Born As The Daughter of a Lowly Concubine - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Born as the daughter of a lowborn concubine.
Episode 107
“Is this… the limited edition with illustrations from the Chinese translation of Flower Shadow?”
“Oh? You know of it too, miss.”
Se Hwa smiled somewhat bashfully and drew out the book to show me.
Unlike the other books present, it was impossible not to notice it from the moment you saw the cover.
The cover itself wasn’t adorned with elaborate illustrations or anything of that sort. Rather, pressed flowers and small black floral patterns had been drawn on the cover to visualize the title—the shadow of a flower—making it distinctly different from the covers of other books.
It was a somewhat experimental attempt, but since this was the first run, the thought had been to draw people’s attention. After all, this was a limited edition for which advance payment had been collected. The care and effort put into it showed plainly, worth every coin.
“So you did reserve it. It must have cost quite a bit. Wait—the book’s already out?”
“Ah, well, a small quantity came in today, so I picked it up.”
“Wow. I should stop by on my way home.”
At my words, Se Hwa hurried to speak, seeming a bit flustered.
“Even if you go now, there may be no stock left today. But… did you also reserve this book, miss?”
“Of course.”
I’d put so much heart into this from the very production stage.
It had been quite arduous, painstakingly pressing flowers onto each cover, but fortunately the cover turned out beautifully. The printing should have gone well, shouldn’t it?
Looking at the faces in the room, it seemed everyone knew about this book. Bestsellers truly are different.
Then again, when everyone else is reading it, it would be odd not to look at it yourself.
Though So-i, who had always enjoyed vernacular novels, was one thing, Seong Ji was somewhat of a surprise. She seemed like the type who wouldn’t even glance at anything outside of medical texts, but clearly one shouldn’t judge people by appearances alone.
“Hmm, come to think of it, this is quite popular. Don’t you think people would enjoy it if it were made into a play?”
“A play, you say?”
“Yes. The theater at Siyeongwon has performances by traveling actors, so connecting with them and adapting this into a theatrical production wouldn’t be bad at all.”
Those who watched the performance would want to read the original novel again.
There were surely still quite a few people who hadn’t seen it despite its fame. If it were adapted for the stage, there would be omissions and changes, so people would likely revisit the original work.
I was thinking about how interesting that might be when So-i, sitting beside me, raised an objection.
“But where would we find such beautiful men and women as those described in the novel?”
“Ah… that would be difficult.”
The transformation from one dimension to two dimensions, and then from two dimensions to three, typically fell short of the original image and drew criticism.
“Haha. Then what if they wore masks?”
“Well, that’s one option. Hmm. Or perhaps having the play performed by only female actors wouldn’t be bad either.”
After all, if men and women performed together, we’d only hear complaints from those with lecherous dispositions.
“That’s a good idea. But if female actors showed their faces, it would likely cause many troublesome matters, so wouldn’t it be better if they wore masks?”
“…Have there been some troublesome matters then?”
At my question, Se Hwa shook her head in flustered denial.
“Ah… there hasn’t been any particular incident. At Hye Minser, we manage patients by gender as much as possible, so it’s fine, but other places don’t operate that way. There are cases where patients or their guardians behave inappropriately toward medical apprentices.”
“Goodness. In any case, it seems security personnel will definitely be necessary when establishing a clinic.”
Seong Ji, who had been listening beside So-i, also joined the conversation.
“Still, I’ve heard that female medical officers are treated with considerably less disrespect these days. The fact that they hold the rank of official medical officer apparently carries quite a bit of weight. Moreover, since everyone knows that missteps could reach the ears of the Queen and the Princess herself, no one dares treat them lightly. It seems a person truly needs someone powerful watching their back.”
“Ah… haha.”
So I’m the one watching their back?
“Since the medical apprentices might become female medical officers soon, those who mistreat them have decreased. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy for female medical officers in the private sector. But being able to devote yourself so peacefully to medicine is all thanks to you, Princess.”
“That’s fortunate.”
In any case, it was good news that their hard work had borne fruit. Still, what kind of people harangue even the person who treats them?
“Why don’t you take the exam soon and become a female medical officer, Se Hwa?”
“I am studying, but the exam takes time.”
“There’s no way around it without establishing merit. It’s better when no merit-worthy cases arise at the clinic.”
“That’s true.”
The two of them, who had been speaking in a way that gilded my reputation, conversed in a warm, friendly manner about the medical profession.
While the system now officially recognized female medical officers as medical professionals, the promotion process was somewhat more burdensome than for other medical officers.
In other words, it amounted to a lack of faith in women’s abilities.
Consequently, they were not recognized as medical officers from the start but had to go through an apprenticeship period as medical apprentices first, only becoming eligible for promotion through examination.
‘It’s unfair, but if I push further, it might backfire…’
What mattered was results. If female medical officers couldn’t demonstrate that they were every bit as capable as men, there would be no basis for persuasion.
This era couldn’t conduct intelligence tests across the nation comparing men and women.
Women lacked even the opportunity for education, so brilliant women couldn’t suddenly pour forth out of nowhere. Of course, occasionally someone like a needle hidden in cloth did emerge.
‘That was one reason I decided not to seek out Ji Hwa.’
The protagonist didn’t need my intervention. She would stick out like a needle on her own.
“Would you care to see it?”
“Hmm?”
Se Hwa respectfully held out the book before me. I must have been staring blankly while lost in thought.
‘Oh dear. I’m sorry.’
It must have looked like I was coveting someone else’s new book.
But if I refuse now, I don’t think she’ll believe me anyway.
“Well. Would it be all right if I took a quick look?”
“Of course.”
I accepted the book carefully, inspected the cover condition thoroughly, then turned through several pages.
And before I could help it, my brow furrowed.
“Ah, this…….”
“What is the matter?”
“The binding seems to be done wrong. These illustrations here and here don’t connect.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Because I had been the one to give final approval on the pages with illustrations before they went to print.
There could have been a mistake during binding, of course, but to sell something like this without even proofreading? That would be a problem for Jang. Or could it be an issue on the printing end?
“I’ll have to go to the Book Rental Shop and tell them. It’s not pocket change—they can’t be selling defective books like this.”
“Oh, I’ll go and tell them myself.”
“No, I told you already. I was planning to go pick up more books anyway.”
So-i, who knew I’d been involved in the book’s production, looked uncomfortable but didn’t try to stop me.
It was still early, before sunset, so there was probably time.
“Oh, then would it be all right if I went along with you now?”
“To the Book Rental Shop? Well, the book’s owner should go too.”
We’d need to exchange it for a new copy anyway. Given that she came by early, she seemed to have the time.
Hmm. Does she have something she wants to talk to me about?
Whether she sensed the odd atmosphere or simply because it was time to leave, Seong Ji joined us as well.
So-i seemed almost relieved that there would be more people, her face showing a certain ease.
“Is there any discomfort elsewhere besides where you were injured?”
“I’m fine. No pain anywhere. I’ve always had good health anyway.”
“Then that is fortunate. But tell me—among your paternal and maternal relatives, is there anyone with a delicate constitution?”
“Well, my father’s side of the family is all healthy, and on my mother’s side there’s no one left, so I couldn’t say.”
On the way to the Book Rental Shop after changing clothes, Se Hwa subtly inquired about my health and such matters.
‘Occupational habit.’
It happens often enough among physicians. Once they realize I’m not growing, some of them can’t help but keep asking questions, trying to uncover some symptom or other.
If she were thought to have asked carelessly about the Crown Prince’s health, it could become a serious problem—but from what I could see, she seemed to be asking about hereditary matters, so I didn’t press the point.
Besides, I simply answered that I was healthy.
Seong Ji, who had been through a similar exchange before, looked torn between whether to intervene or let it be, but I answered readily enough.
Some people might think it was rude, but there was nothing wrong with having a strong sense of professional duty.
While Se Hwa fell into thought after hearing my answer, the Book Rental Shop came into view.
“We’re here.”
“Um, miss…….”
Se Hwa seemed to want to say something, but I didn’t catch it properly and, spotting the Book Rental Shop, hurried ahead.
As I entered, Jang, who had been tidying up the shop, greeted me.
“Welcome. Miss, you’ve come?”
“Yes. I’m here about a book.”
“A book?”
“This one.”
I’d come to exchange a defective copy.
After confirming there was no one else inside and showing him the cover, Jang guided us toward the back.
I pointed out the problem I’d found earlier and explained.
“If the quality still isn’t good, we need to improve it further. We can’t be selling books in this state.”
“Oh dear…… From now on, we’ll have to add an extra round of inspection. But don’t worry too much—we haven’t actually begun selling these yet.”
“……?”
“These are prototype copies meant to show to the relevant parties first. Of course, I set aside your share as well.”
“Then what about this one?”
“Didn’t we agree that the limited edition would bear the author’s signature? So I showed it first only to the original author.”
“The original author??”
When I turned to look back, Se Hwa, who had followed along, smiled with some embarrassment at hearing the conversation.
Seong Ji and So-i, who had been listening as well, wore expressions of surprise.
“Ah, I meant to tell you first, but I’ve been caught red-handed.”
“You’re writing novels while working as a Medical Apprentice?”
Wait—a second job?
“Truth is, working as a Medical Apprentice alone doesn’t bring in enough to cover my mother’s medicine costs. Fortunately, because I am a Medical Apprentice, people have been kind enough to help me source medicinal herbs from various places, but looking at it long-term, expenses will mount considerably.”
So she had a mother who was ill.
“But how did you end up writing novels?”
“My mother has been bedridden and seemed to grow lonely, so I began inventing stories for her. She enjoyed them, so I wrote them down. I thought perhaps they might be worth money, so I took them to the Book Rental Shop.”
And hearing this, it became clear that Jang, the proprietor with a discerning eye, had secured an exclusive contract for the novels Se Hwa had brought.
This man certainly knows how to spot talent. Hiring him was the right call.
“I noticed the medical descriptions in the novel had a peculiar realism to them—now I see why.”
“Well, since it’s a field I know, the details naturally become more precise.”
Behind me, So-i’s eyes were sparkling, but I pretended not to notice and continued my warm conversation with Se Hwa.
To think I’d discover the author of Flower Shadow here, of all places.
‘The original story had no mention of the heroine writing novels. So Se Hwa isn’t the heroine after all…….’
For all that, she still seemed like a fairly strong candidate.
But that wasn’t important right now. I brought up the topic I’d been thinking about earlier.
“This works out perfectly, then. What about the theatrical adaptation I mentioned? If the original author agrees, the adaptation itself can be done by someone else, so it won’t be difficult. And we’ll pay generous royalties.”
“Really? You think that’s… acceptable?”
Apparently she’d even taken on night shifts to make extra money for financial reasons.
Writing was better done during the day, after all.
“You’ll hurt yourself doing that.”
“My health is quite robust, though. Besides, this time it was a translation from Chinese, so the work wasn’t all that difficult.”
Perhaps that’s fortunate, if anything.
While I had the author right here, I asked a question any reader would naturally ask.
“By the way, when’s the new work coming out?”
“Yes? Well, not yet.”
Please release a new work, Author. Though with two jobs, I suppose she’s too busy to write one.
“Is there perhaps a particular genre or subject you’d like me to explore?”
“No, it’s nothing like that…….”
As Se Hwa smiled brightly and I was responding, something suddenly occurred to me, and I paused.
“Have you ever thought about writing a romance novel with the Crown Prince as the male lead?”
“I beg your pardon?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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