The neon lights of downtown Seoul bathed Yoon Seo's face in a kaleidoscope of color as she slammed a cocktail shaker onto the bar. "One Yoon Seo special, coming up!" she announced, sliding the frothy drink toward a regular customer with a flourish. She adjusted her apron and leaned against the counter, eyes sparkling with ambition. Someday, this bar wouldn't just be a paycheck; it would be hers.
"So, what's the plan tonight?" asked Hyejin, her best friend, plopping onto a barstool. Her oversized glasses reflected the chaos of the crowded bar behind them.
"You're looking at it," Yoon Seo said with a shrug. "Saving tips for my speakeasy. Unless you've got a millionaire tucked away somewhere?"
"No millionaires, but…" Hyejin's grin widened mischievously. "How about a trip to the new historical exhibit? They've got artifacts from the Goryeo Dynasty. One of them's cursed."
"Cursed? Like, actual bad-luck, horror-movie cursed?"
"More like Instagram-worthy cursed," Hyejin teased. "Come on, live a little. Drinks and destiny can wait."
With a dramatic sigh, Yoon Seo untied her apron. "Fine. But if it's boring, you're buying fried chicken."
---
The museum loomed large and imposing, its marble columns glowing under the moonlight. Yoon Seo followed Hyejin into the dimly lit exhibit hall, where glass cases displayed centuries-old artifacts. Gilded swords, lacquered scrolls, and delicate ceramics lined the room.
"Ta-da!" Hyejin stopped in front of a pedestal draped in crimson velvet. On top sat a tarnished silver goblet, its rim etched with intricate patterns. A plaque read: The Goblet of Eternal Woe.
Yoon Seo arched an eyebrow. "Someone's been watching too much Netflix."
"Legend says it grants wishes—at a price." Hyejin gestured dramatically. "Drink, and you'll trade places with a soul from the past."
"A soul from the past? Sounds like a bad ex." Yoon Seo smirked. "Watch this."
Before Hyejin could stop her, Yoon Seo grabbed the goblet and mimed a toast. "To opening my own bar!" she joked, pretending to sip. She tilted the goblet back… and froze.
Her vision blurred. The room spun. She felt weightless, like she was falling through a kaleidoscope of stars. Hyejin's scream echoed faintly as the world dissolved into darkness.
---
When Yoon Seo opened her eyes, she was sprawled on a silk floor cushion. The air smelled of incense and flowers. She blinked at the opulent room—golden screens, ornate vases, and a sea of silk drapes.
"Your Highness," a voice whispered nervously. Yoon Seo turned to see a young maid bowing low. "It's time for your morning tea ceremony."
"Morning what?" Yoon Seo croaked.
She glanced down and yelped. Gone were her jeans and T-shirt. In their place, she wore an elaborate hanbok adorned with jewels and embroidery. Her hands were pale, delicate—not hers.
"Your Highness, are you unwell?" the maid asked, eyes wide with concern.
"Where am I?" Yoon Seo whispered.
"The palace, of course."
The reality hit her like a thunderclap. This wasn't her body. This wasn't her life. Somehow, impossibly, she had become a royal… in the past.
And if the terrified expressions of the attendants were any clue, she was already breaking every rule in the book.
Yoon Seo sat frozen, her mind racing as the young maid hovered nervously nearby. The scent of incense and the rustling of silk were all too real.
"Your Highness?" the maid asked tentatively. "Shall I fetch the royal physician?"
"Uh, no! No need for that," Yoon Seo blurted, waving her hands. The sudden movement startled the maid, who stepped back as if Yoon Seo had just declared the sky green. "I mean... I'm fine. Totally fine."
The maid's brow furrowed, but she bowed obediently. "Then I shall prepare the tea ceremony as usual."
Yoon Seo suppressed a groan as she got to her feet, wobbling slightly under the weight of the elaborate hanbok. She glanced around the opulent room, her reflection in a gilded mirror catching her eye.
The face staring back wasn't hers. It was delicate, with pale skin, almond-shaped eyes, and lips that seemed perpetually pouty. She reached out to touch her face, and the reflection mimicked her every move.
"Okay, okay, don't panic," she muttered under her breath. "I'm just... borrowing a royal body. Happens all the time, right?"
The door creaked open, and an older woman swept in. She was regal, with sharp eyes and a posture that commanded respect. Yoon Seo recognized her type instantly: someone you didn't want to mess with.
"Your Highness," the woman said, her tone brisk. "You're late for the morning audience. The court awaits."
Yoon Seo blinked. "Morning audience?"
The woman's lips thinned. "Yes. Where you, as princess, greet the court and discuss matters of the kingdom. Have you forgotten your duties?"
"Of course not!" Yoon Seo lied, her mind scrambling. "I was just... mentally preparing. You know, royal stuff."
The woman raised an eyebrow but said nothing, gesturing for Yoon Seo to follow her.
---
The royal court was a sea of opulence. Nobles dressed in colorful hanboks filled the grand hall, their eyes fixed on Yoon Seo as she entered. She felt their stares like a thousand lasers burning into her skin.
The older woman—who she now suspected was some sort of royal advisor—whispered, "Your Highness, take your seat."
Yoon Seo hesitated before sinking into an ornate chair at the head of the room. It felt too big, too official, and entirely wrong. The murmurs in the court quieted as a man stepped forward to address her.
"Your Highness," he began, bowing low. "We humbly request your guidance on the land dispute in the southern province."
Yoon Seo stared blankly. "Uh... right. The southern province."
The man looked up, confused by her hesitation. "Yes, Your Highness. What is your decision?"
Decision? Yoon Seo's stomach flipped. "Um... we'll have to... think on it! Yes, let's not rush into anything."
The court exchanged puzzled glances, but no one dared question her. She exhaled in relief as the man bowed and stepped back. The royal advisor's sharp gaze, however, told her she hadn't exactly nailed it.
"Did I just give royal-level advice?" she whispered to herself. "Look at me, being all diplomatic and stuff."
The advisor's lips twitched as if suppressing a laugh, but she quickly masked it. Yoon Seo's confidence soared—for about two seconds.
---
Later, back in her chambers, Yoon Seo paced the room. "I'm so dead," she muttered. "I'm a bartender, not a princess!"
The maid returned, carrying a tray of tea. "Your Highness, shall I prepare your bath?"
"Bath? Oh, no thanks. I'll... take care of it myself."
The maid's eyes widened. "Your Highness, such tasks are beneath you."
"Oh, come on. Bathing isn't rocket science. You pour water, scrub, and rinse. Easy-peasy."
The maid looked horrified. "Scrub? Yourself?"
Yoon Seo bit back a laugh. "Okay, scratch that. How about you show me how to do the royal version?"
The maid looked skeptical but nodded. Moments later, Yoon Seo found herself sitting in a massive tub while two attendants carefully poured rose-scented water over her. She burst out laughing.
"What's so funny, Your Highness?" one of the maids asked nervously.
"Nothing, nothing! Just realizing I'm living the ultimate spa dream. You're spoiling me for life!"
As she tried to process her predicament, a new thought hit her. If she was here, then that meant...
"Oh no," she whispered. "The princess is in my body. In modern Seoul."
Her stomach sank. She had no idea what kind of chaos a Goryeo princess could cause in her world, but she was willing to bet it involved a lot of screaming.
"Hang in there, Seoul," she muttered to herself. "I'll figure this out. Somehow."