Chapter 01
“I heard the relationship between the two Ladies was fierce again today?”
Early in the season when mountain and field waters rise, after the harsh winter and during the lingering cold snaps of early spring.
The maids of the royal snack preparation quarters were busy preparing treats today, gossiping nonstop about the royal family.
“His Majesty has left the queen’s position vacant for a full five years, so the atmosphere between the two Ladies is like that of a dog and a cat.”
“Surely, since Her Majesty the Queen passed away five years ago, hasn’t His Majesty changed?”
“Back then, he at least seemed somewhat human… but these days, it’s as if all emotion has completely vanished.”
“To think he would leave the young princess so neglected… huh?!”
Whoosh!
Just then, the court lady staggered as a small head suddenly popped out through the crack in the door.
“H, Her Young Highness the Royal Princess!”
A child suddenly appeared before them.
“Hehe!”
The child, who had once been a ruthless assassin, now beamed a bright smile.
“Sisters!”
One day, a former assassin unexpectedly reincarnated as a princess in Joseon.
“Good morning again today!”
I had somehow turned five years old.
* * *
Five years had passed.
They say five years, but each day felt like ten.
If you suddenly woke up as a baby in a completely unfamiliar place, what would be the first question to come to mind?
‘So where on earth am I?’
In my case, it was exactly this.
At first, I simply thought I had been born into the Joseon Dynasty I knew from the past.
“How can you be so small and pretty?”
Before it became certain that the king would not give me any orders.
“No matter what anyone says, you are the one and only princess of Joseon.”
It was because the word ‘Joseon’ was mixed in with the words spoken to me by Court Lady Kim, the only person in this palace who looked after me warmly.
But it didn’t take long for me to realize that this place was only called “Joseon” and was completely different from the Joseon I knew from history.
“Her Highness Heebin’s ceremonial robe was really beautiful.”
“They say this time the envoy from the Western kingdom brought the finest silk to make a robe for Her Highness Heebin.”
“Ah, so that’s why Noble Consort was so angry.”
It was because the names of the neighboring countries I overheard were completely different from what I knew from history.
‘How should I put it… it feels like a novel set in an alternate history?’
In the end, I came to only one conclusion.
That this place was completely different from the world I had lived in before.
By the time I found the answer to that fundamental question, my tragic fate had truly begun.
“His Majesty has not given a name to the young princess for a whole year.”
Here, the king bestows a courtesy title to royal family members when they turn ten and grants a childhood name at birth.
And there was a custom of calling royal family members who were not given a childhood name “abandoned royals” and either neglecting or despising them.
I feel like I’ve seen a similar custom somewhere before…
I just can’t remember. Anyway…
“Lock her away in the detached palace immediately!”
‘The king has abandoned the princess.’
Once this fact became clear, the Noble Consort gave the order without a hint of hesitation.
And so, I was banished from Jibokheon—where I could at least receive care from my wet nurse and Court Lady Kim—to a secluded palace that no one ever visited.
A princess abandoned by everyone, forced to live as if she were dead even though she was alive.
That was me.
“Huff, huff!”
Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m living as if I were dead.
Because right now, I am living a more constructive five-year life than anyone else!
‘Twenty-eight… twenty-nine!”
“Hoo-ha!”
I finished my push-up exercise and collapsed flat onto the floor.
“I’ll just kill her when I become the queen anyway.”
Four years ago.
After realising this life wouldn’t be smooth, I made one decision.
‘I will survive, no matter what.’
I was used and discarded in my previous life, and now I’m destined for an early death in this one too.
That, I absolutely won’t allow!
To make sure of that, the first thing I needed was strength.
My goal was to regain the same physical abilities I had in my previous life!
‘Once I regain my strength, I’ll definitely escape this palace!’
And no wonder—just look at the state of my room right now.
A small room in the worn-out, shabby detached palace, lacking even the most basic furniture like a soban table or folding screen.
After I came to the detached palace, the only Court Lady assigned to me was a single person: none other than Court Lady Choi, who had actually tried to assassinate me.
And, unfortunately, my only close court lady, Court Lady Choi, was the most loyal of all the Noble Consort’s followers.
“Just watch over her long enough to keep her from dying.”
Faithfully following the Noble Consort’s orders, Court Lady Choi truly cared for me just enough to keep me alive—and no more.
‘Neglecting your duties should have limits!’
So, to be precise, Court Lady Choi locked me inside the detached palace and neglected me.
At least until I turned two or three, it was less severe, but these days, there were even times when she wouldn’t come to the detached palace once a day.
Because of that, I had to force myself into clothes that had been made six months ago and had since become far too small.
Since no firewood was provided, I had to endure the bone-chilling cold during winter.
That wasn’t all.
Growl…
My belly button clock rang loudly.
‘Does it make any sense to feed a child only once a day?!’
I looked down at my frail, undernourished little body, far too thin even for my age—after all, I was only five years old.
‘With a body like this… I can’t even exert half the strength I developed in my past life.’
I clenched my small fists.
So, for now…
‘Shall I go get something to eat this morning?’
I swallowed hard and jumped up.
To survive another day in this treacherous palace as the abandoned princess!
* * *
If it can be called a small mercy amidst all this misfortune.
Having inherited the striking beauty of my late mother, who was said to be a national treasure in her time, I already possessed a fully formed appearance despite being only five years old.
Pale, translucent skin.
Jet-black hair that gleamed with a natural shine, even without any special care.
A small, delicate face with perfect eyes, nose, and mouth.
To anyone who looked, my appearance could only be described as the very definition of “adorable.”
But unfortunately, I wasn’t the kind of fool who could be content simply for being born pretty.
Being pretty is like a double-edged sword.
And indeed, in this place so much like the Joseon era, the fate of a pretty—but abandoned—princess was all too predictable.
‘I’ll either be sold off or killed.’
Just like my parents in my past life tried to sell me off to a brothel when I was a child.
So, before that day comes, I decided to make full use of this adorable appearance to escape from here.
Just like this!
“Sisters…!”
Don’t misunderstand.
Flattering the court ladies is all part of a carefully calculated performance.
”Actually, I already got rid of the baby talk when I was three years old.’
It was quite humiliating to act cute while possessing the mental age of an adult, but I had no choice if I wanted to survive.
“Your Highness the Princess? What is it this time…?”
I looked up at the court lady in charge of the royal snacks and stretched out both my hands.
Of course, I tensed my whole body and widened my eyes to look as cute as possible.
“Please, just one rice cake!”
If you give me just one rice cake, I won’t bite!
“Heuk?!”
The court ladies instinctively covered their mouths.
“Crazy…!”
“Keugh!”
The two court ladies stared at me intently, their eyes beginning to sparkle.
Ah, just as I thought.
A five-year-old this bright and pretty can’t be found anywhere else.
So just hand over the rice cake already.
Carbs are essential for growth!
“Here you go, Your Highness the Princess.”
One of the court ladies, glancing around cautiously, quickly handed me a honey rice cake.
This was more important.
I didn’t take the rice cake right away. Instead, I tilted my head and stared at her like an adorable little rabbit, savoring the moment.
“What about Sisters? Aren’t you going to eat with me?”
“I’m fine. Eat quickly. Hurry up! You know the secret, right? Shhh!”
“Mhm!”
As if I’d been waiting, I took the rice cake and stuffed it into my mouth.
As the sweet rice cake entered my mouth, the overwhelming bliss made me forget I was acting, and I was completely disarmed.
The two court ladies swallowed hard as they watched me chew on a rice cake so large it could burst my cheeks.
If I play this right, maybe I can get another one…?
But just then…
“What are you all doing!!”
From behind me came the sudden, sharp voice of Court Lady Choi.
‘Damn it…’
Lately, I hadn’t been getting caught so easily.
“C, Court Lady Choi…?!”
Determined not to lose, I quickly shoved the remaining rice cake from the plate into my mouth.
“What?! Spit it out! Spit it out!”
“I don’t want to…! It’s mine!”
I’m never giving up my rice cake!
Even as I was being dragged away by Court Lady Choi, I pitifully reached out toward the rice cake.
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