Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 1

A Different Dimension Idol

By Cheon Tae-geo

#1.

A black luxury sedan was navigating the busy Gwanghwamun intersection.

Despite the vehicle’s careful design, including tinted windows, soundproofing, and even bulletproofing, faint outside noise seeped into the car.

<124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Korean Empire – Eve Festival>

The source of the commotion was emblazoned in brushstrokes on a banner hanging high above.

“Hmm…”

The road had been closed since morning for the event, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. today.

Through the window, one could see crowds gathering to watch the performance and staff busily setting up the stage.

“It’s noisy, isn’t it? And the traffic is terrible… We have to pass this way to get to the palace,” Chief Kim, sitting in the passenger seat, explained at Do-jae’s sigh.

“I know. It’s alright.”

Having lived in Gyeongbokgung Palace, visible in the distance, until adulthood, Do-jae was well aware of the road conditions.

Of course, Chief Kim probably wasn’t explaining because he didn’t know this.

Do-jae reassured him and fixed his gaze back out the window.

Thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a sharply defined nose were reflected in the car window, superimposed on the bustling Gwanghwamun intersection.

Joseon [the last dynastic kingdom of Korea], thanks to King Jeongjo’s wit and quick response, successfully modernized and later proclaimed the Korean Empire under Emperor Jinjong, becoming a constitutional monarchy.

It was a strategy for survival in a world where nations either dominated or were dominated.

Thanks to this, the Korean Empire survived as an independent nation.

The Lee royal family, choosing to adapt rather than stagnate, was recognized for their contribution and continued its lineage into the modern era.

Another 124 years passed. While a century flowed by, the world and the imperial family changed, but their duty and responsibility remained the same.

‘Never lose dignity; be honorable and beneficial anytime, anywhere.’

They say that Yeongjo [21st king of Joseon] washed his ears when he heard something he didn’t like, but Do-jae wanted to wash his ears whenever he heard those words.

He had heard it so often that he was getting calluses.

The only good thing about leaving the main palace, Gyeongbokgung, and holing up in Cheongju Haenggung (which was actually a modern mansion) was that he didn’t have to hear those words as often.

“Chief Kim.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“We still have time. Could we stop the car for a moment?”

“Yes? Why…”

Chief Kim tilted his head, flustered.

Do-jae silently lowered the window slightly.

The outside noise that the window had been blocking poured in.

At the same time, a sweet acoustic guitar sound was heard.

—Ah, ah. Mic test.

A rehearsal was underway on the stage.

Chief Kim, realizing Do-jae’s intention, had the driver pull the car over to the side of the road.

Do-jae opened the window a little more, just enough to keep his face from being seen.

The male singer strummed the guitar strings a couple of times to check the sound and soon began to sing along to the flowing accompaniment.

—You don’t know, my heart is trembling. My heart doesn’t beat, without you…

It was a rehearsal stage without any lighting, but the Korean Empire’s best singer-songwriter instantly captivated the audience.

A sweet voice.

Heartrending lyrics overlaid on lyrical melodies.

The audience stared at him, mesmerized.

Do-jae listened to the song, tapping his fingers lightly on his suit pants.

He barely managed to stop himself from opening his mouth and singing along.

“Your Highness, we have to go now. If we stay any longer, the traffic will…”

“I understand.”

After rolling up the window, Do-jae stared straight ahead.

The car started again.

***

Ahead of the ‘124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Korean Empire’ ceremony to be held tomorrow at Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace, the direct descendants of the current Emperor gathered in one place for the first time in a long time.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the imperial family lived, had been renovated internally in a modern style, except for Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main hall] and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion [a royal banquet hall].

In the elegant atmosphere where old and new blended, it was dinner time.

“As all the princes and princesses are gathered here, the chefs have put their heart and soul into the dishes,” the head chef from the royal kitchen explained the dishes one by one. Do-jae indifferently looked down at the colorful and beautiful food.

The Emperor and Empress sat at the head of the table, with the Crown Prince and Princess beside them.

The princesses and princes sat in order, with Do-jae, the youngest and third prince, at the end of the table.

“It’s good to see you all here after so long. Everyone, eat up,” the Emperor commanded, and the meal began.

Except for the Crown Prince, who would become the Emperor, all of the Emperor’s children left the main palace and went to palaces in various provinces once they became adults.

Do-jae thought it was no different from being exiled.

Some might think it comfortable to live in the palace without doing anything, just eating, sleeping, and spending money.

But that wasn’t the case for Do-jae.

‘A life where you can’t do anything of your own free will.’

To prevent the imperial family from indiscriminately participating in political power, the Imperial Law strictly restricted the imperial family’s property ownership and occupations.

Marriage partners were also chosen from those in honorary positions, such as professors or doctors with high moral character.

It was also forbidden to appear privately in front of the public, as it could mislead the masses.

So, the imperial family members who did not become emperors naturally died without any presence, unable to leave their palaces.

They only came up to the capital for big events like this, showing their faces as if they were displayed souvenirs.

“The eve festival must be in full swing outside by now,” the Empress said as the meal came to a close.

The anniversary ceremony was under the Emperor’s supervision, and the eve festival was under the Crown Prince’s supervision.

The Crown Prince smiled and replied, “I was informed before coming in that nearly ten thousand imperial citizens attended the eve festival. The relay response is also hot.”

“Well done. Good job.”

At the Emperor’s praise, the Crown Prince looked towards Do-jae and said, “The youngest helped a lot, from writing the performer list to casting.”

“…Do you still have an interest in that?”

Even if the eldest brother was trying to promote Do-jae, it wouldn’t have sounded good to his father’s ears.

Do-jae swallowed a sigh at the Emperor’s sharp question.

“There are not only singers but also classical musicians among the performers, Your Majesty. The youngest has outstanding knowledge in various fields of art,” the Crown Prince tried to smooth things over, but it was already too late.

Singers or classical musicians were all dealing with the public, only to different degrees.

“Don’t have useless thoughts,” the Emperor rebuked coldly, and Do-jae lowered his head.

When he was a little boy, the Emperor quite adored Do-jae, who was skilled in singing and playing musical instruments.

But that was it.

When Do-jae, who had turned eighteen, said he wanted to be a singer, the palace was turned upside down.

The Emperor was furious, saying that he was trying to abandon the duties of the imperial family.

The Empress was anxious that rumors might spread outside.

‘The imperial family, which followed the changes of the world better than anyone else, has now become a more conservative place than anywhere else.’

Do-jae was disappointed and left the palace soon after becoming an adult.

He lived like a dead mouse in Cheongju Haenggung as the Emperor wanted.

He studied with a tutor to go to college, which he had given up on, and silently went to volunteer activities.

He tried to pretend not to know what he liked and what he wanted to do.

‘Suffocating.’

Do-jae felt suffocated and fiddled with his tie.

As the atmosphere was not good, the first princess quickly brought up another topic.

“Ah, Your Majesty. I heard that relics from the Baekje era [ancient kingdom in southwestern Korea] were found at the apartment construction site! Will they be moved to the Imperial Central Museum?”

It was a question about the museum project, which was one of the Crown Prince’s other duties.

One of the biggest differences between general public education and imperial education was that they studied history and culture very thoroughly.

Since the imperial family itself was a breeding ground for history, most of the imperial family members were knowledgeable and interested in this field.

If it were normal, Do-jae, who was interested in works of art, would have been interested in the topic.

But today, he wasn’t in the mood.

“No, sister. Not immediately, but after a six-month investigation…”

While the Crown Prince answered and various conversations took place, Do-jae silently emptied his plate.

The other brothers and sisters lived contentedly, so he was the only misfit.

***

He didn’t know how the dinner ended.

His stomach was bloated from forcing food into his mouth on the thorny seat from the moment he left the banquet hall.

The chefs, who had worked hard to prepare the best food in terms of taste and appearance, would be upset if they knew.

If he showed it unnecessarily, Chief Kim or the palace people would be concerned, so Do-jae maintained a blank expression.

He always felt sorry for Chief Kim, who was always getting glares from the Emperor because of him.

“We have prepared the room you used to use. Please rest comfortably. If you need anything, please call the palace staff at any time.”

“Chief Kim must be tired too, so go in and rest.”

“Yes. Thank you. Then I will come to pick you up tomorrow morning.”

Chief Kim, who had guided him to the room, bowed politely and turned away.

Do-jae looked around his room, which had become a ‘guest room’.

The room, with only a small dining table and a thick cushion instead of the instruments he used to use, was empty.

Do-jae took off the suit jacket he was wearing and loosened his tie.

The soft sleeping clothes prepared by the palace staff smelled of elegant flowers.

‘I’m enjoying luxury right now.’

Do-jae thought, as if he was brainwashing himself, while changing into his sleeping clothes.

After changing, he turned on the TV hanging on the wall.

It was because he couldn’t stand the silence in the room, which had become unfamiliar.

The TV was still broadcasting the eve festival.

—My heart doesn’t beat, without you…

The singer who had rehearsed earlier was singing.

Do-jae stared blankly at the screen.

It wasn’t like Do-jae was asking for anything more.

He knew that his current life was more than enough for someone.

However, one thing.

“My heart.”

Do-jae, who was singing along in a small voice, stopped before he could even finish a verse.

He wanted to sing.

Tick. Do-jae hurriedly turned off the TV before his heart grew bigger.

The room was instantly silent again.

Do-jae’s white face was reflected like a lingering image on the darkened TV screen.

“…….”

Looking at his face reflected on the screen, a certain emotion welled up.

About living like a floating object, neither existing nor not existing, Do-jae, who had a dream, at least….

He couldn’t find meaning in this life at all.

Those words that he had never uttered since he was eighteen, when he was whipped for the first and last time by his father, the Emperor….

In the end, Do-jae spat it out like resentment.

“Singer… I want to be a singer.”

And at that moment.

“……!”

The black screen that had been capturing his white face shook wildly.

Inside, someone with the same face as Do-jae….

But wearing completely different clothes, gritted his teeth and vented his resentment more intensely than Do-jae.

“I want to die.”

“…….”

“I don’t want to do things like being a singer anymore….”

Do-jae was surprised and raised his hand to stroke his cheek.

The person on the screen was crying.

But his cheeks were dry.

“What is this…”

Just as Do-jae was about to get up from his seat at the unbelievable event.

Thud!

Do-jae fell to the ground.
***