LCSB 29

Chapter 29

“Go ahead and pick anything. How about this?”

Prince Yeoning casually pushed an ornament carved from jade toward me.

But my eyes were fixed on one thing only.

‘This is it. This one!’

The moment I saw it, I knew.

This was the perfect item for me.

And that item was—

‘A slingshot!’

It was a high-quality slingshot with a smooth wooden frame and sturdy strings that looked like they’d been braided from layers of horsehair.

Choosing the slingshot was only natural.

‘Because it’s the only thing here I can actually use in real life.’

There was also a bow, of course, but there was no way a little court maid child like me could walk around carrying a bow.

A slingshot, on the other hand, was small enough to tuck into my waistband.

And most importantly…

‘I’ve actually used a slingshot before!’

In my previous life, I’d been naturally athletic.

I was especially talented at “hitting targets.”

Whether it was archery or shooting, I’d been good enough that people even suggested I pursue it professionally.

Anyway, slingshot it is. You’re mine now!

“Your Highness.”

“Oh? Did you find something you like?”

“Yes.”

Seeing my usually dead-fish-like eyes suddenly sparkle, curiosity appeared on Prince Yeoning’s face.

“You really want that?”

“Yes!”

“A slingshot?”

He looked genuinely bewildered.

Which made sense, since he’d been offering me small shiny trinkets the entire time.

But unlike a crow, I was a practical child who valued usefulness above all else.

“You want that?”

“Yes!”

“I suppose I can give it to you, but why?”

Hmm… what should I say?

If I said it was for self-defense, he’d probably think it was dangerous and refuse.

And using it for hunting wasn’t exactly believable for a four-year-old either…

Unable to come up with a suitable excuse, I decided to just tell the truth.

“To knock down persimmons.”

It wasn’t a lie.

I fully intended to use this slingshot to drive those annoying overripe persimmons to extinction.

At that moment—

Prince Yeoning laughed at me.

“To knock down persimmons? You? Hahaha! Do you even know how to use that thing?”

Oh, so that’s how you want to play this?

I happened to be an extremely competitive person.

“I don’t know. Won’t Your Highness teach me?”

“Me?”

Prince Yeoning hesitated.

“For a royal prince to teach martial tricks and such… I’m not particularly inclined to do so. But since you asked, I shall grant you this special favor. You should feel honored.”

He puffed himself up as though he were being extraordinarily generous.

“Yes, Your Highness. It is a great honor.”

I humored him and followed him out of the Hongseogak Library.

‘I think I’m starting to understand Prince Yeoning’s personality.’

A seven-year-old boy who acted overly stern and strict for his age.

But to me, the childish desire hidden beneath that personality was painfully obvious.

The desire to show off.

Could that personality of his be related to the excessive narcissism he’d develop later?

‘…Knew it.’

Sure enough, after loading a pebble into the slingshot, he struck every dramatic pose imaginable.

Anyone watching would think he was about to hunt a tiger.

Our target was an overripe persimmon dangling from the top of the persimmon tree beside the library.

“Watch carefully. This is how you use a slingshot.”

With a solemn expression, Prince Yeoning pulled back the string.

The horsehair string stretched with impressive elasticity.

Fwiiing!

…Roll, roll, roll.

The stone he fired didn’t even come close to the tree and merely tumbled weakly across the ground.

“Huh?”

Flustered, he loaded another stone.

Fwiiing—

…Roll, roll, roll.

“The slingshot must be defective. The string probably rotted from disuse.”

“Your Highness, may I try once?”

“You? Even if you shoot it, it won’t go farther than one ja.”

(About thirty centimeters.)

“I just wanna try.”

Prince Yeoning reluctantly handed me the slingshot.

I picked up a suitable pebble from the ground and loaded it.

Slowly, I raised my head and gauged the distance to the target.

Then I briefly closed my eyes and felt the breeze brushing against my cheek.

‘The wind’s weak, so it won’t affect the speed much. The firing angle should be about right.’

I pulled the string back as hard as I could…

‘Now.’

Fwhoosh—

The pebble shot through the air like an arrow and struck the persimmon dead on!

Splat!

The persimmon dropped to the ground.

‘Oh. That actually worked.’

Even if I remembered how to use a slingshot, accomplishing this with the arm strength of a four-year-old was impressive.

I jumped up in delight.

“Wow!”

Then, while cheering, I looked at Prince Yeoning.

Not only his face but even his ears had turned bright red.

“Um… I guess I just got lucky. Thank you for giving me such a nice item.”

I hastily shoved the slingshot away and tried to smooth things over.

“I don’t understand why a little court maid would take interest in such crude hobbies. You could take up something elegant, like embroidery.”

“But I really like slingshots. I’m truly happy.”

“Well… if you’re happy, then fine.”

Prince Yeoning replied awkwardly.

‘So he really hated martial arts from childhood. And this is the guy who later tormented Crown Prince Sado for liking military pursuits…’

Thinking that, I bowed my head toward him.

“Then I’ll be taking my leave, Your Highness.”

“I should return to Jeoseungjeon as well, so let us go togeth—”

That was when it happened.

“Prince Yeoning.”

A woman’s voice called from behind us.

When I turned around, I saw a familiar face and quickly bowed my head.

‘My luck really is terrible today.’

Of all people, it had to be a royal consort.

Royal Consort Kim.

I vividly remembered the way she’d spewed venomous insults at Lady Heebin back at Aeryeon Pond.

But now…

‘She looks incredibly gentle. Like a completely different person.’

The warmth and affection in her smile as she looked at Prince Yeoning contained none of the viciousness I’d seen before.

“What brings Prince Yeoning here? Ah, have you come to study at the Hongseogak Library?”

“Yes, Royal Consort.”

“As expected of our prince—so wise and intelligent. Keeping books close is the virtue of a true gentleman.”

The two appeared quite close.

‘There was a rumor that Sukbin, who came from a low-born background, had sent Prince Yeoning to be raised by the Royal Consort for the sake of his future.’

I’d thought it was just gossip, but apparently there was truth to it.

“However…”

The Royal Consort’s gaze turned toward me.

The warmth in her eyes instantly became icy cold.

It seemed she recognized me from when I’d been with Lady Heebin at Aeryeon Pond.

“Why is Your Highness associating with a child from Chwiseondang?”

“Well…”

The Royal Consort didn’t even give Prince Yeoning the chance to answer.

“Prince Yeoning. You are of royal blood. Associating with lowly creatures does not suit your dignity. Do you understand?”

“…Yes, Royal Consort.”

Prince Yeoning’s face flushed red.

He even glanced at me briefly.

‘So even toward her own side, she doesn’t hold back her words.’

The meaning behind “lowly creatures” was obvious.

It sounded like she was insulting me, a mere court maid.

But in reality, she was also insulting Lady Heebin and even Prince Yeoning’s mother Sukbin—both former court maids turned royal consorts.

Among King Sukjong’s concubines, the Royal Consort was the only one who had entered the palace through formal selection rather than starting as a maid.

‘Prince Yeoning may not suffer a tragedy as terrible as Crown Prince Sado’s… but his life probably wasn’t easy either.’

As I stood there with my head lowered, lost in complicated thoughts, I felt a burning stare on the top of my head.

The Royal Consort was glaring at me.

…Was it really necessary to look at me with that much disgust?

“You. Leave at once. And never linger near Prince Yeoning again.”

This woman seriously…

I was literally just a four-year-old child.

Why was she talking as if I were scheming to seduce a prince or something?

“Yes! I shall leave immediately!”

I answered in an especially loud and cheerful voice.

Then I stomped away without looking back once—

the slingshot, today’s spoils of war, safely tucked into my pocket.

Even though the Royal Consort had insulted me, I didn’t dwell on it for long.

I already knew about the inferiority complex she’d carried her entire life.

So by the time I neared Chwiseondang, I’d completely forgotten about her and was instead overflowing with joy over obtaining my new slingshot.

Then, as I approached the entrance—

‘A persimmon tree.’

A massive persimmon tree stretched its branches all the way into the courtyard of Chwiseondang.

At the very top hung five or six overripe persimmons.

And since persimmons had already been putting me in a bad mood lately…

‘No way I’m passing up this opportunity.’

After checking my surroundings, I quietly pulled out the slingshot.

With swift movements, I loaded a pebble and fired.

…Miss.

Undeterred, I loaded another pebble.

Fwhoosh!

The pebble sliced through the air and struck the persimmon.

As I smiled proudly at the sight of it wobbling before falling—

“Aaagh!”

“Oh dear!”

“Gasp! Court Lady Han!”

“What in the world?!”

Screams erupted from the courtyard.

‘What?’

I hurriedly hid the slingshot in my waistband and rushed into the courtyard.

And the scene before my eyes was—

“…?”

A huge overripe persimmon had landed squarely on top of Court Lady Han’s elaborate hairstyle.

“Do something about this cursed persimmon tree!”

Court Lady Han’s face was covered in sticky persimmon juice from the burst fruit.

Around her stood palace maids desperately trying not to laugh.

‘If I get caught, I’m dead.’

Leaving behind the persimmon-covered Court Lady Han, I hurried back to my room.

“Phew…”

Letting out a sigh of relief, I quickly hid the slingshot beneath a chest drawer.

Outside, Court Lady Han’s furious yelling could still be heard.

Feeling genuinely guilty, I clasped my hands together and whispered softly,

“Court Lady Han… I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Even if I did do something wrong, it was all out of loyal devotion for the Crown Prince!