The Crown Prince Who Knows My Secret
A guy from the countryside like me—surely he won't make me work till I drop, right? The Crown Prince. Munjong (real one), destined to become king someday. The man who'll change this Joseon, and eventually this whole world. And now that Crown Prince had come to see me.
Just as I was about to finally eat, with Eori scooping rice for me no less. Damn it! Let me eat first! I scarfed down some rice and a few side dishes in a hurry, then got ready. Of course, that meant changing out of the clothes I'd worn all day. Eori re-tied my topknot, and they moved me to a much larger, cleaner room.
“……!”
Yi In-su, who'd changed into clean clothes, was utterly speechless. His hands and feet trembled nonstop; he couldn't stay still for a second. He'd sit on the floor, then stand up, pace the room.
“S-Si-Si-Si-jin. D-Do I look strange?”
This wasn't the first time he'd asked. I nodded reassuringly at Yi In-su, who kept checking his outfit over and over.
“No, sir. You look fine aside from the nerves.”
“H-Huh, heh. A-Aren't you nervous?”
“To be honest, I was more tense and scared facing that tiger or the barbarians. And His Highness isn't here to kill us like they were, right?”
“Heh, y-yeah, true. Hmm. As expected of the Tiger-Slaying Boy.”
Yi In-su had finally calmed down a bit and sat back down... only to spring up again and resume pacing. I couldn't exactly blame him. The second most powerful man in Joseon—right after the king—had come to his house. Anyone who didn't tremble at the arrival of someone who could move mountains of people with a flick of his wrist wasn't human.
……!
I was shaking too. I just hid it better than Yi In-su.
The Crown Prince had come to see me. Me. Why? No, why the hell?
Had he figured out I was from the modern world? Nah, couldn't be. I'd straight-up told Han Myeong-hoe I had no clue.
What if he did know? The other modern guys had genius inventions. Me? I was totally ordinary compared to those monsters. He wouldn't just kill me off as useless, would he?
Creeeak.
“!”
“!”
The door opened, and someone entered. Without even looking, Yi In-su and I shot to our feet and bowed low.
“We see Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“We see Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I'm not the Crown Prince.”
“……Pardon?”
Still bowed, we peeked up to see who it was. A stern-faced military officer in armor, sword at his waist. His gruff voice reminded me of someone I'd seen earlier that day.
“I'll conduct a body search. Precautions for any unforeseen incidents. Please cooperate.”
“Y-Yes, understood. Si-jin.”
“Yes, sir.”
We stood, and the officer patted us down like an American cop—armpits, sides, inner thighs, ankles. Once done, he headed out.
“All clear. I'll now escort His Highness.”
“Y-Yes. Please do.”
The officer had barely left when the door opened again. Assuming it was the real Crown Prince this time, Yi In-su and I bowed low once more.
“We see Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“We see Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Heh, good to see you.”
He neither confirmed nor denied, but this was definitely the Crown Prince. He strode past us and naturally took the seat of honor.
“Yi In-su and Kim Si-jin, raise your heads and come closer.”
We straightened from our bows and knelt facing him.
“So, Magistrate Yi In-su.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I've heard you've governed your post with great benevolence.”
“You overpraise me, Your Highness.”
“Heh heh. How could it be overpraise? Raising this boy is as good as any achievement.”
“I am humbled.”
Contrary to my expectations, the Crown Prince only spoke with Yi In-su. I stared at the floor in silence, feeling equal parts relief and disappointment.
Ha, shit. He doesn't know I'm modern. Won't toss me aside compared to the others. But... I kinda hoped...
“Magistrate. Could you step out for a moment?”
My legs were starting to go numb from kneeling when the Crown Prince finally looked at me and addressed Yi In-su.
“I'd like a private word with the boy.”
“Ah, y-yes. It's an honor.”
Yi In-su rose unsteadily, dazed as he shuffled out. The door shut with a creak and a thud.
“…….”
“…….”
Now it was just me and the Crown Prince. Alone. Either of us could kill the other in an instant if we wanted.
“So, Si-jin.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”
About ten seconds after Yi In-su left, the Crown Prince finally spoke, dropping something totally out of left field.
“I have a question for you. Answer honestly, from the heart. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good. Here's my question. Answer as you think.”
A question? For me? What could it be? Am I modern? What skills do I have? Or...!
“From head to toe?”
Wh-what? Head to toe? Huh? What the hell kind of question is that?
Caught off guard by the wildly unexpected query, my mouth blurted out the honest answer from deep inside.
“O-O-Oronamin C...?”
I finally looked up from the floor. The Crown Prince, meeting my eyes, was grinning ear to ear. He pointed at me and asked,
“You came here in your late twenties, right?”
“N-No, I was 23.”
“Huh? What? Early twenties is meributok balggojwi! Not that?”
“That doesn't match the tone of your question, Your Highness.”
“Ah, true. Yeah.”
“Exactly.”
“…….”
“…….”
Suddenly, we were just staring at each other, smiling without a word. All that tension felt stupid now. Relaxing my tone, I asked,
“You knew I was modern?”
“Yeah. How could I not? CPR on the kid, spotting the pyramid scheme early.”
“But I told Han Myeong-hoe I didn't know.”
“Han Myeong-hoe was the test. You recognized him? Instant modern confirm.”
“Then what was the Sphinx riddle?”
“To check your intent. 'Human' means you wanna escape that life, so I'd bring you to Hanyang. No answer or wrong one? You wanna stay put, so leave you be. Whew.”
Mid-explanation, the Crown Prince flopped straight onto the floor. Seeing Joseon's number two sprawled out so casually left me dumbfounded.
“Aigoo, my back hurts. Sitting all day here kills it. Chairs are all crap. Hey, don't kneel—sit comfy.”
“Is that okay?”
“Why not? Just don't flop like me.”
My legs were numb anyway, so I switched to a cross-legged sit. The Crown Prince rolled onto his side and asked,
“Oh, right. What'd you do in modern times?”
“Just a college kid. Korean lit major.”
“Military?”
“Air Force sergeant, full term. Anti-air gunner.”
“……For real?”
He bolted upright, barely hiding his massive grin.
“?!”
A chill ran down my spine for no reason. I'd felt uneasy at first impressions before, but never mid-conversation like this.
“Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nah, nothing. Just looking.”
His sparkling eyes fixed this way but not really seeing me, staring into space like deep in thought.
“Yeah, got it. That's how it is.”
I hadn't said a word, but he muttered and nodded to himself. Being Crown Prince must be exhausting.
“Okay, got it.”
After a few more mutters, he looked back at me, eyes still gleaming.
“So, how you planning to make a living here?”
“Just... join the military, get by.”
“Oho, really?”
“No! I mean farming! Farmer life! Totally!”
Now I got what that look meant. I recalled Hwang Hui submitting resignations ten times, rejected till death's door. I backpedaled hard, but the Crown Prince's plan was already in motion.
“Hey, Idle Captain Kim Si-jin.”
Ever since I'd gotten that title.
“Do one job with me.”
“Just one?”
“Pfft, as if. Slurp!”
He was openly licking his chops now. Goosebumps everywhere—I'd crossed the point of no return.
“Ahahaha! Relax, relax. No need to freak.”
My face must've been ghost-white. He laughed heartily and waved it off.
“A countryside boy like you—think I'd work you to death?”
“Countryside types are the scariest, and 'surely not' is what kills people.”
“Nah, for real. You know the other modern folks in Joseon? They're doing what they want, raking in cash, owning tiled houses in Hanyang. I'll guarantee your rise.”
“…….”
“Hey now, Idle Captain Kim Si-jin. You doubting Joseon's Crown Prince?”
“Higher-ups' words are... kinda unreliable...”
“Hahat! You crazy bastard! I'm serious. I give tons of work, but I guarantee promotion! For real! Look! Eh! Eh! I mean it!”
“Whoa whoa! Got it! Stop that! Don't swear on your mom! I'll do it! I'll do it!”
Even with my anti-Confucian streak, I couldn't watch Joseon's Crown Prince invoke his mother. What the hell is this guy? Real prince? Crown Prince life that rough? Good thing I said yes. If he seemed naive enough to crawl under his brother or Ming, I'd have wiped his whole line. Lucky he's innocent. Still, keep him out of politics. Bury him in work instead.