The next morning, the palace was bustling.
Servants rushed about, the Emperor was already in court, and her elder brother was training in the yard.
But one person was still… snoring.
The princess lay sprawled across her giant silk bed, hugging her pillow like a defeated warrior. By the time she woke, the sun was sliding down the sky.
She yawned loudly, stretched, and waddled out of her chamber.
"Ughhh… is it morning yet?" she muttered, even though it was practically evening.
By the time she entered the dining hall, everyone had already eaten. She sat down lazily, rubbing her eyes, and announced, "Food. Bring me food. Immediately."
The servants exchanged nervous glances.
Because behind her… stood the Empress. With a stick in hand.
The princess froze, sensing danger. Slowly, she turned her head and met her mother's death glare.
Her father tried to speak up. "Now, now, dear, she just overslept—"
THWACK! The Empress smacked the table with the stick, silencing him instantly.
The brother leaned back with a smirk, clearly enjoying the show.
The Empress didn't say a word at first. She simply ordered a servant to bring food.
And down came… a plain bowl of rice with boiled vegetables.
The princess stared at it in horror.
"Where's the meat? The buns? The sweets?!"
The Empress raised the stick, and the princess quickly shut her mouth, forcing herself to shovel vegetables into her mouth with the expression of someone being tortured.
Her brother laughed so hard he nearly choked on his tea.
"Wow, look at you! Normally you'd fight for your precious junk food, but now you're eating spinach like a good little rabbit."
The Emperor tried to hide his chuckle behind his sleeve.
The princess wanted to cry. Why is my life like this?!
When she finally finished her punishment-lunch, she sighed in relief. But it wasn't over.
The Empress narrowed her eyes. "Enough is enough. You are not just a princess, you are a woman of this house. And what do you know of responsibility? Can you cook? Can you sew? Can you manage even basic household tasks?"
The princess gulped. "…I can… eat?"
Her brother burst out laughing again.
The Empress tapped her stick firmly. "From today onward, you will learn. Until you prove yourself capable, don't even think of lazing around."
The princess groaned, collapsing dramatically onto the floor. "Mother, this is abuse of my royal rights!"
"Royal rights, my foot!" her mother snapped. "You can't even boil water!"
The Emperor muttered softly, "Well, she's not wrong…" and quickly pretended to cough when the Empress glared at him.
And so, the princess's new fate was sealed.
Her days of carefree eating and lazing were over.
The real chaos was about to begin.