Why am I the Princess?

I turned to Dayeon, who was nervously watching the situation unfold.

“Dayeon, can you sit over there and read your book for a bit?”
“Uh… o-okay.”

After I kicked Jihoon, Dayeon must have sensed that the situation was escalating. She nodded hesitantly and walked slowly back to her seat.

“Who… who are you?” Jihoon stammered.

I waited until Dayeon was far enough away before responding.

“Who do you think I am, you little shit?”

My face, flawless and exuding perfection, paired with the elegant outfit Kim Sun-hwa had gifted me, commanded attention. Jihoon’s eyes darted up and down, taking in my appearance.

“…No way… No way…” he muttered, shaking his head as he scrutinized me again. Then he fell silent.

“…Are you… boss?”

Hearing his familiar tone and crude speech, my eyes welled with tears. Jihoon tilted his head, still doubtful, as if my reaction didn’t make sense to him.

“Nah, can’t be,” he said dismissively.

“You little bastard… Are you trying to piss me off?”

Startled by my tone, Jihoon hesitated before carefully responding,

“W-who are you? I’ve watched the boss for years, and I’ve never seen him cry, not even when people died…”

That idiotic drawl and those crude words—it was all too familiar. Without another word, I stepped forward and punched him square in the face.

“Ugh!” Jihoon groaned, clutching his nose.

“You piece of shit,” I muttered, my frustration boiling over.

I didn’t stop there. I started pounding on Jihoon, my fists landing one after another.

From across the room, Dayeon screamed and rushed over.

“Eek! Si-yoon-ah, stop!!!”

“Die so I can live, you bastard!” I yelled, raising my fist for another blow.

“Boss!!!” Jihoon shouted, his swollen face buried in his hands as he clung to my legs, begging for mercy.

“What do I do…?” Dayeon whimpered helplessly.

That’s when the young teacher noticed us. Her eyes widened in horror, and she sprinted over.

“Kim Si-yoon!!!”

Some time later, the principal entered the room.

“What on earth is going on here?!”

She looked between me, sitting calmly with my hands folded neatly in my lap, and Jihoon, whose face was bruised and swollen as he sat receiving first aid.

“Oh my goodness…”

The principal crouched in front of me, catching her breath. Judging by her disheveled appearance, she had rushed here after hearing from the young teacher.

“Si-yoon, did you do this?”

“Yes,” the teacher answered for me before I could.

The principal turned her attention to me, her voice calm but firm.

“Why did you do it?”

“He sexually harassed me,” I said without hesitation.
“…What?”

“And he insulted me, saying I don’t even have a mom.”

“…!”

Jihoon’s face turned pale as the words hit him. His jaw hung open in shock, disbelief clear on his face.

The principal’s expression grew grim as she processed the accusation. She turned to Jihoon, her voice low and steady.

“Jihoon… did you really do that?”

Jihoon’s eyes darted toward me, panic flickering across his face. My cold, unwavering stare locked onto him. His lips trembled as he finally muttered,

“…Y-yes.”

The principal let out a deep sigh, the weight of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders. She turned to the young teacher, who was visibly shaken.

“Call Jihoon’s parents immediately.”

It wasn’t long before Dad and Jihoon’s mother arrived.

“Oh my goodness! What happened?!” Jihoon’s mother exclaimed as she rushed over to her son, her face pale with worry.

Dad quickly assessed the situation and immediately began apologizing.

“I’m so sorry…”

But Jihoon’s mother, surprisingly calm, responded with grace.

“No, no… From what I’ve heard, it seems Jihoon was in the wrong. I should be the one apologizing.”
“What? No! This is entirely my fault. I must have failed to teach my daughter properly.”
“Oh, please don’t say that. It’s my fault for not raising Jihoon better. He has such a foul mouth… Si-yoon must have had a hard time holding back.”

I had never caused any trouble at preschool before. If anything, I’d always been the one entertaining the younger kids, keeping things peaceful.

But Dad was clearly furious, staring at me with an expression I’d never seen before.

“I need to have a word with Si-yoon,” he said firmly.

I turned to the principal with pleading eyes, silently begging her to intervene. She remained silent. I had no allies here.

“Wouldn’t it be better to resolve this here?” the principal suggested cautiously.
“Kim Si-yoon.”

“Yes.”
“Come with me.”

I decided to play my trump card.

“…Hug me.”

Dad gave me an exasperated look, his shoulders stiffening as though he couldn’t believe I’d pull this move. Without saying another word, I lowered my head and followed him out.

“Si-yoon…”

I avoided his gaze.

“Look at me.”
“…Okay.”
“No matter how angry you are… how could you hit someone?”
“…I’m sorry.”

Dad gently took my hands, inspecting them. For a child, throwing punches usually resulted in scraped or bruised skin, but my hands were unscathed.

“…Your phone is confiscated for a month.”
“…What?”

Dad grabbed my hands like he was cuffing me and pulled my phone out of my pocket.

“When we get home, you’re going to kneel and hold your hands up for 30 minutes.”
“…Okay.”

I extended my arms slightly, a gesture that silently begged for a hug, but Dad ignored me entirely, his expression unyielding.

“Until you’ve finished your punishment, I won’t do anything for you.”
“…Fine.”

After the incident, I was sent home early.

During the car ride, Dad didn’t say a single word. The silence was suffocating.

In my seven years of life, I had never experienced this side of him, and the weight of my actions began to sink in. I sat quietly, staring out of the window at the passing scenery.

When we arrived home, Dad didn’t even bother changing out of his clothes before sitting down in the living room.

“Kneel and hold your hands up,” he instructed.
“…Okay.”

I moved to a corner, knelt down, and raised my arms.

Ha… Shit…

Exactly 30 minutes later, Dad called me over.

“Sit down, Si-yoon.”

“…Okay.”

“Do you understand why you were punished?”

Feigning exhaustion, I acted as though my arms and legs ached from the punishment and responded half-heartedly.