"Aaaaagghhhhhh," Dawn yelled, forced awake by the sun's rays streaming down her face and the ringing of a shrill bell.

"My lady, it's almost 10 in the morning! Did you not sleep well last night?" asked her lady in waiting.

"I was awake the whole night... Couldn't you have let me slept a bit more Poppy?" she replied. Poppy pulled Dawn out of the bed.

"I suggest you get ready for breakfast. The stylist will be here after lunch. Your mother wants you to have taken a bath by then." She said. Dawn sighed.

"Okay. Thank you for waking me up, Poppy. Honestly, I would have slept till 12 if it were up to me... Anyways, could you get my bath ready? After that you may leave." she said. Poppy nodded and set off to work.

"Did you just wake up?" Freya asked, barging into the room.

"Yes. I slept late last night." Dawn replied.

"You were probably having nightmares about tonight's ball..." Freya said, grinning. Dawn grinned back. The two of them walked to the dining hall together for breakfast.

Freya was wearing a casual day dress and Dawn, to her mother's dismay, was in a shirt and shorts, which was extremely unladylike.

"Dawn, I should probably ban your brother from lending you his clothes." the Duchess said and the sisters sat down next to their father.

"That wouldn't do much, mother. I would just steal some more from him. Anyways, I can get them custom made by a Freya Cygnus who also happens to be my very lovely sister." Dawn replied, smiling widely.

"Dawn! This kind of talk is unacceptable! You're the daughter of Duke Philip Cygnus of West Cilane! What will people think if you talk like that at the ball?" her mother exclaimed. Every time her mother made comments on her not being "ladylike" enough, Dawn felt herself stiffen. Her mother's daily remarks affected her more than anyone thought.

Thankfully, the Duke interjected, "Now, now, Valentine. I'm sure Dawn's not going to act like that in the ball. And Dawn, just do as your mother pleases."

"I for one, support you, Father." a voice said. Everyone looked at the door. It was Adam, Dawn and Freya's 19 year old brother.

"It'll make life so much easier for all of us." he said, smirking.

"Good morning, Adam. Nice to see you join the family for once." remarked their mother bluntly.

"Busy staring at your reflection again, Adam?", Freya said. She turned towards her mother and then said, "Mother, what about him? He doesn't have a wife either. He's too self-absorbed to love anyone but himself."

"That isn't true. I'm about to ask permission to court Lady Marianne - the daughter of Count Eugene Lanchester of West of Cilane." Adam declared.

"She is pretty. Petite, but pretty. Nice job, Adam." said Dawn.

"Why, thank you." he said back, making an elaborate bow in front of the table before sitting down next to his mother.

At last, the family began to eat. Dawn and Adam stuffed themselves whereas like her mother, Freya ate with elegance. She looked exactly like her mother too, who had brown hair and blue eyes compared to the Duke who had blonde hair and green eyes. Dawn was the only child who got her father's blonde hair. But her hair was even whiter than his. Many girls teased her because of her platinum blonde hair. However, if she were to sit in the sun enough, it would turn golden. That was when her name suited her the most.

---

It was almost noon when they finished their late breakfast. I guess that counts as lunch, Dawn thought to herself. She hurried off to take a bath and Freya went to freshen up. After a steaming hot bath, Dawn changed into her corset, slipped on a loose fitting dress over it and headed for the parlor where the stylist was waiting with their dresses. She met Freya on the way who was complaining about not being able to eat lunch because of the late breakfast.

"Stop complaining and get that frown off your face! I'm sure we'll be able to sneak a couple of snacks in before the ball." said Dawn.

"Oh yeah. You're the master thief aren't you..." replied Freya. They started laughing and walked towards the parlour together. It was filled with rows and rows off makeup. The stylist, who wore a knee length black dress, introduced herself as Claire. She was looking Freya and Dawn up and down. Claire started with tightening their corset. Dawn and Freya had to stifle a gasp.

"So... tight..." they muttered.

"A thin waist will look nice on you", Claire told them. Next, they slipped their dresses on and were told to sit down on a chair. Claire first applied makeup on Freya and then on Dawn.

"Not too much..." Dawn said. Claire ignored her comment and continued. After that Claire brushed their hair - Dawn's was wavy and Freya's was straight.

"Both of you look gorgeous!" Claire exclaimed as she finished up, "Now, go along. The ball starts in an hour. Why don't you pick out some jewelry?" Dawn and Freya nodded and left.

---

After leaving, Dawn immediately rubbed of the excess amount of rogue on her cheeks and paint from her lips. After removing a layer or two, it looked much more natural. Satisfied, she walked to her room. Inside, she opened a drawer and pressed on the back. A click sounded and Dawn inserted a small key through the small hole.

A few moments later, there was another click and the entire back panel opened up. Dawn leaned down and took out a ring with a swan symbol on top. Everyone in her family had one.

The swan was their family's crest. But she had the ring broken apart so that she could add a little compartment inside. She kept poison in it and would wear it whenever she left the house. One punch in the face with it, and her opponent would be rendered unconscious. It was the perfect weapon when she was not in armour.

She slipped it onto her finger and wore velvet blue gloves on top. After that, she slipped a small dagger on the inside of her right calf.

"Ouch!" she immediately cried out, remembering the scratch the man had given her last night. She slipped the knife on her other leg instead.

In case of emergency, she told herself.

"Dawn, are you ready darling?" a voice called from the hallway.

"Yes, mother. Give me a minute," she said slipping on her boots and patting down her dress. Oh, I almost forgot a necklace, she thought and grabbed a pearl necklace on the way out.

"Let's go." her mother said and the two walked to the carriage waiting outside. Freya was already sitting inside. Within minutes, they were off to the ball. It was going to be a long night...

--+--