Rebel Lies

Chapter 7; Red or Ivory?

As I entered the throne room, I saw Rarity sitting in the balcony around a table I didn't remember seeing the day before. The room looked pristine but without much of the fancy draping of yesterday's. It somehow looked even more opulent without them. A maid had woken me up and dressed me up and led me here and this time I paid attention to my surroundings and committed them to memory, after all having a blueprint of the place in memory would be very useful. I wondered as the maid led the way to Rarity what she wanted from me. I thought I would be closed off in a room with a tutor and wouldn't appear unless they needed a media boost.

Oh how wrong I was to think that. Within seconds of sitting down next to her, she started to explain how much of a great privilege it should be for me that I was there and blah blah blah.
" But," I hated but's, they always meant something wasn't going according to plan " I'm sure you have a lot of questions..." The look she gave me made me feel like she could see right through me and I felt a light pounding in the back of my head and was immediately on high alert.
There was silence for a second. Then two. Then three. I waited for her to finish her sentence but she just looked me straight in the eye.
"Well?" She probed. It was only then that it hit me she was waiting for me to ask her one of my "questions" but all the ones that came to mind would give me away. What happens to RL ladies after their media time has passed? What happened to the last two? And what the heck is the point of this act?!
" what is my training going to be like?" I felt like I could see the disappointment settle in her eyes from before I even asked my question.
She sighed, " I will be tutoring you in etiquette, politics, and history, while my son and Theresa will be teaching you horse riding, driving, self defence, and archery-"
Many questions rose in my head but there was one that I couldn't stop from tumbling out my mouth," archery?!"
" yes, is there a problem?" She asked with a raised brow.
"Um, no. No, your majesty." I looked down as if embarrassed, but I couldn't understand why I was supposed to learn archery but not how to use a pistol. I mean no one walks around with a bow and arrow anymore!
" King Mires would usually also teach you sciences and finances but I will be handling those as well since he is unfortunately sick, as you probably know." oh I know, but believe me I also know that it's a big fat lie and he's probably somewhere figuring out how to weasel more money out of the working class.
But instead of saying that of course, I just nodded my head.
" Lessons start after breakfast everyday and end after dinner is ready, and of course you'll have to write a weekly report on what you learned. You learn no new lessons during the weekends but will be expected to study and be up to speed on any political or historical news and lessons respectively. Usually, the Ladies would write their reports over the weekend. The reports must be written with neat handwriting, handed in in a wax sealed envelope, and your penmanship will be evaluated as well. Any questions?" I shook my head almost automatically as I tried to register all her words. Some of these requirements seemed absolutely useless and some even stupid, but who am I to say that?!
"Good. Now," she continued gesturing at the stack of books on the surface of the table, "I would like you to look at these and choose one you think you'll based on the front cover and the front cover only."
I paused. If I had been at HQ, I would have raised my brow and said that it's utterly stupid. Instead I just did as she said and picked an ivory hardcover with elegant gold swirls on the front. None of them had titles on the cover so it was like picking blindly and the book reminded me of my earring.
"Ok now, look at the title of each book and choose one based on that only."
I slumped a bit in my chair as I opened each of the ten books she laid out in front of me to look at the title. I wasn't exactly acting my part anymore but she was starting to get on my nerves, and slumping my shoulders was a lot better than an exasperated sigh. The titles seemed like they came out of a name generator since they all followed the same template of 'the' and seemingly random adjective. It kind of reminded me of the old book series that Diane had that named each book in the series in the same general template. I arbitrarily chose 'The Genuine' because I thought maybe this was some test to see what I identify with the most, it was red with emerald green swirls on the front, the tenth one in the pile.
" Ok now, read the summary in the last page of each book and choose one based on all of these." I reached for each one and did as she instructed and as I read the summaries they poked at an early memory in the back fo my head. Some felt like I should connect them more easily and others not so much. Until I reached the ivory book , the second to last in the pile titled 'The Believer', and the summary had omitted. I wanted to ask about the omissions but decided against it. Thankfully, Rarity volunteered and explanation: " The writer wanted the omitted parts to only be read if the person chose not while deciding."
It didn't really answer my questions but it was enough and I was intrigued. However, the last two books left a strong connection, like I should know what they're talking about.
Before I chose one, Rarity felt the need to point out that I could only read one of them during my training for the better part of the next two years thus I should choose what I like the most.
It made me rethink the exercise. Was it a test? Was I supposed to choose a right one and if not then I fail? Was this the pitfalls of all ladies in training? Was this how they caught Diane? Oh Diane! That's when I looked at the ivory book again, with the omitted parts, I wonder if it had any secrets to spill? Then they would know that I am a spy? But the other one that intrigued me was called " The Planner" and for some reason I didn't totally feel it was meant in a good way especially with the summary also having omitted parts. I decided to go with my gut and chose the Ivory one. She looked surprised for a moment with a slight smirk.
"Great. You will take that book and read it on your own time," She said. " No specific deadline for this activity, but it will be useful as it will guide you through the challenges of training. Each of these ten books was written by the Ladies who won the Royal Lottery and work now in the court. We asked each of them to write a diary of their training and took their reports and curated it into a special bound book for incoming ladies in training to be more successful. The one you have chosen is the ninth winner's—" Diane. Of course. She wrapped hers in a message only me and Ophelia would understand. Then I looked at the red book that I had not chosen, so that's why I felt intrigued by them both. " lessons start tomorrow, you are free to explore and get a head start on the diary today. Here is the version without the omissions. you are dismissed for the day." My head snapped back to her as she handed me the book. I gave a bow and mumbled a thanks and left.

I was on my guard all the way to my room, since I felt I'd somehow exposed myself by choosing Diane's diary. Rarity's reaction wasn't comforting either. When I finally arrived to my room, a maid helped take me out of the dress and into much lighter pyjamas upon my request. I climbed my bed and began to read still alert to any intruders that would try to imprison me if i had failed this exercise.