Annabeth went down the familiar corridors leading to the Beauty Room. She'd been there many time. To help the stylists not to get styled herself! But how much could it differ really? Very much.

She had been told that she had to wear a white collared shirt and black pants. That was what all Selected were supposed to wear before their make over.

Annabeth wore the same. The shirt was one of her elder brother, Malcolm's old ones, three sizes bigger than her. Her pants were a pair of old back leggings, which one belonged to her dead mother. There was a small hole behind the knees but no one was likely to notice it.

As Annabeth was about to enter the Beauty Room, someone punched past her.

"Hey!" Annabeth protested as she was pushed to the door. The person, a girl, a very attractive girl with midnight black hair and milk white skin looked back at her and sneered.

Drew Tanaka. Annabeth thought. Shed seen her picture on the Report a the day before yesterday, when Percy was announcing the Selected girls.

Drew was wearing tight black jeans and a white collared button down. The shirt was a size too small for her and made her breasts pop up in an extremely vulgar manner. The Royal Etiquettes teacher would disapprove.

"Don't you dare talk to me, you filth!" Tanaka spat before turning on her heels and marched away.

Annabeth scowled and glared at her retreating back.

"Lady Annabeth?"

Her head snapped towards the voice. Never in her 24 years of life, had she been addressed as 'Lady'.

It was a maid with blonde hair and brown eyes.

"Sarah!" I exclaimed. "From when did you start calling be Lady Annabeth?"

"Since you became a Selected." Sarah relied dropping her voice as well as her formalities. "Now follow me. David is giving you your make over."

"Oh thank Gods." David Kent was one of the few stylists who did not like to cake your face with make up. He kind of believed in natural beauty.

"Well hello there Lady Annabeth." David teased as they reached her beauty station, which were just beside the bathrooms (No surprise. She was the lowest caste among the 35 girls). "How are you this fine morning?" David said using his rehearsed lines.

Annabeth rolled her eyes and replied with, "Oh shut up."

The stylist smiled at her before gesturing her to the bathroom.

Well what happened next was complete torture.

Annabeth was scrubbed from head to toe extremely fiercely in the shower. Her hair was shampooed and conditioned. After that her nails were manicured and painted a light peach. After getting her eyebrows done, every inch of her body was waxed, even her neck. Then she was smothered in lotions smelling like chocolates. They were actually going to use vanilla, claiming it was Percy's favourite flavour. But they switched when Annabeth corrected them.

"We don't do all this when we're getting someone ready for the Report!" Annabeth said once she was wrapped in a robe, hair being blow dried, sitting in front of the mirror.

"Well, we work on nobles who don't have hairy bodies and an inch of dirt covering their skin." Alice replied, switching off the blow drier.

"So. Annabeth." David said. "Which look are you going for? Cute, gorgeous, beautiful, sexy? I'd suggest natural."

"Natural it is then." Annabeth replied.

David smile and started to work on her makeup. He didn't use much, which she was grateful for. He'd just finished her lipstick when the sound of high heels clicking on floor came from their left.

It was Miss Aphrodite, the Head Stylistic.

"Mr. Kent." She said, not even looking at David, examining Annabeth. "Going by your usual style I see."

"She insisted, Miss." He replied.

Aphrodite scowled and said, "Well in the that case you're lucky to get someone with decent natural beauty." She jerked her head towards Nancy Bobofit across the room, her stylist desperately trying to control her orange hair.

Annabeth forced a smile on but Aphrodite took no notice to it.

"Do something with her hair though." She continued. "It looks ridiculous."

David nodded and the H.S. stalked off.

After about two more hours, Annabeth was finally ready.

Her crew had put in a comfortable white off the shoulder dress, which reached up to just above her knees. The shoes were thankfully not heels, like most of the other girls. They were plain, pointy flats.

Her hair was what changed the most. It was no longer curly and bouncy. It was straightened so that it lay limply. It looked longer like this. Two thin braids started from the middle and tied back into a loose pony tail with rest of her hair. Definitely not Annabeth-y.

"Lady Annabeth?"

She turned my head towards the entrance from where a blue haired maid, she didn't know had called her.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Your father is here to see you?"

"Dad?!" The blonde exclaimed before dashing out of the B.R.

Outside was a tall, frail looking man with thinning honey blonde hair and clear blue eyes, shining with intelligence. Frederick Chase. Annabeth's father.

"Hey little owl." His voice was weak and soft. "You look so pretty!"

"Dad!" Annabeth cried and flung her arms around the man.

He chuckled and hugged his daughter back. He had not seen her in about five months.

He hadn't been able to visit as his Master, Sir Montez, hadn't given him a leave. But when she was announced to be a Selected, the kind Mistress had given him a day off.

"Really, Little Owl, you nearly gave me a heart attack! I was serving tea in the Parlour when I heard your name on the screen. Nearly destroyed Sir's house coat!"

Annabeth laughed and hugged him again.

Frederick pulled away and her his daughter by her shoulders.

"Don't you worry Little Owl. I'll beat the Prince to pulp if he dares to hurt my little baby."

"I can do that myself." Annabeth said before letting a soft giggle escape her glossed lips. Then turned serious.

"I'll buy your freedom, Daddy." She said. "I'll free you with the money I'll get."

Frederick had been a slave all his life, making his daughter one too. Both of them had been bought by Sir Victor Montez, when Annabeth was two years old, and her mother had just died. After two more years, Annabeth was sold to the Palace, at the young age of four.

As slaves, none of them got any wage, so couldn't buy their freedom. Percy had tried to help numerous times, but Annabeth had declined, not wanting to be in debt to him. But now, with the money provided to every Selected, Annabeth might be able to buy her father's freedom.

"No." Frederick shook his head. "Not mine. Buy Bobby and Mathew's. They are kinds. They deserve a life."

Annabeth's heart clenched. Bobby and Mathew. Her little brothers. Although she didn't like her step mother, Helen, Annabeth loved her brothers. They must be so grown up now.

When Annabeth was three, her dad had married a woman called Helen, with whom, he had twins. After remarrying, her father paid more attention to his new family and nearly forgot about his daughter. When she was sold, then did he realise his mistake, and would spend every free day with her. He sometimes brought along the boys, who loved to spend time their sister.

"Maybe I can buy everyone of our freedom." She suggested, knowing it was impossible.

Frederick smiled sadly and said, "Maybe."

After a beat of silence, Frederick said, "I've got something for you." He fished out a little gray box out of the pocket of his ratty, patched up coat.

He removed the lid to reveal a pair of small, silver owl earnings. They were a bit blackish, signifying that the were old. Annabeth gasped.

"Daddy, it could get you your freedom! Why didn't you–"

Frederick cut his daughter off. "These belonged to your mother. Used to be very special to her. Her Dad gifted them to her on her 18th birthday. I couldn't just give them away to anyone! These are your now."

He was a little teary when he finished. Annabeth's eyes were wet too when she took the box from her father. Her mother was a topic Frederick avoided.

"These are beautiful." She whispered.

"I know. Take care of them, Little Owl."

"I will."

They stood in comfortable silence for a while before the old man said, "You should probably go inside."

Annabeth wiped her eyes, careful not to damage the lite make-up and nodded.

She hugged her father one last time.

"Bye Daddy. Take care, okay?"

He smiled and kissed her forehead saying, "You too, Little Owl."

When she returned to her crew, she said, "Hey can I wear these?"

David gazed at the little owls for a while before smiling. "Sure."

After they taken off the dangling golden hoops and replaced them with the silver owls, a woman, her caramel hair pushed up into a bun, entered the Beauty Room.

Annabeth recognized her as the Royal Etiquettes teacher, Miss Victoria Glade.

"Hello ladies. I'm the Royal Etiquettes teacher, Victoria Glade. You may call me Miss Victoria. I'll be guiding you through the Selection and will teach you about a Queen's duties and responsibilities. I hope you will not take this lightly as what I teach, is of vital importance if one of you are to become the next Queen. Now, if you will please follow me." With that she walked out of the room, head held high.

The girls, all startled by Victoria's sudden appearance, started to walk out of the room.

Annabeth took a deep breathe and turned to face her crew.

"Thanks for the make over, guys!"

They chorused a few welcomes and anytime-s before Annabeth took a seep breathe and started off towards a new chapter in her life.

Hey guys! Sorry for the delay but I hope you liked it. Vote, comment and share! Stay safe.

-Sophie