A Prince's Trouble

When I woke up in this palace yesterday, I thought maybe I’d been kidnapped by some very dedicated historical reenactors. But no—this was my life now. I was Crown Prince Tawan of some ancient kingdom, with a grumpy doctor, a dramatic queen for a mother, and way too many people expecting me to be a proper royal.

And let me tell you—I was failing spectacularly.

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Lesson #1: How to Eat Like a Prince (Or, How to Lose Your Appetite in 5 Minutes)

Breakfast was served in a golden dining hall bigger than my entire apartment back home. The long table was filled with steaming dishes—grilled fish, fresh fruits, rice, and soups that smelled amazing.

I reached for a mango. Big mistake.

The royal advisor, an older man with a permanently disappointed face, cleared his throat so hard I thought he might choke.

"A prince does not eat with his hands," he scolded, waving at the absurd number of utensils placed before me. "Each dish requires a specific spoon or chopsticks."

I blinked. "Why do I need three different spoons? It’s just soup."

The advisor gasped as if I had just insulted his ancestors. "Your Highness, this is the tradition of our kingdom—"

I tuned out after that. I mean, who needs three spoons? But since everyone was watching, I picked up the closest one and tried to eat. Another mistake.

“Your Highness, that is the dessert spoon!”

“It’s still a spoon, isn’t it?”

The Queen giggled behind her delicate hand. The King sighed. The nobles sitting across from me whispered like I was a walking disaster.

And Arthit? That smug doctor was watching me struggle with the most judgmental smirk.

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Lesson #2: Royal Etiquette (Or, How to Be a Public Embarrassment)

After breakfast, I was forced into etiquette lessons because apparently, “A prince must not slouch, eat quickly, or talk with his mouth full.”

Look, I was a doctor! I saved lives! Did it really matter if I walked too casually or leaned on the throne like a lazy cat?

Apparently, it did.

A strict tutor made me practice bowing, standing, and even waving for two straight hours.

"Your Highness, your wave must be elegant!"

I sighed and waved dramatically. "Like this?"

Arthit snorted. The tutor nearly fainted.

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Lesson #3: Surviving a Public Appearance (Or, How to Make a Kingdom Question Its Prince)

In the afternoon, the Queen decided I needed to "connect with the people." Which meant riding a horse through the city and smiling like an actual prince.

Now, I had never ridden a horse in my life. But did I tell anyone that? No, because I like making bad decisions.

I climbed onto the horse with all the grace of a newborn deer. The moment the animal moved, I grabbed its neck like my life depended on it.

The people watching gasped. The guards whispered. Arthit facepalmed.

"You look like you're wrestling the poor horse," he muttered.

"I am wrestling the horse!" I hissed. "This thing wants me dead!"

The Queen, meanwhile, smiled proudly. "Look how naturally our son takes to riding!"

I almost fell off.

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Lesson #4: The Great Escape (Or, How to Avoid Responsibilities Like a Pro)

By sunset, I had endured enough bowing, smiling, and near-death experiences for one day. So, like any sane person, I decided to run away.

I snuck out of the palace, disguised as a commoner. My plan? Eat street food, avoid responsibility, and pretend I wasn’t a prince.

It worked for five minutes.

Then I heard someone behind me say, “Your Highness, what the hell are you doing?”

I turned around slowly.

Of course. It was Arthit.

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Lesson #5: Flirting With the Doctor (Or, How to Get Scolded in Two Seconds)

Arthit had his arms crossed, looking at me like a disappointed babysitter.

"I’m exploring," I said, grinning. "Want to join me?"

"No."

"So grumpy," I teased. "You should smile more. You’re actually kind of cute when you—"

"Finish that sentence, and I’ll personally poison your tea."

I laughed. "You wouldn’t."

He stepped closer. "Try me."

Why was that kind of...hot?

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Lesson #6: Realizing I Might Actually Like It Here

That night, after surviving my first full day as a prince, I lay in my oversized royal bed, staring at the ceiling.

Everything here was wrong—the rules, the people expecting me to be someone I wasn’t, the fact that I was in a different time period.

But at the same time… it wasn’t all bad.

I kind of liked annoying Arthit. I liked the Queen’s over-the-top affection. I even liked the city, the streets, the people.

Maybe, just maybe, being a prince wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

Too bad I had no idea what was coming next.

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