It is weird how old habits such as waking up when the sun rises never die. I used to always wake up when ever the sun dies, that is if I went to sleep at all that night. I woke up so early so I could keep an eye on the resting Lil, or before her time I woke up early so I could get a jump on the days work. Work back then was shoving snow for the elderly or being the delivery woman for a drug deal.

Now my job was to smile and look pretty.

I looked at Roslyn who was asleep in a chair by the door. I didn't want to wake her before she needed to be awake. She probably worked so much each day that every second of rest was a precious moment.

I opened the bedroom door and slipped into the dark hallway. My barefeet were cold against the marble floors. The sun hadn't risen enough to brighten the halls, but I enjoyed roaming them in the semi-darkness.

I took in all the beautiful details such as the subtle gold patterns woven into the walls and the carved table designs. The quiet was nice and soothing. I closed my eyes and started to spin in elegant circles around the halls. Music played in my head as I danced down the hallway silently.

I don't remember turning too many corners, but when I opened my eyes again I had no idea where I was. Shit.

"Hello," I whispered. How was I supposed to get back to my room and to breakfast on time?

I glanced down at my nightgown and realized I was half naked as well as lost. Great.

I started to half run around the halls trying to see something I recognized, but it all looked too similar.

When I turned a final corner I spotted a guard. I sped towards him hopefully. "Thank God you are here. I am afraid I got lost wandering around could you-"

I stopped talking when the guard turned around and looked me in the face. It was the guard I had shot at at the bank. I gulped.

He looked me over once. "Miss Mallory, I think it unwise to wander the halls. People are already suspicious and skeptical of you staying here. It wouldn't be good if you were caught taking something from the palace too, would it?"

My face burned. "How dare you accuse me of stealing something? I am a guest in the palace and I know how I am expected to behave here."

He simply shrugged and started walking so I could follow him back to my room. "Can you blame me for being wary? You did fire a gun at me."

"I wasn't going to hurt you. I don't kill. I was just trying to help-"

"I know. We all know. You explained yourself in interviews. The entire country is very touched by your hear throbbing story; very inspiring." I could hear the despise dripping from his voice. "I still can't put my trust in someone who fired a gun at me with good intentions."

I looked at my hands slightly ashamed. "I'm sorry I had to do that. It was just supposed to scare you."

He scoffed. "Well, mission accomplished, Miss Mallory."

We walked around for a moment in silence before we arrived at the line of Selected rooms. "Have a nice day, ma'am."

I nodded my head politely to him. "You too, Officer-"

"Chance. Max Chance."

"Officer Chance," I repeated with a smile and I watched him until he disappeared into the maze that is the palace.

The door to by bedroom flew open so fast it made me jump. An angry Rosalyn and a scared Maddie and Macie popped their heads out.

"Where have you been? You can't leave the room like that?" Rosalyn warned me and pulled me back inside.

"I'm sorry," was all I could say.

The girls wasted no time getting me dressed and and ready for breakfast.

I looked into the mirror at their masterpiece of a dress. It was a light blue that faded into a white at the bottom.

"You ladies really outdo yourselves with these. They are gorgeous."

"A perfect dress for a perfect princess," Macie bubbled.

"I don't think I could make a good princess," I said stupidly. "I'm not even pretty."

Rosalyn was sticking up a few things in the back of my dress when she spoke. "Nonsense. I may not agree with your lifestyle or choices, but you have to be one of the most genuinely gorgeous ladies here. You don't wear tons of makeup to make you look pretty, its all natural for you. Have you even looked in a mirror since you got here?"

I was touched by her praise of my looks, but she was right I hadn't looked at myself. My hair was silky and shinny instead of covered in grime like it usually was. My skin looked more alive and I had a glow to me that was never there before. I really did look royal, but it didn't matter. Soon I would be eliminated and I could be back in my pants and t-shirts in my new life as a Two with Lil. That was what Mr. Carier told me. Once I was eliminated, which he was sure would happen soon, I was to live the life of a Two.

Once the uneventful breakfast was over we all retired to the Woman's Room. I was admiring the garden from my spot at the window when I heard Aubrey taunting someone.

"I heard you eat so much that they had to put you on a diet before you could fit through the palace doors."

I turned to see that Aubrey was talking to the larger girl with broad shoulders that I had seen yesterday at dinner. She was a little chubby but every inch of her was beautiful in her dresses. Her maids really knew how to compliment her body.

"Shut up," the girl rolled her eyes and flipped through a magazine. "You and your entourage of skinny bitches are just jealous of these curves."

"Oh don't flatter yourself, Val." Aubrey sat next to the broad girl, Val, and patted her shoulder. "Do you really think the prince will want a fat whore as a wife?"

"Leave me alone, right now before I snap you like a toothpick." Val stood up and towered over Aubrey, frightening even me.

Aubrey was too scared to talk, so Cambria, the blonde Barbie, butted in for her. "There are rules against that. You lay a finger on her and we will all tell Prince Alexandr how violent you are. You'll be gone within the hour," she assured her.

Val turned to Cambria with a clenched fist, but Meghan swooped in to save her. "Okay, Val, lets take a walk before you do something you'll regret."

They both walked from the Women's Room and before I could run to join them, Aubrey stopped me in her hunt for a new victim.

"Where are you going? To steal a vase or something?"

I rolled my eyes and sat back in my seat. "Very funny. Go pick on someone else."

"We aren't picking on you. We are your friends, Anna." She held her hands to her heart and smiled innocently.

"Yeah, whatever you say."

Cambria held a bread roll in front of my face. "Want a roll. After the way you ate last night you might need a second breakfast."

I pressed my lips together. Had I really eaten so much? Was it obvious that I was starving and hadn't seen so much food before? No; Aubrey was trying to get into my head. "At least I never starved myself on purpose like you skinny bitches."

Several girls gasped at the accusation but Aubrey stared me down without another word. I marched out of the Women's Room in a hurry and didn't bother to look where I was going.

I walked on and on until I wound up facing a closed door that held a mighty ruckus behind it. My curious mind looked at the door the contained shouts and sizzling noises and glass clanking together. I couldn't stop myself from reaching for the doorknob and opening it slowly.

What I saw was a chaotic beauty. It was a kitchen full of people spinning around each other to get to what they needed to complete their task. People with flour all over them and their hands fast at work making a meal that smelled so good my mouth watered. I stared in awe at all the workers going about their jobs without even looking up. So many people yelled directions and a french man with a big chefs hat cursed a boy who had messed up.

"Oh, sweet mercy!"

I looked to my left to see a plump lady with rosy cheeks. Her smile seemed permanently plaster on her face.

"You're one of the Selected!" She gave me a sweet curtsy and took my hands. "Can I get you anything dear? Is there a problem?"

"Oh- I was just looking around. I'm sorry to bother you I was curious about the noise."

She patted my hands. "We are a loud bunch, but it's how we get the job done. Communication is important in any aspect of life."

"Yes, I suppose you are right. It smells lovely in here."

Her eyes lit up more and she pulled me to one of the stoves where her pot of stew was cooking. "Lets give you a sneak peak at your lunch this afternoon. Just a quick taste test." She took a small spoon and blew on the stew that she scooped up. After a minute she held it to my lips to taste.

Its flavor was so savory and delightful that I sighed. "This is lovely. You all do amazing at your jobs. I'm so impressed with all the hard work you put into this."

She patted my arm and nodded. "I appreciate that, Miss-"

"Anna," I provided.

"Miss Anna, not many people acknowledge the work that goes into the luxuries that you enjoy. The food and the clothing they all wear everyday is there for them whenever they beckon, but it has to be made by someone."

I smiled weakly at her. "I don't believe I got your name?"

"I'm Miss Petegry. It has been a pleasure but I must get back to work if you wish to have enough lunch. Good day, Miss Anna."

Miss Petegry pushed me to the door while she talked and I was shooed out as quickly as I had come in.

My mind continued to spin with all the wonders of the kitchen. I got the sudden urge to want to meet everyone that worked behind the scenes here at the palace. There had to be hundreds of maids, people who did the lauder, people who made repairs, not to mention the countless guards. I had so many questions and no one to answer them for me.

"Miss Mallory, it seems I'm having some deja vu."

I turned on my heel to see a not-so-happy Max Chance.

"I was just hiding from the tretorous Selected." I said and took his arm so he could escort me away again. "It seems as though I keep getting lost."

"It seems so," he eyed me suspiciously.

"I swear I wasn't doing anything wrong. Maybe a map would be useful to me."

He scoffed. "No way in hell am I giving a criminal a layout of the palace. What, you need it for a getaway plan? I'm sure one could've come in handy when you attempted to rob bank."

I rolled my eyes. "People need to let that go already."

"It's hard to shake a reputation like that, I'm afraid."

I knitted my brow together and looked at the floor as we walked. I wanted the rest of our journey to be in silence, but Max Chance was a talkative one.

"I have to say," he began, "I was impressed at how fast you scaled that building, though. I mean, you've certainly got impressive strength for a little starving kid."

I glared at him. "Well, this little starving kid doesn't sit around all day. I'm a very active person and I would like to keep up my appearance while I'm here eating all day long." My mind was turning fast. I wonder if the palace had a gym? I could go there every morning since its habit to wake up so early anyway. "The guards train somewhere, right? Any chance I could be taken there to workout in the mornings?"

He took a moment to consider it. "I shouldn't do anything for you, but I'll see what I can make happen."

I smiled at him as he let me go into my room again. My maids, mainly Rosalyn, were not happy to see a guard escorting me back to my room yet again. And it took me a long time to convince Rosalyn that going to the gym before the day even started was not a bad idea. She protested that it would make me tired for the tasks I was expected to complete, but I assured her I could handle it.

"I don't see why this is so important to you," she grumbled.

"Rosalyn, exercise is what keeps me sane. I am trapped in a palace with a group of stuck up girls. The least I could do is jog or something."

She shook her head but grumbled her approval. The next morning I had her dress me in yoga pants and a sports bra. My hair was pulled into a ponytail, but a few sections of hair fell around my face because of the new layers they'd given me. A guard I didn't recognize with bright blond hair was at my door waiting to take me down to the gym.

The passage down to it was a little sketchy. The lights were dim and we went down so many flights of stairs I thought we were going straight down to hell. The floors were a wooden dusty mess down in the basement and the smell was nauseating. I pitied whoever had to work down here.

The guard opened the door for me and I was shocked to see five more guards posted inside. Were they really that skeptical of me? That was before I saw the main reason for all the guarding: the prince was here.

It wasn't Prince Alexandr, thank God, but Lucas who was sweaty and shirtless in the corner taking all his anger out on a punching bag that hung from a chain. My heartbeat quickened at the sight of him like this. I couldn't help but notice every muscle that moved in his back or the way his hair stuck to his neck with sweat.

I shook my head to clear it and saw there was another spot with a hanging bag opposite him that I could use. The bag that hung form this corner was a lighter one than I would've preferred, but it would get the job done.

I wrapped my hands in cloth to protect them from bruising and looked over at the prince. His back was to me and a blue squared matt for fighting separated us. I tried not to look at him for too long incase he turned around and saw me, but his movements were so hypnotizing it was difficult.

The guards were all looking at me cautiously like I might pounce on him, so I went to working.

When my fist collided with the bag the first time it was like all the emotion I'd been feeling was transferred into it. With ever energized punch I saw Lil's precious face on the streets; I could see how scarred she was to be alone again with no one to hold her. She clutched her teddy bear that was covered in mud and garbage. Tears threatened to spring from my eyes but I didn't let them. I focused on getting my frustration out here and now. Every image of every horrible place I'd been to came alive again. I could see Dante scolding me as a child again, teaching me the way of a street rat. I saw him picking me up and treating me as his own child. He taught me everything I know. I could see myself getting pushed to the ground and robbed countless times. I could see all the nights I spent alone in an alley starving and crying. I could see my parents abandoning me forever. Nothing I ever did was good enough for them, and nothing I ever do will be good enough for anyone.

I was so angry at myself for failing Lil and angry at the world for failing me, that I didn't even notice Prince Lucas was turned around and looking at me curiously.

"Quite the arm you got there," he said as he was unwrapping his hands and standing closer to me now.

I flicked my eyes up toward him and put an open hand on the bag to keep it still. I used the back of my hand to stop sweat from dripping into my eyes.

He shrugged at my silence. "I guess if you rob banks on a daily you need to have good strength."

I felt my face get hot and I stopped myself from taking a swing at him.

"Let's see what you got then, street rat." My skin crawled at the nickname I received. He tossed me a pair of boxing gloves and was putting his own pair on. "You aren't scarred, are you?"

I rolled my eyes and finally spoke. "You wish, Your Highness." I'm sure the venom in my voice was unmistakable. I dropped into a mock curtsey and slid the gloves on my hands. "I have to warn you, I'm a dirty fighter."

I'm not proud to say that the look he gave me made me slightly uncomfortable. His eyes flicked up and down my body and I realized I was only wearing a sports bra as a top. I was also painfully aware that I could see his chest now that he was facing me, and I was not disappointed by what I saw.

"I think I can handle your prison rules."

I scoffed. "I only went to jail one time. Jail and prison or two very different places."

We were both standing on the blue matt now loosening up and getting ready to begin. He hopped around me and we soon both had our hands up and were circling each other.

"I know. I've made it my business to know about the dangers that walk into the palace, Miss Annalise."

"Anna," I corrected too quickly. "Do you really find me as that much of a threat to everyone's safety, then, Prince Lucas?"

"Luke," he corrected just as I had, and I felt honored to be able to not only drop formality and call him by his first name, but a nickname. "And I'm still trying to figure that out."

His sly smile distracted me and he took his first swing to my stomach. It didn't hurt as bad as the hits I've taken over the years, but it still left me shocked. This was going to be fun. I planned on letting him think he was better than me for a while, but once he let his guard down I would take him out.

I blocked his swings easily, letting him get a few in from time to time. His confidence was building with each hit he got on me. My stomach and the side of my face was starting to get sore from the blows, but I could tolerate it.

Once he had had enough victory for one day I decided it was time to put him back in his place. I knew how he fought now, and I could win.

His right hand extended towards my face and I dodged it skillfully. He looked surprised that he didn't hit me, and even more surprised when I hit his chest so hard he stumbled backwards a few steps.

The guards all stepped forward, ready to interfere, but Luke held up a hand to stop them. He was too big headed to let the guards help him out, wasn't he?

He moved down to take out my legs, but I jumped over him and came down on his shoulders. I rolled around his neck and he eventually lost his balance, coming down on the mat with a boom. I held his limbs in an awkward position, giving him no choice but to tap out.

I released him and he nearly threw me off of him in a fit of rage. He was not happy that a girl, let alone one of the Selected, had beaten him. I watched him in awe as he ripped a towel from the hands of a guard and stormed out of the room without a word.

I was left sitting on the mat with only the one guard that had escorted me to the room left with me. I sat helplessly on the mat and looked up at his stone cold face. "He's a sore loser," I observed.

I might've imagined it, but the blond guard looked like he was trying not to smile. His look disappeared so quickly, however, that it must've all been in my head.

"Miss Annalise, your maids have requested I get you back in time to get you ready for breakfast. Time to go."

I nodded understandingly and pushed myself to my feet. All traces of anger had left me and I was utterly shocked at how bratty the royal family continued to act. The only one who hadn't made a negative impression on me yet was King Clarke, surprisingly.

I shook my head and grinned, this family was in for a rude awakening.