Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 260

Following what I held in my hand, my gaze shifted, and a large hand came into view.

What I was holding was someone’s forearm connected to that hand.

And the owner of that arm was, of course, Cheonho.

So, my gaze naturally followed the hand towards Cheonho.

As my eyes met Cheonho’s, who seemed to have been following my gaze, I remembered clinging to him the whole time.

Thanks to that, my heart, which had calmed down a bit, was startled in a different way and started beating rapidly again.

With an embarrassed face, I quickly let go of Cheonho’s clothes.

‘No, I must be crazy.’

Of course, thinking about it calmly, it wasn’t that strange.

It was such a scary situation, so it wasn’t strange to cling to someone I could mentally rely on.

‘It’s just a bit embarrassing that I relied on someone younger than me.’

Of course, even though Cheonho was younger than me, the difference in physique was like the difference between a child and a grandfather in terms of age.

Whether he knew what was going on in my complicated head or not, Cheonho silently reached for the bedside table and poured me a glass of water.

“Ah. Thank you.”

Perhaps because the room was warm, the water was lukewarm and easy to drink.

Come to think of it, I didn’t realize it, but I was a bit thirsty.

After drinking the water, I felt a little calmer.

“But why are you here, Cheonho? You must be more tired than me; why didn’t you go treat your wounds and rest?”

At my words, Cheonho looked a little embarrassed.

Did I ask something strange?

“That’s, Ongju [Princess], you were holding onto me so tightly… Ah, I did get my wounds treated.”

“…I was?”

“Yes.”

Then, was I holding onto Cheonho’s arm just now?

I could feel my face heating up. I was too embarrassed to look up.

“I’m sorry…”

“No, it’s alright.”

“I’m strong, you know. Didn’t I bruise your arm?”

No wonder the topic of grip strength came up in my dream.

“I think it’s fine. Don’t I look sturdy?”

“Hmm. You look sturdy. But I’m still sorry…”

“Pfft. It’s alright.”

We were talking in small voices so as not to wake the court ladies next to us, so Cheonho chuckled quietly.

‘Ugh, embarrassing.’

Still, it’s not strange that I was surprised, so I’ll take comfort in that… but that’s a bit weird, right?

Looking around, our court ladies were asleep, exhausted.

I felt a little sorry for them, not being able to sleep comfortably and guarding my bedside.

‘They’re all getting older, how can they not sleep comfortably?’

I shouldn’t cause them any more trouble for a while.

I had checked before losing consciousness, and although it didn’t seem like anyone was hurt on the surface, I asked Cheonho just in case.

“Is anyone hurt?”

“There might be some among the soldiers, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem like anyone is seriously injured.”

“That’s a relief…”

I sighed in relief at Cheonho’s answer, but as I recalled what happened earlier, my spine tingled and my body trembled.

“Ongju? Are you alright?”

“Ah, no. I’m fine. I guess I was a little surprised. I feel a chill.”

I don’t know if it’s because it’s cold or because I was shocked.

Come to think of it, I was in a cold place for too long. The situation was such that I didn’t even think about being cold.

“Shall I call a doctor?”

“No… it’s okay. I’ll rest a bit.”

If I say I’m awake, everyone else who is dozing off will have to wake up too.

Come to think of it, I haven’t washed or changed my clothes.

‘I don’t have the luxury to do that, so I guess it’s okay.’

Still, I’m glad the room is warm.

I was startled when I grabbed the hem of Cheonho’s clothes, who was sitting awkwardly after getting up to call the doctor.

“Cheonho… what happened to your clothes?”

“Yes? Ah, there was a lot of blood splattered on them, so I just cut them off, wiped myself down, and treated my wounds.”

As he said that, Cheonho was only wearing an outer garment with bandages wrapped around his bare skin.

“No, were you hurt anywhere besides your arm?”

“Yes, well.”

I tried to remember what could have happened to Cheonho’s torso and recalled.

“Was it when that second guy tried to attack me?”

“Ah, I got scratched on the back a bit, but it’s not a big deal. But I think you were about to say something earlier…”

“Ah, um.”

I hesitated to speak at Cheonho’s innocent prodding.

“Um, would it be… not okay if you stayed here a little longer?”

“Yes? Ah… no. It’s alright. When else would I dare to spend the night in Ongju’s residence?”

“Wow. That sounds impure.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince allowed me to stay by your side today.”

“Hee. Brother did?”

“Yes. He was very worried.”

“Ah, right. Father and Brother must have been worried too…”

Cheonho smiled, looking slightly drained.

“Why are you smiling?”

“I was wondering where the person who shot an arrow at the tiger with such fearsome force went.”

“Um… I was lucky.”

“You always shot well.”

“I didn’t have many chances to shoot at moving things.”

Honestly, if I had missed, someone else could have been in danger.

“If I had more strength, it would have ended easily.”

“Don’t say that. Rather, because of me…”

“Why?”

“The reason that tiger followed us all the way here must be because of the scent of my blood. I, who should be protecting Ongju, ended up putting Ongju in danger.”

At his pessimistic remark, I lightly patted the back of Cheonho’s hand.

“The reason the tiger followed Cheonho was because Cheonho fought the tiger alone to let me and the other court ladies escape, right?”

“…Yes. That’s probably it.”

“If Cheonho hadn’t done that, I or… Soyi and the court ladies might have been harmed by the tiger then. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

Cheonho was silent at my words, but he didn’t seem to deny it.

“Cheonho did his best to protect us. Don’t regret that.”

“…Yes.”

It was hard to read Cheonho’s expression because it was too dark with only one candle, but he seemed happy.

“Ongju, please don’t do anything too dangerous either. Everyone is worried.”

“There was no other choice in that situation. I thought someone might get seriously hurt if I didn’t. I might have been a hindrance, though.”

“A hindrance? Not at all.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief. So, if a similar situation comes up again, I will do what I can. Because now I have many things I can do. Unlike before.”

“…Ongju.”

I recalled the strange dream I had earlier.

“So, you can’t get hurt. Like Seongwon, Brother…”

“I only got a few scratches, I’m not hurt at all.”

“Can you call that a few scratches?”

I recalled Cheonho’s wounds before I lost consciousness and checked Cheonho’s arm, which was now bandaged.

“Ah, no, I’m fine, I tell you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m fine thanks to Ongju. Besides, I received treatment from the royal physicians.”

“Haha. That’s a relief.”

“…Now, please sleep.”

“Okay.”

I felt like I needed to sleep a little more, so I crawled into the blanket, but strangely, I couldn’t fall asleep.

I felt like I knew why.

“Surely, it won’t come again, will it…?”

“…Don’t worry. There are soldiers guarding outside, and I’m here too. I will protect Ongju here until dawn.”

As he said that, Cheonho lightly tapped the back of my hand.

Even if he couldn’t subdue it in one go, it was definitely reassuring to hear that from someone who survived a 1-on-1 deathmatch with a tiger.

“Okay…”

I smiled faintly and took Cheonho’s hand.

“?”

“Thank you.”

Somehow, I felt like I could sleep soundly this time without having strange dreams.

***

“Is she asleep?”

“Yes, she’s asleep.”

After a while, when even breaths came from the Ongju, the court ladies who had been pretending to sleep opened their eyes one by one.

I knew roughly that they were awake, but seeing them do this…

‘It’s a little scary.’

In the first place, even if it wasn’t His Majesty the King or His Highness the Crown Prince, there was no way those people would let Cheonho spend the night in the same space as the Ongju.

This time, it must be a sign that the Ongju was too surprised, so they should stay by her side.

As the saying goes, subordinates must realize what superiors don’t explicitly say.

The women who confirmed that Suyeong Ongju was asleep let out small sighs.

Cheonho tilted his head, looking at them.

“Why did you all pretend to be asleep when you were awake?”

“Wouldn’t she worry if she knew we were awake and not sleeping?”

‘…Does that mean it’s okay for me to be awake?’

Well, it was better for him, who was still young and strong compared to the others, to stay up all night.

“And if someone who has gone through a scary experience together is by your side, you can talk more openly.”

“Is that so?”

“Even before, Ongju has experienced too many scary things since she was young… If she knows there is someone who can protect her by her side, she will feel more at ease.”

“Hmm. I heard that there are girls who have learned martial arts in Siyeongwon [a training center for female palace servants], how about bringing them in as Ongju’s escorts?”

Gaia nodded at Cheonho’s words.

“It would be good to think about it when she gets married.”

“I’ve been thinking about it like that and putting it off…”

“If His Majesty the King doesn’t decide, His Highness the Crown Prince will at least give some indication.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince hasn’t had his royal wedding yet, so you never know when she will get married.”

Gaia’s voice became a little sharp at Cheonho’s words.

“Don’t think nonsense.”

“I won’t.”

Cheonho smiled bitterly, knowing why this reaction was coming out.

If he had continued to be a child, like when he first reunited with Ongju, this kind of vigilance would not have happened.

Besides, since he was small and light, it would have been much easier to hold her in his arms and run.

Just carrying Ongju and running today was actually quite excessive in terms of time and distance.

‘But on the other hand, she wouldn’t have been able to shoot an arrow and save me.’

How could she have shot an arrow so accurately at the tiger’s mouth and eyes at that moment?

No one could have even imagined that Ongju could do such a bold thing.

It was a short moment, but that image of her shooting an arrow at the tiger was deeply engraved in Cheonho’s mind.

‘I can’t believe Ongju is so brave.’

Indeed, from a young age, that Ongju was extraordinary.

Still, she’s still so small…

‘Huh? Or is she? Is she not that small anymore?’

The Ongju, who is covered in a blanket and asleep, is no longer a small figure compared to other women of her age.

She was a child just a while ago.

Cheonho felt a little sad that the small Ongju had grown up so suddenly.

It was a complex feeling that was hard to explain.