Lyria stared at the washing machine with the exact same expression she used when confronting ancient dragons.
Suspicion.
Fear.
And a bit of royal indignation.
The machine rumbled ominously.
> "Riku…" Lyria whispered. "Why is your clothing prison shaking?"
"It's a washing machine," he said, folding a shirt. "It just cleans clothes."
"Then why does it roar like a trapped beast?"
"Because it's… spinning?"
"SPINNING WHAT? ITS VICTIMS?!"
Riku sighed.
Puff peeked out from behind a sock.
> "It eats the clothes, swishes them around, then spits them out cleaner. Kind of like a water dragon!"
"Puff, you are not helping," Riku muttered.
---
The Lesson Begins
Today's goal was simple:
Teach Lyria how to do laundry.
Because apparently queens in Fairyland don't wash their own clothes.
> "Why should a queen scrub garments?" she complained.
"Because you're unemployed," Puff said.
"I blame society," Lyria declared.
Riku handed her a laundry basket.
> "Start by separating the lights and darks."
"Ah. Sorting by elemental alignment. I understand."
He opened his mouth to correct her—
Then shut it.
She was sorting correctly anyway.
Might as well let her think it's magic.
---
The Mistake
Everything was going well.
Until Lyria found a tiny packet.
She held it up like she discovered forbidden treasure.
> "Riku… what is this artifact?"
"Detergent pod."
"What does it do?"
"It helps clean the clothes."
Lyria gasped.
Her eyes sparkled.
> "A cleansing orb? A purification pearl? A holy bubble seed?"
"It's. A. Laundry. Pod."
"MAGIC!"
Before Riku could stop her, she tossed in three pods.
Then—
Because she wanted the clothes to be "extra purified"—
She cast a tiny cleansing spell on top.
Puff screamed.
Riku screamed.
The washing machine screamed.
Then—
FWOOOOSH—!!
A volcano of bubbles erupted from the machine, flooding the floor like a fluffy ocean.
Sparkles danced in the foam.
The clothes levitated inside the swirling chaos.
> "Riku," Puff said, clinging to a floating sock.
"Yes?"
"We are bathing in magic soap."
"I can see that."
"Should we be concerned?"
"Yes."
Lyria raised a finger dramatically.
> "Do not fear! I shall tame this storm of purity!"
She cast another spell.
The bubbles doubled.
> "LYRIA STOP USING MAGIC!" Riku shouted.
"BUT THE FOAM IS FIGHTING BACK!"
"IT IS NOT SENTIENT!"
"IT HAS ENGULFED PUFF!"
"AAAAAHHHH!" Puff cried as he disappeared under a tidal wave of bubbles.
---
After the Disaster
It took an hour, three towels, and Riku's remaining sanity to clean the apartment.
Lyria sat on the floor, drenched and sulking.
> "Laundry is dark magic," she said.
"You caused that," Riku replied.
"The pods tempted me."
Puff wrung out his tiny wings.
He smelled like lavender.
> "Your Majesty… I think we lost one sock to the cleansing vortex."
"We shall hold a memorial," Lyria said solemnly.
Riku sighed but patted her head.
> "Look… it's okay to make mistakes. But maybe don't use magic for household chores."
"Human chores feel like curses!"
"Trust me," Riku said, "they are."
Lyria looked at the now quiet washing machine.
It didn't roar anymore.
Just vibrated peacefully.
> "…I will defeat you one day," she whispered at it.
Puff nodded dramatically.
"We shall train, Your Majesty."
Riku laughed.
For the first time since she arrived, Lyria felt something warm.
Not magic.
Not sunlight.
Something human.
She liked it.
---