The first sensation was light. Warm and golden, it seeped through her closed eyelids, promising comfort and repose. Kim Bok-hee made a lazy attempt to stretch and met an insurmountable obstacle. She opened her eyes.

  Right in front of her, in blurry focus, were two chubby hands with tiny fingers. Her hands. And high, high above them stretched a lavish ceiling, adorned with stucco and gold leaf, from the center of which hung a crystal chandelier shimmering in all the colors of the rainbow.

  Well… the thought drifted through her mind with absolute calm. It seems my retirement fund pulled off an incredible coup. This is certainly an upgrade from my studio apartment with a view of a construction site. Yes, these ceilings definitely won't be crushing my spirit.

  She slowly turned her head, and the world glided past her in a smooth panorama. She was lying in something like a crib with tall, gracefully curved golden bars. Beyond them stretched an enormous, sun-drenched room: silk draperies on high windows, polished parquet flooring, a soft rug, and delicate furniture.

  Oh my, she thought, examining the chairs with curved legs and gilding. This is just like those K-dramas about European princesses. Looks like I didn’t just travel back in time; I landed straight in a historical drama. Excellent!

  Ah, and here’s the crib, she concluded matter-of-factly. Safety first, of course. But I hope the local ‘security’ passed a rigorous screening process. Based on their looks, naturally.

  Aware of her new, miniature condition, she decided to run a diagnostic test. Concentrating, she deployed the full extent of her motherly experience.

  Right, let’s try to speak.

  "A-GOO! GAH!" burst from her mouth. The sound was thin and utterly meaningless.

  Babble, she noted with satisfaction. Just the beginning. My lazy son just ‘mooed’ until he was two. I have a chance to overtake him in development! Heh, that will be a sight.

  Suddenly, the room door silently opened, and two young women in servant’s dresses entered. Seeing her, they blossomed into gentle, sincere smiles and performed a deep, synchronized curtsy.

  "Your Highness, are you awake already?" one cooed.

  "It seems Her Highness slept beautifully!" the other echoed.

  Your Highness? Me? What in the world is going on?

  Before she could process this staggering information, one of the maids—a pleasant blonde with kind eyes—approached the crib. Her gentle but practiced hands carefully lifted the small body and held it close.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Such sweet girls, Bok-hee thought, curiously examining the maid. Working hard, trying their best... I should arrange a bonus for them later. Well, that’s all fine, but where’s the male staff? Young, tall... for heavy lifting, of course. Like lifting me.

  The maid, rocking her gently, smiled and offered her a small wooden horse on wheels.

  "Look, Your Highness! A horsey!"

  Oh, a horsey! A classic, the Princess mentally approved. Very useful for developing fine motor skills and for my new, young brain. Well, let’s get this finger training started!

  She focused, sending a mental impulse to her plump little hand. Her fingers twitched, and the whole arm moved slowly but purposefully toward the toy. She saw the target, she calculated the trajectory… and with a resounding fiasco, she missed, helplessly jabbing her finger into the air right next to the horse.

  Not a shadow of frustration crossed her baby face—only thoughtfulness and a slight smirk.

  Okay, just as expected. The ‘brain-hand’ connection is currently running on 1990s dial-up internet. No matter. Consistency is key! Perseverance pays off. I learned that from raising my grandkids… Wait. I never had grandkids.

  The thought stung her with an almost imperceptible sadness for a second, but it immediately dissolved in the rush of new impressions. The maid carried her to an enormous mirror in a gilded frame.

  Staring back from the depths of the glass was a charming infant in a lace gown. Plump cheeks, huge dark-gray eyes, in which, if one looked closely, shone the wisdom of years lived and the mischievous anticipation of a long, entertaining holiday.

  In that moment, all the puzzle pieces clicked into one simple, delightful conclusion.

  Time for a summary. I died old. I woke up young, healthy, and, judging by the surroundings, a fabulously wealthy Princess. I’ve put in my time! I raised a son, survived all those ridiculous meetings, and even the advent of the internet... I deserve this vacation! And it’s going to be the best in history! With beautiful dresses, delicious food, and, of course... blackjack and handsome dukes! I hereby declare my Royal Retirement Plan open!

  No sooner had she reached this conclusion than the tall double doors of the room swung open. The maids instantly bowed low. The royal couple entered the room.

  The man was tall and stately, with raven-wing hair and piercing gray eyes. A clearly defined jawline, a stern yet handsome profile. He was dressed in a military uniform that fit him impeccably.

  Whoa! Now that’s genetics! the former Kim Bok-hee mentally whistled. A solid ten. Absolutely nothing to critique. Director-level hottie in the deluxe package.

  Walking beside him was a woman of dazzling beauty. She had light hair styled into a high updo and eyes of an unusual, warm amber color. Her figure was refined, and her movements were fluid and graceful.

  The woman approached first, her face lighting up with a tender smile.

  "Our sleepy angel is awake! Alaric, my dear, look," she cooed, bending over the infant in the maid's arms. "Our little Amelia! She has your eyes entirely."

  King Alaric stepped closer. His severe face softened as he looked at his daughter.

  "And the hair. Dark, like all Blackwoods. Our Damian is a blonde rascal; he takes after you."

  Queen Isolde gently touched her daughter's cheek.

  "Our perfect balance."

  The King looked at his wife, and the shadow of a smile flickered in his stern gray eyes.

  "You are right, as always, Isolde."

  Amelia watched her new parents, shifting her gaze from one to the other and rapidly processing the information.

  So, I am Princess Amelia Blackwood. Daughter of King Alaric and Queen Isolde. I also have an older blonde brother, Damian… she mentally organized everything. It has a nice ring to it. Almost as good as 'Senior Manager Kim Bok-hee.' Except the pay looks better.