It was a beautiful day for a birthday celebration. As the sun began it's daily climb, Princess Katja sat up straight in her down feather bed. "Today is the day," she thought to herself.
Excitedly, she dropped down off the side of the bed. At only five feet tall, Katja often felt as though her bed was built for a giant. Today however, she felt as tall and exotic as the women she used to gaze at longingly, waiting for her chance to join the royal celebrations.
"Highness," came the voice of her nurse, Mara, as she plodded around the doorframe. She stopped and looked at Katja with a wistful look in her eye. "Oh, Your Highness. How proud I am of you!"
Katja ran to Mara and embraced her tightly. "Mara! Can you believe it! I'm seventeen today!"
Katja let go of the pudgy nurse as the older woman sat down in a chair. Mara pulled her by the hand and sat Katja onto her lap, just as she had so many times as a child.
"My darling girl, today is so bittersweet," Mara began. "You are turning into such a beautiful young woman. And by my word, I'm sure you will be chased after by all the suitable young lords. You'll have them clamoring."
"But what if I don't want them to chase after me, Mara? I just want to live as I have these years. I want to go riding on Pearl and play jokes on Miss Visha. Oh, why do I have to grow up?"
"Oh come now. Surely you didn't think you would stay a child forever?" Mara asked, patting Katja on the back. "Now you listen to old Mara. You are going to act like the princess I have helped raise you to be. Not the silly little girl who likes to run around with her brother all day. Besides, love. Johan will soon come into his own. He will have to leave us and learn how to be an Emperor like your father. And what say you to that? I am sure you will have a lovely birthday, and I'm sure your father has some wonderful gifts for you. Now, up you get."
Mara pressed Katja off her lap and stood. "Let's see what surprises I have for you today."
She walked beyond the door for a moment and came back. In her hands, was the most brilliant sapphire colored gown, made with silk, ornamented with shining jewels across the bodice. Katja's mouth opened wide and she found herself speechless.
"Your father," Mara began, "ordered this special for you. Do you remember the day I measured you head to toe? Well, I gave him all those measurements and he ordered this special for your big day. The silk was imported all the way from Skalny, the needlework was done in Maranath, and the jewels came all the way from Crachfar. I say, this is a special gown for a special girl."
Mara lay the dress across the bed and began pulling out Katja's undergarments. Katja removed her nightdress and put on her chemise. Then, she clung to the bed post, as Mara pulled on her corset and began lacing.
"Now then, Highness," Mara said, "Today, we are going to do this a little differently."
Katja turned her head to Mara with a quizzical look.
"Stand up straight," Mara ordered. Katja obeyed. "Now, cross your arms, place your hands underneath your bosom, and lift them."
Katja began, then stopped. "But," she began.
"No buts," demanded Mara. "You may be princess, but I am in charge of making you look like one. So, do as I say."
Katja did as Mara said. She crossed her arms, and stuck her hands beneather her corset, lifting her breasts. Mara began her usual pushing and pulling as she weaved the laces in and out of the grommeting. "Now then love, face me and let go."
Katja did so and looked down. "My word!" She exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yes Highness, you are a woman now. No more little pettitcoats for you. Today, we show the world how you have grown."
Katja stepped across the room to the full-length glass and stared at herself. She stared at the now-ample bosom before her. Yesterday, her corset was fitted to hide any trace of breasts. Today, she realized that they could no longer be hidden.
"Mara, are you sure about this? I mean really. This is almost obscene!"
Mara walked over and place her hands on Katja's shoulders. "Highness," she said quietly. "It's time for you to accept whom and what you are." She kissed Katja on the back of her head. Then, she pulled a chair over and pointed to it, so Katja would sit.
As she sat, Katja realized she couldn't breathe. She made small gasping noises.
"Sit up straight, girl," Mara said to her.
"But it's so tight!"
"Nonsense. You just aren't used to it. Now, let's get this hair settled."
Mara picked up the gilded brush from a nearby table, and began to pull Katja's hair from it's neatly done braid. As she passed the brush through Katja's hair, the princess couldn't take her eyes off her own image. Mara walked away and put an iron onto the nearby fire. She began to caress Katja's long, auburn hair. Katja eyed the iron with wariness, wondering whatever Mara would do with it. She lifted Katja's hair and had her rest her head on the table. Then, she picked up the iron, spread Katja's hair loosely onto the table, and began to heat iron it, as though it were a piece of cotton.
"Now don't move," she said, running the iron in even strokes down the length of Katja's hair.
"Ach! This mess!" she said, growing irritated with Katja's unruly tresses. "This is all your father's doing. Oh, the curls are dashing on him, I'll say. But your aunt, Aryn now, she has this same problem. Except her hair is black as coal. Oh but she was a fine one too. Every lad was in love with her. But she only had eyes for that Kasto fellow. Lucky for her, he was a prince in his own right. Oh but that was a splendid match. You are too young to remember her coming out. Oh! But she was the belle! I remember like it was yesterday. She had a gown almost as lovely as yours too. Hmmmm" she sighed a little and petered off, finishing her iron work.
"Sit up then, love," she said to Katja.
There in the mirror, Katja stared at her now-tamed hair. She watched it fall past her waist. It was now sleek and straight. Mara began to seperate it into manageable pieces and made several plaits, that she then tied with ribbons into the back of her head.
"There now," she stood back, admiring her work. "You look ever the princess now."
Katja stared into the mirror, amazed at the change in her looks. She was reminded of those ladies over the years, their hair coiffed with feathers and jewels, their pale skin glimmering in candle-light, and their opulent dresses. As she saw Mara in the mirror behind her, she was startled from her reverie. Mara held out the skirt so Katja could step in. Then, she slipped the bodice piece over the corset and chemise. When Mara turned around, she was flabbergasted. There in front of her was not a girl on her birthday. There was a woman, rounded, softened, and stunning. She touched a hand to her face, unsure if she could trust the vision in front of her. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and looked back.
"Come, Highness. It is time."
