The Princess Games

I wipe my hands on the black apron I am wearing. I had been working in the Village bakery since I was 10. My family all have worked at the bakery since it was made. We have had lots of customers every day and everyone loved my Great Great Great Great Grandmothers secret recipe. There have been some people that have tried to steal it, but no one ever ends up stealing it because we are so good at keeping it safe somewhere. It is in a very good hissing spot, I even forgot where it is.

It was almost 3 so after I finish what I am doing, I have to run home to get ready because my Mother said to come home earlier today. I easily forget stuff so I don’t know why Mother wants me home early.

“Hey Y/N, shouldn’t you be leaving soon to get ready for the picking of the Princess Games. Every girl around your age and the Prince’s age is attending. Shouldn’t you be?” My Aunty asked.

Oh woozi (My way of saying shot, gosh, jesus and stuff like that because Woozi is basically a God), that’s why I thought today was important. The Queen died a few weeks ago and it has been 55 years so the King can’t handle and look after his Kingdom along.

“Ahhh, that’s what I forgot. Thanks for reminding me. Bye Aunty,” I said and kissed her cheek. I quickly went out to the back and untied my apron. I hung it up and zoomed out of the bakery.

It still wasn’t 3 but I might as well get home before 3 in case I take to long to get ready. I rushed past some stores and people but bumped into someone and fell when I was going around the corner. I scrapped my elbows on the gravelled ground but that didn’t matter. I can always clean it up at home. Just as I was about to get up, a hand came reaching down to my level. Assuming they were going to help me up, I grabbed the person’s hand. I got pulled up and quickly bowed down, an apology and thanking them.

“Ah, jesonghamnida (a formal version of saying sorry) I wasn’t watching where I was going, and gomabseubnida (or kamsahamnida) for helping me up,” I said still bowing. I looked up and saw a male that looked somewhere in his early 20′s. He was wearing a mask and some glasses so I could barely see his face. The weird thing is I have never seen him in the Village before. “I don’t mean to sound rude but, are you new here, I haven’t seen you around before?”

“Uh?” he said looking worried, “I was born here, I just, uh, I don’t really come out of my cottage that often,” he looked at the big clock tower in the Village Square and panicked, “Uh, jesonghamnida, I have to leave now otherwise my Father will get angry or upset that I am late. It was nice meeting you for about a minute. Annyeong,” and with that, the stranger rushed off past me and my bakery almost heading towards the King’s Castle but turned left.

I just stood there, looking at the direction he went in but quickly remembered that I have to get home. I started running again, this time being cautious around people and corners. I soon reached my parent’s cottage and ran inside. We had a two-storey cottage which was cool.

“Mother, I am home. Where are you?” I asked as I looked around.

“You are home earlier than I said. But I am out the back,” she replied back. I walked through the doorways that head to the back.

At the back, we have 4 horses, for my family and I, 2 adult pigs with their 3 little piglets, 6 chickens and we have 2 cats that are twins. I walked up to my Mum who was feeding the animals/pets and hugged her from behind. She got a little bit startled since I was being quiet. I let go of her and she turned around to kiss my forehead.

“Do you know why you came home early? Even if you do, I will tell you anyway. You are home early because you are still at the age and you might be chosen to be one of the 20 girls to go to the King’s Castle and compete against the other girls from around our 3 Kingdoms, even some Princess’ might be there. The Prince is finally ready to get married. One because his Mother died and his Father can’t be the head of all three Kingdoms on his own and 2, it has been 55 years now and it is time for Prince Taehyung to step up and become the new Kingdoms’ King. Anyway, you need to get ready. I set your clothes on your bed so you can go take a quick shower if you want then go change and do your hair” she said and continued feeding the pets.

I had a very quick shower. I scrubbed my body and cleaned it down. I also washed my hair because I haven’t done that for 2 days. Once I got out I dried myself. I dried my hair with my towel and started changing into the outfit my Mum picked out.

I went downstairs to the kitchen where I found Mum. Dad was obviously at work but he would be coming home very soon. Mum turned around and saw me.

“Oh my daughter,” she said and went up to hug me, “You look so beautiful. Are you wearing any make-up?” She asked and I shook my head, “Of course not, you got your beautiful skin from your Father. He had and still has flawless skin, like you” she said and released me from the hug. She looked down at my feet. “Where are your shoes I got ready for you? They were cat shoes”.

“Mum, I know you mean well, but I am not a little kid. Could I at least wear my converses instead? I am wearing a dress after all so I want to put some of my styles into it” I asked her showing some of my aegyo. I rarely show my aegyo and when I do show it, no-one can resist.

“Aw, you know I cannot resist that aegyo of yours,” she said disappointed in herself, “Tsk, I guess. Hurry up and put your shoes on we are going to leave when your Father comes,” and with that, I squealed and skipped to get my shoes near the front door. I put on my black converses and jumped up.

Just as I finished tying up my laces on my right shoe, the door opened and my Father came in. “Welcome home Dad,” I said and hugged him. He hugged me back instantly.

“Dear, let your Father fully inside before you hug him,“Mum said going up to the door and opening it up wider.

I let him go and stepped back a bit. When Dad came in, Mum closed the door and kissed Dads’ cheek. We put his bag down on the dining room chair and was about to take his shoes off.

“Hun, we are going to go to the Princess Casting so don’t take off your shoes. I left your formal tie on our bed. Quickly go get ready, we need to leave,” Mum said as Father went up the stairs to Mum and Dad’s room. Mum and I were waiting patiently on the couch in the living room.

Soon Dad came downstairs with his tie, except it wasn’t tied properly. Mum just laughed and went up to him to tie the tie. After Mum tied the tie, they kissed each other and I immediately started screaming and running out the door. I could hear the two laugh at my childish behaviour.

We did not go on our horses to go to the Castle because everyone or girl around my age was attending a formal occasion. So for that, the King ordered his guards to go around and pick up all the Maidens in our village and for the other two villages, their King or Queen ordered their guards to drop the girls off. My parents and I were waiting outside our gate for a carriage to pick us up. The carriages were supposed to be coming around 3:10 and it was now 3:05. We waited for a while like most of the other families.

I saw my childhood friend and BFF, Yena, waiting outside her gate with her parents too. She wore a sparkly orange dress. I waved my hand at her and she replied back the same. We both started walking towards each other and met halfway. We hugged each other very tightly because we hardly ever hung out anymore. Mainly because we are both working. She works at a little restaurant her parents own. When we do hang out, we normally hang out in the forest near my cottage or we go to the library.

“How have you been doing? I have hardly seen you,” she said with a pouty face.

“I have been at work for a few days but mainly I have been in the forest with my horse or I go and read the books in the library. Whenever I was off work I went to your cottage but your parents always answered, they said you were too busy with work this week. I was so sad but it is alright now,” I said to her while releasing her from my grip. She just nodded and looked very sorry. Then, out of nowhere, she started jumping up and down.

“OH MY GOSH, (I don’t know if the middle-aged people were religious or not, I am just guessing) IMAGINE IF ONE OF US, OR BOTH GOT PICKED OUT OF THE JAR. THAT WOULD BE SO AMAZING. AHHHHHH,” she screamed in my ear. I stepped back a bit so she wouldn’t accidentally step on my foot and I didn’t want my eardrums broken. She was screaming so loud, birds flew out of the trees and I could hardly hear myself talk.

“I’m just going to step back a bit,” I said and slowly walked back. She stopped jumping and pouted at me again. She also tried doing aegyo but she failed miserably. “AH, my poor eyes, I must shield them,” I joked and heard my parents and her parents laugh.

“YAH,” she said and hit my shoulder, “My parents laughed at me because of you,” and again she pouted. I laughed and patted her head, signalling I was sorry. “Hey, look over there, The carriages are coming. We have to sit next to each other at the casting. See you soon,” she said as she rushed over to her parents, where a carriage just arrived.

I ran over to my parents, as they were calling me over. I let my parents hop on first before I did. My parents were making conversation with the person controlling this thing, while I was in my own world. I had never seen the Prince before so I don’t know what he looks like. I might have seen him when I was little, but I think I would remember if I did. I rested my chin on the back of my hand and my elbow rested on the side.

It wasn’t a long ride to the Castle. It took about 10 minutes to get to the Castel gates. Now we had to go in through the gates. We reached the top of the driveway thing where all the other people got dropped off. I hopped out, along with my parents and we were escorted into the main hall and went through a door where there were seats. I found Yena and sat next to her. All the parents though had to go outside and wait once their children got on one of the comfy red seats. There was a big stage in front of us with a microphone.

We were talking and talking, like most of the people in here. Everywhere I looked, I saw girls dressed up really fancy, unlike me. My dress wasn’t that formal or fancy, it was just like a dress you would wear to a party. And my shoes were definitely different to others. I looked around and only saw heels or fancy flats. But did I care my shoes were different? No, could care less actually.

Girls kept piling in the room and brought in with them a lot of chatter. I guess they were so excited. I wasn’t that excited but I could tell Yena was. She is basically in love with the Prince, even though he hasn’t come out of the Castle since he was very very young.

Everyone quietened down and took their seats as a lady came onto the stage and stood in front of the microphone.

“Good afternoon ladies,” a lady said, she had blonde hair and wore a puffy colourful dress. “Welcome all, I’m sure you are all excited or nervous about this event. Today is the 16th Annual Princess Games. Like usual, we will pick 20 random pieces of paper from this jar, to determine who will be playing in the Princess Games,” she said before handing the microphone to a tall guy, dressed up in a black suit.

“Welcome girls, I hope you are all comfortable. Now is the time you have all been waiting for, the casting or votes, whatever you want to call it. When I call your name out, please come up to the stage. I will randomly select the papers from the jar,” he said and stuck his hand in the jar, mixing his hand in with the folded pieces of paper. He picked out a blue coloured paper and unfolded it, “The first girl is Lee Laura,” and a girl wearing a gold dress stood up and went up onto the stage.

Time passed by and 15 girls have already been chosen. We need 5 more girls to finish the 20 girls. I was just sitting on the chair, bored out of my mind. This whole thing is pointless really. It’s not like I will be chosen.

“Choi Yena, please come up to the stage,” the man said. I looked at Yena and she looked back at me. She looked so excited and I quickly hugged her then pushed her up. She walked to the stage, almost running since she was that excited. I smiled to myself knowing she would be very happy.

“Kim Jennie, please come up,” the man said. The other girl sitting next to me got up and walked to the stage. “Lee Emily, please come up,” and a girl all the way on the other side of the room went up. “Jung Jaehee, please come up,” and a girl somewhere near the front went up. “And lastly, Min Y/N, please come up,” the man said. The world around me froze and I froze too. This can’t be happening. “Please come up,” he said.

I got up from my seat and slowly walked towards the stage. I walked up the wooden stairs and stood next to the rest of the girls. My breath hitched as people stared at me and the other girls. I was shaking on the inside but I could feel my fingers just about to shake.

“Congratulations girls, you are the 20 girls who will be competing against one another to become the next Princess and probably the next Queen. Thank you, everybody, else for coming and waiting. Hopefully, your future kids come to this event and become the next Princess. You all can leave except the 20 girls,” the lady from before said. Everyone that was sitting in their seats stood up and were talking to others. “Girls please gather around,” the lady said and we all did as told, “You are all going to need to go and pack your things because you will be coming to the Castle tomorrow, at or before 8:00 am sharp. You will be competing against each other and will be illuminated one by one until there is only one left. You may now go. Rest up well and I will see you all tomorrow” and with that, she walked out of the room.

The other girls started walking down the stairs and so did I. Yena came up next to me and started squealing. “AHHH, I can’t believe we both got picked. This is so amazing. I hope to come somewhere in the top 10. I need to go tell my parents and go pack. See you tomorrow,” she said and ran to the carriage her parents were in once we got outside.

I quickly walked to where my parents were and was welcomed by my Mum in a big hug. “How did it go? Were you chosen at all?“She asked me.

“Well, let’s just say I need a lot fancier and some of my normal clothes for me to survive the next few months,” I said.

My Mum started jumping up and down. “My baby had been picked, oh my gosh. This is so exciting,” then reality hit her, “Quickly dear let us go home and get more clothes for you and then we can get you packed,” she exclaims still excited from the news I gave her. She grabbed my hand and dragged me into the carriage and told the person who drives this thing to go to the shops.