Yoon Seo stood frozen, staring at the gaggle of attendants who were now frantically whispering behind their hands. The maid closest to her, the one who had timidly announced the tea ceremony, was wringing her hands like a wet towel.
"Your Highness?" the maid squeaked again, her voice trembling. "Shall we proceed?"
"Proceed with what?" Yoon Seo asked, her voice louder than she intended. "Do you people seriously start every day with tea and drama? Where's the coffee?"
A collective gasp swept the room, as though she had just suggested burning the palace down for warmth. The maid's face went as pale as steamed rice.
"Coffee, Your Highness?" the maid repeated, blinking. "I am unfamiliar with this term."
Yoon Seo groaned and rubbed her temples. "Of course you are. Right, let's get this over with." She plopped down on the nearest cushion, managing to knock over a small lacquered table in the process. A delicate porcelain vase wobbled precariously before smashing to the ground.
Another wave of gasps.
"Your Highness!" the maid wailed, diving to collect the shattered pieces. "This vase was gifted by the Emperor of Ming!"
Yoon Seo raised her hands defensively. "Okay, first of all, who puts priceless artifacts near a klutz like me? And second, isn't it bad luck to hold onto broken things? Just saying."
The attendants exchanged horrified looks. One elderly woman clutched her chest like she might faint on the spot. Yoon Seo sighed. "Fine, I'll pay for it. Add it to my tab, or whatever."
"Your Highness," a deep, stern voice cut through the chaos, "your behavior this morning is… unusual."
Yoon Seo turned to see a man in an intricately embroidered robe standing in the doorway. His sharp features and even sharper glare made it clear he wasn't here to chat. "Ah, you must be the fun police," she muttered.
The attendants scrambled to bow, their foreheads nearly touching the floor. The maid whispered, "Prince Kang Jiho, your betrothed."
Yoon Seo choked. "Betrothed? As in engaged? Oh no, no, no. There's been a mistake. I don't even know this guy! I mean, sure, he's got a decent jawline, but—"
"Enough!" Prince Jiho's voice was like thunder, silencing the room. His gaze pierced through her. "Your Highness, your frivolity has gone too far. The court will convene shortly, and I expect you to behave appropriately."
"Oh, don't worry," Yoon Seo shot back with a sweet yet sarcastic smile. "I'll be the picture of royal grace. Just point me to the nearest karaoke machine."
The prince's eyes narrowed. "I do not know what this 'karaoke' is, but I suspect it is as nonsensical as your current demeanor."
"Wow, you're a real riot," Yoon Seo said, crossing her arms. "Do you smile, or is that banned in this century?"
The attendants collectively inhaled, clearly bracing for an explosion. But instead of firing back, Jiho simply turned on his heel and walked away, his robes billowing dramatically behind him.
"Okay, seriously," Yoon Seo muttered, watching him go, "does everyone here take a class on how to look intimidating while walking?"
---
Yoon Seo spent the next hour trying to wrap her head around royal life. By "wrap her head around," she meant "accidentally insult the royal chef, trip over her own hanbok, and refer to a priceless tapestry as 'a fancy rug.'"
The palace staff looked like they were ready to call an exorcist.
"I can't do this," Yoon Seo whispered to herself as she sat on the edge of an ornate daybed. "I'm a bartender, not a princess. What am I even supposed to do here? Wave and look pretty?"
Her internal pity party was interrupted by the maid from earlier, who approached hesitantly. "Your Highness, the court awaits."
Yoon Seo groaned. "Fantastic. Let's go make a fool of myself in front of an even bigger audience."
As she was escorted to the grand hall, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of her troubles. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a tiny voice whispered, "What if you never get back home?"
But she pushed it aside. One problem at a time, she told herself. For now, she just had to survive being a royal imposter—preferably without causing an international incident.
Little did she know, her first official court appearance would bring more than just awkward bows and confusing etiquette. It would bring a revelation… and a challenge she never saw coming.