"And how are you, my dear?"

"Your dear?"

Chammielle looked around. She was in the garden, reading as usual. What was Prince William doing here?

"I've ordered a roast for tonight. Won't you join me in the throne room? Mother wants to see you."

"Mother? What?"

He took her by the hand and they walked into her childhood home. They were walking down the hallway together. But for some reason it took a while. It seemed such a long walk...

"The flowers in your room are lovely, are they not? Just in time, too."

"In time for what?"

For the first time he looked at her, and she saw that devilish smile. His eyes became sweet and he leaned in and kissed her neck. His hand went to her stomach and she couldn't push him away. Her hands wouldn't move.

"For the baby, of course."

She looked down and saw a large bump where her stomach ought to be. Far larger than a normal pregnancy belly was. It moved and she began to call out, but her voice was too quiet.

"Don't let me die, William! Don't let me die!"

"Chammielle..."

"Chammielle..."

"Chammielle!"

She sat up and saw her bedroom. Soft chinoiserie walls greeted her and a feather floated down and landed on her nose. Her arm shot across her stomach to search out the baby that was about to burst from her womb. Nothing. And the Prince was nowhere to be seen.

She was in bed. It was a dream. And she'd ripped her favorite pillow.

"Chammielle! Wake up!"

Ianthe was on the other side of her door, knocking loudly.

"What is it?"

Her door burst open and the trio marched in and in succession flopped on her bed around her. Feathers flew everywhere and they laughed.

"You ripped another pillow?"

She pulled at some down caught in her hair and took a steadying breath.

"My good one, too. Odd dream. Now will someone tell me why the occasion has called for an invasion?"

She took her other pillow and tossed it on top of the silly lot lying across her legs. They giggled and shrieked and it reminded her of their twelfth birthday. They hadn't behaved this way in a long while.

"Papa got a visit from the royal postmaster this morning. The invitation from the palace came today!"

It was time. Her dream seemed ridiculous to her now. There wasn't a chance the Prince would choose her, but still she'd been pushing down her misgivings about her week at the Pink Palace. That's all it had been. Prince William was simply very charming. And she was afraid of making a fool of herself.

Thinking of what came after nuptials was silly at the point. She had far more time to prepare her mind for such things.

"That's wonderful news. I suppose I ought to pack."

"Mama has gone to the dressmaker's shop to retrieve your dresses today. She thinks they should all be done by now."

It had been hardly a day or two since they'd gone out for the alterations. A rush must have cost them quite a bit. Still, she mustn't show up to the palace with ill fitting gowns. That would reflect poorly on the family. She might be a bastard love child, but they'd brought her into their home and took care of her. She didn't want to embarrass them.

"Papa had all our measurements, but not yours. Why is that?"

Aster rolled her eyes at her, "Chryssia, it's because she doesn't ask for dresses or clothes and especially not fancy ones."

Ianthe chimed in, "Our sister is a woman of the mind who enjoys much simpler pleasures and therefore finds peace at her leisure wherever she can. She does not covet or want for anything, because she is content."

Chammielle tousled Ianthe's soft blonde hair. Oh how she wished her brash curls had even half their softness. As it was, the auburn tresses were a rat's nest tangled about her head.

"Yes, which is why my mind desires tea. And a bon bon. And a scone. Otherwise my mind will have no energy or sense when it comes to packing for our little escapade."

The three girls took that as their cue to exit her bedroom. Ianthe called down the stair for a maid to make tea and bring scones. She suspected Chryssia was off to retrieve the Francan bon bons.

Today would be filled with packing and listening to every accessory she should have to go with whatever dress they expected her to wear for any outting or to simply sit and look uncomfortable. No. Right now, she wanted a little peace and quiet. They would be leaving tomorrow, and today had just enough time in it for her to both pack and finish the last two chapters of her book.

Her eyes trailed to her now overflowing armoire. Two of her new dresses had no need to be taken in, and the abundance of tulle was too much for her humble closet. There was no way she was going to wear ball gowns the whole time. She'd choose a few of her prettier skirts, finer chemises, and more extravagantly embroidered bodices. They were beautiful, and the palace could do with a little folksy charm, she was certain. Not everything had to be silk and gold.

She let her head fall back onto her lack lustre pillow and watched the feathers fall like snow around her. A few minutes more would not hurt. She lay in wait for tea and sundries, and for the grace to get through the next week.

...

"No! We must bring amethyst of course! Purple is all our signature color!"

"But it's so over done! Why not some sapphires?"

"Because then our eyes would look only blue in even the right lighting! We must accentuate our particular charms, not mask them as common!"

The girls had been arguing such things for the past hour. The Lord and Lady of the house had gone out on errands for the girls. Something about an appropriate trusseau...whatever that was. Chammielle was in their room with them as moral support, and she'd removed her arms from her chemise and currently had on a cream treatment with extract of lemon for her freckles. It did nothing to make them disappear entirely, but it did brighten her complexion and turn the dark brown spots lighter.

"Fine, if you do no want the amethyst settings, I will take them. You may have your sapphires."

"Then if we are to stand out from each other, I shall take emeralds!"

She shook her head at them. She'd never cared for jewels on her person. They looked lovely to gaze upon, but if she wore them she wouldn't be able to see them. She didn't even have pierced ears for this reason.

"I am glad the three of you have agreed."

The blondes all nodded in unison and then went on choosing dresses. The four each were wonderful and new, but they did have seven days at the palace. Aster chose two of her own, but then snatched up another.

"Aster! That's mine!" Ianthe stomped her foot.

"You weren't packing it anyway."

"But what if the Prince chooses me? All my things would be sent over and then he'd see me in the dress my sister wore! What if that makes him wish he'd chosen another? I could not abide by that in a marriage! Tis too cruel!"

Chammielle cleared her throat, "Girls, if one of you does marry the Prince, what makes you think you'll have any need for your old things when there are royal dressmakers aplenty and far superior silks at your disposal?"

The revelation shook the girls and their eyes lit up.

"Aster, Chryssia, you may borrow whatever I don't pack."

"Likewise."

"Likewise."

Chammielle laughed silently at them. They could be so adorable at times. It was obvious what they thought, they wore their expressions so honestly. It had been a terrible time teaching them to eat politely so if they didn't like something they said nothing so they would not offend their host. Training those disgusted expressions out of them were a work in progress.

"Chammielle, when are you going to put down that book and pack for yourself?"

It just so happened she was on her last paragraph. She sped through it, putting off relishing the conclusion until later, and closed the book to reply to Aster.

"I only have shoes to pack, and the maids have them at the moment."

"Impossible. How did you ever choose in so short a time? It's not even time for luncheon."

She pulled at a brassy curl and twirled it around one finger. A bit of the cream smeared into the lock of hair without her notice.

"I simply chose my favorite things. I only have three other fine dresses apart from the four new ones, and to that I added some comfortable daywear."

"But what of jewelry?"

"Stockings?"

"Hairpins!"

Oh dear...

The girls escorted her to the bath, patting her hands and making assurances they would oversee her trunks. She only had one, but didn't bother telling them that. It didn't matter though. Once they were finished she would go over it and remove the more frivolous items. For now, she could enjoy a relaxing and cleansing bath.

Alone, she eased into the fragrant water. Flowers floating in it, and she decided to add one more ingredient. If the cream could this much fading of her horrid markings, what would lemon water do?

The smells of the citrus infused her senses with a bright feeling. The flowers were calendula, rose, chamomile, lavender, rosemary, and even a little white willow's bark. It all smelled wonderful, and the added lemon sent an added tingling through her. She scrubbed away the residual cream and let her head dunk down into the hot water.

A half hour later she stood from her soak. Her muscles felt entirely relaxed and she decided she would have to take one of these baths at the palace when the stress go to her. She only ever had a bath once or twice a week and washed out of a basin with a rag regularly. Perhaps she should take these baths more often.

She dried her hair with a cloth and dressed in a fresh chemise. The girls were probably still in her room fretting over her lack of wardrobe. It couldn't be helped.

She walked into the small hallway between their rooms and passed the mirror.

Then she stopped still.

And reversed.

"A-aster!"

Aster came out from her room and her face went pale.

"How did you do that?"

She pulled at her hair, the hints of pink gold mixed into what was harsh and dirty red. It was softer, held a different tone, and a single curl by her face almost appeared blonde. Her hair had changed. And her skin looked pink with fairer brown spots!

"Wh-what do I do? I'm so rosie looking...and my hair..."

"You look beautiful!"

"No, this is too different. I still have all my freckles, and my hair is essentially pink! How in Garten shall I alter myself to at least return to a normal appearance?"

Aster was staring at her, but she couldn't take her eyes off herself in the mirror. Her skin had seemed more pink but now it was looking a little red. She needed to do something.

"Milk bath. We must order you a milk bath at once!"

Two hours later and the milk bath had done it's magic for her skin. The redness had all gone and she was smoothe and lighter. Her freckles were still there of course, but a creamy medium brown. Her hair...did not change.

"Aster...what shall I do?"

"I don't know what you're so worried about, Chammielle. You look positively radiant."

"Indeed! Don't you agree, Ianthe?"

"Your tan has become so fair, and your eyes stand out a great deal more now. Your hair looks ethereal!"

She stared into the hand held mirror and appraised herself. No matter how she looked at it, she was different. Too different. It was so startling she felt uglier.

"Perhaps I'll just wear a bonnet while we're at the palace..."

"Nonsense!"

The front door made a sound and calls from below came up to them. The ever doting and proud parents had returned. Chammielle buried her head in her arms.

"Darlings! We bought you each any number of excellent stockings and boudoir bodices. Your father would himself not go into the store, but I think these will suit you all quite..."

Lady Delphi had seen her. She raised her head and did her best to see what she would say to this new look that had taken over her features. Biting the inside of her cheek so she would not grimace whatever her response.

"Chammielle...your hair..."

She stepped forward and she braced herself.

"What a beautiful color! Oh the ladies at the wig shops would just die to have this be their real hair! However did you manage this? Your skin looks so pure and glowing as well!"

She stood and stared at her stepmother. Was this what she really thought.

A surprised smile was on her face, and her eyes darted over every available inch of her. Could it be true? Did she really look alright?

"It's...it's an improvement?"

"It is new and very becoming!"

She spun her around and Chammielle could hear her approving hums. The girls all chimed in giving her such wonderful reviews of the new look, and even her father came and seemed quite started but pleased. It was as if they'd all fallen in love with her. Not that she didn't know they'd loved her before. But could these changes really bring this sort of reaction from anyone?

The house staff was called and the maids gave their positive opinions as well. They asked for the ingredients of her bath because they also wanted to try this concoction. It seemed the citrus and floral combination had done some sort of special wonder for her.

This was real. She looked pretty.

So why couldn't she see it?