...I just wanted to be left alone. Couldn't they understand that? No more of these endless balls and functions. No more tedious politics and lessons in proper deportment. I would love to go through a day without being told to stand up straight and behave with proper decorum. Why couldn't I have been born a regular girl? At least then maybe I could have done what I wanted with my life. As it is, I have to sneak and scrape time around the edges of my 'destiny' to study the things I want to study. So you think a princess has it easy? Try being me, and you might just change your mind. My position is hereditary, passed down from mother to eldest female child. I had the dubious honor of being born first. The ironic part is my twin sister, a whole five minutes my junior, would love to be in my place. She's never struggled with manners, and she finds political maneuvering exciting. She would happily spend all afternoon being simpered at by potential suitors, when all I want to do is escape the inane chatter.

I would trade places with her in a heartbeat if I could. Maybe she'll get her chance, though. I have a secret. Tonight there's a ball to celebrate that we've reached our majority -we're both sixteen standard years old tonight, which is considered the cusp of adulthood by most of the galaxy, give or take a species. Once I've suffered through an evening of stiff dancing and polite conversation, I'm ditching this place. I got my acceptance letter from the Academy this morning. They won't care about my status there, or who my parents are. It'll be a chance to prove myself on my own merits. I'll be just another cadet, with as much chance at success or failure as everyone else. I want this more than you can possibly imagine.

It's the best solution for everybody. Snow gets her chance in the limelight. Mother won't have to fight with me over every boring detail of my life, and I'll get to learn something more useful than how one properly holds one's cup at tea time. I also won't have to wear any of these frilly monstrosities anymore. When did current fashion decide it wasn't permissible for people to breathe? Ugh. Hopefully I can keep from passing out from lack of air.

...Frag, the ball's starting. Mother will kill me if I miss the grand entrance she has planned. Wish me luck! In a few hours, I'll be free of all this...

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Zanny says dresses are dumb, and being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be. XPPP Doofy sketch of Zanny in court regalia. Background is referenced from an interior photo of a palace... I don't recall precisely where I found it. x_x

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