[i]Your Highness.[/i] That was going to be a phrase she’d have a difficult time adjusting to. She gazed at him from behind and it wasn’t until he got further away that it registered that she needed to follow him. “Oh!” She said to herself as she kicked her feet into gear and hurried after him. Boy she looked like a fool staring at the captain of the royal guard. 

Talk about feeling out of place! She didn’t look like she belonged there and something told her that Sir Dalton agreed. Her coffee girl outfit looked nothing like the beautiful nobles and bureaucrats which made it even more awkward when Sir Dalton would introduce her as princess. Her attempt to respond to the bows and curtsies were met with a clumsy rendition of her own. And every now and then she could have sworn she saw Sit Dalton’s eyes roll. 

Running her fingers through her strawberry brown hair, her big blue eyes stared at the ground under their feet as she walked a few steps behind Sir Dalton through the corridor. He probably should she was a buffoon who didn’t know didn’t know a thing about being poise and elegance. To that he was right, however she was chosen for this position; despite the fact that he friends added her name in as a joke, and she was going to make herself be the best princess she could be! Her mind was so focused, so determined that she nearly colliding into him when he came to a stop. Stumbling back from the large man, she put a respectable distance behind the two of them and didn’t look away as he spoke.

Straightening up as he bowed to her she spoke in as much of a serious voice as she could muster. “Thank you Sir Dalton.” With that she nodded her head to him and opened the door to her room. All of her seriousness vanished and a loud “Whoa!” could be heard throughout the corridor. So much for ‘poise’ and ‘elegance’.

“Sir Dalton.” Sir Albert said as he rounded the corner and found him walking. Holding his hand out, he stopped the man from continuing the walk. “I know this must be hard on you…” His voice sounded anything but sincere, as a matter of fact, he seemed to chuckle. “This seems like more of a demotion than anything else for you. However I come baring more news for you. As the best horse rider in the kingdom, you will be in charge of the ride lessons along with you normal duties.” A smirk rose the corners of his lips as he walked away from Sir Dalton but called back, “See you at the banquet Sir Dalton.”  With that he knocked on the door and let himself into once invited to. 

After a long conversation with Sir Albert, a handful of maids and a massive amount of dress choices, Melanie emerged looking very different. Her hair was up in curls and a bun, her makeup was done flawlessly and her body was wrapped in a poofy white dress with blue lace wrapped around the top portion of her body. Looking at herself in the mirror she seemed almost shocked. Was this… really her? Her small hands danced along the fabric feeling the silk against her smooth skin “Wow…” At that she turned her attention back to the mirror and lifted the skirting of the dress and practiced her proper curtsy. Sir Albert had given her some instructions and education before he left to complete his duties for the banquet. 

Taking in a few deep breaths he let out a long sigh and hung her head. “What am I doing? Why am I here?”