Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 8

The room was a mess.

The desk that the King used to review reports had fallen over, scattering stationery and reports haphazardly, and ink stained the floor.

But what was most shocking was His Majesty sprawled on the floor in an undignified posture, with the Royal Princess resting her head on his palm, eyes wide open.

“…….”

Having served His Majesty since his days as the Crown Prince, sharing humble meals in the palace for decades,

Court Attendant Kim immediately understood the situation. He gestured for the doors to be closed, then carefully lifted the Royal Princess, asking the King in a low voice about his well-being.

“Your Majesty, I will summon the royal physician.”

“……I am fine. How is the Princess?”

“Awoo.”

Understanding that he was asking about her, the baby babbled, carefully approached the King, and patted his shoulder.

“It seems she is unharmed.”

With a groan, the King, supported by the court attendant, rose to his feet and sighed heavily.

He had kicked the desk in his panic and rushed to catch her, but his body was not as young as it used to be to handle such strain.

“Perhaps it would be best to move the Princess to another location.”

“Has she not been too quiet until now? Remove anything that can break and be dangerous to the child.”

After saying that, the King looked around the room and changed his mind.

“No, we should clear out the entire room.”

The three of them sighed silently at the sight of the ink stains scattered throughout the room.

“……Did the Princess just sigh?”

“Th, that couldn’t…… possibly be.”

While Court Attendant Kim busied himself organizing important documents before calling the maids, the King held the child tightly to prevent her from causing more trouble and checked the items that had been knocked out of the cabinet.

“Thanks to you, I’m taking out all these things.”

“Uuuu.”

Perhaps startled, the child, who had been laughing brightly until a moment ago, was now nestled quietly in his arms with a sullen expression. She seemed to be watching him carefully, then slowly began to stroke the King’s arm where it had hit the floor.

“It doesn’t hurt. Don’t worry.”

“Hau.”

Just as he thought she might start crying, he picked up an object that caught his eye and held it out to the child.

“Look at this. These are things that the Queen, the Crown Prince’s mother, left behind. Since you opened it, why don’t you take a look?”

“Uaaa.”

They were insignificant trinkets such as jade rings, simple ornaments, and hairpins that could be bought at the market, but they seemed appealing to the child, and Sia raised her voice in excitement.

Most of the Queen’s jewelry had been passed on to the Crown Prince, but less valuable items like these had been kept by him.

“These are things I bought for the Crown Princess when I secretly went out incognito during my days as the Crown Prince. Compared to the things the Queen usually had, they were insignificant, but she was so happy to receive them.”

“Ooo.”

“But I was a sinner to her.”

“Uhh?”

The Crown Princess, chosen at a young age.

It might have been a glorious position, but it was by no means a happy one.

Separated suddenly from her parents, the young girl had to endure the unfamiliar and strict palace life.

The royal elders were pleased that she was gentle, but the palace was a difficult place for someone with a gentle nature to endure.

Numerous eyes watched her every move, and she had to serve the royal elders above her.

Living such a life, she always felt suffocated and relied on medicine.

Perhaps that was why she had difficulty conceiving, and she also experienced miscarriages. Her firstborn son passed away early.

After several years of the Crown Princess failing to produce an heir, she had to request the selection of concubines herself, as she had not fulfilled her duty.

The Crown Princess’s brothers and father not only failed to protect her but even pressured her by requesting the selection of concubines, so how painful must it have been?

Watching the Crown Princess from the side, he could no longer defy his father’s wishes. The current concubines were selected and entered the palace at the same time back then.

Perhaps because of that, he only fulfilled his basic duties to the concubines who entered the palace and did not give them his affection.

Fortunately, the Crown Princess conceived another son, so he thought she would no longer suffer, but heaven was merciless.

‘When she passed away, she said she would go to meet the princess who had left first, but perhaps she was happy to finally leave this palace.’

The Crown Princess’s youthful face, still vivid in his mind, had said that she wanted to give birth to a beautiful princess and live happily, marrying her off very, very late.

This round, soft, and warm baby, how dearly she must have longed for her.

“Royal Court Lady Yoon must feel the same way.”

“Uhh?”

At his murmur, the child widened her eyes as if she understood his words.

“It’s as if Royal Court Lady Yoon knows you’re talking about her birth mother.”

“Giggle.”

The child, clutching the jade ring, giggled as if she had completely forgotten what had happened earlier.

Looking at the child’s smiling face, he felt at ease and suddenly wondered.

‘What on earth did Royal Concubine Yeong do to make such a child so frightened?’

What exactly happened in that room?

The child had no injuries, and the royal physician said there was nothing that seemed to be bothering her.

And a moment later, the King could not help but slightly resent himself for missing the child’s next action thanks to that brief thought.

“Gaa!”

Crash-

As if she had never been sullen, the child began rummaging through another drawer, laying out the items inside.

“You rascal, those aren’t toys.”

“Giggle.”

He scolded her not to do it, but in fact, it was not him but the palace staff who would clean up.

The child, who always had a listless expression, seemed happy, and he thought it might be okay…… The King, who had been watching with interest, finally picked up the child and rose to his feet.

“Why do you keep reaching for the porcelain?”

“Uhh! Uuuu!”

“I’ll give you as much as you want when you grow up, so give up now.”

“Uhh?”

The child widened her eyes and looked at him as if she understood his words.

This…… was a look filled with a desire to truly possess it.

A baby who likes porcelain?

He was dumbfounded, but the King patted the child and nodded to himself.

‘Well, I guess it could happen.’

Since it’s glazed and shiny, it might look good to children. It’s too big to put in her mouth. It would be nice if it didn’t break, but…….

‘There’s no guarantee it won’t break.’

In the end, with a sigh, he called the palace staff and had the porcelain removed.

“You rascal, you must never do such dangerous things again.”

“Ihee, ehehehe.”

When he shook her lightly to scold her, she laughed as if it were fun.

‘Geez, you never know what a child will do.’

Although he had several other children, this was the first time he had been so close to one, so every action of the child was new to him.

However, no one yet knew that even more absurd things had not yet happened.

***

“Your Majesty, please reconsider.”

“The princess is asleep, lower your voices.”

Those who had hesitated for a moment at the quiet voice spoke in slightly softer tones than before.

“However, Your Majesty, the position of the Queen cannot be left vacant for even a day.”

“How can we lightly decide on the matter of choosing the Queen? Moreover, this is a matter for the royal family, so you may no longer discuss this matter.”

“Your Majesty!”

Since Royal Concubine Yeong was said to be in confinement, they had gathered again to do this.

Royal Concubine Yeong was the adopted daughter of Chief State Councilor.

‘What happens in the inner palace is leaking out too easily.’

They want to tie him down so that he cannot move. In particular, the late King’s subjects are not satisfied with the respect shown to them and try to control the King.

‘If I don’t want the Crown Prince to have to deal with these troublesome fellows again, I need to take care of them in my generation.’

Although he is said to be intelligent, can the Crown Prince, who is gentle and kind-hearted, really do such cruel things?

Those cunning old subjects who are even now spitting and vehemently protesting in front of the King.

Moreover, they were also related to the Crown Prince through marriage.

Even the foolish Lord Pyeongseong, the Crown Prince’s maternal uncle, is among them.

‘To protect the Crown Prince, they must have brought in Lord Pyeongseong, saying that Royal Concubine Yeong should be raised to the position of Queen.’

Since he was not originally very bright, it would not have been difficult for Chief State Councilor to manipulate him.

‘If Royal Concubine Yeong is raised to the position of Queen, things will be quiet for a while, but it will cause even greater strife afterward. Even now, they are like this, so will they remain still after Royal Concubine Yeong is raised to the position of Queen?’

Even while the King was lost in thought, the officials raised their voices about the selection of the Queen.

And that booming voice eventually woke the sleeping baby.

“Bbaeeeeng!!”

The child’s ear-splitting shriek, which was hard to tell whether it was a scream or a cry, had the effect of instantly silencing the imposing officials!

The story of the young princess, along with the incident involving Royal Concubine Yeong, must have spread to some extent.

Everyone was cautious about the health of the young princess, who was rumored to be weak from birth and only stayed by the King’s side, shunning others.

Above all, the officials were well aware that His Majesty had already sent off several young members of the royal family [a euphemism for executing them].

Chief State Councilor also frowned briefly and closed his mouth.

“…….”

“…….”

“……Hyuuu.”

In the quiet room, only the baby’s breath could be heard as she soon fell asleep again.

A moment later, when the King’s gaze, which had been directed at the baby, returned to the officials, Chief State Councilor opened his mouth again.

The second round had begun.

And the voice, which had been low at first, began to grow louder with fervor.

“Your Majesty! This is about establishing the lineage of this nation!”

“Hiiiing……!”

“Chief State Councilor.”

“……I am sorry.”

Fortunately, the child was not as picky as rumored, and she soon calmed down again as the King patted her.

But the problem was that it didn’t end there.

“Your Majesty……!!”

“Bbaeeeeng!!”

“Chief State Councilor.”

After this situation was repeated several times, everyone felt that His Majesty’s mood was becoming increasingly unpleasant and refrained from speaking, but Chief State Councilor did not stop.

“Please reconsider……!!”

As Chief State Councilor Hong Sang-jo bowed his head and expressed his opinion, he suddenly realized that something was approaching him.

It was a very small hand.

“?”

He could know who the owner of that hand was without having to check, but Chief State Councilor reflexively raised his head to confirm the owner of the small hand, and at that moment, he had no choice but to stop speaking as if his tongue had frozen.

Slap!

“!!”