Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 321

I was born as the daughter of a low-ranking concubine. (321) [This likely refers to a ranking system within the royal court or a specific social hierarchy. Further context might clarify its exact significance.]

‘Does Father know that Older Brother is alive?’

Even though I didn’t specify who I was referring to, the King nodded with weary, hollow eyes as if it were obvious, and replied with a deep sigh.

‘…Even if he’s been torn to pieces, I can still recognize my son.’

It was a terrible thing to say, that he had even confirmed the body himself.

I vowed to punch the unfilial Crown Prince who orchestrated this, on behalf of the King.

‘Why didn’t you look for him, even though you knew?’

‘Even if I forced such a weak person who wanted to run away so badly to sit in the Crown Prince’s seat, how could he endure and protect that heavy position?’

‘He had been doing well until then. Why didn’t you hold onto him? There might have been circumstances.’

‘Did I have to hold onto a guy who said he wanted to leave?’

‘Still, you should have talked to him.’

At my words, the King frowned as if he was displeased.

‘Are you daring to lecture your father now?’

‘Isn’t there regret and lingering feelings because you let him go like that? Isn’t the reason why Father’s health has deteriorated because you’re worried about the brother you sent away?’

‘What do you know to say such things!’

‘Because I know what it’s like to lose family too!’

‘…….’

Since he was asserting his authority, I also used my cheat key [referring to her unique advantage or knowledge].

Whether it was effective or not, the King seemed to have lost the will to be angry and became quiet.

‘If Grand Prince Seongwon is involved in the rebellion, what will Father do?’

‘…How can I stop a foolish guy from walking into his own death?’

‘Unlike Father, if Older Brother is doing something stupid like throwing himself into danger, I’ll smack him in the back of the head to stop him!’

Of course, I felt like smacking him in the back of the head, but if I hit someone’s head wrong, I might end up sending him away faster instead of saving him, so I decided to consult with an expert (=Sehwa) and safely give him medicine secretly.

Confusing exaggerated expressions from cartoons or video media with reality could lead to a major disaster.

Of course, if the medicine didn’t work, I would have used physical force, even at the risk of side effects.

Yeon Seon-o, who was scheduled to carry it out, didn’t refuse either.

‘You’re still young, so you wouldn’t know.’

‘I’m not going to live like Father or Older Brother, so I don’t need to know, right?’

‘Huh. How impertinent.’

‘It’s my disadvantage and advantage.’

I could tell without asking. He would never say it, but the King liked my answer very much.

How could he not? It was a way to save his beloved son.

I brazenly asked the King.

‘…Would you like to see him?’

He was the son the King cherished and loved so much.

‘…It’s enough that he’s alive. What’s the point of meeting? It’s all meaningless.’

Perhaps thinking of the current Crown Prince, the King said that.

‘If you want him to come back, what will Father do?’

‘That’s not even worth considering.’

The King answered that without the slightest hesitation.

I felt a little sad.

The King reached out and stroked my hair as if he had read my mind, and said in a slightly sorrowful voice.

‘I am your father, but before that, I am the King. I had to do that, and I have to do that.’

‘Father.’

‘Still… only in front of my young daughter, not my troublesome sons, can I be a father for a while.’

The King said that and hugged me.

‘I’m sorry, for not being a good father.’

Perhaps this was something he could never say to the ‘Crown Prince’.

‘No matter how much of a king one is, children don’t always do as they’re told.’

He lamented, releasing the arms that were holding me.

And still with dry eyes, he urged me.

‘You have the most free-spirited nature among my children, so you should live as you want.’

‘I will live that way even if you don’t tell me.’

‘How impertinent.’

The King smiled as he looked at me speaking brazenly.

‘Once this is over, I can relieve my burden and feel relieved.’

It was a very ominous sound, so I immediately objected.

‘You have to see your grandchildren, so listen to the doctor and take care of your health.’

‘How do you know when I’ll have grandchildren to say such things?’

I think I can see a daughter-in-law, but I couldn’t guarantee grandchildren, so I bet on something else.

‘When Father’s health gets a little better, let’s make the Crown Prince work and Father and I will go on a trip to Geumgang Mountain together.’

‘What? Huh, hahahahaha.’

The King just laughed at my words.

‘Yes. To do that, I have to prevent the Crown Prince from collapsing from overwork.’

Seeing him say that, it seemed that the Crown Prince would not pass out from overwork.

***

“Where is my brother!”

“Just wait.”

I don’t know if Father helped to some extent or not, but eventually the Crown Prince was able to finish his work to some extent and secretly visit my private residence.

‘He’s still alive, thankfully.’

It was not long after Sehwa, who periodically visited to check on Grand Prince Seongwon’s health or the side effects of sleeping pills, said that she didn’t have to worry anymore and stopped visiting to take care of the Crown Prince exclusively.

His face was definitely more haggard than before due to overwork, but perhaps because Sehwa was feeding him medicine to nourish his body, the Crown Prince looked better than I thought.

It’s a bit much for a brother who’s visiting his younger sister’s house for the first time to say, ‘Where’s my brother,’ but since he’s meeting his beloved brother after a long time, I decided to understand.

“You should have told me you were coming today.”

“There was no time.”

“What do you mean there’s no time? You can send someone. Are you afraid that if you don’t come suddenly, Older Brother will run away?”

“……It’s not that…….”

His voice became timid, so it seemed like I hit the nail on the head.

He’s old enough, but he still likes his brother so much.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and decided to just take the Crown Prince instead of waiting for Youngseon, who had gone to call Grand Prince Seongwon.

“Is this the way to go?”

“Yeah. Come to think of it, Older Brother, it’s your first time at my private residence, and you came empty-handed without a gift.”

“You can give it to me later. No, but how long has it been since this house was built, and you’re still asking for gifts. How persistent and vicious you are, young one…….”

“How can you call your younger sister vicious?”

“Brother!”

At the familiar voice I heard after a long time, the Crown Prince ran up with an excited face.

“Okay, let’s step back~”

“Yes, Princess.”

The Crown Prince ran to Grand Prince Seongwon like a child, so I took Sehwa and Cheonho, who were following the Crown Prince, and Youngseon, who was following Grand Prince Seongwon, and stepped back.

Looking at Sehwa’s face, she was holding back a smile, and it seemed like she was thinking ‘cute~’ as she watched him run to his brother.

‘Yeah. It’s the best time.’

They say the scariest thing is looking cute. Pretty and handsome can sometimes break down over time, but once you start thinking they’re cute, they look cute no matter what they do.

It was a good thing that the rose-colored glasses were still intact [meaning their positive perception of each other hasn’t faded].

I somehow heard that the Crown Prince was healing his exhausted mind with cats and Sehwa these days.

It’s a good thing for the Crown Prince, and I was relieved because the atmosphere between the two seemed quite good.

‘It will take some time to restore his status.’

It can’t be helped that it takes time because it has to be done after dealing with this rebellion, but to be honest, I’m a little impatient.

Originally, these things should be done before the rose-colored glasses come off, but haven’t the two been together for a long time?

‘Come to think of it, it’s not good to show that kind of 모습 [Korean word meaning ‘appearance’ or ‘image’] too much.’

It may be cute now, but the Crown Prince tends to be a bit of a poser, so it may look different over time.

I casually spoke to Sehwa.

“Sehwa. There’s someone among the people that Older Brother brought who’s not feeling well, can I ask you for a favor?”

“Yes, Princess.”

After asking Youngseon for guidance and sending Sehwa, I was able to watch the two of them more peacefully.

The weather is much warmer now, so it wasn’t that cold even outside.

“I never thought I would see my brother again like this.”

“I am grateful that you still welcome this foolish brother so warmly, Crown Prince.”

“Can’t you just call me comfortably like before?”

“Aren’t you the Crown Prince now? Even if we are brothers, there is a hierarchy.”

“My youngest sister over there doesn’t care about that at all, so why are you saying that?”

“……I know that the Princess doesn’t do that in front of others.”

Why are you dragging me in?

‘He’s acting like that again because he met his brother after a long time.’

I was within earshot of the conversation anyway, but I deliberately shouted loudly.

“If you! have any complaints! I will! use formal speech! from now on! Crown Prince!”

“Disgusting! I don’t need it!”

The Crown Prince shouted at my words.

“No, it’s hard to please you.”

“Pfft.”

“Puh.”

Grand Prince Seongwon and Cheonho, who were listening to our conversation from the side, struggled to hold back their laughter.

The Crown Prince couldn’t take his eyes off his brother, as if he was truly happy.

‘I think it was a good thing to send Sehwa somewhere else.’

Whether they were instinctively creating a historical drama scene, they were deliberately standing under a flower tree and talking, so I forcibly dragged them and sat them on the floor with a tea table.

“I hope that my brother will continue to stay in Hanyang in the future.”

“Thank you for your words, but there is nothing good for me to be here. This rebellion is a good example.”

“But…….”

“It is enough for me to have confirmed that my siblings have grown up so healthy.”

“Brother.”

“And I am just happy that you have become such a wonderful Crown Prince.”

Grand Prince Seongwon’s face was radiant as he said that.

The Crown Prince was just moved, but I know.

That was the face of someone who had broken free from all shackles and was carefree and comfortable.

It was very contrasting with the Crown Prince’s face, which was exhausted from overwork.

Confirming that the atmosphere between the two was so ripe, Cheonho and I moved away from the two.

Looking at the brothers’ reunion from a distance, I turned my gaze to Cheonho, who was next to me.