Katherine opened her eyes and squinted at the sunlight pouring into her room.  She rolled over to see her mother opening the curtains.

"Get up.  We have to get you ready."

"For what?" Katherine asked sleepily as she rubbed her eyes.

"Oi! For the masquerade ball stupid!"

Katherine winced.  That was tonight.  Goodbye freedom.

Katherine slowly got out of bed and began making her way to her vanity as her mother left the room.  She sat down and grabbed all her makeup and looked at herself in the mirror. Ugh.

She grabbed the different concealers (all hand-me-down makeup from her mother or sister) and began dabbing away at the normal teenage acne and then at the red mark on her chin. Next she put on foundation and coughed at the powder.

She hated this part of "Princess-Life". Meanwhile it was most girl's favorite.

After having to redo her eyes twice and nearly poking herself with the mascara brush, Katherine applied some lipstick and began brushing her curls.

"Here's your dress." A voice said from the doorway.

Katherine turned and sighed, "Do I really have to do this?"

"Sadly little sis, you do. Mother and Father's orders." Adam said, setting the dress on a nearby chair and coming over to kiss her on the forehead.

Adam was the eldest of the three and was Katherine's best friend growing up. If anyone supported her most in the family it would be him.

"You'll be there too right?"

"Every step of the way." Adam smiled holding out his hand to do a handshake they had made when they were little kids.

Front. Back. Pinky. Pinky. Fist bump. Explosion.

Katherine smiled, slightly feeling better.

"Thanks." She said.

"Anytime little sister." Adam said ruffling her just cleaned up bedhead.

Katherine scowled playfully at her brother who just raised his hands defensively before walking out of the room.

"Love you!"

"Love you too." She muttered with a smile.

I just wish I was marrying for love.

Katherine looked over at the dress sitting on the chair and got up to go inspect it. She carefully unzipped the bag it was in and pulled the hanger out of it.  Her eyes widened instantly.  This was nothing like she would normally wear.

It was a long pink dress but it had extra padding where the breast pockets were and hips would go.

"Mother!" Katherine called nervously.

The sound of footsteps were heard before Lucille appeared at the door instead.

"She's busy planning the party.  What's- Ooh! You have the dress! Don't you love it? I told mother you would! I picked it out myself! It was gonna be for me but then I found a better one.  But don't you just love the bow and crystal in the middle! And what better way to show off those child bearing hips!"

Katherine quickly turned away from the mirror to shoot her sister a look and nearly stumbled on the dress's long trail.

"Well you and your child bearing hips better get ready."

"Lucy!" Katherine yelled, horrified.

"Ta-ta!" She yelled going out the door and slamming it shut.

Katherine balled up the dress and groaned in frustration.  It was no use.  She had to wear this.

She went to the closet and got out her corset and put it on and began tying it.

"Lucy!" She yelled, "Will you come help me?"

A knock on the door signaled someone there and then her mother came in.

"I'll get it." She said taking the strings from Katherine's hands.

She pulled as tight as she possibly could and Katherine swore she could see stars for a minute as she tied the corset together.

Katherine turned around but her mother had already left.

"Mother! Wait! I need help with the dress!"

Just then Clara, the family's maid and Katherine's best friend, came in.

"I'll help you get ready." She said smiling.

Katherine sighed gratefully and mouthed a thank you.

Clara got to work zipping up Katherine's dress and going to find shoes and accessories to match it.

She came back with gold heels in her hands and Katherine's favorite necklace from her Grandmother of a princess crown on a gold chain.

"Will these work?" She asked.

"They're perfect Clara." Katherine smiled hugging her before sitting down and putting the shoes on.

Katherine looked in the mirror and carefully put the necklace on, the cold gold chain touching her skin and causing her to shiver.  She smiled and touched it softly.

"Would you like me to help you with your hair?" Asked Clara.

"Sure." Katherine said getting out her hairbrush and bobby pins.

By the time another 20 minutes was up Clara had had Katherine's hair all pinned and she was ready to go.

Katherine looked down at her hands and sighed.

"What's the matter?" Clara asked.

"I don't wanna do this."

"I know you don't buttercup." Clara said softly, "But on the bright side, I heard New York boy is pretty cute." She winked.

Katherine laughed slightly, "Maybe he has a cute butler just for you to fall for."

Clara laughed, "I'll believe it when I see it!"

Soon the two girls were laughing until they were holding their stomachs in pain.

The door suddenly opened and they saw Mary standing there with a scowl on her face.

"What are you two doing? We have to be at the party in 15 minutes! Come on!"

"Yes mother." Katherine said sadly.

She slipped her gloves on her hands and found her black lace masquerade mask.  She stared at it thoughtfully for a few seconds.  If only it could conceal who she really was and not everyone else.

And then she slipped it on.