Shadowing Practice: The Lazy Princess Story | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales - Learn English Speaking with Video
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The Lazy Princess In the bustling kingdom of Rodantia, every corner buzzed with life and duty.
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For their rulers were good and hard-working people.
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However, one figure stood, or rather reclined, apart.
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Princess Allara.
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Your Highness, the sun's been up for hours!
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Well, someone should have told it.
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I wasn't ready.
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Ugh, silly belly.
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Why can't it feed itself?
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Princess Allara was infamous for a peculiar talent.
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My royal awakening.
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Her ability to do absolutely nothing.
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Ugh, I guess that's my workout for the day.
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She wouldn't lift a finger.
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Literally.
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Well...
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Hmm, oh, forgive her, your highness.
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She's new new.
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Uh, newbies, I needed you to ring the bell.
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It's too heavy for me.
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Of course, your highness.
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At the bell's call, a weary butler appeared.
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Now the dining hall was merely ten steps away,
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but the princess, being incredibly slothful, refused to move on her own.
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She was placed down carefully at the dining table.
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Is that a new seat?
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Yeah, she said, oof, sitting hurts her back.
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Ow, there goes my back.
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Breakfast was an equally challenging thing for her,
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starting from the dietary decisions she made to consuming it.
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Why can't you just eat it normally, Alara?
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Biting is such a task.
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Of course the apple was turned to a pulp.
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And of course she was fed.
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If only my mouth could chew for me.
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Her lethargy extended into her royal duties.
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Alara!
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Alara!
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Yes, mom.
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Have you seen to the documents I gave you?
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Alara twitched her fingers and a maid retrieved a package from under the pillow.
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This hasn't been opened.
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I can't see to something when my eyes are always closed.
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Why are they closed?
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I'm resting...
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Can't you see that?
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Her laziness was so profound, it was practically an art form.
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Will, uh, the princess be joining us?
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Huh!
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Ilarra, you were supposed to be at the meeting.
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Wha?
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What's this?
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My royal recliner.
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You said I needed to...
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Oooooohhhhhh...
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Be outside more.
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I meant take walks.
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My feet are far too precious.
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I'm a leader.
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Leader, you've got your cat running the kingdom.
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She's very capable.
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She doesn't interrupt my...
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naps.
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Her laziness brought a terrible strain to the kingdom.
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Maids complained of exhaustion, and courtiers avoided her chambers for fear of being roped into some ludicrous task.
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She's impossible!
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We tried reasoning, bribing, threatening.
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Nothing works!
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Sometimes I wonder if she's really ours!
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We need something drastic.
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We need Mirabelle.
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Mirabelle was a wise enchantress, known for her unique methods, and she had heard plenty about Ellara.
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She's a lovely girl.
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Really?
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Well, maybe when she's not napping.
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She's always napping.
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Please, Mirabelle.
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We need your help.
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She glanced into her cauldron.
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Alara's image appeared, napping in the garden.
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Ugh, faster!
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My legs in the sun!
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Lift it into the shade!
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You're right!
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She is lovely!
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You will be able to help her, right?
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Ho, ho, ho! With pleasure!
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The next morning dawned, but this was no ordinary morning for Alara.
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Why are the windows open?
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I opened them.
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She blinked at the golden broom floating before her.
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Good morning, princess.
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Oh, it's just a dream.
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Ha ha, silly Alara.
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This isn't a dream.
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It's real life.
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No, the sun.
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I'll just call someone to take you away hmm Mind ringing it for me Goodness you're worse than I thought anyway.
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No one's gonna come your staffs all gone poof
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What do you mean? poof You see I'm a golden broom of change you need change,
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but for that all your staff had to go Go where?
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I'm going to turn you into the most active, selfless, and hardworking person there ever was.
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Alara, slightly worried, now stirred a little.
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Oh, by the way, your staff won't return unless you complete three tasks, meaning you'll have to do everything yourself.
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Everything?
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Forever.
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Forever.
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The thought of having no one to wait on her filled her with dread.
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What kind of tasks?
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Oh, well, you're kidding.
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Alara's first task was to clean the entire Grand Hall.
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Thick layers of dust covered the floors and cobwebs clung to the chandeliers.
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I can't do this.
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You can't cook either your staff back better start scrubbing all our worked
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but did so half-heartedly she swept the piles of dust under the carpet and tried to blow at the floor
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um what are you doing dusting the floor my wrists are tired and my back hurts Poor Princess Alara,
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bravely battling the dust bunnies of Verdantia.
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Rude.
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Remember, no task, no staff.
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Now scrub properly.
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Alara grumbled bitterly, but after a while, she started to get the hang of cleaning.
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Oh, how pretty.
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I've never seen this.
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Because the floor's for dancing, and you don't dance.
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She tried polishing a mirror, and on noticing her reflection, she laughed surprisingly.
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Finally, the floors gleamed, and the chandeliers sparkled.
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You did great!
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Well, it doesn't look half bad.
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Admit it.
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It feels good to see the results of your hard work, doesn't it?
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Hmm, I still hate sweeping.
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Fair enough.
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Here's a reward.
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Ooh.
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You're going to need the energy for the next task.
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Ooh.
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The golden broom led Princess Alara to the palace gardens.
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The once vibrant garden was now an overrun maze of weeds and wilting plants.
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Behold, your second task.
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I'm supposed to garden?
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Suddenly, Alara spotted a garden bench.
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Ooh, a space where I can plant myself.
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But she'd hardly closed her eyes when a spray of water startled her.
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Ooh, ooh, who would dare?
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Hi, Princess.
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I'm the Water Bucket, here to help you discover the wonders of gardening.
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That's your assistant for this task.
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Isn't it a delightful day for digging up weeds and nurturing nature?
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Why are you so loud?
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Grab a trowel, and if you slack off, you'll get refreshing encouragement.
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You wouldn't dare.
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Oh, oh no. Okay, fine.
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The next few hours were unbearable for Alara.
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Pull those weeds.
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Mind the roots.
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Don't yank out the tulips.
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Don't yank tulips.
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They're all wilted anyway.
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Hey!
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You should have watered them earlier.
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Alara soon turned to her dramatic excuses.
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Hmm.
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Oh, it's too strong.
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Clearly enchanted.
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But the Chatterbox bucket promptly poured water on the ground.
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There.
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Try now.
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I'm saying it's enchant- Ow!
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Ew!
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There's all mud on me.
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Oh, oh, why?
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Why?
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You're crushing a daisy!
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Eventually, despite her antics, as Allara tugged at weeds and watered the plants, the garden began to transform.
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Hmm?
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Look!
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She was greatly surprised at the fluttering butterflies and birds that chirped from branches, now clear of vines.
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You've breathed life into your garden.
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You see, effort has its rewards.
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The only reward I want is a long, uninterrupted nap.
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Though she wouldn't admit it, Alara felt a spark of pride.
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For the first time, she wasn't just lounging at Miss Beauty.
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She had helped create it.
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Well, princess, two tasks down Please don't make the last one too hard Easiest of them all Organize the harvest feast
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Alara's draw dropped mid-yawn Organize an entire feast?
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Alone?
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Well, I guess you've earned a little magic The golden broom used its magic and to Alara's shock,
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the pots and pans, ladders and tools came alive.
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Here's some help.
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They're alive and ready to serve.
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Magic that does all the work for me?
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Finally!
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Not so fast.
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They're only brawn, no brains.
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Be specific with your orders.
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Please, I've been ordering people around since I could talk.
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Allara was eager to be done quickly and decided to take a genius shortcut.
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To the kitchen.
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Make something easy.
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To the decorations, make the hall, I don't know, shiny.
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And to the band, play some upbeat tunes.
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Having delegated these vague instructions, Alara turned towards her bedroom.
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Ooh, I'm off from my well-deserved nap.
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Hmm.
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Hours passed and Alara was awakened by a terrible noise.
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Oh, uh, what's, what's that noise?
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She went down and was greeted with chaos.
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The banquet hall stank of stewed cabbage, the ceiling glimmered with pots and pans, and the instruments played a terrible barnyard jig.
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Is this an art installation?
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Ugh, boiled cabbage?
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What's happening?
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Your vague orders, princess.
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No, this isn't what I meant.
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Please, I'm sorry.
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Help me fix it.
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Moved by her sincerity, the broom cast a spell and everyone fell asleep.
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They shall awaken upon your task completion.
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Go.
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Humbled by her disaster, Alara finally took charge, not just with commands, but with care.
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She directed the kitchen to prepare roasted meats, fresh bread, and pastries.
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She supervised the decoration and had garlands and bows hung about.
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And the instruments were coached on a lively, but harmonious tune.
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As the feast came together, the hall blossomed into a vibrant harvest feast.
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The guests awoke, shocked.
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Weren't there cabbages?
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Was I dreaming?
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Oh, this is delicious!
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Everyone laughed and enjoyed the feast, and Allara felt pride in her effort.
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Well, Princess, your tasks are complete.
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So as I promised, home!
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At that moment, Alara's family and staff returned.
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What was I doing?
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Hey, who organized a feast?
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Um, I did, with a bit of help.
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Everyone was stunned by this revelation.
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They admired the decorations and lively atmosphere.
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It's wonderful, Alara.
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Well done, princess.
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You've proven this more to you, nap queen.
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Mirabelle, you did it!
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I merely set the stage.
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She did everything herself.
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Next time, maybe stage something with less dust and fewer talking buckets pockets.
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Remember, Princess, a kingdom is only as bright as the effort its rulers put in.
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Goodbye.
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And so, Princess Allara learned to balance relaxation with effort, bringing joy and laughter to her kingdom.
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Verdantia flourished, and her people adored her.
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But now and then, she'd get a reminder that effort is always worth it.
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What You'll Learn from "The Lazy Princess" Story
This charming tale is a goldmine for building practical speaking skills. First, you’ll practice casual conversational responses—like Princess Allara’s lazy retorts (“Well, someone should have told it”)—which are key for everyday chats. Second, you’ll learn to express complaints politely (e.g., “Biting is such a task”), a useful skill for navigating social situations. Finally, the dialogue helps you master natural pauses and hesitations (heard in the butler’s “Uh, newbies, I needed you to ring the bell”), making your speech sound less scripted and more authentic. Perfect for anyone using a shadowing site to practice real-life language!
Listen For These Sounds: Connected Speech & Reductions
The video is full of subtle sound changes that native speakers use. Notice how “Why can’t it feed itself?” becomes “Why can’t it feed itself?” with a soft “t” in “can’t” that almost disappears. Also, “I guess that’s my workout” links “that’s my” into “that’s my” with a smooth transition, not a hard stop. Listen for “It’s too heavy for me” where “for me” reduces to “fer me” in fast speech. These details are crucial for improving English pronunciation—catch them, and you’ll sound more like a local.
Say It Like a Native: Rhythm and Stress
To mirror the speaker’s rhythm, focus on stress. In “Princess Allara was infamous for a peculiar talent,” the stress falls on “Princess,” “infamous,” and “peculiar”—these words stand out, while others are shorter. Notice how the maid’s “Of course, your highness” has a rising intonation on “highness,” showing deference. Practice shadowing these lines using a shadow speak technique: repeat the audio immediately after, matching the speed and stress. It’s a great way to learn English with YouTube, as you can pause and replay until you get the flow right. Remember, rhythm isn’t just about speed—it’s about which words you emphasize.
Whether you’re using shadowspeaks or just replaying the video, this story makes learning fun and functional. Dive in, notice the details, and watch your speaking skills grow!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was placed · was turned · was fed |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | sun's been · Have you seen · hasn't been opened |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | wasn't just lounging · Was I dreaming · was I doing |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | Mind ringing · start scrubbing · hate sweeping |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.