Ryan stepped through the grand palace doors, blinking under the glare of crystal chandeliers and the weight of royal expectations. Gone were the cozy days of coffee spills and ukulele disasters; now, it was time for Royal Training 101 — a crash course in etiquette, diplomacy, and surviving stuffy banquets without fainting.
Morning Mayhem: The Bow Battle
Ryan's first lesson started with the bow.
"Your Majesty," the royal tutor said sternly, "a bow must be precise, respectful, and graceful."
Ryan gave it his best shot—he bowed so low he nearly touched the floor. The tutor blinked.
"Close enough," the tutor said cautiously, "but please don't take out any royal carpets next time."
Ryan grinned sheepishly. "I'm just trying to make an impression."
Lesson Two: Royal Speak
Next up was learning to talk like a prince without sounding like a walking thesaurus.
"Remember, Ryan, the people need to understand you. Speak simply but with dignity."
Ryan practiced: "Greetings, commoners! May your day be blessed and your coffee strong."
The tutor raised an eyebrow. "Less bard, more barista."
Dining Disaster
The afternoon brought the royal feast—thirteen courses Ryan never imagined existed.
Fork in left hand, knife in right, napkin on lap… or so he thought.
Halfway through the third course, Ryan accidentally flung a pea across the table, hitting the duke in the nose.
Silence.
Ryan blushed furiously. "Peasants beware—royal missiles inbound."
The duke blinked, then burst out laughing.
Unexpected Ally
Just when Ryan thought he'd never survive, a familiar voice appeared.
"Need a hand?" Hailey said, stepping into the ornate dining hall, holding a tray of takeout sushi.
Ryan's eyes lit up. "You brought me real food?"
Hailey smirked. "And I'm here to remind you it's okay to be yourself."
Midnight Practice
That night, Ryan and Hailey sat under the stars in the palace garden.
He confessed, "This royal life… it's a lot."
Hailey smiled, "But it's your royal life. You don't have to lose the guy who spills coffee or plays ukulele off-key."
Ryan laughed softly. "Maybe I can be the first prince who rules with laughter—and caffeine."
Hailey took his hand. "I'm ready to be queen of the coffee kingdom."
Training Continued… But On Their Terms
Over the next days, Ryan balanced royal duties with the messy, imperfect charm Hailey loved.
He bowled with the court (literally, using bowling balls instead of crystal balls), gave awkward speeches peppered with coffee jokes, and learned that even princes can mess up and still be loved.
TO BE CONTINUED.