"Lady Princess, wake up."

I groaned and looked up after opening my eyes. A new servant was standing above me, and I smiled. "Good morning, miss," I said, and climbed out of the bed.

She smiled. "Pardon my speaking, but the maids and butlers say that your heart is cold as ice. Is this true?"

I stopped in my tracks. Looking up, I noticed the woman was wearing a red scarf, strikingly similar to the one I saw another noble at the party wearing last night. But, reluctantly, I nodded.

"I'm only cold because I have no friends," I expressed quietly. "My life has been essentially etiquette training and royal meetings and galas. I've only had one friend, but she got sent away because she was a butler. After that, I tried chilling my heart, and it's pretty much a stone now."

The woman nodded. "I know Hanji," she said. "We used to work together in the Italian royal family before I transferred here. Oh, I'm Lady Mikasa," she added, and I smiled.

"Please, just call me Alexis when it's just the two of us," I said. She looked at me, wide eyed.

"But, my lady!" she exclaimed. "It's not proper."

I laughed lightly. "When you are by yourself, who cares about the necessity to be proper?" I asked, and Mikasa smiled. "If you insist, Alexis."

I smiled, and walked over to my closet, Mikasa following close behind. "So, do you know my schedule, Mikasa?" I asked.

She nodded. "Just one regal gathering tonight to celebrate your sixteenth, but you are free for the rest of the day."

I groaned. "How many parties do I need to celebrate the same dang thing?" I asked, and Mikasa laughed while finding a casual dress for em to wear while walking about the castle. When she came out with an orange gown, I giggled. "An orange gown for casual occasions?" I asked, and Mikasa smiled. "You're right; this is probably too formal. Let me go grab you something else."

She turned to walk back in, and I chased after her briefly. "Let me go with you," I said. "I haven't even seen half of my collection."

She nodded and let me in. Browsing my closet full of dresses, I picked out a sleek, a-line light blue dress to wear during the day. Mikasa had no objections, and as I put the dress on she put my hair in a quick side braid.

When we finished, we heard a quick knock on the door. Mikasa stood up to answer it, and it was at this point that I realized she had a dagger attached to her right thigh. Before I could ask her, though, she had reached the door and opened it.

From where I was sitting I wasn't able to see it, but I heard the two exchange a sort of casual greeting before Mikasa reentered the room. This time she had a boy in her tow. He had brown hair and bright green eyes, as well as one of the butler's uniforms.

Mikasa smiled at me. "Lady, this is my foster brother, Eren. He has just moved to the palace's services with me last night." Turning to the boy, she added, "She has requested me to simply call her Alexis; I think you should too."

Eren nodded and turned to me. "Very well then, Alexis," he said, exaggerating the last word and bowing excessively. Unable to control myself, I started giggling like I was five again.

"I don't think you need to do that, sir," I commented, and Eren smiled goofily. "Oh, I have a message to deliver to you," he said, apparently just remembering the reason he had come here. "It's from your parents; they trust that you enjoyed the gala yesterday and that you will be happy to have another one tonight in celebration of your birthday again."

I nodded. "Please give them my regards when you have the chance, Eren. Tell them that I enjoyed the gala and am excited to host another one tonight."

Eren nodded. "But since we are here with you, Mikasa and I figured that we should get to know you a little better. Does that sound okay?"

My eyes widened. "My parents send away any person that I try to have amiable relations with. I'm sorry, but if we do get to know each other, we need to keep it a secret. A really, really, covered-up secret. Can you do that?"

The two nodded. "We have relations that can assure that your secrets are safe with us. Well, where did you intend to go, my lady?"

I pondered. "Well, I plan on going to the dining hall for breakfast first, then I plan on walking to my reading nook in the gardens. Do you care to join me?"

The two looked ecstatic at the thought as we walked out of my rooms. "Of course, Alexis," Mikasa smiled warmly. "However, we shall meet you at the gardens, as we have some business to attend to before the gala tonight."

I nodded. "I should go. I'll see you later!" I smiled brightly as we waved to each other and departed for separate wings of the castle.