The Great Prince's Woman (3)
Jeong Seo-hoon felt awkward sitting in the judges' seats alongside the PD and the writer, a position that still didn't quite feel natural.
Just a few months ago, during his last drama, he'd been the rookie getting evaluated. Now, here he was, judging others.
He knew it wasn't just because of his strong performances in his last two projects.
Kim Sang-hee treated him with the utmost respect, as if he were already a fully formed actor.
Professor Lee Se-jong was backing him as an investor from the shadows.
Thanks to those two factors, a newbie like him had landed this spot.
Without either one, he never would've made it in the conservative media industry.
He'd probably just be following orders quietly—managing his emotions, practicing lines, and performing like a doll in front of the camera.
'Rice bends lower as it ripens, you know? The better you do, the more careful you gotta be with your behavior. This industry ain't a walk in the park. They'll bow and scrape to your face, then spit and curse about your "meteoric rise" behind your back. That's just how it is.'
That was what Jeong Su-ryeon had been hammering home from the van since this morning.
She'd repeated it for days without getting tired of it.
Manager Ha Tae-soo had chimed in the whole drive, stressing not to get complacent.
"Don't take sitting in the judges' seats for granted. It's the PD, the writer, and the investor combo that's getting you this treatment. No guarantee it'll happen on the next project, so treat it like a good learning experience—and be polite to the auditionees too."
"Yeah, Seo-hoon. Make sure they never feel like you're arrogant. Like that time in the army when a senior private drags a recruit to his spot and messes with him? Act like you're in that position."
"You know we still haven't found who leaked that suspicious story about us going home alone after the Illegal wrap party? They could be hiding among the Haegeuk staff."
"Could be more than one. Su-ryeon's got a point."
Both were just being overly cautious, but to Jeong Seo-hoon, it was meaningless noise.
He didn't act for money or fame.
He'd started because he was intoxicated by the unique scenery and sensations in front of the camera, and now he was hooked on that thrill.
Acting was his path to self-realization.
Maintaining humility for his image or getting cocky from popularity—both were just worldly concerns that meant nothing to him.
"Yes. That was good. You can go now. Who's next?"
"Finally, it's time for our star—the Great Prince's favorite and top pick, Lina from Serubia."
"Oh, an active high school girl. But since she's pre-military service, I'm wondering if she'll really bring the firepower."
"Husband and wife are one body, right? Seo-hoon did his service, so let's call Lina a 'military-vet high schooler' too."
The PD and writer giggled, teasing Jeong Seo-hoon playfully.
But he kept his expression neutral, focused solely on the auditionee's profile.
Kim Sang-hee grumbled, sounding bored.
"Seo-hoon is great and all, but he's always too serious. It's a bit of a shame."
"Why? I like how he has gravitas and depth. I keep forgetting he's only 21. His demeanor makes him seem around 40."
"But imagine him playing a fresh 21-year-old Great Prince, then makeup turns him into a late-30s version. The vibe shift would be insane, right?"
"Just thinking about it makes my pupils shake. They'll have to nail the makeup."
"Exactly—don't skimp on the makeup budget, PD."
"Of course."
Soon, Serubia's center, Lina—Han Seo-hee—entered.
At 168 cm tall and slender, her waist was so narrow it seemed one arm could encircle it. Her hips asserted their presence left and right, leading down to long, elegant legs that instantly drew every eye in the room.
Despite being only 18, a maturity beyond her years lingered in her every step.
Poised somewhere between girl and woman, she stood demurely before the judges.
Jang Seung-won, who had planned to watch the idol lightly, straightened up unconsciously.
Kim Sang-hee wiped the smile from her face.
She exuded the innate magnetism only a natural actor could possess.
The PD and writer shared the same thought in that moment.
'Why does her agency make acting talent like this debut as a dancer?'
"Auditionee number 62, Han Seo-hee. Please take care of me."
Her clear voice, laced with a subtle huskiness, was flawless.
The timbre lingered faintly in the ears, her enunciation sharp and precise.
It wasn't forced—it was a natural routine ingrained in her lungs and vocal cords.
"Good. Then... let's see scene 32."
"Yes."
Even that short reply made you want to hear more.
Han Seo-hee glanced briefly at the camera, closed her eyes, then opened them.
The moment she raised her hand to begin...
'...!'
Jeong Seo-hoon felt it.
The scenery around him fading silently, bit by bit.
Why, when she wasn't even in front of a camera? Before the question could form, all his attention was stolen by the subject before him.
The camera's trance-like view wasn't on him now.
It was on Han Seo-hee, performing right in front of him.
The audition room vanished. He and she had crossed into a bustling marketplace from the past.
The Great Prince, slouched on a wooden chair, looked up at his wife who had come searching for him.
In pale purple hanbok, her black hair pinned up elegantly, her young face gazed at him with trembling emotion.
Her voice, transcending time, echoed faintly as if newly arrived from afar.
"My lord. You've had too much today. Please, come home now."
No trace of Han Seo-hee remained.
The woman standing, looking, speaking, and tearing up before him was purely the chaste, young wise wife devoted to her Great Prince.
As the Great Prince instinctively reached out a hand, a heavy teardrop rippled the surface—like a pond shattering the scene.
In an instant, Jeong Seo-hoon snapped back to the audition room. Han Seo-hee stood there, cheeks slightly flushed from tension, her performance done.
"Hm... Not bad."
Jang Seung-won's calm, matter-of-fact voice pulled him back to reality—unnecessarily so.
Glancing around, Kim Sang-hee's expression was similarly neutral.
Neither had felt the impact he'd experienced.
The cinematographer and other staff mirrored their indifference.
'I see.'
Jeong Seo-hoon realized in that moment.
He alone had seen and felt something different from the rest.
The camera hadn't shown Han Seo-hee's current acting as-is.
It had previewed her potential—enhanced when standing beside him, breathing in sync before the lens.
Draped in the Great Prince's wife's attire, infused with her mindset, cloaked in expressions and mannerisms.
Her maximized talent, unleashed alongside the Great Prince in the past.
A glimpse across time and space of vast possibility.
'Han Seo-hee.'
The Great Prince's heart had chosen the wife to share his youth.
***
The first day of the long auditions ended.
The auditionees had all left, and staff bustled through the now-empty hallways, cleaning up remnants.
The auditions weren't over today—they'd just begun.
With multiple roles to cast.
Jang Seung-won, fatigued, kept rubbing the back of his neck with eyes closed.
Kim Sang-hee massaged her eyes repeatedly before scanning her notes.
"No one really stands out."
"Wasn't expecting a home run on day one, but yeah, the talent pool is thin."
"I'd prefer some audition stars over individual castings. They bring buzz and ratings."
"What about Lina earlier?"
"Han Seo-hee? Her acting's decent enough. Solid basics, I'd say."
"Same here. Feels like her agency put real effort into acting lessons."
"What did you think, Seo-hoon?"
Jang Seung-won turned the question to Jeong Seo-hoon.
He answered calmly, without hesitation, as if he'd been waiting.
"I liked her visuals."
"She's pretty. Has a vibe. Makes you wonder why a girl like that is in a girl group."
"Right? Her voice and delivery are so poised—she was born to act. They should've groomed her as an actress instead."
"But isn't she pushing her personal taste a bit hard on us? 'Visuals caught my eye.' First time I've heard Seo-hoon say something like that about a female actress."
"If our Great Prince fell in love at first sight, as PD, I have to seriously consider it. Partner chemistry isn't something to ignore."
Jang Seung-won teased, but Jeong Seo-hoon smiled leisurely without blushing.
"I meant she'd make a striking picture beside the Great Prince in hanbok. No ulterior motives."
"You say it so straightforwardly, it deflates us instead. We know it's not like that. Just kidding. So, she's good for the young wife role?"
"Yes."
Jang Seung-won paused thoughtfully before asking.
"Writer, how many episodes does the young wife appear in?"
"Great Prince's 20s era, so excluding child actor... maybe three at most? After that, no appearances outside flashbacks."
"Not a huge part."
The wife in the Great Prince's 30s, plotting rebellion, would likely go to a name actress with proven looks, skill, and experience. Low odds of an audition discovery there. It was one of the roles they were picky about.
"For the young version, freshness matters more. If her basics hold up, she might be the perfect fit."
"As long as that wasn't her peak effort. Average at least—I don't want the risk."
"Hm, should we run a separate camera test? Her agency's dying to get her in our drama—they might even love it."
"Camera test reminds me of Illegal. Everyone lost it over Seo-hoon's acting back then."
Kim Sang-hee chuckled at the memory, and Jang Seung-won grinned like it'd be fun.
"Right, you're doing a CF with Chae Ji-hyun, yeah?"
"Yes. Coffee ad. Concept looked solid."
"Don't tell me you'll spark a scandal with Chae Ji-hyun while doing CFs together."
"If it happens, it happens. I won't sweat it."
"Who'd believe you're a rookie not even half a year into debut? You're a total vet."
***
Han Seo-hee's agency gladly accepted the camera test offer.
They figured the PD saw potential and wanted another look. Anyone would.
Jang Seung-won held a private audition with just Kim Sang-hee, Jeong Seo-hoon, the cinematographer, and a few minimal staff.
Han Seo-hee's manager held his breath in the corner, watching.
Her 20-minute performance ended.
"Good work."
Jang Seung-won and Kim Sang-hee didn't look thrilled.
Her stunning visuals made her barely-passing acting feel lacking.
'Still, for visual chemistry, it's not a dealbreaker.'
Jang Seung-won decided to respect Jeong Seo-hoon's pick and wrap it up.
Kim Sang-hee felt the same—'Good enough, I guess.'
"Well then..."
"Hold on."
Jeong Seo-hoon stood, drawing all eyes.
"PD, mind if we run it together? She seemed too tense solo."