The next morning, Lyria woke up to a horrible noise.
A beeping monster screamed beside her head.
> "Is this… an alarm spell?!" she yelped, throwing a pillow at the clock.
"It's called an alarm clock, Your Majesty," Puff said, yawning midair. "Humans use it to wake up on time."
"That's barbaric! My royal attendants used harps and songbirds!"
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. The sunlight filtering through the thin curtains felt dull compared to Fairyland's glow, but there was something oddly comforting about it. Warm. Simple. Real.
Riku knocked on her door.
> "You awake, uh… Lyria?"
"Queen Lyria of the Shimmering—" she started, but Puff quickly slapped a glowing hand over her mouth.
"Lyria is fine!" Puff said, laughing nervously.
Riku opened the door halfway, holding a piece of paper.
> "I printed a list of nearby part-time jobs for you. You said you wanted to earn money, right?"
Lyria blinked at the strange black symbols on the paper.
> "Printed? You mean conjured with ink magic?"
"...It's a printer," he said, sighing. "You should start with something easy. Maybe café work, cleaning, or a flower shop."
Lyria's eyes sparkled.
> "Flower shop! Finally, something dignified!"
---
Later that day…
The "flower shop" was nothing like the enchanted gardens she used to walk through. The flowers here were nice enough—but they didn't talk back.
The owner, a cheerful lady in an apron, handed her a watering can.
> "Just water these evenly, dear. Not too much."
Lyria smiled proudly.
> "Understood! I am a master of nature's balance!"
Two minutes later, half the shop was flooded.
> "Oops…"
"MY ORCHIDS!" screamed the shopkeeper.
"They looked thirsty!"
Puff facepalmed. "We're so getting fired…"
---
That evening, Lyria trudged back to the apartment, dripping petals and shame.
> "Humans are cruel! They make you earn money, then take it away for spilling water!"
"It's called responsibility," Riku said, barely hiding a grin.
Lyria slumped onto the couch.
> "In Fairyland, my word was law. Here, I'm just… a soggy girl who can't handle plants."
Puff fluttered onto her shoulder.
> "Hey, Your Majesty… you did make one of the kids smile when you made that rose bloom again."
"Hmph. Accidental brilliance."
Riku looked over from his desk.
> "For what it's worth, you're trying. That's more than most."
For a moment, Lyria went quiet. The human world was strange, unfair, and confusing—but maybe… just maybe… it wasn't hopeless.
> "Very well," she said, raising a hand dramatically. "Tomorrow, I shall find a new job! One worthy of my royal talents!"
"Maybe avoid the ones with water," Puff mumbled.
---