"Perfection is a disease of a nation." ~ Beyoncé

A month had past and the young lady had travelled to the capital. She was housed with the other noble girls in a large section of the palace to be supervised and looked after. Due to many noble girls who were of different cultures and races, they had to be taught the ways of the capital, to adapt and how to address those higher than them.

Dakota being one of them spent most of her days learning lessons about the functions of the capital and how one must behave amongst the central people. The remaining noble girls from the capital and the surrounding capital were subjected to beauty treatments to spend their time whilst they waited for the preparations of the royal selection.

They became selfish and arrogant, believing that they were the ones of pure blood due to being born in the capital and refused to help the foreign nobles with the ways of the capital.

Dakota watched from afar, as they wasted their days in splendor. When they were not having lessons, they were allowed to spend their days conditioning their hair and soaking in scented baths to further accent their skin. They tested different kinds of makeups and different hairstyles to see which one made their beauty more pronounced.

They dieted themselves, thinking the thinner they were the more prettier they became, as well as wore extravagant clothing that never seemed to match their skin tone. All in all they became a slave to beauty and a minion to the golden crown.

Even though she grew up in riches, Dakota always led a simple life and she intended to keep it simple. She took her usual baths with raspberry scented soaps, she ate a balanced diet to keep herself healthy, she did not bother with makeup neither did she intend to hide her true features from the prince and kept herself neat with smoothly brushed hair and modest clothing.

It was because of her simple ways of living that made Dakota beautiful. Her skin always flowed with health and youth, her smile radiated happiness and her eyes forever twinkled with the joy of the world. The roots of envy seeped into every girl as they watched her.

Why am I not as beautiful?

How can she always have such a pleasing smile?

Why is the world so unfair?

Where does her happiness come from?

Where does her beauty come from?

Little did they know that true beauty could only be found inside. So instead they continued to damage their bodies and corrupted their souls, with words echoing through their minds.

Beauty is pain and there's beauty in everything
What's a little bit of hunger? I can go a little while longer

Yet still they faded into the darkness of self destruction and disappointment.

Three more months had past and the supervisors deemed the noble girls ready for the royal selection.

They were all to meet with the prince individually and were to be evaluated by him. After three days a noble girl was to be chosen to be the next queen regent, and the rest would then be permitted to return home.

That day was full of utter chaos. Girls shouting and screaming at how their makeup was to little, how their food was too much and how their dresses were not tight enough.

In the midst of chaos sat Dakota. She wore a gown of black and gold. The dress was black from head to toe minus the gold embroidery. Gold had accented the neckline of her dress and the wrists held with soft elastic. The top of her dress ended at her midriff which held a golden embroidered belt snugly in place. The skirt flowed to the back in a tail, nearly touching the floor, whilst her legs sported high waisted pants that outlined her legs.

Her chestnut hair was straightened and a gold and black diadem was placed on her head. She stood proud in her dress and heeled black ankle boots. Her face held clear gloss to her lips and black kohl used to outline her hazel eyes.

One night, one talk, one action, and her fate would be decided.