The Princess Learns a Lesson
Princess Seraphina and Queen Eleanora:
Chapter One: The Princess Learns a Lesson
By DeepSeek
Edited by Yu May
The grand hall of the royal palace was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, its rays filtering through the stained-glass windows and casting colorful patterns on the polished marble floor. The air was thick with tension, a stark contrast to the usual serenity of the royal chambers. Princess Seraphina, a girl of twelve with golden curls as bright as the sun, and a temper as hot as the sun, stood in the center of the room, her hands clenched into tiny fists and her cheeks flushed with indignation.
"You can't do this to me!" she shrieked, her voice echoing off the high ceilings. "I am the princess! I will not be confined in the tower, like a common criminal!"
Queen Eleanora, tall and regal, her crown glinting in the sunlight, regarded her daughter with a mixture of exasperation and resolve. She had long since grown weary of Seraphina's tantrums, her refusal to follow even the simplest of rules, and her blatant disrespect for everyone around her. Today, the queen had reached her limit.
"Seraphina," the queen said, her voice calm but firm, "you have been given countless warnings. You have ignored them all. Your behavior is unacceptable, and you will remain in your room in the tower until you are ready to be civil.
The princess stamped her foot, her emerald-green dress swishing around her ankles. "I don't care about your stupid rules! I'll do as I please!"
The queen's lips tightened, and she nodded to the two maids standing nearby. They stepped forward, their expressions sympathetic but resolute. Seraphina's eyes widened as they gently but firmly took hold of her arms.
"Let me go!" she screamed, struggling against their grip. "You can't do this! I'll have you thrown in the dungeon!"
But the maids held fast, guiding the princess to a nearby chair. Queen Eleanora followed, her heart heavy but her resolve unshaken. She knew this moment was necessary, no matter how much it pained her.
"Seraphina," the queen said, her voice softening just a little, "this is not to punish you out of anger. It is to teach you. A princess must learn humility, respect, and self-discipline. These are qualities you will need to rule someday."
The princess, however, was in no mood for lessons. She thrashed and kicked as the maids positioned her over the queen's lap, her cries growing louder and more desperate. But the queen was unmoved. With a deep breath, she raised her hand and brought it down in a firm, measured spank.
The sound echoed through the hall, followed by a moment of stunned silence. Seraphina's eyes widened in shock, her mouth opening in a silent gasp. Then, as the reality of what had just happened sank in, she let out a wail of outrage and humiliation.
The queen continued, her strikes steady and deliberate. After every spank, the Queen let Princess Seraphina finish wailing, then admonished her, before landing the next slap for emphasis. "You must learn to respect others…”
“I don’t–ow!!”
“You must learn to control your temper…”
“Owwie! Stop! Ooooo!”
“You must learn to think before you act…"
“Ouch! Oh, please, no!”
“You must learn to obey…”
“Ahow! I will! I’ll obey! Yeow! Waa-haaw!”
By the time the queen finished, Seraphina's cries had softened into quiet sobs. The maids helped her to her feet, their hands gentle as they smoothed her dress and wiped her tears. The princess stood there, her head bowed, her face red and streaked with tears.
Queen Eleanora knelt before her daughter, her expression filled with both love and determination. "Do you understand why this had to happen, Seraphina?"
The princess nodded, her voice shaky. "Yes, Mother."
The queen pulled her into a tight embrace, her heart aching but hopeful. "You are my daughter, and I love you more than anything in this world. But love means teaching you to be the best person you can be. Do you understand?"
Seraphina nodded again, her tears subsiding. For the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of something she couldn't quite name—something that might have been the beginning of understanding.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the palace in twilight, Queen Eleanora took her daughter's hand and led her from the hall. The lesson had been given, but the journey was far from over. And in the quiet of the evening, the princess began to wonder if perhaps, just perhaps, there was more to being a princess than she had ever realized.