"You know you sound totally ridiculous when you say that right?"

Ana rolled her eyes as she pinned back the final strand of hair. "Just because we have maids doesn't mean I need to waste their time with something as miniscule as this." She pulled slightly farther away from the mirror, examining her features and the stray curls of hair escaping the updo.

"Mother hired them to help us; doing your hair is still one of their duties."

"If mother had it her way, we'd have people strictly for helping us wipe every time we used the restroom." She resisted the urge to shudder just at the thought.

Liliana, Ana's younger sister, gagged, "That's absolutely revolting."

"You aren't denying it though," she gave the novice princess a pointed look before refocusing on her hair. "I both despise and love our curly hair," she said after noticing the flyaway strands at the base of her bun.

"The only thing you can blame is our ancestry," Lili shrugged as Ana sighed.

"At least it's elegantly disheveled," she declared after analyzing her appearance for a few more seconds.

"Right," her sister giggled softly. "Sure it is." Ana glared at her through the mirror, deep brown eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"It is at least satisfactory then right?"

"Right, yes," a small burst of laughter escaped Lili's lips. "Of course it is."

"Is it truly that bad?" Ana finally turned in the swivel chair to make eye contact. This was an important event, so it was crucial that she looked presentable.

It was silent for a few moments, a slow grin growing on Lili's face the longer they both stared. "It looks like a mop," she finally blurted before erupting into a laughing fit.

Ana gasped, completely appalled, as she spun to face her vanity mirror once more. "Oh my gosh," she whispered. "You're right; I look exactly like our butler's favorite mop." She groaned as she covered her face with the palm of her hands, the sound of her younger sister's hysterical giggles drowning out her thoughts.

~~~

"Father," Ana began quietly, mentally steeling herself to prepare for the oncoming argument.

"Yes, my dear?" The King smiled at a guest, welcoming them with an exuberant smile. He continued the conversation with the other noble but Ana could tell that he was still listening to her.

"I was wondering if I might be able to attend college." She said it so softly she was worried he might not have heard.

"Oh yes, that sounds fine dear," he responded so simply that a grin instantly enveloped Ana's entire expression. She was practically beaming with joy; anyone within a mile radius would've been able to tell that she had heard something pleasant. "Wait- what?" Her father turned his head so quickly she would've assumed it was painful if not for the horrified expression already present on his face.

"I would like to attend college, perhaps a university- or maybe even an academy of some sort." She could feel herself growing excited at the mere thought.

"No- I heard you just fine, Anastasia. Why in the world are you asking to go to College? You know how dangerous it is to attend public schools."

Ana glanced around them uncertainly, noticing the looks of unease growing on her people's faces. "Must we discuss this here, Father?" She nodded imperceptibly towards the noble he was just speaking with.

The king seemed to remember the current situation, pursing his lips before he released a low sigh. "We will continue this conversation later." He meandered a few feet away, slowly migrating towards the podium.

This so-deemed conversation occurred at least once every year with the same outcome every time. Only this time Ana was prepared; she had mulled over her idea multiple times and had yet to come across a complication that wouldn't be easily resolved.

She was curious as to how her father would react to her intentions, already knowing full well that her mother would full-heartedly agree. She could only hope that The Great King of the Mysterian Kingdom was feeling just as generous.

"Attention! I will now be announcing the Crown Prince and princesses of Mysteria," the herald announced as the king sat in his throne. Ana stepped into her appointed position beside her older brother, Lili falling into place beside her. "Announcing Prince Jeremy, Princess Anastasia, and Princess Liliana!" They all walked up the platform steps before lining up beside their father's throne. "Now if you could please direct your attention to our King and Queen!"

"We have gathered the royal families here today to make an important announcement," Ana's mother began, as regal and compelling as always.

"Our only son, and your Crown Prince, will be seeking a wife." Quiet whispers erupted after her father's statement as royal families considered the new-found information. "Now that Jeremy is twenty-one years old he will be attending parties and balls for the sole purpose of finding a future queen. This includes any celebrations in and outside of our kingdom."

The king continued his announcement, although Ana was hardly paying attention at that point as she was too focused on the butterflies suddenly swarming her stomach. The conversation had to go well, it just had to.

"I heard you're trying to attend school," Jeremy's low voice interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at him, noticing that he was leaning down slightly in order for her to hear him. "Again," he muttered and she could almost feel the judging stare.

"And how exactly is that any of your concern," she sighed.

Ana and her older brother had never really gotten along; ever since she was born he had completely despised her existence. And even after nineteen years it seemed that hadn't changed in the slightest.

It also didn't help that Jeremy never truly understood her fascination with the idea of living as an average person, if even for a short time. But that was only because he actually regularly used his power as a royal for his own personal gain. Ana never had - and most likely never would - as she was more interested in having genuine friendships than being a princess.

She was already all too familiar with people using her for her lineage and position.

"It's best if you leave it be," he responded, ignoring her previous question. "Father will never let you go no matter what tricks you might have up your sleeve."

"I suppose we'll simply have to wait for the king's response, now won't we?"

~~~

"I won't allow it."

"But father you haven't even heard my strategy," Ana protested.

"You've already planned it out? Even after I told you no?" The king made a disgruntled noise before sipping his glass of wine.

"We should at least hear Anastasia out," her mother reasoned. "She went through the trouble of gathering all of us here so it is now our duty to actually discuss the situation." She had indeed went to great lengths trying to arrange a dinner with every member of the royal family, including the currently scowling crown prince. "What is this strategy you came up with, my dear?"

"Thank you, mother." A feeling of immense relief swept through Ana's form as she smiled at the queen. While the eldest princess and the queen rarely agreed on matters of royal life, she could always depend on her mother's support in circumstances like this. "Now the plan itself is simple really. What if I were to attend in disguise?"

~~~