Leonarda Natele Gambetto Ruan sat, along with all the other novicias, saying their morning prayers. It was always so, here, in the convent. Even though she never felt any religious vocation, her father had said that she must become a nun. She had no other choice. It was not that she found life in the convent intolerable, or even unpleasant, it was more that she had no say in it. That was all. She would be content to wake up at the crack of dawn every morning, bathe in cold water, say her prayers, and live among the other nuns. She had her own maid, whom she had brought with her, and could spend her days in her cell, praying, reading, sewing, or painting. Of all the things, it was the cold water that bothered her most. She did not mind, dressing in an habito, but she did miss going out on the street and looking at the beautiful dresses that the other women in Venice wore. She sighed as she rose, and walked out of the capilla, and into the convent gardens.
They were well kept. Well, what did you expect, she asked herself. Definitely more orderly, than back at her father's palazzo, overlooking the canal. What good was the canal if you could never swim in it, anyway? She walked back to her cell, where she took up her brushes, paints, and began to work on a painting of a cat overlooking the sea. She had seen many, overlooking the canal, and she had always liked the sight of a cat, staring at the water, it's eyes reflected in the water. Her maid walked in.
"Are all my clothes washed?"she asked. "Have you seen to it?"
"Yes. This letter arrived for you, mistress Leonarda."
Leonarda nodded, and took the letter.
"Put the paints away, and wash the brushes. I shall not paint for a while."she said, as she sat down to read the letter. She sighed.
"Well, it looks like Mother is dying. She demands my presence at the palazzo at once. However, it looks like Father says that I will have to return here afterwards. He makes it quite clear."she said.
"We are returning to your Father's palazzo?"asked her maid.
"Why, yes, it looks like it."she said. "I don't really want to leave here, though. I may not have come willingly, but I got used to it. I prefer to stay here, instead of going back. After all, here, I at least have peace. I must say a few Rosaries for Mother's recovery."
"The Mother Superior commanded that you see her, as soon as you read the letter."
"Very well."she said, and walked out of her cell.
"I hear that your father demands that you visit. I have heard that your mother is ill."
"Yes, Reverenda Madre."said Leonarda.
"Your father will send you back here afterwards?"she asked.
"Yes."
"Very well, you must go to your mother now. We shall all pray that she makes a full recovery."
"Thank you, Reverenda Madre."said Leonarda
Leonarda rose to leave, and to prepare her things for the journey. It would be long journey, and by boat. She sighed. She remembered how long and how uncomfortable she had been coming from Venice, La Serenissima, to the convent. And then she would have to make the journey again, back to La Serenissima, and then to the convent.
Princess Jasmine, sat on her divan, looking at the night sky, though her window. From what the vizier had told her, he had already been executed. Her father had not been happy with Jafar, and now commanded that the sentencing of prisoners be discussed with him personally. As if that would change anything! He was already dead. And it had all been her fault. Why? He was the only man she would ever, ever love, she was sure of that…and now, now, he was dead. Why did she have to be born a princess of the blood? She would have been much happier being one of the other concubines, in the Harem. They wouldn't have to choose a husband, while she had to be married off to a prince. If only she could choose. If it didn't have to be a prince. She knew who she would choose. But she couldn't marry him now. He was dead. She didn't really care anymore now. She decided she would simply accept the next suitor who called. It made no difference, after all.
They had been only at sea only two weeks.
"How much longer do you suppose this journey will take?"asked Leonarda.
"About another week, lady."one of the officers told her.
Leonarda nodded. Well, it was to be expected. At least it's just a week. Every second that passes by, the journey grows shorter, hopefully. Suddenly, there was an alarm on the ship.
"What has happened?"she asked, but no one would tell her anything.
By evening, the ship had been captured.
Having just released the Genie from the lamp, and now wondering what his three wishes would be, after Genie had asked him what he wanted most, Aladdin thought of the girl whom he had rescued at the marketplace from the shopkeeper, and how she had turned out to be the princess. He knew just what he would wish for. He wished to become a prince.
Novicia a girl who barely entered the convent, not a nun yet, not Sor or Hermana
Habito what nuns and priests wear
Capilla a church
Palazzo this one's Italian, I think it means palace or house
Reverenda Madre title used to address the Mother Superior
La Serenissima as Venice was known to its inhabitants.