"I look like a ten-tiered wedding cake." griped seven year old princess Rosalind as her lady in waiting draped a gauzy white fichu clasped with a carnation pink rosette around her shoulders.

"Nonsense, little mistress. Everyone outside of the red court wears all types of colors other than red, black and gold." chided Marcy, the plump jolly maid in charge of dressing the Red Queen's daughters in their dresses for finishing school.

Rosalind looked herself up and down in the mirror. She was dressed in a sky blue silk gown with a decorative lace apron and lace cuffs on her sleeves, both trimmed with satin ribbon the same shade of carnation pink as the rose on her fichu. Her golden blonde ringlets were pulled into a complicated french braid tied with ivory satin ribbon with a center part and three tight pin curls framing each side of her face, topped with a matching sheer lace mob cap decorated with more carnation pink satin ribbon. On her feet were a pair of flimsy carnation pink satin mule slippers that she was sure she could wear out in three days time.

Next to her, her ten year old sister Emberess was dressed in striped lemon yellow taffeta with salmon pink rosettes trimmed with ribbon and scalloped lace made from cloth of gold. Her fichu was also yellow and had a salmon rosette. Ember's flaming auburn hair was in a low ponytail with her hair similarly parted and pin curled in the front and on her head was a straw hat covered in salmon ribbon and rosettes and tied with a sheer lemon yellow ribbon under her chin. She wore similarly flimsy salmon satin mules, but unlike Rosalind's, hers had matching rosettes on the toe. Ember looked just as miserable as her sister.

"At least your dress matches your eyes." Ember told her little sister.

Lady Dahlia, the princess's governess knocked on the door before peeking her head in the room, then walking in. "Your highnesses, the carriage is ready. The Knave will escort you to Drollruin Academy in an hour and a half. Your mother wishes to say her goodbyes."

"Dahlia, what do you think the other girls will be like?" Ember inquired.

"They're young noblewomen from across the kingdom and many of them started school at Drollruin when they were four years old. I'm sure they're very nice, and I'm sure they're very well behaved."

"What if they don't like us?" asked Rosalind.

"I'm sure they'll be thrilled to have two princesses among them. Just be sure to act like the sweet girls I know you're capable of being, and you'll be fine." said Dahlia. "Now come along, ladies. Your mother doesn't like to be kept waiting." Ember and Rosalind followed Dahlia out the door.

Once the girls were announced into the throne room, Ember strode in with her sister close behind, to see their mother sitting on her throne.

"My darlings," the red queen greeted. "I shall be desolate without you in your absence. But I've no choice. If we're to keep Mirana off the throne, there's a certain image we have to present around here. But I won't embarrass you in front of the kingdom hiring groups of tutors. There's enough talk already about us."

"Yes, Mum." Ember replied.

"I want you both to write to me frequently and inform me at once if anything goes wrong. Believe me, darlings, I know how cruel girls at that age can be." Iracebeth turned to her lover, the knave. "Stayne, I am trusting you with my two greatest treasures. If anything goes wrong delivering them to school, there will be no escape from my wrath."

Stayne gulped. "Yes, your majesty."

The two princesses stifled a giggle. Stayne was Rosalind's father and had made a point of blatantly ignoring her her whole life. Any chance to make the man squirm gave them immense pleasure.

The queen walked over to her daughters and swept the two of them in a tight hug.

"I don't want to leave you, Mama." Rosalind whined, lip trembling, fat tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"You can, and you must, my little rosebud. Your sister will look after you. Now girls, remember, you are representing me and the entire kingdom, so I expect you to be on your best behavior."

"Yes, mother." the girls stated in unison.

The knave escorted the two girls to the carriage which had been loaded to capacity with luggage. The princesses climbed in, careful not to get their skirts caught in the door.

"Alright you painted, powdered, pampered little parasites," said the Knave, "If I'm to have some peace on this ride, there's going to be some rules. Don't kick the seat. No playing with toys, no sassing me. No eating in the coach, no drinking in the coach, and no smoking."

"We don't smoke!" Rosalind piped up.

"Good, don't start on my watch. You two need to sit still and be seen, not heard, have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal." stated Ember, glaring at the Knave with a look of pure loathing, as the horses started moving.