Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 278

But isn’t hitting a tiger with an arrow usually the male lead’s heroic feat in novels or dramas? It’s supposed to highlight a cool image.

‘Even if he’s the male lead, it’s a bit much for a Crown Prince who grew up delicately in the palace to catch a tiger, but shooting an arrow is something he could manage, right?’

Not by intention, but I actually did it.

Of course, realistically, it wasn’t easy for the Crown Prince to be active.

Unlike me, who is relatively free, he has limited freedom of movement and always has to be surrounded by people in the palace.

There was no way the Crown Prince would directly shoot an arrow at a tiger if one appeared.

‘If that happened, it means the people around the Crown Prince weren’t doing their jobs properly.’

Actually, maybe because of what happened with Grand Prince Seongwon, the reaction regarding the Crown Prince’s safety is quite neurotic.

Of course, I’ve had so many incidents that they’re quite sensitive about my safety too.

‘If something happens to the Crown Prince now, it’ll be incredibly troublesome.’

Regardless of my likes or dislikes for the Crown Prince, unless someone is really plotting treason, it’s hard to imagine anyone would want to harm him.

The problem is finding those who *are* really plotting treason.

“If the rebels are even raising an army, we can’t just let it pass.”

“It seems I told the Ongju [Princess] too much unnecessary information.”

“No, you need to know.”

It probably has been passed on to Father through the Crown Prince.

And to solve this quickly, it seems like……

“State Security Officer Seong will have to suffer a bit more…….”

“I suppose that’s how it will be……?”

According to what I heard from State Security Officer Seong, it seems like I need to go there one more time to get a clue.

‘The problem isn’t just that, but the Crown Prince will take care of that.’

Of course, whatever I think, the opinion of the person who actually has to move is different.

State Security Officer Seong looked dejected, as if he was hoping I would tell him not to go.

“To be honest, I want to rest a bit now. There are plenty of energetic young guys around.”

“Now that we’ve tried you, we won’t be satisfied with anyone else. And I don’t think you’re old enough to say that yet.”

“Honestly, I deserve to rest now.”

Oh, poor thing, is that so?

I appropriately indulged State Security Officer Seong’s grumbling.

Huh, you’re going back to suffer after suffering already, so I’ll listen to this much.

“We have to finish this job. That’s the only way you can finally retire.”

“Yes…….”

The civil servants of this era, whose resignations are rejected, had no freedom to retire.

I clenched my fist tightly and shook it, comforting State Security Officer Seong.

“If you can’t retire this time either, I’ll run away from home.”

Hearing that, State Security Officer Seong laughed resignedly.

“……Isn’t that just something Ongju wants to do anyway……?”

“Hey. No way.”

Tch. I guess we’ve been together for too long. State Security Officer Seong knows me too well.

“Well, I’m getting older too, so I should slowly become independent.”

“Is that so? If Ongju leaves, then I might finally be able to retire.”

“After this job is done, and the Crown Prince’s wedding is over.”

“Yes. I suppose so.”

State Security Officer Seong nodded, understanding my intentions.

“Ah, now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I visited my brother, so I should go see him.”

“He will be happy to see Ongju’s face.”

Although I haven’t visited often lately, I still provide snacks as usual.

However, unlike before, I’ve grown up a lot, and because of the tiger incident, I’ve been refraining from wandering around too much.

‘I wasn’t feeling well for a while after that day.’

I did some light walking, but not feeling well is terrible.

It’s no use being young when that happens.

‘Hmm. I should tell Songbi to prepare snacks, go see Father, and go see the Crown Prince.’

Actually, I feel like avoiding Father a bit because every time he sees me, he looks like he wants to marry me off quickly, which is a bit burdensome.

Of course, there’s someone blocking him in front of me, so he doesn’t act that openly yet, but there’s an unspoken pressure you feel when talking to him, isn’t there?

‘Of course, more than that, he’s worried that I was very surprised by the tiger incident.’

Everyone is worried, but it feels strange that I’m so nonchalant.

But originally, people are scarier than wild animals.

***

“The Crown Prince’s decision to keep that child, Cheonho, by Sia’s side was right. Ongju’s safety is also thanks to the Crown Prince.”

“How could it be thanks to my decision? Since Ongju brought the child, it can be said to be thanks to Ongju.”

Recently, the Crown Prince has been busy cleaning up the palace, but he has spent a considerable amount of time with Father.

Although he is acting as regent, the King is still Father, and the young Crown Prince has much to learn from the monarch who has held the throne for many years.

Father, who never loses his rational judgment regarding state affairs, is a respectable king, but that often feels cold.

The times when emotion is particularly present in Father’s words are when he mentions Princess Suyeong or the deceased Grand Prince Seongwon.

“Since that child has lost so much, he must gain something as well…….”

“Father…….”

The royal family’s sore spot. If she heard it, she would make a reluctant face and tell him to stop, but the Crown Prince fully understood Father’s heart.

“Such loyalty without regard for one’s own safety is rare. It’s a waste for the King to have such a promising talent guarding the Ongju, but as a father, it’s a welcome thing.”

“My thoughts are the same as Father’s. It is a pity for his talent, but seeing Cheonho guarding Ongju’s side makes me feel quite relieved.”

Father smiled slightly at the Crown Prince’s words.

It was a rare smile when Ongju was not around.

It’s not that Father discriminates against the Crown Prince and Ongju, but there’s not much to laugh about when it’s just the two of them.

‘It would be strange to laugh while working.’

Sometimes, he would give a fleeting smile when he was pleased with the Crown Prince’s handling of affairs.

He doesn’t know what it was like when he was young, but he’s not a child anymore, so he doesn’t dwell on such things now.

In fact, if he thought about it at this age, wouldn’t it be embarrassing to his younger sister, who lost her birth mother at a young age and never showed any signs of loneliness?

Although Mother takes care of Ongju, it is difficult to be as affectionate as a real mother and daughter.

In fact, even the Crown Prince himself felt awkward for a while after Mother became Queen, as he had to keep his distance unlike before to maintain decorum, so it must have been even more so for Sia.

“Come to think of it, Ongju’s palace maids were like that too. It seems Ongju has good virtue.”

“Hasn’t Ongju always taken good care of her subordinates since she was young?”

“Indeed, Ongju always bestows virtue, so it seems many follow her. Well, there are many in the palace who have benefited from that child’s virtue.”

“I have heard so as well.”

Seeing the Crown Prince’s face, which clearly showed that he thought highly of his younger sister, Father asked an unexpected question.

“Then, Crown Prince, if Sia opposes the Crown Princess when you later take a Crown Princess, what will you do?”

“Yes?”

The Crown Prince inadvertently retorted, but fortunately, Father pretended not to hear and continued.

“I mean, what would you do if such a thing happened someday?”

“Sia is a child who has no interest in such things. And the Crown Princess is…….”

He wanted to say that she was not that kind of person, but he couldn’t rashly say it because it hadn’t been decided who to take as the Crown Princess yet.

The Crown Prince wasn’t so naive as to think that Father wouldn’t know at all, but it was another matter whether he would allow it as the Crown Prince thought.

“Yes. But that is something the Crown Prince cannot guarantee. People’s hearts change depending on what they experience.”

Father came to the Crown Prince, lightly patted his shoulder, and urged him.

“It is natural for the Crown Prince to cherish his younger sister, to love a woman, and to trust the Crown Princess. But always, you must not forget that the Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation.”

“Yes. Father.”

It was a heavy story that had not yet come, but the Crown Prince would soon face.

“Well, the Crown Prince hasn’t even taken a Crown Princess yet, so I don’t know when you will have such worries.”

“I am sorry.”

“Do not forget. That you are the only foundation of Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom].”

That now, no one but you can dare to sit in this position with dignity.

The Crown Prince knew that fact well.

That’s why, even though it was a position he didn’t want, he never once thought of giving up this position, which was his brother’s.

‘I can’t give it up to anyone now.’

Now that he had made up his mind, he had no intention of stepping back.

Watching such a Crown Prince, the King had another worry.

“I am worried about the Crown Prince, but I am also worried about Sia. Sia’s partner should be chosen from among those who can support the Crown Prince…….”

“I will do my best, so please leave Sia alone.”

The Crown Prince, who knew his sister’s nature well, tried to change the subject.

It doesn’t seem easy to find a man who pleases that child, and if she doesn’t like something, she might really run away the day before the wedding.

Thinking about it that way, he suddenly became a little worried about Cheonho’s presence next to Sia.

“Yes. If the Crown Prince continues to do well, what worries would I have?”

“I am sorry.”

“How can I blame the Crown Prince? It is also my lack of virtue. But I had to choose the best. Whether I wanted it or not, that is the duty of the monarch…….”

The King’s gaze was distant, wondering what he was thinking.

And the Crown Prince now seemed to know what Father was thinking. He was probably still thinking of his brother.

The tedious time that made his shoulders stiff ended, and when he returned to his workplace, a familiar face greeted the Crown Prince.

“Ah, Brother.”

It was that one and only younger sister who had been the subject of conversation with Father until just now.