A/N~ Hey everyone! I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update! I can't believe it's been so long! This isn't very long but I'm hoping to expand it and keep updating! Anyway, enjoy!

Alanna stood in front of her mirror, nervously patting her lavender shirts and turning from side to side. She had to admit, she looked wonderful. Her fiery hair was piled elegantly on top of her head and her light lavender gown perfectly accented her glittering amethyst eyes. Her lips and cheeks were rosy and her skin looked dewy and glowing. She looked flawless, like the perfect lady. Which she was, Alanna supposed. Nervously, she patted her hair, making sure every faultless ringlet was in place. She breathed deeply, continuing to gaze at her refelction.

She'd waited for this night for seven years. She'd always dreamed of escaping this bleak, terrible place, even if it meant pretending to be the perfect lady. That was the only way she could think to get out of the convent. Once she'd charmed a lady with an unmarried son that would be it. She'd leave the convent for her husband, although her husband would never see her. There was no way she would actually be going to get married! This had been her plan for years. She'd never thought about what she would do once she was free of this convent; it would be hard enough for her to get out.

With one final glace in the mirror, Alanna swept towards the door, taking one last deep breath before walking into the corridor.

"Alanna!" Annette gasped as she entered the sitting room. "You look positively angelic!"

"Why, thank you, Annie! You look marvelous yourself." Alanna replied, smiling at the blonde, whose pale blue, silk gown looked stunning against her rosy skin and clear, blue eyes.

Annette smiled at Alanna, grabbing her hand and dragging her towards the group.
"Come on, Ladies!" Annie called cheerfully. "We don't want to be late for our prince, do we?"

"Alanna!" Claudette said cooling, swooshing past the other girls in her deep red, velvet gown. "You look wonderful!"

"You're too kind, Claudette!" Alanna replied, just as icily. "You look like…well, royalty!"

Claudette smiled. Her gleaming white teeth shown against her ruby lips. Her dark hair was curled perfectly and half up. Glittering rubies were weaved through her tresses making her look magnificent. Alanna glared at her, although she struggled to smile. Claudette looked piercingly at her, obviously envious of her beauty.

"Well, we'd best be going." Bella said quickly, avoiding a potential fight between the two rival ladies.

"Yes, that'd be wonderful." Rosie agreed, giving Claudette a look as she glided towards the doors.

With one last look at Claudette, Alanna followed the others. Rosie was waiting for her outside the door.

"Alanna," She whispered as they walked towards the dining room. "What was that all about?"

"Well, you know Claudette, Rosie!" Alanna replied scathingly. "I swear, if I wasn't a lady I would-"

"Shh!" Rosie hushed her as they entered the dining room.

Immediately, Alanna pasted on a polite smile.

She glanced around the magnificent hall. It looked even grander than usual and at each table sat about three or four older women. Many of them looked stuck up and high strung. Alanna spotted a gentle looking women sitting at a nearby table and nudged Rosie.

"Let's sit over there," She whispered. "I don't want to be anywhere near Claudette of Valponte!"

Rosie nodded, gliding over to the table and introducing herself to the ladies. They smiled at her, offering her a seat.

Alanna smiled at the ladies. "My name is Alanna of Trebond," She said politely. The lady smiled back, introducing herself as Lady Ophelia of Nixon and offered Alanna a seat.