I was Born as The King’s Daughter

I did not start out by loving or even liking Jinsu. I considered us to be a boring couple. There was no burning pa.s.sion between us. Frankly, Jinsu probably cared for me much more than I cared for him. However, at the moment the psycho stalker’s blade cut through me, I realized how wrong I was— I really did love him. I had been unaware of just how much I grew to love him. The agony of knowing I’d never see him again was unbearable. I must have shouted his name a thousand times during the last few moments of my life.

I’m not mistaken. It’s really Jinsu.

It really is him–I wasn’t seeing things. This Jinsu was much younger than the image etched in my mind. He looked about seventeen, about the same age as my firstborn brother, Hyeongseok, so he was probably about thirteen years older than me.

“So this is my fiancé,” he said upon seeing me.

The Jinsu I remembered and the boy standing before me treated me very differently, and given their strong resemblance caused me no small pain.

Seoyeong prompted me in a whisper, “Princess Sanghee, say h.e.l.lo. He is the man you will marry one day.”

I bowed promptly and said quickly, “Pleased to meet you. I am Sanghee Kim, four years old.” Talking as soon as my vocal organs had matured enough, my mastery of language was unmatched by anyone my age (since I was actually around thirty.) Even my father was taken aback on observing all this. “Not bad for a girl,” he mused.

“What an honor to meet you!” I lisped. I still had a bit of trouble controlling my faculties.

“I’m Jinsu Han,” he responded.

Hmmm? Had I heard correctly? His name was Jinsu? He had the same name as my former boyfriend, but he definitely was not the same person! The other Jinsu would have definitely recognized me.

“My heart belongs to another,” he said.

I was silent. A strange noise seemed to be coming from my heart. Seoyeong just waited quietly as though this was unremarkable news.

He won’t find it rude if I question him because I’m just a little girl. “Someone you love?” I tilted my head and asked as though in wonder, as cutely as possible. I felt as if I might cry. I clenched my fists hard to fight back the tears.

“Of course I will still marry you. It has already been arranged. But don’t expect me to love you,” Jinsu said carelessly, ignoring Seoyeong’s presence. He could have said this in the presence of my father, the king. In this patriarchal society, marital fidelity for a man did not even exist as a concept. Jinsu would have announced in the same tone that he was going to eat fried tofu the next day.

I beamed in pleasure and asked, “Marry you~?”

I knew my place. I had to be pleasing to the boys. Despite this, I wanted to be more than their plaything. Whatever the reason I had been sent here for, by some grace, I had been born a king’s daughter. Nevertheless, I was still a powerless female of a mere four years. I still couldn’t even speak properly.

I was not pleased, but said, “Thank you!” Thanks for nothing! was what I really meant. I bid him goodbye with a deep bow. Jinsu scrutinized me, then bowed to Seoyeong before departing.

I was able to discover more about Jinsu from Seoyeong, who told me his magical powers were phenomenal. A rare talent like Jinsu could be seen once or twice a century. He was destined to make his mark in the world.

He was quite different from the Jinsu I had known in my previous life. The other Jinsu was certainly no genius. That Jinsu had pursued me for eight years, first feigning a desire for friendship and then confessing his love. It’s probably a little rude of me to say, but he was a love struck fool.

The incident troubled me. It seemed far too much of a coincidence that he had the same name and face as my Jinsu. It seemed crazy, but nothing surprised me anymore.

It was bedtime, so I turned off the light to sleep. I tried to m.u.f.fle my sobs, but I lacked the self-control, because I now occupy a four-year-old’s body. The sobs continued to escape, so I just gave up stifling my sobs and bawled openly. Lest you judge me, I’ll remind you again that I was four.

Sujin, our nanny who was still terrorized by the little princes, came running.

“Princess Sanghee, what is the matter?”

Abandoning any dignity, I bawled, “I saw a ghost! It was chasing me!” I was only four, so I could be forgiven for this. I’m only a little girl, you know!