~ My ~ Fair ~ Princess ~



By Alexia Goddess



Chapter Three






All Relena could do was stare at what lay before her, on *her* bed. A
multitude of all sorts of odds and ends of clothing were arranged on
top of cream silk, white gold edged goose down comforter, and the only
things Relena recognized was the dress and stockings.

Barely two hours had passed since she had been borne away by a servant
and lead to Governess Noin, the woman who would be in charge of
supplying the more...feminine aspects of her 'training.'

And so here she was, after being scrubbed, washed, dunked, scrubbed
again, primped, plumped, fed, washed again, and dressed in an odd
assortment of undergarments, her hair up in a simple bun for the time
being. Speaking of her hair, she couldn't stop glancing at it in the
mirror that was over her vanity -*her* vanity!- to her left. It was
such a glorious golden color! All her life she'd believed it to be a
dark, dull brown. But when it was clean... Even Governess Noin had
commented on what a rare, lovely shade it was.

But now Relena was completely at her wits end. Noin had told her to
dress and meet her down the hall in one of the upstairs sitting rooms,
but she didn't have the slightest clue where to begin.

Relena started as she heard a giggle behind her, and she turned to see
an amused looking girl with bright green eyes and ebony black curls.
At first it looked like she had shortly cut, boyish hair, but then it
was seem that her hair was simply pulled back very slick into a low
bun at the nape of her neck.

"You look like you could use some help," The girl said in a pleasant
voice. Relena nodded, her eyes wide and hopeful. The girl laughed.

"I'm Hilde," She said, stepping forward. Relena judged from her dress
to be a maid. "I'll be helping you learn the ins and outs of a 'proper;
lady's wardrobe." She lifted a corset up off the bed. "I'm assuming
you know what this is?" Relena shook her head helplessly and Hilde
raised an eyebrow.

"Well, then, I guess we'll start from the top," Said Hilde, giving
Relena a one armed hug. Relena sighed and smiled.

"Thank you," She said, and Hilde smiled and proceeded to name and
explain the purpose of every bit of clothing on the bed.





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"Oh, my..." Governess Noin's eyes widened considerably, and she blinked
several times in surprise. Whens he finally gathered herself, her mouth
widened in a very pleased grin.

"How lovely!" She said, standing and setting down her teacup
approaching the very respectibly dressed Relena. Relena seemed a bit
unsure, at first, but then squared her shoulders determindly and
curtseyed prettily -Hilde had taken a few extra moments to help her
learn how to do so- and then turned around slowly when she rose from
doing so. Noin clapped delicately in an appreciative sort of way.

"What an improvement!" Noin exclaimed, hands on hips, looking Relena
up and down. The golden haired girl wore a deep blue skirt -rounded
out from the use of a smaller hoop skirt underneath- and simple
white blouse with a ruffle under the neck, pinned with a sapphire and
pearl brooch. Her hair was done up in an assortment of curls and
ringlets that tumbled down to her neck and framed her face prettily.

"Well themn," Noin said with a smile. "Have a seat and we'll get to
work on your table manners."

Relena wanted to say, indignently, that her table manners were
perfectly fine...then she sighed inwardly. She didn't want to fight
with Miss Noin; she seemed like a lovely woman. And besides...she *had*
agreed to learn what they had to teach, and she wasn't about th pass
up an opportunity for a friend *and* lessons to help her reach her
goal...

Of course, she thought that all before she saw how Governess Noin
sipped her full tea cup with her pinky finger extended, her grip on
the thread-thin handle looking precarious.

Suppressing a sigh and firming her resolve to learn to do anything that
Noin or Yuy threw at her, Relena gracefully walked towards the seat
across from Noin, and sat.

And her skirts promptly went flying up as the hoop skirt twisted
upwards and smacked Relena in the face.

Thus, rather than their first lesson being on how to sip tea and eat
cake properly, it was on how to sit so your own skirts wouldn't whap
you in the face!





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"Oh...my...word..." The crystal blue eyed, high eye-browed, pale blonde
haired girl's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as she entered
the entry way of Sanq Palace. The golden filigrees and royal blue
velvet cushions alone would have made her gasp in wonder, but the
crystal shandeliers, gold candleabras, the plush oriental carpet, fresh
flowers on polished, mahogany tables...

Dorothy Catalonia snapped her jaw shut and swallowed. What had the lord
of this grand place called her for? How did he even know she existed?
If he wanted her for certain services... Dorothy's face suddenly went
dark. She was no prostitute! She may not be a seamstress's apprentice
like a proper young girl should, but she was no guttersnipe slut!

A man decked out in full velvet and brocade finery came too her,
snapped his heels together and bowed.

"This way, miss," He said, giving her a disdainful look. Dorothy tried
her best to look haughty and like she belonged, but she was sorely
aware of her tattered black skirt and even more tattered brown
peasant's gown; stick gatherers couldn't afford fancy clothes. For that
was what Dorothy was; a mere stick gatherer, to give to the woodsman
who gave it to rich folk along with his wood, to help start their
fires.

But the letter delivered to her by a ridder in a fine satin cape one
evening, to her shed on the outside of a barn a more generous family
had let her build and stay in, had promised her wealth and the means
to make a better life for herself, and she had snatched it, running all
the way here even as she finished reading the letter.

Dorothy was lead up a spiraling staricase covered with the softest of
soft rugs; she could tell because she was barefoot. She had always been
barefoot, since before she could remember.

Dorothy followed the footman up the stairs and down another plush
hallway, more of a corridor, really, and to gold inlaid double doors.

The footman gave Dorothy one last scornful sneer, to which Dorothy
glared back fiercely, and the footman opened the door.

"Presenting Miss Dorothy Catalonia," He said in a stately, one hundred
percent snobbish voice. Dorothy peeked her head inside, and was
suddenly very glad for her outgoing, bold nature. Had she been any less
of the girl she was, she would have turned tail, ran, and hidden. The
company that sat around having tea and cigars -for the men- made her
look like a bug.

Swallowing and once again being thankful for her bold personality, she
stepped around the corner, head held high, as she looked each and every
one of the nobles sitting there in the eye with a proud look about her.

A man, one with shoulder length pale blonde hair so pale it was white,
and sparkling sea green eyes, caught Dorothy's eyes and held it,
smiling gently.

"You may go, Rudolf," The man said to the footman in a soft voice. The
footman snapped his heels together, bowed, and left, closing the door
behind him.

"Dorothy," The man said, taking a sip of his tea. Dorothy hid her being
offended by his not even standing momentarily when she had entered, or
when addressing her.

"As you have probably guessed by now," The man went on, not noticing
Dorothy's glare. "My name is Milliardo Peacecraft. I am the lord of
this palace, and your benefactor to be."

"Benefactor?" Dorothy repeated in an inquisitive tone. "To Be?"

Milliardo smiled.

"Miss Dorothy," He said. "I have a proposition for you."



To Be Continued....



Sorry this took so long to get out!!!!! I really don't have an excuse
other than I just lost interest for a while.... *sweatdrop* gomen.
Thanks a million to all of you who have stuck with the story thus far!
I know it's not all that...exciting...this is my first non-violence
fic. Meaning there might be a friendly sword fight or two, but no real
battles or fist fights... *pouts* Or maybe I'll find a way to squeeze
on in...

Anyhoo, hope you enjoyed! I'll try and get the next part out soon!!!


Smile More, Dream Always,
Alexia Goddess



*ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY*