THIRTY DAYS MY PRINCESS*
*CHAPTER 4 – DAY 3*
Seryeon woke up expecting Lady Hwan's usual morning nagging, but instead, she heard a voice outside her door.
*Voice:* "Your Highness, His Majesty requests an audience with you."
Startled, Seryeon quickly dove back under the covers and pretended to be asleep just as the door opened.
> What does he want this early? Why trouble me now?
Jehun stepped in. He was about to leave quietly, but then he remembered how cunning this girl could be. He walked over to her bed and gently patted her hair.
*Jehun:* "Very pretty when asleep."
Seryeon's cheeks betrayed her already burning hot.
> Stupid cheeks. Stupid prince. How dare he keep flirting with me. I swear I'll get my revenge.
As she battled her thoughts, she felt his breath draw closer… and closer…
> No, no, no. Please don't. Please don't…
She counted to three, then shot her eyes open like a ghost.
*Seryeon:* "AHHHHHHHHH!"
Her scream startled the maids outside, but none dared enter.
Jehun jumped back, clearly not expecting that.
*Jehun:* "Ah, you were awake? I thought you were asleep."
> I'll get my revenge. Just wait.
*Jehun:* "No training today. You're attending the Yuan meeting as the future queen. Try not to throw around irrelevant compliments. See you."
He left, chuckling to himself as he replayed her reaction in his mind.
Seryeon sighed again and again already plotting her revenge.
*IN THE MEETING ROOM*
Seryeon sat beside Jehun. The court was in chaos, ministers shouting over one another. A bead of sweat slid down Jehun's temple.
Seryeon stood up. The room fell silent.
*Seryeon:* "I assume all the ministers here went to school, so you should know how to behave during an important meeting."
Jehun shot her a look, but she ignored it.
*Seryeon:* "You're all arguing about whether to go to war with Yuan. I have an idea."
One minister scoffed.
*Minister 1:* "How can we take a princess's idea seriously when the Crown Prince is present?"
*Seryeon:* "Then let's make it a challenge. I'll present my idea, you present yours. Let's see which one holds up."
The ministers murmured in agreement.
*Seryeon:* "You want war because Yuan raised taxes at the border. Let me ask you something."
She took a breath, descended the steps, and stood before the ministers.
*Seryeon:* "Let's say you're a cheonmin a lowborn."
The ministers chuckled.
*Seryeon:* "And your master can no longer afford to pay you or your family. What do you do?"
The minister smirked, thinking it was an easy question.
*Minister:* "Simple. I quit and find another master."
*Seryeon:* "Wrong. You go into agriculture."
*Minister:* "But you never said I had land."
*Seryeon:* "And you never asked."
The court chuckled. The minister looked embarrassed.
*Seryeon:* "It's simple. Don't fight them. Just ban Yuan merchants from entering Goryeo."
Another minister stepped forward.
*Minister 2:* "Then how do we survive without Yuan's supplies?"
*Seryeon:* "What do we get from Yuan? Garlic, red beans, barley and chestnuts . Don't we have land? Let's grow them ourselves."
The room erupted in murmurs. Jehun watched silently.
*Minister 3:* "We don't have enough land to feed the entire nation. Should we grow crops in the air?"
*Seryeon:* "Then pass a law. No family may own more than five hectares of farmland. Reclaim the excess. It's for the people."
Some ministers nodded. Others, who owned vast lands, stayed silent.
Jehun finally spoke.
*Jehun:* "But no one here knows how to grow those crops."
*Seryeon:* "Then plant spies in Yuan. If you want, I'll go myself."
The room fell into stunned silence.
> Is this really the same girl who once screamed at a butterfly? She must've done something terribly wrong.
*Jehun:* "Princess Yeonhwa is tired. Escort her to her quarters."
Seryeon didn't argue. She bowed and left quietly.
*IN THE EVENING*
Bored and restless, Seryeon peeked out her door. Maids were everywhere no chance of sneaking out. She called over two maids she trusted.
*Seryeon:* "Can you keep a secret?"
They nodded.
*Seryeon:* "Which one of you is willing to risk her life for me?"
One raised her hand. The other hesitated.
Seryeon explained her plan. The hesitant maid tried to object, but Seryeon didn't give her the chance. She sent the brave one to fetch supplies.
Soon, Seryeon was dressed in a man's robe. The other maid, now in silk, was told to lie down and pretend to be her.
They slipped out the window and made it to the market.
Seryeon was enjoying the freedom when she heard loud cheering. Curious, she ran toward the noise and found a crowd gathered around a fight.
The match ended. The victor was awarded a pile of gold coins. Seryeon's eyes sparkled with envy.
*Man (boasting):* "Who dares challenge me? I'll bet all my winnings. But if you lose, I take your head!"
Before the maid could stop her, Seryeon had already stepped into the ring.
*Seryeon:* "I'll give you my head but if I win, I take your gold."
The crowd roared. The fight began.
*END OF CHAPTER 4*