Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 193

“Yeah. I guess so.”

Actually, I’d felt like I was getting taller for a while, but I thought I was just imagining it because I’m tall myself.

“So, I have to be careful when making nice clothes. I hope I don’t get any taller… but I probably will.”

“Chunho is still growing up…”

The Crown Prince won’t like that.

‘He’ll be taller than the Crown Prince now.’

They haven’t had much reason to stand next to each other lately, so I haven’t compared them, but soon Chunho might be looking down on the Crown Prince…

Fortunately, the clothes are being prepared smoothly, and Buddha’s Birthday is approaching without any problems.

‘Come to think of it, this isn’t the Crown Prince and Sehwa’s first date, is it…?’

Actually, the Crown Prince seemed to want to go see the flowers with Sehwa in the spring, but unfortunately… both the Crown Prince and Sehwa were busy.

While that workaholic couple was working, I was carried on Chunho and Sung Gyeom-sabok’s backs to see the flowers.

‘It’s easier on this small body.’

If it was a path that horses or palanquins couldn’t enter, the two of them took turns carrying me, so I could move around comfortably.

When I think about it, I wonder if I should travel while my body is light.

‘It’s already too late….’

But they wouldn’t have let me go anyway, geez.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Our palace maids, already accustomed to outings, moved quietly without making a fuss.

Sehwa was the only one bewildered by our quick movements.

“……How are you so skilled at this?”

“You didn’t think I wouldn’t come out just because it’s nighttime, did you?”

“……”

Half wanting to say it was dangerous, half feeling like it would be presumptuous to say such a thing.

Sehwa had a look on her face that said as much.

We went out and changed our clothes at a house Soyi had prepared in advance.

The clothes had been taken out beforehand, so it was simple.

“I’ve never worn clothes like this before.”

“It suits you well. Let’s change your hairstyle a bit too.”

“Well, I’m not used to wearing my hair down…”

“It’s okay. What does it matter for just one day?”

Having straight hair or half-up styles was quite popular, but it seemed she hadn’t had a chance to do such hairstyles because she’d been working as a civil servant all along.

‘Well, her job is a doctor, after all….’

As Soyi helped style her hair, Sehwa fidgeted with a flustered expression, but Soyi, who knew the hidden intention of today’s outing, remained calm.

They weren’t on bad terms.

Soyi, who had even put on accessories that matched the clothes, looked satisfied.

“Is it okay for me to receive this much?”

“What does it matter?”

I got it from the Crown Prince anyway.

Sehwa murmured with a disappointed look as she looked at herself in the mirror.

“It would have been nice if Sungji could have come with us.”

“He said he had a prior engagement with the Siyoungwon people [likely a group of scholars or officials], so it can’t be helped.”

No. Just in case, I had given Sungji a heads-up about Sehwa and the Crown Prince’s date and recommended he join, but he declined, saying Sehwa would be more embarrassed if he was there.

Instead, as a bonus, I also got Sungji a set of clothes.

Sehwa will probably find out about this after today.

“Maybe next year… or next time, we can go together.”

“Yes.”

Sehwa looked a little embarrassed as she repeatedly lifted the sleeves and checked the hem of the clothes, as if she was fascinated by the clothes she was wearing.

‘No one dislikes new clothes….’

Especially if they are good clothes that you got for free.

“Hmm. It suits Sehwa well.”

“The Princess also looks very good in it.”

“Hehe. I have a good figure.”

Anything looks cute on kids!

As I ran around fluttering the wide-sleeved clothes, Soyi sighed and shook her head while holding the hair accessories.

‘I wonder why she wants to dress up so much.’

I threw one of the hair accessories to Soyi and came down to the yard.

“Oh, are you done?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

As I approached, Chunho habitually picked me up, then made an ‘oops’ face.

“Ah, you’re going to walk, right?”

“Well, I’d be comfortable if you carried me.”

“Then let’s go like this.”

Saying that, Chunho glanced at Sehwa and whispered in a small voice.

“The Crown Prince seems uncomfortable when I’m next to Sehwa noona [older sister/female friend].”

He meant that he would rather hold me than get caught up in the jealousy of an unwanted couple.

I also whispered in a small voice.

“Originally, your brother is a bit petty, so Chunho, please understand.”

“Pfft.”

It was a slightly inappropriate word to use for the Crown Prince of a nation, but as a privilege of a close relative, I could use honest expressions.

“What interesting conversation are you having?”

“No, I’m saying I’m looking forward to the lantern festival. You too, Chunho, right?”

“Yes, Princess…”

As we finished preparing to go out, a familiar figure was waiting for us on the path we were taking.

“Ahem.”

“??”

It was the Crown Prince, also wearing Goryeo-style clothes [traditional Korean clothing from the Goryeo dynasty].

Naturally, it was clothes that matched the ones given to Sehwa.

Sehwa, who was the only one who didn’t know this, looked back at me with a bewildered expression.

“Oh, Princess?”

“That’s how it is….”

“What, what is…!”

Sehwa had a betrayed look on her face, but it didn’t seem like she disliked the Crown Prince approaching.

She seemed a little pissed, though.

‘Hmm. Did something happen between them?’

The Crown Prince might have had another reason for requesting a date with Sehwa from me.

Anyway, my role is over now, so the Crown Prince will take care of it.

The atmosphere didn’t look very good, but I didn’t think the Crown Prince would do anything Sehwa would dislike.

‘You might think I’m biased. But if he was that kind of guy, he would have had three kids already.’

I’m a little worried that Sehwa might get PTSD from the lantern festival with the Crown Prince…

But that’s something the Crown Prince will take care of.

The sight of the two of them not looking at each other and being reserved was moderately pleasing.

They’ll be stuck together soon anyway!

Ugh. As expected of an official couple, they look so good together.

‘Their clothes match well too. Now that it’s like this, should I make traditional clothing dates a time-honored tradition….’

I wonder if there are any couples who secretly match their clothes even now.

I sent a casual greeting to the Crown Prince’s aides, then waved to the Crown Prince and Sehwa and stepped back, thinking useless thoughts.

“Then I’ll be on my way. You two… have fun, and if you want to go back together later, let’s meet here again.”

This was a safety measure in case any unfounded rumors spread.

We need an excuse if we meet someone we know outside.

It would be troublesome if someone saw me going out with Sehwa, but Sehwa wasn’t there when we came back, and there were rumors that Sehwa was with another man.

Be happy, you two… now that it’s like this, I hope Sehwa reveals her identity.

I can’t know what they’re talking about in their time alone.

As I was waving and trying to smoothly slip away, Sehwa urgently grabbed me.

“Princess…!”

Ah, why is that….

“It’s so crowded during the lantern festival. I can’t leave you alone.”

In contrast to the Crown Prince’s sour face, Sehwa looked quite desperate, so my heart wavered again.

Well, Sehwa… is my benefactor who cured my illness….

“……If Sehwa says so, I can’t help it.”

Kyahaha.

The Crown Prince looks at me with a betrayed face, but what can I do?

‘You should have asked for a date directly….’

It’s your fault for not giving Sehwa a heads-up.

Well, maybe she’s just shy. Maybe there are other circumstances, but you should have resolved them.

Anyway, it’s the Crown Prince’s fault.

So, we had no choice but to become a rather large group and wander around.

And at some point, I realized

That the same situation as when the three of us took a walk in the palace was being recreated.

‘Wow. Are these people using me as a smokescreen again?’

Sehwa seemed to be refusing to be alone with him, but she was subtly making eye contact with the Crown Prince while having me in between them. Of course, given the Crown Prince’s position, they weren’t alone, but who would dare to be next to the Crown Prince besides me?

Since young men and women are seen with strange eyes when they are alone, they were pretending to be wholesome with me in between them.

Well, it’s not a world where you can easily hold hands outside.

But I had no intention of spending the long-awaited lantern festival like an elementary school student accompanied by a parent.

It would be nice if it was just a parent, but I’m stuck between a couple.

‘Anyway, they’ll like it more when I disappear after a while….’

Sehwa doesn’t know, but the Crown Prince will probably like it.

Besides, it’s not like they’ll be left alone even if I disappear.

I started to rationalize appropriately, looking at the Crown Prince’s aides who were still attached to the Crown Prince.

‘There can’t be any progress between them if I’m in the way in the first place.’

Besides, I like seeing them in person, but I don’t want to see their every move from the side.

I just want to see the highlights!

If I try to see everything, I’m just a stalker.

I sighed as I looked at the colorful lanterns all around.

‘It’s good that it’s lively, but I’m not very happy either….’

The fact that the surroundings are noisy and I’m not in my right mind is a little comforting.

“Ah.”

“Be, be careful.”

As the Crown Prince unconsciously wrapped his arm around Sehwa’s shoulder, who had been bumped into by a passerby because there were so many people, and then awkwardly took his hand away when he made eye contact with me, I felt like I needed to disappear quickly…….

“Ahem.”

“……”

“Hmm. It’s kind of noisy over there.”