The next morning, the castle staff bustled about the Dragon Queen's lair, whispering among themselves about the recently revealed dragon princess. In the grand dining hall, a group of maids and butlers gathered near the kitchen entrance, stealing glances at Rynhara, who sat in the middle of the room, her rainbow-tipped hair practically glowing under the crystalline chandelier.
"Is it just me, or does she look like a little gremlin in that fancy dress?" whispered one maid, a petite elf with a sharp tongue.
"Shh, Her highness Tiamora will hear you," warned another, an older dragonkin with silvery scales.
"It's true, though," said a third, a dwarven butler polishing a silver tray. "She's got those teeth… like she'd eat the fine china."
"She chipped one of the royal teacups yesterday," the elf maid whispered.
"No!"
"Yes! Lady Scalesworth nearly fainted."
Their chatter was interrupted by the entrance of Kaelira, still clad in her frilly maid outfit. She looked as if she wanted to set the world on fire with her glare alone.
"You think I asked for this?" Kaelira muttered as she passed, catching their stares. "I'm one step away from throwing this apron into the lava pit."
The staff exchanged amused looks but quickly returned to their duties when Tiamora herself strode into the hall, exuding regal menace.
---
"Today, my darling," Tiamora began, addressing Rynhara, "we're continuing with etiquette training. Lady Scalesworth will guide you through proper posture and conversational grace."
"I think we can skip posture," Rynhara grumbled, slouching dramatically in her chair.
"Absolutely not!" barked Lady Scalesworth, who appeared as if summoned by Rynhara's insolence. She smacked her cane on the floor for emphasis.
Rynhara rolled her eyes but stood as instructed. Lady Scalesworth adjusted her shoulders, wings, and chin with a precision that bordered on painful.
"You look like a scarecrow trying to pass as royalty," the elderly dragoness muttered.
"Thanks," Rynhara deadpanned.
Behind her, Kaelira snorted, earning a glare from both Lady Scalesworth and Tiamora.
"Kaelira," Tiamora said smoothly, "since you find this so amusing, you'll assist. Stand behind her and mimic every movement. Perhaps seeing your struggle will inspire her."
"Wait, what?" Kaelira protested, but a single look from Tiamora silenced her.
Kaelira reluctantly took her place behind Rynhara, attempting to mirror her stance. Her tail swished irritably, and her sharp golden eyes narrowed.
"Lift your chin," Lady Scalesworth barked.
Kaelira did so, exaggerating the motion until she looked like a peacock mid-strut.
Rynhara smirked. "Wow, you look so elegant."
"Shut up," Kaelira muttered.
Once posture practice ended (with minimal improvement), the lesson shifted to conversational etiquette.
"A princess must charm her audience," Lady Scalesworth began. "Start with simple pleasantries. Rynhara, greet Kaelira as if she were an esteemed guest."
Rynhara turned to Kaelira and grinned, revealing her shark-like teeth. "Hey, nice horns. Did you steal them off a goat?"
Kaelira burst out laughing, while Lady Scalesworth looked positively apoplectic.
"Unacceptable!" the dragoness bellowed. "You must exude grace, not barbarity!"
"Fine, fine," Rynhara said, raising her hands in mock surrender. She cleared her throat, plastered on a stiff smile, and tried again. "Greetings, esteemed guest. I hope the lava pits treated you kindly on your way in."
Kaelira snorted, struggling to keep a straight face.
"Better," Lady Scalesworth muttered begrudgingly, "but lose the sarcasm."
"Not possible," Rynhara quipped.
From the shadows, several staff members watched the lesson unfold.
"She's hopeless," whispered the elf maid.
"She's just as spirited as her mother was during her youth," corrected the older dragonkin, a hint of approval in her tone. "It's refreshing."
"Refreshing?" the dwarf butler asked, raising an eyebrow. "More like terrifying. Did you see those teeth?"
---
The final challenge of the morning was proper table manners. A long table was set with a dazzling array of cutlery, plates, and goblets. Rynhara stared at it as if it were a battlefield.
"Why are there so many forks?" she asked, poking one with her claw.
"Each has a specific purpose," Lady Scalesworth said. "This one is for salad, this for fish, this for dessert—"
"I'm not eating salad with a fork," Rynhara interrupted. "That's what claws are for."
Lady Scalesworth's eye twitched dangerously. "You will not use your claws!"
Kaelira leaned over and whispered, "Careful. She might faint if you start licking the plate."
Rynhara grinned. "Hmmm.Tempting."
The practice meal began, and chaos quickly followed. Rynhara accidentally knocked over her goblet, splashing water across the pristine tablecloth. Kaelira, in a misguided attempt to help, grabbed the wrong fork and sent a plate of bread rolls tumbling to the floor.
"This is a disaster! You're esomehow even worse than her Majesty was at this when she was your age" Lady Scalesworth cried, throwing up her hands.
From the shadows, the castle staff watched in horrified fascination.
"I guess she really is the Dragon Queen's daughter huh?" the elf maid whispered.
"She's trying her best though," the older dragonkin said softly.
"Trying to destroy the dining hall, just like her majesty once did" muttered the dwarf butler.
---
By the end of the lesson, Lady Scalesworth looked ready to retire permanently. Rynhara slumped in her chair, thoroughly exhausted.
"Well, that was… something," Kaelira said, standing beside her.
"At least I didn't eat the plate," Rynhara muttered.
Tiamora entered the room, surveying the chaos with an amused expression. "How did it go?"
"She's improving," Lady Scalesworth lied through clenched teeth.
"I think I nailed it," Rynhara said with a smirk.
Kaelira snorted. "You nailed something."
As the staff quietly dispersed, their whispers carried through the hall. Some were skeptical, others cautiously optimistic. But one sentiment was clear. Their Princess Rynhara was anything but ordinary—and that made her interesting.