Marie woke up and got out of bed yawning. Standing up straight she bent to touch her toes, noticing as she did the time on her old wind-up watch.

“Skyfire! I am going to be late for my session with Carline if I don’t hurry. I don't know what time I got to bed but it was late enough to make waking up at 4:30 really really sucks. ”

She thought. “Stupid thrice cursed Gala” she muttered, yawning again as she raced to get dressed. Quickly brushing her hair and teeth she pulled her wavy mass of hair into a tight bun as she hurried to the training grounds. She arrived with only seconds to spare and after apologizing to Carline, she quickly launched into her warmup routine. When she finished, she walked over to the other end of the arena where Carline was.

" You will be starting with 6 laps, 3 and 6 are sprints, 1 and 4 will be at a jog, 2 will be skipping and 5 you will be running backward.” Carline rattled off pointing to the sheet of paper stuck at the starting mark on the track.

Marie jogged over, read the paper, and started her laps. She had just finished her last lap and began doing crunches when she saw Nadasia walk into the training room. Finishing her first set of crunches, Maire jogged over to her.

" What are you doing here Nadasia?” she asked curious as to why her new maid had come.

" I went to your room this morning to help you get dressed for the day but you were not there, so I asked a guard if he knew where you were likely to be, and he pointed me in this direction, my Lady,” Nadasia responded.

"Yes, I am here every morning........although I suppose it will have to be every other morning now thanks to my father,” Marie said, rolling her eyes in exasperation.“If you want to go back to your room and relax, or you can stay here if you wish.”

" I think I will stay if you do not mind my lady” Nadasia decided, and went over to sit on one of the chairs scattered throughout the area.

Quickly finishing her last two sets of crunches, Marie went over to Carline Marie waited for her to give the next set of instructions. However, her teacher seemed not to notice her, her gaze fixed on Nadasia.“I wonder if Carline knows Nadasia or something?” Marie thought.

“Hey, Carline I have some bad news.”

Marie said hoping to snap her teacher out of her state of seeming oblivion. Carline blinked and replied

“Does this bad news have anything to do with the Gala that I’ve been told was held last night? Also, who is that young woman sitting over there?”

Marie fidgeted slightly under Carline’s intense stare,

“Kind of.......I have to have two 15-minute sessions with different suitors every other day and they will interfere with our morning sessions. And the woman over there is my new maid.”

Marie replied. Carline sighed,

“Well I will have to change a few things around on your training plan Marie but don’t worry, you will still be getting your butt kicked! And I get that she is new but tell her that she needs to stay out of here unless she needs to get you for something ok?

Marie grinned and replied

“I would expect nothing less Carline.”

Marie agreed and Carline put her through her paces. Panting heavily from the exertion, Marie was glad when the intense session came to an end. Glistening droplets of sweat ran down her flushed cheeks. As Marie trudged back to her chambers, her whole body aching Marie thought,

“Well, breaking the news to Carline went over far better than I was expecting.”

Nadasia followed her like a silent shadow.

“Would you like me to get a bath ready for you my lady?” Nadasia asked, clearly concerned about Marie.

Marie grinned ruefully,

“Much as I would love to take you up on that offer, my father will be expecting me for lunch today, so I hardly have time for a quick shower let alone a bath."

Then seeing Nadasia's crestfallen expression Marie added hastily,

"I do appreciate the offer and don't worry I'll take you up on it as soon as I have the time to enjoy one. After all, there is no point in wasting water. What you can do is find me a dress, not a gown to wear to lunch while I shower."

Nadasia agreed, her expression brightening at Marie's words. The pair reached Marie’s chambers and while Marie quickly went to the bathroom to shower, Nadasia laid out three dresses for Marie to choose from when she was done.

“Ok, Nadasia what dress did you-” Marie’s somewhat unenthusiastic query cut off abruptly as she saw the three dresses laid out.

Looking nervous Nadasia said,

“I was not sure what color you preferred so I went with the royal blue, red rose, and tangerine my Lady.”

With her gaze still fixed on the simple yet elegant dresses Marie exclaimed,

“I had no idea that I even had dresses this simple! You are a lifesaver Nadasia!”

Nadasia blushed overcome with Marie’s gratitude.

“You are welcome my Lady” she responded.

When Marie shot a half-hearted glare at her she was quick to realize her error.

"Uh- I mean you are most welcome Marie."

Smiling again, Marie said,

“I would like to wear the red one today, but you can keep the other two out Nadisia......I will wear at least one of them tomorrow.”

Marie headed into her bedroom and slipped into the red dress, still marveling at its simplicity.

“Father will be angry that I choose such a simple dress, but it will be worth it to wear something that does not seem as though it weighs 20 pounds. Besides, greedy as he is, he ought to like it when I wear less expensive clothes. After all, doing that means he gets to keep more money in his coffers.”

She thought wryly, her lips curling up slightly at the edges in amusement. Thanking Nadasia again, Marie put on an onyx phoenix necklace, and black sandals, to contrast her rose-red dress.