Chapter 2……
‘They say children grow up running and playing, but aren’t they being a bit too noisy?’
Watching them dash around as if they had known how to walk since birth was cute, but also exhausting.
The most annoying part was how they even tugged at Hong-ah’s collar while she was in Grandmother’s arms, whining for her to play with them.
Hong-ah, whose mind was twenty-five but whose body wasn’t even a year old yet, was absolutely not at the level to play with her two-year-old uncles. Strangely though, their target was always her.
“The princes seem to adore Hong-ah, don’t they?”
Grandmother looked pleased even at that sight, but Hong-ah’s feelings were closer to those of Lady Kim So-ui and Lady Yang Gui-in, whose faces had gone pale.
Maybe that was why—on days when she met those two, she always ended up collapsing into an exhausted nap by midday.
If she was lucky, she would end the day in her father’s arms, strolling through the back garden. When the Crown Prince was too busy, she would stay in her chambers and fall asleep in her mother’s embrace when she came to visit.
‘Is it really okay for me to live like this, doing nothing?’
That was the thought that came up most often these days, but truthfully, there wasn’t anything she could do at the moment.
The only thing that eased the boredom these days was watching her body grow like a proper human being.
Until recently, all she could do was lift her chest. But a few days ago, she finally succeeded in rolling over. She felt that soon she might even be able to crawl, so she practiced diligently every day.
In this life, she wanted to live long. Her will to live had been strong in her past life, and it was the same now. Life was precious, after all.
On top of that, she was born as royalty—the daughter of the Crown Prince, who would someday become king. If she was going to live long anyway, why not also enjoy wealth and glory?
‘Born with a golden spoon, I should make the most of it.’
That was why quick judgment of her circumstances was important.
What if her father turned out to be a tyrant? No, the Crown Prince she had seen so far didn’t seem like that at all.
But what if a younger brother, who might be born later, became a tyrant and drove her out? That would mean certain ruin—one hundred percent, no, a thousand percent.
‘My goal is to live a quiet, steady, and long life.’
Hong-ah wanted to enjoy all the things she hadn’t been able to in her past life—but carefully, without drawing too much attention, and for as long as possible. To do that, she needed to know who she was and what kind of king her father would become. For all she knew, he could turn out to be Yeonsangun.
‘Yeonsangun’s mother was deposed, but Grandmother wasn’t deposed at all—she bore many royal sons. That means Father can’t be Yeonsangun. At least the worst possibility is avoided, so that’s a relief?’
Suddenly, several kings’ names flashed through her mind. Taejo, Taejong, and Sejong had all fathered many children. Seongjong too, but since Father couldn’t be Yeonsangun, he was out of the question. Jungjong also had quite a number, if she recalled correctly.
‘From the titles I’ve heard, it’s not the late Goryeo period either.’
Reasoning like this, she felt she might eventually uncover a clue. But there was another problem. As she thought, a tiny wrinkle appeared on her smooth baby forehead.
Yaaawn—
With a baby’s body, even a little thinking brought on an overwhelming wave of fatigue. As an adult, she could push through exhaustion to keep working. Ah, maybe that’s why she died of overwork?
As useless thoughts crowded in, her eyelids grew heavy. In the end, Hong-ah had no choice but to surrender to sleep once more.
Time flowed on without end. It had already been half a year since her birth. At the end of an unbearably dull life, she finally learned how to crawl.
Of course, her range of movement was still limited. Even if she could crawl, her world was just the inside of her room. And even then, as a precious baby girl, she was rarely allowed down on the floor.
As the days grew colder, her wet nurse refused to let her lie on the floor at all, bundling her in quilted clothes and covering her with a thick blanket even when she lay near the heated floor.
‘They treat me this preciously? So even life with a golden spoon isn’t all easy, huh.’
At six months old, she realized just how tiring it was to live a life under constant attention.
‘Being too popular isn’t necessarily a good thing.’
These days, Hong-ah was the hottest topic in the palace—the most famous little figure around.
Grandfather the King had fourteen sons, but only one princess and one royal daughter. In such a conservative royal family, that made his love for a granddaughter unusually strong.
They said the King was the happiest of all when he heard his first grandchild was a girl.
“The Crown Prince’s baby is staying in such small chambers? Prepare a proper pavilion for her.”
She was merely the Crown Prince’s illegitimate daughter, not even formally titled yet, and only half a year old. Normally, it would be far too early to bestow a grand residence. But no one could stop the King, who had discovered the joy of loving a granddaughter.
Thus, Hong-ah was granted a new pavilion. Though modest, it was undeniably grand for a baby—the Yeonggyeongdang (Hall of Eternal Celebration).
Her mother was saddened to be farther away from her daughter’s quarters, but at the same time she bloomed with smiles every day. What mother in the world would dislike her daughter receiving such affection from the King?
“Our baby receives the King’s utmost favor. How could I not be overjoyed as her mother?”
Even as the Crown Prince’s only daughter, she was still of illegitimate birth. Royal daughters were precious, and while she would no doubt be married into an eminent household, it wasn’t quite the same as being a legitimate princess.
Her mother worried that once the Crown Princess gave birth to a son and heir, her daughter might be neglected.
“I just need to make more time to visit my baby, that’s all.”
That was how her mother soothed her heart.
‘If only she could give birth to a son before the Crown Princess.’
Unfortunately, her mother was too gentle to harbor such bold ambitions. To her, the wet nurse only smiled and replied,
“How could the King’s favor ever wane, when the little lady is this lovely? Both Their Majesties and His Highness the Crown Prince treasure her deeply—please don’t worry.”
Hong-ah nodded inwardly. Mother worries too much. Since she couldn’t say it aloud, she let out a loud “Waaah!” instead.
“What’s making my little one so happy? Ah, you were with her mother.”
“Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince suddenly appeared. He was always busy, so their meetings were brief and infrequent. Her mother and the wet nurse quickly stood to bow.
Hong-ah debated how to react, then chose simply to sit still. Her father must have found it endearing, because he beamed, lifted her up high, and held her in his arms.
“Were you enjoying a pleasant time with your mother?”
“My greatest joy is seeing our little one grow so well.”
Seung-hui replied softly.
“And so it is with me. This tiny child brings me such joy. I’m always grateful to you, Seung-hui.”
“How could you say such overwhelming words? It is I who should be grateful, Your Highness, for giving me such a precious child.”
Their exchange felt oddly distant, but her mother’s expression was nothing like that—she blushed shyly like a maiden in love, her face glowing with affection.
‘Good grief. How can she like a man surrounded by so many concubines?’
Even if they were mostly for political reasons, the Crown Prince already had four consorts—his official wife, the Crown Princess, plus Lady Kwon Seung-hui, Lady Hong Seung-hui, and Lady Jeong Seung-hui.
And until he produced a grandson and heir, he could always take more concubines or even palace maids. Thinking of the many consorts tied to the King, she could already see her father’s future.
‘Definitely not my type.’
Hong-ah’s type was a man devoted only to her—kind, a little foolish but gentle. Not too foolish though.
‘Father may be clever, but as a man, he’s really not it.’
Kyaah! Hong-ah suddenly burst out laughing and nestled into the Crown Prince’s arm.
‘Still, it’s better than Mother living all alone.’
Her father was overjoyed by even the smallest of her gestures. Perhaps this kind of relief was sometimes necessary.
“Our Hong-ah seems in such high spirits!”
“She must be happy to be with both her parents, Your Highness.”
The wet nurse chimed in smoothly, right on cue.
“Haha! So that’s why she’s so delighted.”
“I am most grateful.”
“Then we must arrange more times like this. I realize now I’ve neglected Seung-hui. Since the child is so happy, I’ll make more opportunities for the three of us to be together.”
“How could I take away Your Highness’s precious time? You already have so little time to rest.”
“Time with my precious child is worth it. Seung-hui, put your worries aside. If it pleases Hong-ah, what could I not do?”
The Crown Prince gently clasped Hong-ah’s tiny hand. A child safely born amidst many rumors, she was precious beyond measure.
“It’s only thanks to you that Hong-ah is this beautiful.”
“How could you say so? Surely it is Your Highness’s fine looks and gracious nature that she has inherited.”
Her mother shyly covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her face, bright with the glow of love, was more beautiful than ever.
Not just because she was her mother—Seung-hui was truly a beauty, even to Hong-ah, who had lived a past life. Her large eyes without double lids, her sharp, high nose, her healthy build.
Standing beside the handsome Crown Prince, they made a striking couple indeed.
‘But why isn’t Mother the first wife?’
Hong-ah couldn’t help but feel resentful of the Crown Prince. Even spending her days in her chamber, she had heard the rumors that Father had been visiting Lady Hong Seung-hui’s quarters frequently.
“It’s almost time for my lesson, I should go.”
As expected, the position of Crown Prince was a busy one. He departed to attend his afternoon studies, leaving a parting remark.
“Tonight, I’d like to have tea in Seung-hui’s quarters.”
“Wh—? Ah, yes! I will have everything prepared!”
Still, Hong-ah couldn’t help but feel a little smug.
