Born As The Daughter of a Lowly Concubine - Chapter 32

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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 minor concubine.
Episode 32
“Come with me. We’re going to Gyeongwon Gun.”
“Pardon? You’re telling me this suddenly, at this hour?”
Song Bi, hurriedly preparing to leave, asked in evident confusion.
Even between siblings, it was improper to arrive unannounced so late in the evening—but there was no one left to fault me for it.
I could see that my attendants, though reflexively startled, soon grasped the reality and bowed their heads in understanding.
A child who had lost an older brother and lost her mother—searching for the only two blood relatives left was hardly strange. Especially when the other was a king too occupied even to attend his son’s funeral.
I hurried toward Gyeongwon Gun’s quarters, giving careful instructions to Ga-i and Song Bi.
“If I tell you to seize someone, you are to seize them and hand them over to Junggung Hall.”
“Pardon?”
These two were the kind who always obeyed me, even when they didn’t understand what I meant.
“Do you understand? You must not let them escape. And once you’ve seized them, you absolutely cannot take them anywhere without people around. It’s fine to make a commotion. No—if you can make a commotion, do so. Don’t take them anywhere else; you must bring them directly to Junggung Hall and report to the Queen that they were engaging in suspicious activities in the Prince’s quarters. That’s my order. Even if someone tries to stop you, you must not relent. Do you understand?”
“My lady, what do you mean by this sudden command?”
“Tell the Queen that I ordered it. After that, she’ll know what to do.”
If I suddenly drag someone along saying it was my order, the Queen will sense that something is amiss.
She always sits quietly in the background, but she is no fool.
As I drew near to Gyeongwon Gun’s quarters, the guards were, as I’d expected, unusually alert.
And among those vigilant guards, I saw one attendant approaching one of the Prince’s own maids.
The moment I caught sight of them whispering to each other, then bowing in surprise as they noticed me, I was certain these two were the perpetrators—but I asked one final confirmation.
“Where are you two going at this hour?”
“We—forgive us, my lady. We were bringing a late-night snack to the Prince and were just stepping out for a moment of fresh air.”
One was clearly an attendant from Gyeongwon Gun’s quarters, but the other was not. They answered with an innocent look, as if they didn’t expect me to remember their faces.
‘In the original story, the male lead refused to eat the refreshments brought by a maid after his brother’s death.’
That was how Gyeongwon Gun discovered the poison—because, unwilling to eat but reluctant to worry those around him, he gave his portion to a cat loitering near his quarters.
The cat, savoring the warm food, collapsed shortly after. Alarmed, the Crown Prince made the cat vomit, called for a physician to examine the contents, and the presence of poison was confirmed.
Later attempts to trace the source proved fruitless—the maid who had brought the food was found dead and cold.
These attendants, thanks to me, had earned a reprieve from death. Though I doubted it would be a blessing.
“Seize them.”
“Yes.”
As I commanded, my attendants and the palace staff, led by Ga-i and Song Bi, seized the two.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this?”
“What crime have we committed that you treat us so?”
Several palace maids held them fast as they struggled in terror.
“I must see the Prince, so I need you to do as I instructed.”
“Yes, my lady.”
To set their minds at ease, I headed straight for Gyeongwon Gun’s quarters.
The guards stationed there recognized me and readily let me pass.
Seeing me enter Gyeongwon Gun’s quarters, my maids would take heart and make their way to Junggung Hall.
Inside, familiar faces turned to me in alarm, bowing their heads.
“Your Highness?”
“Where is my brother?”
I knew my behavior was discourteous, and they knew it too—but none of them dared stop me from seeing Gyeongwon Gun.
“I shall inform the Prince at once.”
“Never mind.”
I’d arrived without notice, so it was only proper to announce myself—but there was no time for such formality now.
Whether the maids thought me rude or not, I guessed he’d be in his room at this hour, so I brushed past them and rushed toward the lit chamber.
Suddenly I remembered visiting Gyeongwon Gun before, when he’d locked himself away with a dried persimmon in each hand.
“Your Highness, the Princess has come to call.”
“Sia?”
Just then, a maid was informing Gyeongwon Gun of my visit.
“Show her in at once.”
Before the words were finished, I pushed open the door and rushed inside.
Though I’d expected it, Gyeongwon Gun seemed wholly unharmed—nothing had happened to him.
“Why are your hands so cold? And wearing such thin clothes. Did your attendants send you out dressed like this?”
Alarm flashed across his face, but Gyeongwon Gun seized my hands with concern and pulled me inside.
Seeing that he’d been with young kittens, he gathered up the furry bundles and placed them in my arms, and I checked his cheeks.
“You’re alive.”
“Of course I’m alive.”
Unaware that someone was trying to poison him, his face was utterly serene.
“I’m alive, so don’t worry.”
“……Yes.”
She exhaled and collapsed onto the floor, but she couldn’t leave it at that.
“Would it be all right if I slept here tonight?”
“Of course.”
Gyeongwon Gun gazed down at the kittens burrowing into her lap, nodded readily, and tucked her and the creatures together into the prepared bedding with practiced care.
“Not sleeping?”
“I thought I’d read something. My mind won’t settle.”
“You’ll ruin your eyes.”
“Ha.”
Perhaps it was the familiar warmth of the moment that coaxed a faint smile across her rigid face.
And then she saw it.
“A dried persimmon?”
“Hmm? Oh, someone brought it as a night snack earlier, but I didn’t have much appetite……”
It was fortunate that Gyeongwon Gun rarely indulged in sweets.
‘There it is.’
She’d always wondered why dried persimmons featured so prominently in historical poisoning cases. Perhaps it was because the poison left no mark, and you couldn’t taste a sample of each piece.
Suddenly his words came back to her.
‘Even if it fails and Gyeongwon Gun doesn’t die, he’ll spend the rest of his life haunted by fear of poison. That’s not so bad.’
But real life was not a novel.
She had sent witnesses to Junggung Hall. And yet……
‘If this comes to light, they might not execute the Prince.’
Just when it seemed he might be released from confinement, something like this happens. What would they do then?
Would stripping his princely rank and deposition suffice?
Even if execution was unlikely, she wanted him to suffer for what he’d done—to pay some price.
That was only right.
If you’ve killed someone, you have to answer for it.
You can’t let someone else die because of a man like you.
Like how you killed my sister.
“……Can I have just one of these?”
“Go ahead.”
In the original story, this poisoning attempt was buried entirely.
Gyeongwon Gun had happened to avoid eating the poison and remained unharmed; the serving women who carried it out died as Gyeongeun Gun had said, and the disgrace of such an act occurring during the Crown Prince’s mourning period was hushed up.
But attempts on Gyeongwon Gun’s life would continue quietly.
Court rumors would paint him as performing theater, whispers of madness would spread, and the male lead’s distrust of humanity would deepen into absolute cynicism.
But what if she ate this poisoned persimmon and collapsed?
Her hand trembled as she picked up the dried persimmon, knowing it held poison.
‘Even poison that kills a cat instantly doesn’t necessarily work the same way on humans.’
In the novel itself, that kitten hadn’t even died. Of course, there was no guarantee they’d used the same poison here.
Even though she’d already died once, she was still afraid of it.
Perhaps out of fear—she forced it into her mouth and chewed mechanically, swallowing without feeling anything at all.
‘Did they put it in a different persimmon?’
Feeling nothing, she grew anxious that if she left the others alone, Gyeongwon Gun might eat one, so she picked up another and watched him carefully.
“Were you studying?”
“……If I sit idle, my thoughts turn dark.”
“……Can I have one more?”
“Sure.”
Gyeongwon Gun, who was putting away his books, nodded lightly.
Now that she thought about it, her relationship with Gyeongwon Gun was different from that of most siblings.
With no material want, they’d never quarreled over food; though he was fussy and prone to complaining, he was always looking after her.
Was it because he thought of himself as her older brother, or simply his nature?
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never actually called him by that name.’
She addressed him as “older brother” before the royal family and others, but she’d never called him that when they were alone.
If anything, he felt more like a younger sibling to her.
She’d never felt that way about the Crown Prince. Why was that?
“I’ll have one more.”
“Go ahead.”
Noticing his slight disappointment, she made a mental note to call him by that name once she was older.
‘Ah, there’s a metallic taste in my mouth now.’
Blood. Not from biting her cheek, but rising from her throat.
Funny, I can’t even feel the pain right now, can I?
But wait—what is this? This isn’t some drama. I swallowed poison and I’m coughing up blood already?
What kind of toxin did that lunatic use?
If poisoning leaves this obvious a trace, what good is it? Gyeongeun Gun, you idiot.
Well, I suppose it didn’t matter since he already set up someone else to pin it on.
But what if it was me instead of the Crown Prince who drank it?
Even a powerless princess—no one would keep a man who harmed his own sister on the throne.
‘If it comes to this, I’ll drag you down with me, even if I have to die. You won’t recover from this.’
I finally understood why I couldn’t feel the pain. My chest was burning. My belly, my entire body—aflame.
Even as my thoughts scattered, I felt laughter bubbling up.
Cough.
“……Sia?”
The face of Gyeongwon Gun, turning to look at me, had gone deathly pale.
“Sia, Sia?!”
This isn’t something a child should see. What terrible timing.
I never expected it would come to bloodshed like this.
“Someone—is anyone here?! Fetch a physician! Quickly!!”
“Brother…….”
“Yes, I’m your brother. Stay with me!!”
Since this might be the last time, I’ll call you brother.
There won’t be anyone threatening your life anymore. That’s a relief.
“……If nothing else…… become a Sage King…….”
“……What?”
Do your best. 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 with her.
‘I don’t know. This might not be so bad, just letting go like this.’
I don’t know if this is revenge or just exhaustion.
Hearing my name called, I simply closed my eyes.
I didn’t even have the strength to twitch a finger.
“Sia! Sia!!”
Next time, I just want to be reborn ordinary.
What did I do so wrong to deserve all this?
I miss my sister.
Will I ever see her again?

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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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