorry, if I had told you in advance, you would have suffered less, but it was obvious that you wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.*

Even though it was Song-bi’s day off, she came out to listen to the story together. It seemed like it was necessary to talk in detail about my illness(?).

“Does the treatment take a long time?”

“It will take a long time at first. And as you grow, you will have to adjust the medicine little by little, so Seong-ji and I plan to be by the Princess’s side continuously.”

The two, who were already planning to get a free pass as members of the royal medical staff this time, naturally became my *담당* [in charge].

Se-hwa was like that, and Seong-ji originally had no intention of entering the royal medical office, so she decided to stay in the royal medical office only until I recovered.

*I wonder if my original 담당 female doctors feel like they’ve been pushed out by newcomers.*

But there was no choice. She was the only one who had come forward saying that she could cure my incurable disease, which no one had been able to figure out until now.

Besides, Seong-ji as well as Se-hwa were very famous people these days.

“Hmm. Actually, I’ve heard a lot about your medical skills.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard that you removed a boil with a knife.”

“Are you referring to *부술(剖術)* [Busul, surgical procedure]?”

“That’s right.”

Having studied medical books since childhood because of me and the Queen, the Crown Prince strangely had a lot of medical knowledge.

Is that why he communicated well with Se-hwa?

*Um. It was like that in the old days, now that I think about it.*

I rummaged through my now hazy old memories. Se-hwa couldn’t not know, but the Crown Prince wouldn’t know that Se-hwa was the girl he met when she was young. Will he be able to notice?

The two disappointed my simple expectations and only talked about work.

Well… they only talked about medicine before. Those twisted… no, medicine otaku-like humans…

Medicine otaku was a slightly strange expression, but that wasn’t the important thing.

“There are many people who suffer from boils, so if they can be treated with *부술*, wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“But there are many people who don’t like it because it harms the body.”

“How can you stop those who hate it to death? But it is our duty to tell those who want to live the way. Even those who think it is not right now will naturally follow it if the method becomes common.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Se-hwa’s eyes were sparkling as if she liked the Crown Prince’s words.

Um, yes. It’s a good thing.

*Don’t tell me you’re looking at him as a model for the next male lead…*

I want to believe that’s the aura of the original couple.

As I watched while brainwashing myself, I felt a bit of guilt and *현타* [realization of the futility of one’s actions] coming…

Leaving the two who seemed to be a little lost in their own world, I spoke to Seong-ji.

“Have you been well? It’s been a long time since we’ve known each other, but we’re seeing each other like this.”

“Yes. I didn’t know that the day would come when I would enter the palace and see the Princess. I’m glad to see you looking well after a long time.”

Both Seong-ji and I smiled weakly. It was because we remembered why we hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

Well, we were both busy.

*Hmm. Did Seong-ji say that she knew about my birth secret, or didn’t she?*

She knows that I’m not a biological child, but she doesn’t know that I’m from a *역당’s* [traitor’s] bloodline.

If she knew, she would declare her resignation from the position of royal physician and disappear, so let’s bury it as it is. *연좌제* [guilt-by-association] that she doesn’t know and can’t know only creates consumption of administrative procedures, waste of manpower, and personal unhappiness.

“Actually, I’m also learning about *부술* from Physician Se-hwa.”

“Oh?”

The two are on good terms, so you’re learning that too?

“It’s too much to do alone. I was worried because there were many people who were reluctant, but fortunately, there were people who believed in my lacking medical skills and said they would join me.”

Several doctors, including Seong-ji, were learning medicine from Se-hwa.

“It’s a good thing to save people, so it’s desirable to have more competent doctors.”

The Crown Prince was also satisfied with this.

After confirming what he needed to confirm and making some plans for the treatment schedule, the Crown Prince had to leave.

*He must be busy…*

Unlike me, who had no choice but to fully trust Se-hwa, the Crown Prince had many worries and had no choice but to be cautious. I understood that too.

But the fact that I couldn’t help but be nervous when the Crown Prince was in front of me.

Even after the story about my treatment was somewhat finished, the Crown Prince didn’t leave, so I gave the Crown Prince a look without the two seeing.

‘What.’

‘Go now.’

‘Why.’