"Miss Gwendolyn?" Gwen woke the next morning to a sharp knock that could only belong to Alberto.

"Good morning Al!" She called through the door as she climbed out of bed. She made her way to the door and let the butler in. Alberto stepped inside carrying a tray with a light breakfast and a cup of coffee.

"Due to today's busy schedule I think it would be more efficient for you and Prince Roberto to have breakfast in your rooms. It will allow you more time to get ready for the gala." He explained. "I'll be by to check on you in a short while."

"Thanks Al." Gwen nodded, already reaching for the coffee. Alberto bowed and began to exit the room when she called out to him. "Oh Alberto, one more thing. Could you take my dress down out of the closet? You know I have the hardest time getting those things out of the bags."

"Certainly Miss Gwendolyn." Alberto allowed himself a small smile as he crossed the room. He remembered all too well the last time Prince Roberto had taken Gwendolyn to a party. She'd somehow managed to get a $4,000 dress caught in the garment bag's zipper. When she'd tried to loosen the dress herself it caused a small tear. She'd been fortunate that the royal seamstress was able to make a perfect repair, and no one had noticed the damage, not even the gown's design who'd been in attendance that evening.

Alberto carefully removed the new dress from its bag and displayed it safely on Gwendolyn's bed. She put her coffee down and joined Al by the bed. As she took in the sight of the ball gown she couldn't stop herself from gasping. The top was a tightly fitted corset covered in hundreds of rhinestones and beads. The sleeves were two off the shoulder strips of rose gold fabric also covered in glittering gems. Each of the gems on the sleeves and bodice were held in place by rose gold fittings. The skirt was an enormous mountain of pale pink tule, the top layer of which was covered in even more rose gold and rhinestones.

"He can't be serious." Gwendolyn scoffed. "I can't wear this! It looks like it weighs more than I do."

"I believe it was Prince Roberto's intention that you stand out at the gala this evening." Alberto suggested.

"Well, I'd say mission accomplished." She sighed. "I'm going to look like a giant cupcake."

"Perhaps I should go check on his highness…" Alberto bowed again and backed out of the room.

Turning her attention away from the cupcake ballgown for now, Gwen began to eat the breakfast that Alberto has brought in earlier. She was grateful for the coffee he'd sent along because they were starting their day so early. From her room's windows she could tell that the sun had only just begun to stretch across Altaria. If Prince Edward's gala was anything like the others she'd attended with the princes, it would stretch very late into the evening as well. They had a long day ahead of them, there was no question about it.

While she ate Gwen skimmed through her files again, trying to cram as much information into her brain as possible. After her meal was gone and her coffee cup emptied, it was time to wrestle herself into the monstrous cupcake gown. Gwen stood over her bed again wondering how on earth she was going to get inside the thing. Just then there was another knock at the door, it was softer and different from Al's. Gwen wondered if it could be Roberto.

"Good. I can ask him how I'm supposed to impress foreign dignitaries while looking like I'm part of the dessert table." She quickly made her way over to the door without bothering to ask who it was. "Oh!" She was surprised. Rather than Prince Roberto it was one of the maids.

"Miss Gwendolyn, please forgive me if I'm interrupting anything." The maid bowed apologetically.

"No, it's alright." Gwen assured her with a smile. "I've just finished my breakfast and was about to get dressed.

"Oh good, that's why I'm here." The maid explained. "Alberto thought you might need help getting into your gown for the evening. He said it was rather large."

"You have no idea." Gwen laughed and invited the made inside. Now armed with the maid's help it only took a few minutes to put the dress on and tie up the corset in the back. "It doesn't look so bad now." She commented, looking at herself in the mirror as the maid cleaned up her breakfast tray.

"It looks absolutely stunning on you Miss Gwendolyn." The maid nodded with approval.

"Thank you for saying so." Gwen said as she swished the large skirt from side to side watching the tule swing in the full-length mirror before her. "I was afraid I was going to look ridiculous but now that it's on I can appreciate it better. Thank you so much for…" She turned to thank the maid for her help but as she did, she noticed a small slit on one side of the dress. "Oh no, don't tell me I've ripped it! Al's gonna kill me!"

Gwen's hand moved towards the hole trying to asses the damage. When her hands touched silk her heart stopped. How had she managed to rip a hole that big through all that tule down to the silk inner lining of the skirt? She looked down and inspected the hole closer. She breathed with relief when she realized it wasn't a hole at all.

"Should I call for the seamstress?" The maid asked, worriedly.

"There's no need!" Gwendolyn turned to face her excitedly. "The dress isn't torn at all! It has a pocket!" She felt around with her other hand on the other side of the dress too. "Even better!" She remarked. "This dress has two pockets! Alright, I've decided I love this dress and I'll wear it to every royal party forever. Thank you so much for your help!"

"Of course, Miss Gwendolyn, anytime." The maid, looking entirely relived that a crisis had been avoided collected the breakfast tray and dashed from the room as politely as she could.

As much as Gwen wanted to run through the halls of Villa Altaria shouting with joy about finally having pockets in her evening wear, she still had a lot to do before leaving for Charles. The gala, at least one interpretation of it, was meant to be a way for the six kingdoms to metaphorically let down their hair and get to know the visiting dignitaries. So, keeping with the theme and not wanting to look as if she'd been swallowed by her gigantic dress, Gwen decided to let her hair down too; mostly. Pulling just the very top layers of her chestnut brown hair back so that it wouldn't get in her face while she moved about the gala, she curled every section of her naturally wavy hair so that tufts of curls cascaded all around her shoulders. For make-up she decided to go for nudes and natural shades both to compliment the light tones in her dress and the open honest theme of the evening. After final touches and satisfied nod in the mirror, Gwen pocketed her phone, collected her paperwork and set out to find Roberto and Alberto.