Why am I the Princess?

Jiho Kim was working on a song he had composed with Siyoon when the ringtone from his phone by the computer caught his attention. He picked it up.

“Hello?” “This is Hanbit Children’s Center.” “Oh, Principal, hello.” “It’s nothing serious, but there’s a child named Dayeon…” “Oh, yes, I know. She’s Siyoon’s first friend, right?”

Jiho paused his work and focused on the conversation, sensing a hint of hesitation in the principal’s tone.

“Did Siyoon… get into trouble by any chance?” “What? No, not at all. It’s just that Dayeon’s mother would like to have a conversation with Siyoon.”

Jiho let out a small sigh of relief.

“Would it be okay if I passed the phone to her?” “Of course, no problem.”

A young woman’s voice came on the line.

“Hello~ I’m Dayeon’s mom.” “Hello~ I’m Siyoon’s dad.” “I was wondering… would it be possible for Siyoon and me to have a quick chat?” “May I ask why you’re asking?” “Oh~ it’s just that Dayeon really likes Siyoon.”

Jiho nodded as he listened to Kim Sunhwa’s words. Siyoon had mentioned yesterday that Dayeon could be quite annoying. Knowing Siyoon’s personality, Jiho understood that Siyoon had been entirely sincere. However, he realized that other parents might interpret the situation differently.

“Sure, as long as Siyoon is comfortable with it, that’s fine~” “Really? Thank you so much~”

“Not at all~ Please take good care of our Siyoon~” “Of course!”

While I was deeply immersed in reading it, that little rascal Dayeon plopped down beside me, as she often did.

“Wow… Siyoon, you can read English?!”

I lazily nodded, clearly irritated.

“Then read it to me!”

I sighed, but translated the opening lines aloud for her.

“The bravery of the dragon that once soared through the skies is fading, and the grandeur of the empire has been forgotten.” “…?” “The royal monuments erode in the wind, buried beneath the sands, their existence fading into oblivion.” “…..” “When the life of a commoner becomes even more wretched than their status, a tiny spark of hope begins to bloom.” “What does that mean?” “How should I know?”

I closed the book and chuckled softly at her puzzled face.

The little rascal kept peeking at me for a while but eventually got bored and started playing by herself. Meanwhile, the novel turned out to be more interesting than I had expected. I was completely absorbed in it when the young teacher came to find me. I set the book down and let her carry me to the principal’s office.

As we walked, I glanced at a particular spot, briefly wondering if I should reach out and touch it while pretending to know nothing. However, I managed to resist the temptation. When we arrived at the office, I was greeted by the sight of a woman seated elegantly in a chair. She was dressed in clothes so luxurious that the word luxury seemed inadequate. She looked like a noblewoman from the future.

Wow.

Her outfit was clean yet ornate, perfectly suited to someone who wanted the world to know, I’m an important person. I climbed down from the young teacher’s arms and attempted to get onto the chair. Realizing it was too high, I raised my arms again, signaling for help. The teacher quickly lifted me and set me on the chair.

“Can I have a cushion? The desk is too high.” “Just a moment~ I’ll get one for you.”

I perched on the edge of the chair until the teacher returned with a cushion. She placed it on the seat and helped me settle back down.

“You’re… so pretty…”

The woman sitting across from me, clearly Dayeon’s mother, looked at me in admiration. I tilted my head slightly and introduced myself.

“I’m Dayeon’s friend, Kim Siyoon.” “Oh my! How did you know I was Dayeon’s mom?” “Dayeon is pretty because she takes after you.”

“Really?” she asked, her surprise evident. Her expression made it clear she hadn’t expected such a comment from a four-year-old. I clasped my small hands together, fidgeting slightly.

“So, why did you call me here?” “Well, my Dayeon likes you so much that I got curious and wanted to meet you.”

I glanced around the room before turning to the teacher.

“Can I have some water?” “Just a moment~”

Swinging my legs, I looked directly at Dayeon’s mother.

“Is that all?” “…What?”

I pulled out my phone, pretending to browse movie reviews. Flustered, Dayeon’s mom quickly spoke up.

“Uh… what do you like, Siyoon?”

I paused to look at her, then put my phone away.

“Hmm… lying down and daydreaming, teasing my dad, or reading movie reviews.”

She seemed a bit taken aback but continued.

“Do you know how much Dayeon likes you?” “Hmm… Dayeon said she wants to learn English.”

At my words, Dayeon’s mother’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Really?” “She said she’d study English when she gets home.” “Do you speak English well, Siyoon?” “Hmm… I can read, write, listen, and speak.”

“…..”

Impressed by my casual boast, Dayeon’s mother suddenly switched to English.

“Can my daughter be smart like you?”

I responded in Korean.

“Hmm… maybe when she’s older.”

Dayeon’s mother, who had been staring at me with shining eyes, smiled and switched back to Korean.

“What are you planning to do when you get home today?”

I took a small sip of the water the teacher had brought me, then set the glass down. Despite drinking only a tiny amount, the adults in the room seemed to find it adorable.

“If I’m not going out with Dad, I’ll probably watch TV.” “Why don’t you and your dad come over to our house?” “No.”

My firm answer only seemed to make Dayeon’s mother look at me with even more affection.

“Why not? We have so many fun things at our place~” “Like what?” “…Huh?” “Try to tempt me, and I’ll think about it.”

The woman paused, as if considering my challenge, then burst into laughter, clearly amused at herself.

“We’ve got delicious food, toys, and even Dayeon’s older brother!” “How much older?” “Two years older than Dayeon.” “Six years old? Doesn’t he go to kindergarten?” “He goes sometimes, but not always.”

Hanbit Children’s Center costs 1.8 million won per month. Despite paying this hefty fee, some parents sent their kids only when it suited their schedule.

“Unbelievable… 1.8 million won…”

What baffled me even more was where all that money went. Sure, the center had various activities, but 1.8 million won still seemed excessive.

“Back in my day, 1.8 million won could’ve covered food expenses for me and my subordinates for six months.”

I turned to Dayeon’s mother and said, “You’ll need to try harder to tempt me.”

“We have tons of dolls at home! And if there’s anything at our place that you want, you can have it!”
“Hmm… You won’t regret saying that?”
“Well, anything except the adults’ clothes and accessories. Oh, and the antiques—those belong to Dayeon’s grandpa.”

I pulled out my phone and asked, “When’s a good time for you?”

Dayeon’s mother smiled warmly, reached out to stroke my cheek, and said, “Anytime you want to come. Just let me know, okay?”

She then handed me her business card, which read: CEO of Hanseong DesignNet.

“…Hanseong.”

The name stirred old memories. A faint, bitter smile crossed my face. Hanseong still existed. Judging by the timeline, the current CEO was likely Lee Giseok—or perhaps Lee Jinseok, the boy who once cried in front of me.

If Dayeon’s mother was the CEO, then her husband was probably Lee Jinseok.

Guilt gnawed at me. In the past, I had been part of a group that carried out unsavory tasks for Korea’s top conglomerate, S Corporation. Many of those actions had left lasting scars on Hanseong. Thinking of Dayeon’s bright, cheerful smile only made the guilt heavier.

“Well, I’ll come over later when it’s convenient for my dad. Don’t worry—if I pester him, he’ll agree. Just make sure there’s plenty of good food waiting.”

For the first time in my four years of life, I had spoken at such length.

“Let Dayeon do what she truly wants. Don’t try to guide her in a direction you think is best.”

Dayeon’s mother froze, her expression a mix of shock and self-reflection. Until now, she had believed she was letting her children pursue their own dreams, but my words seemed to strike a chord. Perhaps, without realizing it, she had been steering them toward her own expectations.

I handed my phone to the young teacher, who looked at me curiously.

“Can you open it for me?”
“Huh?”
“Take off the case.”
“Oh~ got it!”

The teacher chuckled as she removed the case, while Dayeon’s mother sat quietly, her earlier cheerful demeanor replaced with a more pensive expression.

After removing the case, the young teacher handed the phone back to me. I slipped the business card inside and handed it back to her.

“Close it for me.”
“Okay.”

I then gave her a look, signaling that I wanted to get down.

“Oh! Do you want to get down?”
“Yes.”

Smiling, the elegant woman waved as I was set down.

“I’ll make sure Dayeon gets to do what she really wants. Siyoon, see you next time!”
“Yes.”

“Siyoon~ Daddy’s here!”

By now, Dayeon had already gone home.

“Okay.”

While most kids rush out excitedly when their parents arrive, I didn’t budge. Dad had to come all the way inside to fetch me.

“What are you up to, Siyoon?”

I was fully focused, stacking blocks into a tall, precarious tower.

“Wait.”
“Alright…”

Dad crouched beside me, watching quietly. After a moment, I pointed with my small fingers toward the young teacher standing nearby.

“You’re distracting me. Go wait over there.”
“…Okay.”

The young teacher couldn’t help but laugh as Dad obediently shuffled away, looking a bit sheepish.

“How was Siyoon today? And Dayeon…?”
“Oh! Siyoon was amazing as usual. So smart!”
“Really?”

The teacher began recounting the day’s events, sharing my conversations with Dayeon’s mother.

“Siyoon is so clever; it must be exhausting for you.”
“It’s a blessing. He fills all the gaps where I fall short…”

Dad gazed at the ceiling for a moment, lost in thought, as if reminiscing.

“Aww~ You’re not lacking at all!”

Having finally completed my tower, I leaned back with satisfaction.

“Dad!”
“Yes?”

Dad hurried over at the sound of my voice. If he had a tail, it would have been wagging furiously.

“What do you think?”
“It’s amazing!”

“This is a masterpiece, embodying the profound thoughts, emotions, and skill of a four-year-old,” I declared proudly.

Dad stared at the tower silently, his expression unreadable.

“…..”
“Why do you look like that?”
“It’s… overwhelming.”

Without warning, I kicked the tower down, sending the blocks scattering across the floor. Dad’s jaw dropped.

“…Boring.”
“Si-Siyoon?”

Dad looked stunned, as though he thought his lukewarm reaction had caused my sudden destruction.

“Help me clean up.”
“Do you want me to rebuild it for you?”
“No.”

Still unsettled, Dad glanced at me nervously.

“Si-Siyoon…”
“Instead, take me somewhere tomorrow.”
“Huh?”

I handed him my phone. The young teacher, who had been watching me closely, seemed to realize something. She had found it strange that someone like me, who didn’t care for stacking blocks, had suddenly started building just before Dad arrived. Now, recalling the promise I made to Dayeon’s mother, she looked at me with newfound admiration for my “big picture.”

“Open it for me.”

Dad, always quick to catch on, opened the case without hesitation. As he did, a business card slipped out and fell to the floor.

Kim Sunhwa, CEO of Hanseong DesignNet.

Dad’s gaze immediately shifted to the young teacher, who gave him an awkward smile.