I wake up in the morning and rub my eyes, trying to fight off the morning grogginess. Then a thought runs through me like electricity. It is my debutante today! Me and the other upper nobility would be presented today and receive our Classes.

I leap out of bed and begin carefully placing some of my favorite outfits into a bag. I don’t think that many other women would have thought to do this, although they should. You never know when you are going to be called to set out on an adventure. Some women have their marriages set up directly following the debutante ball and begin to live with their intended’s family to make certain that the marriage would indeed work and be of benefit to both families.

I look through things that I have grabbed. Pajamas, undergarments, three dresses, and riding clothes. Yes, this should be adequate. I can place my belongings where the boys do. Or I can place them in the women’s power room. Either way shall work for me. Once my belongings are packed, I soak in a bath with lavender oil and rose petals. One must not simply look their best, but they must smell their best as well.

Once I am done bathing I sit in front of the mirror and begin to brush my long, luxurious pink, purple and a touch of blue locks. Many people say it is a mixture of their favorite colors in the sky. My hair cascades down my back to below my shoulder blades in gentle curls. Many people are jealous of my hair because I need do nothing with my tresses for them to behave.

Something that is more striking about my appearance though are my eyes. I have heterochromia causing my eyes to be a mixture of red and gold. One eye is mostly red with a quarter of the iris gold, and the other is mostly gold with a quarter of the iris red.

The striking colors of my hair and eyes come from being of mixed race. As I come from a large winter village, I am a demi-human with a mixture of arctic ermine and arctic fox. I have beautiful pale white skin, white ears and a white tail tipped in black. My ears are smaller than a fox and more pointed than an ermine. I have to say though, I love my tail. It is thick and fluffy with the softest fur.

I open my large wardrobe and look through my dresses, wanting to find one that would make me look fierce and elegant. Most young women want to look like princesses or brides in their poofy gowns, but that is not for me. I am not that type of young lady. I don’t want my dress to drown out my natural beauty.

As I am pawing through my gowns, enjoying the feeling of the fabric on my fingers, my personal maid comes into my room.

“My young mistress, what have I told you about doing such things on your own!” she says, waving her hand over my body, indicating the bathing and combing of my hair. “And to think, you were about to choose your own dress as well. Shameful is what that is.” She said, clicking her tongue at me and shaking her head.

“I thought it would be important for me to learn some basic hygiene skills at least. What if instead of a Noble, Lady, Aristocrat, or Princess type Class I am a Lady Knight or Heroine?” I say to her.

“Anything is possible young miss, but I don’t see that as your personality. You are kind by nature, not the kind to desire to skew someone upon your sword.” She says to me. Goodness she can be blunt.

“Some people’s personalities change a bit when they receive their Class. What if I have the spirit of a protector?” I ask.

“Just be happy if you aren’t immediately someone’s bride.” She says in reply.

“You do make a valid argument. I shall hope for High Noble or Diplomat or something.” I say, shrugging my shoulders, causing my curls to bounce slightly.

“Young miss, all those classes have a maid that helps care for them. Now then, let us pick out a dress for you. Any requests?” she asks me.

“Please, just not a floofy Princess dress.” I strongly request of her.

“Of course not!” she says, putting a hand against her heart. Delphine is always so dramatic that I can’t help but smile.

We flip through gowns together, vetoing a lot that my parents bought me in a way to make me look young and cute. Shorter dresses that poof out. I shake my head emphatically. Never. Nope. No thank you.

Sheath dresses, princess dresses, tight top with full bottom dresses. Some of these were.. Fine. I had actually packed some tight bodice dresses that are full length, down to my ankles, but not long enough to trip me. I don’t know all the names of the styles. I had at one point in time, but… How did that knowledge truly help me aside from me knowing what style dresses looked good on me.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Well now, here is an eye-catching dress. I believe this is one that was made to be one of your choices for the debutant.”

How had I forgotten that Mother had a few dresses tailor made to be options for this event? How silly of me to let it slip from my mind. I laugh lightly at it, a practiced laugh that was reminiscent to that of the tinkling of bells. It was exhausting to learn but now came rather naturally.

“Young miss, if you are wondering why, you forgot these dresses were made for you, it’s because it is a maid’s job and responsibility to remember such things on your behalf.”

Was she a mind reader?! She always seems to know what I am thinking. Because of this I have spent many an hour looking in the mirror to see if my thoughts were reflected on my face. I couldn’t tell. I was able to have a placid expression or a vapid smile. As is only right for my place in society.

We spend time pulling out and trying on the gowns that had been made for my debutante. These are a multitude of colorful gowns. The tradition is for such dresses to be a white color, but for those of us with mainly white features, it is acceptable to wear a different color.

I try on red dresses, green dresses, some are even soft browns. I shake my head at all of them, especially the brown. I don’t mind neutral-colored dresses for horseback riding, but not for such events.

Eventually I pull on the last dress and it is perfect. It hugs my curves in the right places, with a flowing skirt. The dress we end up going with is a dark purple dress that fits somewhere between an empire and trumpet style gown. It has lacing in the back to attach flowers or gems to but almost gives the illusion of it being backless. The bottom of the dress has a sheer black outer layer to the fabric, giving the dress more textures.

“It’s perfect.” I whisper, in awe of my own appearance. I will be surprised if I don’t draw at least some eyes to myself.

I watch myself in the mirror as I spin around. The dress shows excellent movement, giving me some added grace. To complete the look Delphine pins some black and purple flowers in my hair, mainly behind my right ear. My hair ends up being pinned on one side and cascading fully down the other. For my jewelry I wear a delicate teardrop blue and silver necklace. On my wrist I wear a flower bracelet that matches the flowers in my hair. On my feet I wear strappy black shoes. I feel like a woman going to war.

“A women’s armor is their beauty. Lean into it for whatever Class you have. Show strong willpower and the System is supposed to notice. And who knowns, maybe you will surprise me with a Class such as Lady Knight.”

Delphine and I share a glance and a small laugh. “Ready to present yourself to your parents?” she asks me.

The first presentation comes even before going to the debutante. The first presentation is to one’s parents, seeking their approval.

I tip my head up to exude confidence. Delphine rushes to slip my silken purple, elbow high gloves onto me, and slides a fan into my hands. It is a black fan with silver and purple flower pattern on it. Thanking her I finish my walk downstairs where my parents are waiting for me at the bottom of the spiral staircase. My father looks me over approvingly.

“You are an absolute vision!” Mother says to me. “I approve of your outfit. Come sit and allow me to do your makeup.” I don’t know why but Mother insisted on being the one to do my makeup. She hums as she outlines my eyes in black, puts a shimmery silver eyeshadow on me, and a deep red on my lips.

“You are now perfect.” She says to me. “Let’s go present you to the world.”

I climb into the carriage, making sure that my dress doesn’t drag or crumple. I am beginning to feel nervous butterflies in my stomach. It isn’t a good feeling, but I believe it is a normal one.

“Are you nervous my dear?” Mother asks me, placing a hand on my knee.

“Of course. I am going to have my future selected for me. What if it is something that I don’t enjoy at all? What if it leaves me with a horrible feeling. What if I am so excited I jump up and down and fall down the stairs? What if I am married off to some arrogant young man who treats me horribly and thinks that my only obligation in life is to bare beautiful children and raise them to be spoiled?”

“Take a breath Lyra.” Mother says to me, looking me in the eyes. “You are going to be just fine. Everything is going to be fine. And you need to curb that habit of saying every little thing that is popping in your head.”

“I apologize Mother. I don’t do it in front of those outside of the family and household staff members.” I tell her a bit defensively.

Mother sighs and pats my leg before leaning back in her chair and gazing out the window. It seems that Mother might be a bit anxious about my fate as well. It seems that she is hoping that I bring prestige to the family and that we will have our pick of men for me to marry. Choosing for myself sounds a little less awful, I mean, stressful than being assigned someone.

“I don’t believe I have asked you what Class you are hoping to be assigned to.” Mother says, trying to engage me in conversation, possibly trying to get my mind off the upcoming announcements and ball.

“I don’t know to be honest. Something fun though. And nothing that brings shame to the family.”

Mother lifts her left eyebrow, looking at me. Okay, okay, more of a response. I get it.

“I was thinking a Diplomat or a Lady Knight. Oh! Maybe a Priestess.” Mother stares at me for that. “From one of temples you are allowed to marry in.” Mother gives a little nod, accepting my addendum.

“Not High Nobility or Princess?” she asks. I think that is what she has always wanted a daughter to want, a more noble Class. What do those Classes do anyways? If I became a Princess, I have to marry a Prince, and we would wonder off together to start a new kingdom. Or something like that.

I just shake my head and look out the window of the carriage. “I don’t think those roles would fit a mouthy young lady like me.”

Mother and I sit in companionable, though anxiety laden, silence. I let my mind drift about different lives that I could lead. I am thinking about one where I am an aristocrat throwing lavish parties when Mother pulls me from my thoughts.

“Lyra dear, pull yourself together. We are here.” Mother tells me. I take a deep breath and step out of the carriage.