Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 32

“Follow me. We’re going to see Grand Prince Yeongwon.”

“Yes? At this late hour, suddenly?”

Songbi, who was hastily preparing to go out, asked, seemingly flustered.

Even between brothers, suddenly barging in at a late hour wasn’t proper etiquette, but no one could fault me for it now.

The court ladies, who had instinctively panicked, soon realized this and bowed their heads in understanding.

It wasn’t strange for a child who had lost her older brother and her birth mother to seek out the only two remaining blood relatives. Especially when the other one was a busy king, even during his child’s funeral.

I almost ran towards Grand Prince Yeongwon’s residence, instructing Gai and Songbi.

“If I tell you to seize someone, grab them and hand them over to the Queen’s residence.”

“Yes?”

Even without knowing the reason, these two were the ones who always listened to me reasonably well.

“Understood? Don’t let them get away. And if you catch them, never go to a deserted place. It’s okay to make a scene. No, if you can create a commotion, do so. Take them directly to the Queen’s residence and report that they were acting suspiciously in the Grand Prince’s residence. That’s my order. Don’t listen to anyone who tries to stop you. Understood?”

“Princess, what are you suddenly saying?”

“Tell the Queen that it’s something I ordered, and she’ll take care of the rest.”

If I suddenly had someone dragged in, saying it was my order, the Queen would notice something was amiss.

She always sits quietly in the back, but she’s not foolish.

The Grand Prince’s residence, which was now close, was heavily guarded as expected.

And among the strict guards, I saw a court lady from the Grand Prince’s residence being approached by another court lady.

The moment I saw them whispering to each other and then startled when they met my gaze, I was convinced that these two were the perpetrators, but I asked one last question for confirmation.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

“W-We apologize, Princess. We were bringing refreshments to the Grand Prince and were just going out for some fresh air.”

One was clearly a court lady from Grand Prince Yeongwon’s residence, but the other was not. They didn’t seem to think I would remember their faces, and they answered with nonchalant expressions.

‘The male lead in the original story was also disheartened by his brother’s death and didn’t eat the snacks brought by the court lady.’

So, the reason he found out that the snack was poisoned was because Grand Prince Yeongwon, not wanting to eat but worried about those around him, gave his share of the food to a cat that was wandering around the residence.

The cat, which had been happily eating the warm food, collapsed a short while later, and the Crown Prince, who was surprised and made it vomit, called a doctor and found out that it was poisoned.

Later, they tried to find the culprit, but the court lady who brought the food was found dead.

Thanks to me, these court ladies had their lifespans extended for a while. Though that might not be a good thing.

“Seize them.”

“Yes.”

As I had instructed, my people, led by Gai and Songbi, grabbed them.

“W-What is the meaning of this?”

“What crime have we committed that you’re doing this to us?”

Several court ladies struggled to hold onto them as they thrashed in fear.

“I need to go see the Grand Prince, so do as I told you earlier.”

“Yes, Princess.”

To reassure them, I headed straight to the Grand Prince’s residence.

The guards, recognizing who I was, readily let me in.

My court ladies, seeing me enter Grand Prince Yeongwon’s residence, would be relieved and head to the Queen’s residence.

Inside, familiar faces bowed to me, seemingly flustered.

“Princess?”

“Where is my brother?”

I knew my actions were rude, and so did they, but they couldn’t bring themselves to stop me from seeing Grand Prince Yeongwon.

“I will inform the Grand Prince immediately.”

“It’s alright.”

I should have done that since I came without notice, but I didn’t have time for that now.

Regardless of what the court ladies thought, I assumed he would be in his room at this hour, so I brushed past the court ladies and ran to the room with the light on.

I suddenly remembered the time when I went to see Grand Prince Gyeongwon, who was holed up alone in his room with rice cakes in his hands.

“Grand Prince. The Princess has come to visit.”

“Sia?”

The court lady was informing Grand Prince Yeongwon of my visit.

“Quickly, let her in.”

Before he could finish speaking, I opened the door and rushed inside.

I thought it would be alright, but it seemed that nothing had happened to Grand Prince Yeongwon yet.

“Why is your body so cold? And you’re wearing such thin clothes. Did your court ladies send you out like this?”

Grand Prince Yeongwon, clearly surprised, worriedly grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.

Seeing him pick up the fur balls [likely kittens] and put them in my arms, I checked Grand Prince Yeongwon’s cheeks.

“You’re alive.”

“Of course, I’m alive.”

He had no idea that someone was trying to poison him, and he had such a carefree expression.

“I’m alive, so don’t worry.”

“…Okay.”

I was relieved and slumped down, but I couldn’t go back like this.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

“Of course, you can.”

Grand Prince Yeongwon readily nodded at my words as I stared blankly at the baby kittens burrowing into my arms, and he gently tucked me and the kittens into the prepared bedding.

“Aren’t you sleeping?”

“I can’t sleep, so I was thinking of reading a book.”

“You’ll ruin your eyes.”

“Haha.”

Perhaps it was because of the warm atmosphere, which was no different from usual, but a slight smile appeared on my hardened face.

And then, I noticed it.

“Dried persimmon?”

“Huh? Ah, they brought it as a late-night snack, but I didn’t really want to eat it…”

I was so glad that Grand Prince Yeongwon wasn’t the type to eat snacks.

‘That’s it.’

Why are dried persimmons so often involved in poisonings during the Joseon era [Korean dynasty from 1392 to 1897]? Perhaps it’s because they can’t taste each one to check for poison.

I suddenly remembered what that bastard had said.

‘Even if it fails and that Gyeongwon doesn’t die, it’s not bad to think that he’ll be tormented by the fear of poisoning for the rest of his life.’

But it’s different from the novel.

I caught the witnesses and sent them to the Queen’s residence. But…

‘Just because this happened doesn’t mean they won’t kill Prince Gyeongwon.’

What would happen if this happened when he was about to be released from confinement?

Would it be possible to strip him of his title as a prince and demote him to a commoner?

Even if I couldn’t have him executed, I wanted him to live a miserable life as punishment for his crime.

Right?

If you kill someone, you have to pay the price.

I can’t let someone else die because of someone like you.

Just like you killed our sister.

“…Can I eat one of these?”

“Sure.”

In the original story, this poisoning attempt is completely buried.

It was because Grand Prince Yeongwon happened not to eat the poison and was safe, the court ladies who carried out the act died as Gyeongwon had said, and they tried to hide the disgraceful incident that occurred during the Crown Prince’s mourning period.

But the attempts to harm Grand Prince Yeongwon will continue quietly.

Rumors will circulate in the palace that it was Grand Prince Yeongwon’s own doing, and there will even be whispers that he has a mental disorder, pushing the male lead’s distrust of people to the extreme.

But what if I eat this and collapse?

My hand, knowing that there was poison in the dried persimmon, trembled.

‘Even if it’s a poison that kills a cat instantly, it won’t kill a person easily.’

Even in the novel, that cat didn’t die. Of course, there’s no guarantee that they used the same poison.

Even though I had already died once, I was still afraid of dying.

Was it because I was scared? I forced myself to put it in my mouth and mechanically chewed and swallowed it, but I didn’t feel anything.

‘Did they put it in a different dried persimmon?’

There was no reaction, and I was worried that Grand Prince Yeongwon might eat it if I left it alone, so I picked up another one and checked Grand Prince Yeongwon’s condition.

“Were you studying?”

“…If I stay still, I only have bad thoughts.”

“…Can I eat one more of these?”

“Sure.”

Grand Prince Yeongwon, who was putting away the book he was studying, nodded lightly.

Come to think of it, Grand Prince Yeongwon and I were a little different from ordinary siblings.

We never fought over food because we didn’t lack anything, and even though he nagged and grumbled a lot, he always tried to take care of me.

Was it because he thought of himself as an older brother, or was it his natural disposition?

‘Come to think of it, I never called him ‘oppa’ [Korean term for older brother used by females] even once.’

I referred to him as ‘older brother’ in front of the royal elders and other people, but I never called him that to his face.

Well, he felt more like a younger brother than an older brother.

I didn’t feel that way about the Crown Prince, so why was that?

“I’ll eat one more of these.”

“Okay.”

He seemed a little sad about it, so I thought I should call him that when he got a little older.

‘Ah, there’s a fishy taste in my mouth.’

It’s the taste of blood. I didn’t bite it, but the blood came up from my throat.

Funny, am I not even feeling the pain right now?

Are you kidding me? This isn’t a movie, why am I vomiting blood right after eating poison?

What kind of poison did that crazy bastard put in it?

How can a poisoning be so obvious in the first place? Gyeongwon, you idiot.

Ah, well, he wouldn’t have cared since he had already set up someone to take the blame.

But what if it’s not the Grand Prince, but me who ate it?

Even if I’m a powerless princess, they wouldn’t keep the guy who harmed their own sister in the position of a prince.

‘Now that it’s come to this, even if I die, I’m going to ruin you so you can never recover.’

Why didn’t I feel the pain? My chest, my stomach, my whole body was hot.

I felt like laughing even though my mind was getting blurry.

Cough.

“…Sia?”

Grand Prince Yeongwon’s face, turning to look at me, was pale.

“Sia, Sia?!”

Ah, this isn’t a scene to show a child, what should I do?

I didn’t expect such a bloody event to happen.

“Someone, is anyone there?! Bring the doctor quickly!!”

“Oppa…”

“Yes, it’s your brother. Stay conscious!!”

Since it might be the last time, I’ll call you oppa.

Now, there won’t be anyone threatening your life. That’s a relief.

“…If possible… become a wise ruler…”

“…What?”

Do well. You’re the male lead, so you won’t die. Don’t worry too much.

I hope you meet the female lead and live happily.

‘I don’t know. I think it’s okay to just be comfortable like this.’

I don’t know. Is this revenge, or am I just exhausted?

I closed my eyes as I heard the voice calling me.

I didn’t have the strength to move a single finger.

“Sia! Sia!!”

Next time, I just want to be reincarnated normally.

What did I do so wrong to be given these trials?

Ah, I miss my sister.

Will I be able to see her again?