Vala Mal Doran was not used to finery, well not that fine, not like the china that the palace staff used.
It was enough to make her cry, if only that stupid boy her mother tried to marry her to could see her now. It was also enough to make her fingers ache from trying not to steal any of it.
A girl took a seat near her and offered a small smile.
Vala recognized her, Samantha Carter from Dakota. A Four, she was surprised the girl even noticed Vala's existence.
Suddenly everyone in the room stood up, Vala hastily followed and she soon realized the reason for the spectacle. King Lionel and Queen Fiona entered followed by Prince Daniel and his sister, Princess Zara.
Vala barely spared the other Royals another glance, her gaze was riveted on the prince. He was, well, he was very nice looking. His hair was light brown, he had bluish-gray eyes, he looked like he was quite muscular, and the glasses perched on the tip of his nose gave an intellectual look about him.
Vala was smitten, she grinned.
The meal was insufferably long and tedious, but Vala waited patiently. Despite the fact that she didn't want leave the prince in a den of wolves, she decided to go to bed once the king retired.
Vala was escorted back to her room where her maids were waiting. All three dropped quick curtsies.
Vala lifted an eyebrow. "And you are?"
The tallest maid stepped forward. "Janice, miss. Those two are Linda and Susan."
The other maids could've passed for twins, Susan explained that they were, in fact, twins.
"Yes, well. I intend to take a nice long bath. That is allowed, right?" Vala said.
The maids bobbed their heads and insisted on helping Vala with everything which was annoyingly different than her house, where one might be lucky to even get a shower, not be waited on hand and foot.
After her bath, Vala climbed into bed in her luxurious new pajamas and fell instantly asleep.
The next morning she was instructed to join the queen and the other girls for breakfast before lessons. After that would be their first one-on-one with the prince.
By the time breakfast was over, Vala was positively giddy, an odd emotion for her. Vala didn't get nervous like other girls, she always had a cool head, but dangle a good looking prince in front of her and she would get an instant crush.
Lessons consisted of Illèa's royal family history and diplomatic relations with foreign countries. Vala hated school and sitting there for hours listening to someone drone on and on about this person or that was mind numbing.
Eventually lessons were over. The woman who had been teaching them told the roomful of anxious girls to wait until the prince called them. Actually it was a servant that called them, but what did it matter?
Vala counted the number of girls who went in front of her and how many didn't return.
"Boring, isn't it?" Samantha Carter said.
Vala jumped. "Wh-what?"
Samantha smiled. "It's boring, waiting around like this."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
"I'm Samantha Carter, by the way. Most people call me Sam, though."
"Vala Mal Doran. But most people call me Vala."
Sam grinned. "So, Vala, how'd you end up with the accent?"
"My mother always had it, never knew how, when or where down the family tree it appeared, but it did." Vala answered.
"Miss Vala Mal Doran?"
Vala jumped at the sound of her name.
Sam gave her a little nudge and smiled encouragingly.
Vala took a deep breath and walked out to meet the prince.
