"Alessia! What're you still doing in bed??" came the urgent voice from the other end of her bedroom, followed by hastening steps in her direction. "We've a party to get you ready for! Preparations to complete! And your father needs to talk to you about the night's arrangements!"<br/><br/>Loosing a sigh, she rolled to a sitting position, rubbing her eyes to try and focus them. A yawn escaped before tossing the covers off of her. Maria, her keeper of sorts, past by her bed to yank the curtains open, the day's light rushing in and blinding her where she sat. Blinking rapidly, it took a minute, but her eyes finally adjusted. Her nose wrinkled in disgust at having to get up and prepare for yet another function her family was throwing.<br/><br/>Eyeing Maria warily, she slid her legs over the side of the bed, slipping her feet into her slippers and taking her housecoat from the bedpost, she pulled it on. Another yawn escaped as Maria tried to rush Alessia toward the bathroom a lot faster than she was willing to move, but eventually they got there. Fussing over the water temperature took some work, making sure it was at the perfect temp for her, yet Maria managed, yanking her clothing off of her and practically pushing her into the tub. Scrubbing at her back, humming to herself, there wasn't much talking, leaving Alessia to think over the party coming up that night.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">A masquerade...</span>she thought to herself.<span style="font-style: italic">The time to forget who you are, hide behind a mask and lose yourself int he music. Perhaps even meet a mysterious stranger...</span>She hoped she'd meet someone to keep her from being bored, but it seemed an unlikely thing. Everyone was always so...tragically depressing and dull. They seemed more focused on their earnings and bottom line than actually holding a conversation and having fun for once in their lives.<br/><br/>"How do you think tonight'll go?" came Alessia's quiet voice.<br/><br/>"Well, if your father has his way, you'll be engaged by the end of it."<br/><br/>Whipping back around to stare at Maria, wide-eyed, she shook her head. "Not happening."<br/><br/>"You don't have a choice in the matter," Maria reprimanded. "You know that as well as I do. You should already be married by now, not still living here...This party is a way for him to scope out the hopefuls and pick one for you."<br/><br/>That had her narrowing her eyes, brow furrowing. "How does he intend to do that when everyone's masked?"<br/><br/>"Don't question your father's logic," came a wary voice before handing her a towel and helping her out of the tub. Plopping her down in front of the mirror, the arduous task of dolling her up began. Everything from curling her long, lustrous blonde locks and pinning them dramatically upon her head, to the makeup, to dressing her (a task that took hours in and of itself). The task left her to think long and hard about what her father had intended, and the ways she could skillfully avoid it.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Thank goodness he's no idea what mask I'm wearing yet...</span>she thought ruefully, her only saving grace.<br/><br/>With that, she noted the time and peered out her window, watching the guests beginning to arrive. She'd wander into the party later, as she always did, to be "fashionably late" and eye the crowd from her balcony perch. Alessia hoped someone would show up, anyone, to keep her entertained, or she'd probably hang herself to escape the doldrums of boredom.