Chapter – 17
Let’s Go Ride the Swings.
Back when she was in university, survival audition programs were all the rage.
Trot, idols, ballads—you name it, every broadcasting station had its own show.
Everyone was obsessed with them.
Except for one person: Yeong-eun.
People are scary…
To her, survival shows were the very embodiment of Darwin’s survival of the fittest.
Only the strong survived.
Life was already a daily struggle—why should she have to watch other people fight to survive too?
Shoving psychology books into her sturdy backpack, Yeong-eun shook her head.
“Hey, Yeong-eun. Can you vote three times for my kid this round? She has to win!”
Classmates who barely spoke to her normally would sprint toward her during “that” season—finals, when viewer votes decided the winner.
The contestants had already proven their skills, but now everything came down to the last popularity vote.
Totally a popularity contest.
No matter how talented you were, if you lost the popularity battle, that was the end.
It felt unfair. Then again, all evaluations made by other people usually were.
“Okay, I’ll vote three times.”
“Really? Thanks, Yeong-eun! You’re the best!”
…And just like that, she lost thirty-five thousand won.
Why had no one told her that each text vote cost one hundred won?
I got played.
Yeong-eun had become a first-class pushover.
And just when she thought she would never understand survival shows again—
“Hello everyone, today we’re going to—!”
Someone caught her eye.
“Yes!”
The second daughter of a travel creator, Yoo Jae.
The creator had shared everything about her: the pregnancy, the birth, and every moment of little Jae growing up.
Jae was entering kindergarten this year.
Watching the vlog about her first day at a private kindergarten, Yeong-eun slapped a hand over her mouth.
“My baby is already a kindergartener!”
Of course, Yeong-eun had done absolutely nothing.
All she ever did was watch videos when notifications popped up, hit like, and subscribe.
But she had at least contributed something to the creator’s income, right?
That was the start of Yeong-eun’s obsession with baby videos.
It happened right around the time she started her practicum in adult counseling.
“They’re just too cute…”
Children in the oral stage put everything in their mouths.
Their wheezy baby breaths, their babbling, the way they sucked on silicone pacifiers and drooled—all of it struck Yeong-eun right in the heart.
Yes, children were the best.
Cute kids were supreme!
Adults? Eh… they can manage on their own.
Said the girl who dreamed of becoming an adult psychological counselor.
“Right. I’m watching this purely to observe children in the oral stage!”
Yeong-eun justified her binge-watching with a very Freudian explanation.
Those memories flashed through Amang’s mind.
The boy before her was only ten years old.
Jae would be around this age now, wouldn’t she?
Jeya, your auntie misses you!
While she sobbed internally, Geumjin’s ears turned bright red.
“Is this your first time eating tanghulu?”
“Huh?”
“Does the Geum clan not have tanghulu?”
“T-that’s not it!”
“Then what?”
“Grandfather wouldn’t let me eat it. He said it’s unhealthy.”
Geumjin gripped his clothes tightly and kept his head down, too embarrassed to meet Amang’s eyes.
It made sense—this was his first time spending fun, carefree time with someone his own age.
He had always taken lessons with kids three or four years older, under Geum Taesa’s strict teachings.
Geumjin, you must always be better than everyone else.
Because he had to follow those teachings, he had never been allowed to just… play.
“I haven’t either!”
“What?”
“I’ve never had tanghulu before.”
Only then did Geumjin’s face brighten.
Cute little guy.
Geumjin was always ahead of everyone. The fact that there were things he’d never tried was unexpected.
Honestly, if it were Geum Taesa, he’d have pushed him to try everything. So that talk about learning new things in front of me… That must’ve been an act too.
That old man really couldn’t be trusted.
Father shook his head.
“H-have you ever been on a swing, Princess?”
“Nope!”
That was a lie.
As a child, Amang used to dominate the swing sets at the playground.
Times were different back then—wild and lawless.
Well, I have to keep my little buddy happy!
Look at him smiling like that.
Amang rolled up her sleeves.
This kid’s going to pass out the moment he gets home.
This big sister would entertain him properly.
Let’s go, baby!
She grabbed Geumjin’s wrist again.
He didn’t even manage a “wait!” before being dragged off.
Fortunately, the swings weren’t far from the Crystal Palace.
“So this is a swing?”
“Yep! Looks fun, right?”
“H-how do you ride it?”
The swingset sat lonely in the bushes, clearly old and dusty.
Amang brushed the dust off.
“Sit down first.”
“Huh?”
“Alright—here we go!”
Geumjin hesitantly sat down.
Amang grabbed the ropes and gave him a push.
The swing rose higher and higher, nearly touching the sky.
“Wait! W-wait! Princess!”
His scream was loud enough to burst eardrums.
Ah… yes. This is the beauty of swings.
Watching him soar high into the air was exhilarating.
See? Fun, right? Your big sister’s amazing, huh?
She felt very proud.
“P-Princess! The swing—!”
“What?”
Swings are safe—
…as long as you sit still.
But tasting the thrill for the first time, Geumjin leaned forward awkwardly, nearly falling off.
Why is he like this.
Just sit still!
Unable to keep his balance, he unintentionally turned the swing into a high-difficulty ride.
Luckily, the speed was slowing.
But the arc was still quite high.
He’s gonna fall.
If he got hurt, Geum Taesa would probably explode.
Amang grabbed the rope as the swing reached her side.
It stopped.
But Geumjin…
“Geemin!”
Something went wrong, and he was launched off the swing.
He flew—literally flew—through the air.
Right when Amang feared he’d faceplant—
“Are you alright?”
Geumjin landed safely in Nan’s arms.
Safe.
Amang’s whole body went weak with relief.
She felt bad for Nan, but Geumjin was unharmed.
“Geumjin! Are you okay?”
Ignoring Nan for the moment, Amang rushed over.
This must have been the most adrenaline he’d ever felt in his life.
“Princess…”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested this.
What if he developed trauma and refused to visit the Yeonyeong Palace again?
She should probably apologize—
Amang slowly lowered herself to her knees.
But she didn’t need to.
“That was so fun!”
Geumjin’s eyes sparkled.
“Right? Fun, isn’t it?”
“When I flew through the air, it was so thrilling! How have I never known this joy until now?!”
…Classic early-stage dopamine addiction.
“This time, let me push you, Princess!”
“Alright. But don’t launch me, okay?”
“Of course!”
And what happened after that?
The two took turns pushing and riding the swing, shouting and laughing like maniacs.
All that joy from a single swing.
They were so absorbed, neither noticed the Emperor passing nearby.
As he walked through the garden, Wu Je stopped and watched them quietly.
“…I didn’t know the boy could smile like that.”
“Shall I inform the attendants of Yeonyeong Palace?”
“No. How dull.”
He left just as quickly, unnoticed by everyone.
Not even Nan, Yeonyeong Palace’s sharpest attendant.
She simply smiled at the two laughing children.
The air around the swings was filled with giggles.
It seemed Amang had finally found a friend.
“Ha… should we go home now?”
“Yes, this was plenty.”
“Yeah. Geumjin, today was fun.”
“I too had a wonderful time thanks to you, Princess.”
Dirty and disheveled from playing, the two suddenly stood stiff and formal.
Especially Geumjin—the same child who had just been screaming with joy.
Nan had to fight the urge to laugh.
Geumjin took a few steps away, then turned back.
“Though I cannot visit Yeonyeong Palace freely… If you desire a retainer, Princess…”
“Huh?”
“I shall obey your wish!”
He blurted the words out and sprinted away.
He was so fast he vanished in a blink.
…So he’s asking to become her retainer?
He must’ve really liked today.
Good for him.
What a cute kid.
Amang smiled—then collapsed on the spot.
“Princess!”
“Nan… carry me.”
She had no strength left.
Her body was ten, but her mind was twenty-four.
Geumjin had drained her soul.
And with the tension gone, her whole body felt heavy.
Nan picked her up with practiced ease.
“Am I heavy?”
“Not at all. I’ve carried you since you were little.”
“Good.”
“Do you like Young Master Geumjin?”
“Geumjin?”
Hmm… did she like him?
At first, she’d just been curious. He was overly mature for his age, which made her feel a bit sorry for him.
He was Jae’s age, so she treated him like a fangirl might treat a favorite child online.
But it was fun.
She really had felt like she was ten again.
To be honest, Amang enjoyed herself more than Geumjin did.
Her past life had been suffocating, full of responsibilities.
But with Geumjin, she didn’t have to carry anything.
She felt genuinely happy around him—happy enough to forget her real life.
“And now you must prepare to meet His Majesty tomorrow!”
“What?”
“He is visiting tomorrow at the hour of sul.”
Ah.
She had completely forgotten.
