Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 173

Born as the Daughter of a Lowly Concubine 173

The two hunters had been guiding and holding up torches, but as the waiting people swarmed in, they naturally disappeared and were nowhere to be seen.

“Did they do something wrong that made them run away…?”

“Perhaps. Like runaway slaves or criminals on the run.”

Cheonho said that, but still tilted his head. Something seemed to bother him, but he soon shook his head.

“Should we look for them first? This isn’t a very big village, so we might find them if we ask around.”

“Won’t they run away?”

“They probably don’t know I’m an Ongju [a king’s daughter born to a concubine]… or do they?”

Cheonho was silent at my words.

“I’m not sure, but…”

“?”

“When Ongju was kidnapped before, didn’t I borrow a horse?”

“Ah. That good person who lent me a horse without asking any questions?”

“I heard they came to the Hyeminseo [Joseon Dynasty medical institution] to get the horse back. Anyway, the people I met then looked a bit… similar.”

“Oh?”

Cheonho’s voice was somewhat unsure as he spoke.

“They were all wearing thick winter clothes and covering half their faces, so I can’t be sure.”

“Hmm. Either way, it would be good to visit them and say hello, right? We should reward them.”

Well, the King will, not me.

Thinking that, I tried to get up again, but Gaia grabbed me.

“Ongju. Why are you trying to move yourself, Ongju?”

“No, it’s not that big of a village. And I just saw Sehwa.”

Being a small village right below the mountain, there were only a few dozen houses at most.

Thanks to that, the Crown Prince and his entourage were in the best house, the village chief’s house, and Sehwa had half-occupied the next best house, the village chief’s relative’s house. There were so many people.

“The road isn’t good because of the snow. Please take care of yourself.”

“Okay. I’ll be careful.”

Saying that, I slipped out of the house and gestured to Cheonho.

‘Ugh, it’s like this now, how much more will they restrict me when I grow up?’

“Hahaha. Wouldn’t it be okay if I escorted you?”

“I’m always worried that Ongju will do something reckless. She always runs off suddenly…”

“Then I’ll carry you.”

“?”

And Cheonho did just that.

“Are you really going to carry me around?”

“It’s better than you falling, Ongju.”

“I’m not at an age where I’ll be in big trouble if I fall while running.”

“You shouldn’t say that in front of the elders…”

I know that.

Thanks to what happened yesterday and the fact that my trust in Cheonho has been increasing lately, I was able to comfortably walk around the village in Cheonho’s arms, both physically and mentally.

I was too out of it yesterday, but this was my first time seeing a rural village in this era.

“Hmm. It’s very different from Hanyang [the capital of Joseon Dynasty].”

“Of course. Hanyang is the capital. You can’t compare it to a remote rural village like this.”

“No… don’t say things like that so openly…”

I looked around to see if any villagers were passing by and stopped Cheonho.

“I used to live in a rural village too. I was probably similar to the hunters here, you know?”

“Is that so…”

Since it was a rural village, most of the houses were old, and the hygiene didn’t look very good either.

‘Hmm… is it meaningless to call for improving the quality of life even in places like this?’

Of course, cleanliness is important.

Soap is expensive, it’s hard to have a good income in these villages, and people originally prioritize making a living.

It must have been a quiet rural village originally, but because of what happened yesterday, people were gathered here and there, whispering.

Some of them were talking about me, but I had no idea what they were saying.

‘Still, it’s a relief that I found the Crown Prince safely last night.’

It was worth letting the hunters loose.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I should give something to the hunters who worked hard yesterday. Hmm. What would be good? Money, I guess.”

“W-Well, wouldn’t that be the case.”

“What do you like, Cheonho?”

“Well…”

Looking at how he talks, you’d think he likes money, but he’s surprisingly not interested.

I first went to the village chief and expressed my intention to reward the hunters who worked hard yesterday, and the village chief was naturally delighted. The village chief’s son was among the hunters who worked hard yesterday.

“By the way, do you know who made the contribution yesterday? They just left without saying anything, so I was wondering if the village chief might know.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it wasn’t my son… and no one has been going around saying they made a contribution.”

“Hmm. You’d think they’d brag.”

Are they lacking in self-promotion? They saved the Crown Prince, so it’s quite a title to brag about.

I asked Cheonho just in case.

“Hey Cheonho, were those people hurt yesterday?”

“No. They had no trouble coming down the mountain path, and they both seemed fine.”

“Really?”

Then do they have something urgent to do?

I thought for a moment, but my imagination was poor, so I couldn’t think of anything.

Instead, I decided to ask the village chief something else.

“By the way, I’m looking for someone else.”

“Yes. Please tell me.”

“Is there a hunter here with a big scar like this on his face?”

When I asked, imitating a scratch on my face with my hand, the village chief nodded.

“Ah. I know who you’re talking about.”

“That’s a relief. Do you know where he lives?”

“Ah, it’s a bit far away… maybe those people made the contribution yesterday. They don’t come down to the village often.”

“Really?”

“Yes. To be exact, he doesn’t live here, but he sometimes comes around winter to help with their work.”

I heard that story yesterday too.

“That family’s son was killed by a tiger… Ah, come to think of it, I heard a rumor a few years ago that the King came to that village beyond the mountain for some kind of military training and there was an accident, but I never thought something similar would happen in our village.”

“!”

At the village chief’s words, I flinched and grabbed Cheonho’s sleeve.

‘Could it be that Crown Prince Seongwon… died nearby?’

While I was lost in thought, the village chief explained the way to Cheonho.

“Go up this road and turn left, then go straight to the house with the persimmon tree…”

“I understand. Thank you.”

“Oh my. Please tell me if you need anything.”

Whether the village chief said anything or not, my head was complicated.

‘I guess I was the only one who didn’t know.’

The King and the Crown Prince probably knew that this place wasn’t far from where Crown Prince Seongwon had the accident. Well, I’m not very familiar with geography, and this isn’t a place where you can easily see a map like in modern times.

‘Should I have said I was looking for medicinal herbs?’

They probably didn’t want to come.

They probably didn’t want to come to a place that brought back bad memories.

Besides, even if they’ve been wiped out, what if a new tiger has taken their place?

I clung to Cheonho and buried my head in his shoulder.

“Ongju?”

“…It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired.”

Cheonho, who sighed softly at my words, patted my back and comforted me.

“It’ll be okay. I told you I’d protect you.”

“What…”

“If a tiger or anything else comes out, I’ll catch it for you.”

“…”

I don’t know what this feeling is, it doesn’t make sense, but it feels comforting.

I pouted my lips and reached out to rub Cheonho’s cheek.

As expected, his skin was elastic because he was young.

Well, compared to the Crown Prince’s face, there’s a difference in age.

“I don’t need it.”

“Hahahaha.”

Cheonho laughed loudly at whatever was funny.

I was so drained by Cheonho’s attitude that I just leaned weakly on Cheonho’s shoulder.

Still, I felt relieved, but it also felt strangely unpleasant.

“Come to think of it, you must have been tired from wandering around in the mountains yesterday, is it okay to walk around like this?”

“No, this isn’t even working, it’s just a walk. Considering the distance I used to walk when I was in Hanyang, walking this much is nothing.”

You’re not just walking, you’re carrying me?

“If I don’t move my body, it gets stiff. It’s not good to ride a sedan chair when the road is like this.”

The accumulated snow had half melted, making the ground half slippery and half muddy.

‘The road isn’t good.’

But isn’t it more dangerous to walk while carrying me?

“Come to think of it, Father might give Cheonho a reward.”

“Ah… anything too excessive would be a bit burdensome. I just want to eat the crumbs next to Ongju.”

“Isn’t that too modest of an ambition?”

“But wouldn’t most people be like that?”

“Hmm. I guess so.”

Well, even in modern times, everyone wants a stable life rather than pursuing a great life.

And they want to indulge in light luxuries while living a stable life.

Whether it’s delicious food, amusement park rides, or cultural performances.

Humans can’t live on just food. Entertainment is quite important. People can’t live without songs and stories.

While chatting with Cheonho, I arrived at the house the village chief had told me about.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Cheonho was faster than me walking, even though he was carrying me.

“Um, who is it?”

There was a middle-aged woman at the house. When I said I came to find the hunters, the woman started trembling as if she was sorry.

“Why, what did my son do wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing like that…”

They’re too scared of the nobles.

I can’t hide the fact that I’m a daughter of a noble family because I’m wearing good clothes and bringing people with me.

“Is anyone causing trouble in this village?”

“Well… that’s relatively common. But it doesn’t seem like any nobles live here.”

“Really?”

Still, perhaps because I was a child and Cheonho didn’t look like a noble, a relatively peaceful conversation was possible.