The night after the "vegetable lunch tragedy," the Empress made a terrifying declaration.
"If you don't wake up on time tomorrow," she warned, waving her stick, "your punishment will be so great you won't even dare to dream of midnight snacks again!"
The princess gulped. "M-Mother, please! I swear, tomorrow I'll wake up early. Before the rooster! Before the sun! Before the servants even sweep the floor!"
The Empress narrowed her eyes. "We'll see. And one more thing—your midnight snacks are OVER. Anyone who dares to feed you past bedtime will be FIRED immediately."
The cooks turned pale. The princess gasped as if her world had ended. No midnight snacks? Am I even alive anymore?
That night, she rolled on her bed, mourning dramatically. "Why did I even come back home?! My beautiful life is ruined!"
But eventually, she comforted herself. "It's fine… tomorrow I'll wake up early. Totally. For sure. Easy."
---
Morning came.
And, as expected…
The princess didn't wake up.
Not even the noon bell could rattle her.
By the time she finally stirred, she was starving—but also too terrified to face her mother. So she did the only thing her dramatic brain could think of.
She locked her door, pulled the blanket over her head, and whispered, "If anyone asks, tell them I'm dead."
Meanwhile, in the hall, the Empress tapped her stick impatiently.
"She won't come down. Fine. Then we'll go UP."
The Emperor and the brother followed nervously, whispering behind her.
"Do you think she's awake?"
"Knowing her? Probably drooling on her pillow."
"Careful, if Mother hears us laughing, we'll get punished too!"
When they reached the room, the Empress knocked firmly.
No response.
The Emperor sighed. "She won't open the door for you, dear."
"Then you call her," the Empress snapped.
Helplessly, the Emperor pressed his forehead to the door. "Daughter? It's Father… there's no Mother here. Just me. Totally safe. No sticks involved."
Inside, the princess perked up instantly. Her empty stomach rumbled. Food! Father brought me food!
She rushed to open the door with sparkling eyes—only to freeze when she saw the entire family standing there.
Her face fell. "F-Father… you betrayed me!"
Her brother almost collapsed from laughter. "Pfft—HAHA! You should see your face right now!"
The Empress didn't even speak. She just walked inside calmly, sat on the princess's bed, and stared at her.
The princess's knees buckled automatically, and she dropped to the floor, kneeling before her mother without a single word.
"Finally," the Empress said coldly. "You admit your faults."
The princess gulped, eyes wide. "Mother, I swear, this time I'll wake up early! I'll eat vegetables! I'll even—wash the dishes?"
But her mother raised her hand to silence her.
"No more empty promises. If you truly wish to grow up, then you'll accept my challenge."
The princess tilted her head. "C-Challenge?"
"Yes." The Empress's eyes were sharp. "For thirty days, you will live outside this palace. Without your identity as a princess. Outside of your kingdom. You will not rely on your title, your servants, or your luxury. Only then will you learn the meaning of responsibility."
The princess's jaw dropped. "T-T-THIRTY DAYS?! OUTSIDE? As a… commoner?!"
Her brother smirked. "Well, at least the world will finally see how hopeless you are without royal treatment."
The Emperor sighed, clearly worried—but when the Empress shot him a look, he quickly added, "Ahem… it'll be… good training for her. Yes. Very… good."
The princess's heart sank. Good training? This is a death sentence!
She fell back dramatically onto the floor. "This is it… my life is officially over!"
But deep inside, she had no idea… this was just the beginning.