Hello dear readers,
Thank you so much for your support! I'd really appreciate it if you could leave a comment or review—it means a lot to me.
Also, I've started a new story: Transmigration: The Rise of a Revengeful Concubine. It's full of betrayal, revenge, and palace drama. I hope you'll check it out and enjoy it!
Thanks again!
She didn't expect the Crown Prince to have such a strange hobby—taking things from girls. She would make sure to get her belongings back from him before he left for the border. Now, she finally understood why the Crown Prince had said they were even and that he'd be waiting for her. At the time, she'd thought Chul Kwan was just speaking nonsense.
Turning to Song Sena, she said, "Sena, don't worry. I know where the perfume sachet and jade hairpin are."
Seeing her mistress say no more, Song Sena hesitated. She wanted to ask if the Crown Prince had taken them—especially since they went missing right after Song Jae met him—but held her tongue. She was only a servant, after all.
"Yes, Mistress," she replied, and quietly left the room.
Song Jae couldn't help but curse Chul Kwan under her breath. Right now, she was exhausted. The palace banquet had taken far longer than expected. Lost in thought, she soon fell asleep.
Days passed quickly, and before long, it was time to see the Crown Prince off. When Song Jae woke up that morning, the sun was already high in the sky.
Hearing movement from her room, Song Min walked in and bowed. "Good morning, Young Miss."
"Good morning… What time is it? Why didn't you wake me?" she asked.
"Miss, don't worry. The Eldest Young Master told us not to wake you. It's not yet time for you to see him off at the border," Song Min explained.
A few days ago, her brother had begged her to come see him off. It would be three to four years before they'd meet again. He had been assigned as one of the generals accompanying the Crown Prince. Although she didn't want to face the Crown Prince, she had no choice but to agree. She wasn't the real Song Jae, but over the past few months, she'd developed feelings for this new family of hers.
She quickly got dressed with the help of Song Min and Song Sook, while Song Mi Cha went to fetch her breakfast. After eating, Song Jae hurried to the carriage. Her brother had already gone ahead—she would be meeting him at Spring Fragrance Tea House to say her goodbye. She was also supposed to meet Lee Cha and Princess Chul Yun Hee there, while Princess Chul Yun Hee had come to see her brother off as well.
Arriving at the tea house, Song Jae put on a veiled hat and came down from the carriage, her maid trailing behind her.
Across the street, Grand Tutor Heir Kim Jin spotted her immediately—even with her face covered. He wasn't sure why, but somehow, he could recognize her. He turned to his servant boy, Hyeon-woo.
"Did you start investigating what I asked about—Prime Minister Song's daughter?" Kim Jin asked.
"Yes, Young Master. But it might take some time," Hyeon-woo replied honestly.
"No matter. Just make sure to find out everything about her. And check if she's been acting strange these past few months," Kim Jin said.
Every time he saw Song Jae, he felt like he was looking at Song Yong—his ex-girlfriend—the one he had killed. His heart couldn't rest until he found out the truth.
As Song Jae was about to entered the restaurant, she suddenly felt a pair of poisonous eyes on her. She'd only ever had this kind of reaction once before—just before being killed by her ex-boyfriend and twin sister in her previous life.
She quickly stepped inside. Once inside, the feeling vanished. She hadn't realized someone was already starting to suspect her identity.
Song Min walked over to the shopkeeper to ask for their reserved room number. Princess Chul Yun Hee had booked it ahead of time.
When Song Jae reached the private room, she pushed open the door. Inside, Princess Chul Yun Hee and Lee Cha were already waiting.
"A-Jae! Come on, you were almost late. My brother and yours will be here soon," Princess Chul Yun Hee said with a grin.
Song Jae hurried inside and sat down. Glancing out the window, she saw the capital's streets teeming with people, all eager to bid farewell to the Crown Prince as he departed with the army.
Commoners and nobles alike thronged the streets—a testament to the Crown Prince's enduring popularity.
"Your brother, the Crown Prince, truly has the people's love," Song Jae observed, glancing at Princess Chul Yun Hee. "He has countless admirers."
"Indeed," Yun Hee replied with a soft smile. "My brother is adored by the citizens… especially the ladies."
Song Jae sighed inwardly. With all these women fawning over him, why does he insist on pestering me—a mere girl who hasn't even finished puberty? Does he have some bizarre preference for innocence or something?
Little did she know, had Chul Kwan been able to read her thoughts, his temper might've flared on the spot.
He, too, struggled to understand the strange pull he felt towards her—a feeling that defied reason and clashed with his usual disdain for women.
"Despite his cold demeanor and occasional arrogance, his face alone has captured countless hearts. Don't you think so, A-Jae? A-Cha?" Yun Hee asked teasingly.
"Of course, Your Highness," Lee Cha replied, nodding with a grin. "The Crown Prince is exceptionally handsome."
Song Jae offered a tight smile and muttered under her breath, "And possibly a bit of a pervert."
Princess Chul Yun Hee tilted her head, puzzled. "Hmm? What was that, A-Jae? I didn't quite catch your last word."
Although Chul Yun Hee didn't catch it, Lee Cha—who was seated closer—definitely did. Her brow twitched slightly. She was beginning to suspect something was going on between the Crown Prince and her friend, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Just then, a commotion outside signaled someone's arrival.
"The Crown Prince has arrived," Song Jae said quickly, grateful for the distraction.
Internally, she let out a sigh of relief. If anyone had heard me call the Crown Prince a pervert out loud, I'd probably be executed before noon.
She still didn't understand why Chul Kwan—who was famous for pushing women away—seemed to tolerate her. Or why his gaze always lingered a little too long.
Song Jae wasn't here to play games. Her only goal was survival in this twisted novel world.
In the original storyline, Crown Prince Chul Kwan had killed the original host of this body. The reason? She had unknowingly gotten in the way of the female lead. Although the Third Prince also bore her deep resentment, it was Chul Kwan who ultimately ended her life.
And yet, for some reason, Song Jae couldn't help but feel more hatred toward the Third Prince than the Crown Prince.
That was why, when Song Jae was kidnapped by Hwang and dragged into a dark alley to save the injured Crown Prince, she chose to help him—despite her many reservations.
With Hwang's blade cold against her throat, she had little choice.
Besides, if she hadn't intervened, the one to save Chul Kwan would've been the female lead.
And that couldn't be allowed.
Song Jae wasn't ready for Chul Kwan to meet the true heroine—not yet. Too many things were still out of place, and she couldn't afford to let the story take its original course.
What she didn't know was that fate had already crossed their paths.
Chul Kwan had met the female lead earlier that very day.
But the encounter hadn't gone as destiny intended.
The Crown Prince's foul mood had smothered the female lead's usual radiant aura, leaving her unremarkable—and completely exposed to his wrath.