Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 154

After the Crown Prince and Princess departed, Sehwa found herself alone in Gaeyuwa, feeling the weight of the palace maids’ quiet scrutiny. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple.

“Well, His Highness the Crown Prince merely prevented the book from falling; there’s no room for misunderstanding,” Court Lady Moon stated, though her expression suggested otherwise.

“Yes, I understand,” Sehwa replied.

“No, really, it’s not what it looks like.”

“I suppose that’s… one way to see it,” Court Lady Moon responded with a subtle sigh.

As Sehwa reorganized the fallen books, she couldn’t help but observe Court Lady Moon. ‘…Court Lady Moon, has her tone shifted slightly?’ It felt less polite than usual, or perhaps it had always been this way.

“Hoo,” Court Lady Moon muttered, seemingly to herself as she helped with the books. “I just hope His Highness the Crown Prince shows some interest in a woman, any woman would do.”

“Well, I guess so…,” Sehwa murmured, relieved that the sigh wasn’t directed at her but also slightly flustered as she glanced around.

Similarly, the palace maids of the Crown Prince’s residence, who were also assisting with the books, occasionally cast strangely disappointed glances her way, though they didn’t seem to blame or resent her.

‘Why… are they looking at me like that?’ she wondered. The head palace maid of the Crown Prince’s residence was likely to become the head palace maid of the Great Hall [the main hall of the palace] in the future, a figure even the royal physician couldn’t treat lightly.

‘But what’s with all this politeness?’ The palace maids of the Princess’s residence were familiar with So-i, the court lady, and felt close to her, but there was no reason for the Crown Prince’s maids to act this way.

Could it be thanks to the Princess’s popularity? If Sia had heard, she would have immediately retorted, “No, that’s not it,” but unfortunately, Sia was busy playing tag with the Crown Prince and wasn’t present.

“Princess, why do I have to run like this?” Cheonho, having finally escaped the Royal Guard officers, arrived at the back garden, panting and catching his breath.

“Hmm, you should have just let them catch you. What will you do later if you offend His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“But wasn’t it the Princess who ordered me to do it?”

“I didn’t expect you to try to escape so desperately. You won’t get anywhere acting like this, will you?”

“I have no intention of getting ahead.”

“You’ve even earned the resentment of the Royal Guard officers.”

“Ah, that’s a bit of a problem.” A flicker of regret crossed Cheonho’s face, considering they were close aides to the Crown Prince and on a promising path to success, but it quickly passed.

Muttering, Cheonho finally set Sia down on the ground.

Even though the weather was still cool, she was sweating from their long run.

“But why did you run away like that? And why was His Highness the Crown Prince so determined to catch you?”

“Well, I guess he has something he feels guilty about.” Sia didn’t intend to reveal the details of the hug to the Queen Consort, but the Crown Prince had been so desperate to stop her.

‘If rumors spread and they become awkward, that would be even more troublesome.’ What was she doing, interfering with the Crown Prince’s love life? Her escape… no, her independence, would only become more distant.

“But where is this place anyway?”

“Well, the palace is quite large, so there are places like this. I don’t come here often either… but sometimes it’s nice.”

Sia walked leisurely, guiding Cheonho.

“Hmm, should I tell my brother to let you get caught when he comes this far?”

“You two really have a good relationship.”

“Well, there aren’t many people in the palace anyway, so don’t worry too much about being disliked.”

“I’m not worried. It just seems too strict there.”

“You really have no ambition.”

“Is that not allowed?”

“You can read Chinese characters, right? I saw you seemed to recognize them before.”

“Ah… I learned a little.”

“You can read and write, and you’re skilled in martial arts. You even have connections with a powerful person like me. In other circumstances, it wouldn’t be strange for you to be desperate to get ahead. What do you want to do? You must have something you want to do, right?” Of course, it was rare for people in this era to have grand ideas of self-realization, but everyone had dreams, didn’t they?

Besides, Cheonho was quite capable for his young age, so he had the potential to rise to a higher position if he desired.

“I just… if I can find my sister, I don’t really want anything else.”

“Sister?”

“Yes. We were separated when we were young. But I don’t know where she’s living or how she’s doing. We were separated so young that I don’t think we’d recognize each other even if we met now.”

He was a member of a separated family.

“Why did you get separated?”

“I was very young then. I don’t know the details. I just assume there was something going on with the family.” Well, considering his parents weren’t around and he lived with his uncle, there must have been something going on.

“But then, shouldn’t you try to get ahead more? If you get ahead and make a name for yourself, your sister might find you.”

“Wouldn’t I have to pass the civil service exam [a rigorous examination system used to select government officials] to get ahead enough to make a name for myself?”

“Hmm, that’s true too.”

And passing either the military or civil service exam wasn’t easy.

“Then, do you want to take the exam?”

“No, it’s not something you can decide so lightly.”

“I guess so.” Preparing for the civil service exam was difficult unless you came from a wealthy family with enough money and time.

‘He helped save me, so I could actually provide that much convenience, but…’ Sia couldn’t bring herself to suggest he dedicate himself to a public service life that could take years.

She stopped talking about the civil service exam and offered some words of comfort. “I hope you find your sister soon.”

“Yes.”

Sia couldn’t help but think that maybe it was more comforting to have the expectation that she might be living well somewhere, even without any news.

“Then what else? Don’t people usually have dreams of becoming a general when they’re young?”

“Well…,” Cheonho trailed off, so Sia decided not to pry any further.

Just then, someone called out to her. “Are you the Princess?”

“Ah, it’s been a while, Royal Consort Jeong.”

Royal Consort Jeong, one of the King’s concubines, was a familiar face, as Sia had often encountered her in the palace since she was young.

‘She’s a pretty decent person.’ Sia had heard that she had also lost a newborn baby, and perhaps because of that, she was particularly affectionate towards her.

Of course, most of the concubines were affectionate towards Sia. Realistically, some concubines may have wanted to take care of her because they had no children to entrust their old age to….

‘But they’re all from good families, so they don’t really need to do that.’ In any case, there was no reason for them to have a bad relationship with the Crown Prince or her.

Sia also occasionally checked in on them, sending them snacks and showing her care.

“The snacks that the Princess sent the other day were delicious.”

“I’m glad they suited your taste. I heard that your health hasn’t been good lately, but I don’t know how you’re doing.”

“Thank you for your concern. Fortunately, I’m well enough to take walks like this.”

“Be careful as the weather gets colder.”

Answering greetings was a bit annoying.

“Yes. Please take care of your health as well, Princess. Even I, who am confined to the inner palace [the living quarters of the royal women], know that the Princess is always busy. I heard you’re still doing interesting things.”

“Haha.”

“Especially that amusement park ride; we’ve all been talking about wanting to see it. But we can’t go outside the palace, so we’re just hearing rumors.”

Ah… what was this, a sudden request….

“Well, should we try to make something similar in the palace?”

“How wonderful would that be if you did.”

Right. Even when you get old, you still want to ride amusement park rides.

There was nothing to do in the palace anyway. The King was busy, and the concubines were bored.

‘However, the eunuchs’ labor will increase.’ Who else would turn it but the eunuchs?

It’s not my problem, though.

“Then, I’ll ask Father and try to make one.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

The Royal Consort, who smiled brightly at Sia’s answer, stared at her intently and laughed softly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Hehe. When I see the Princess, I keep thinking of the old days because you look so much like her.”

“?”

Sia didn’t remember her being particularly close to her birth mother. As she tilted her head, the Royal Consort, who had a slightly wistful look on her face, looked elsewhere and laughed again.

“I was wondering why you were here without any palace maids, but it seems you were playing hide-and-seek with His Highness the Crown Prince. You still have a good relationship.”

“Oops?” When Sia looked where Royal Consort Jeong was looking, she saw the Crown Prince with a displeased expression, bringing even the Royal Guard officers with him.

“Oh dear, I’ve been caught after all.”

“Oh dear, it seems I’ve interrupted.”

“No, I was getting tired of it and was about to get caught anyway. Don’t stay outside too long as the weather is cold.”

Sia finished her social niceties and voluntarily went to the Crown Prince.

“Oh, brother, how can you be so slow? Anyway, come here.”

“Okay.” After saying goodbye to the Royal Consort and being dragged away by the Crown Prince, Sia began to worry about the suddenly dropped quest.

‘Come to think of it, there aren’t any amusement park rides in the palace. If I’m going to make one here, I need to think more about safety devices.’ Since high-ranking people would be riding it, she needed to pay more attention to this and that.

If she made one, a completely… high-end product would come out.

***

“Your Majesty, please go inside.”

“Alright.”

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“…Whenever I see the Princess, it reminds me of the old days.”

Royal Consort Jeong said to her head palace maid, who had been with her for several years, and stroked her stomach.