Back in the palace, the Emperor was sneaking around like a thief in his own home. He whispered to his trusted man, "Here, take this pouch of gold. Find my daughter and—"
Before he could finish, BOOM! the doors flung open.
The Empress stood there with her arms crossed, eyes blazing.
"Well, well, Emperor. Planning a little secret charity event for our spoiled daughter?"
The trusted man dropped the pouch in panic. The Emperor tried to hide it behind his back — very unsuccessfully.
"It's not what you think—" he began.
"Oh really? Then why is there gold clinking behind your back like a cow's bell?" the Empress shot back.
At that exact unlucky moment, the elder brother walked in, munching on a mango.
"What's going on here—"
WHAM! He got scolded too.
"And YOU! Don't just stand there eating fruit like a decoration. Are you also in on this scheme?"
The poor brother almost choked on his mango.
"W-what?! I literally just came for a snack!"
The Empress scolded all three until the walls of the palace shook. The Emperor finally sighed in defeat, thinking: Daughter… you're on your own. I tried. Don't blame me if you end up eating mud for dinner.
---
Meanwhile, outside the palace…
The princess waited for the trusted man. She sat on a rock dramatically, staring at the road like a tragic heroine.
Five minutes passed. She tapped her foot.
Ten minutes passed. She groaned.
Fifteen minutes later, she exploded:
"Ughhh! I cannot wait any longer! Do they not know who I am? I'm a princess! Waiting is against my royal rights!"
So, in true impatient-princess fashion, she stomped off on her own.
But alas — she quickly realized something tragic.
She had absolutely no idea which road led where.
For the first time in her life, she didn't have servants pointing, "This way, Princess."
Still, she marched on with her nose in the air. After a long, clumsy walk (and nearly tripping over a chicken), she reached the palace exit.
A carriage stood there, and the driver gave her a bored look.
"You there!" she declared. "Take me to the most luxurious, royal, glamorous kingdom nearby!"
The driver raised an eyebrow. "Luxury, huh? Sure thing."
He happily took her money — all of it — and dropped her at the border of Auroria, a kingdom that was indeed lively… but not at all the luxury palace she had imagined.
---
As she stepped inside Auroria, her eyes widened.
Children were running in the streets, laughing so hard their bellies shook. Merchants were shouting prices louder than any palace trumpet. Women bargained over vegetables as if it were a sport.
Everyone looked ordinary… but full of joy.
The princess stood there, fascinated. They don't have riches or jewels, yet they look so happy. How curious…
For the first time in her life, she felt that maybe her journey wouldn't be as boring as she thought — maybe it would even be fun.
---
✨ To be continued…