Case Study: Esther Zedrag

There is a Spire that pierces the clouds above yet come so very short of heaven. This particular Spire, draped in the colors and banners of the Darcassian Empire, also share with it the family emblem of Noble House Zedrag, the Cunning Fox.
In the cavernous halls and luxurious rooms lives the children of Zedrag, Esther and Nathan. The parents are not home. Lumira has gone out on tour, entertaining the people and the troops abroad. Zolon is on business to the Imperial Capital. The adults in the Spire are Zolon's private army of Vennacti Bodyguards, servants, and the kids' Grandfather, the legendary Tyresias, a hero of the War of Zealots and Martyrs.
Esther's room is just down the hall from her half brother Nathan. Her room is a two floored, magnificent space. Esther sleeps on the top floor, her head currently buried in pillows and swathed tightly in teal bed sheets. That part of the Spire has large windows though they are currently closed shut.
An alarm begins to sound throughout the Spire. It wakes up the servants and troops, just like clockwork. Esther moves with all the haste and urgency as a brick. She extends an arm out from under her sheets, tries to slap the alarm near her bedside. She slaps the table, then after a few tries, slams her hand on the alarm. Esther does not get up immediately.
She sits up straight, her hair tidy and straight. After running her hand across her head, the hair explodes into a series of spikes. She looks unkempt now. Esther stretches and yawns. Downstairs, in the hall, she can here Nathan out already. He stomps and jumps all the time.
Esther steps out of bed and passes to the windows. She throws the curtains apart. Below she can see the clouds, a grey cover pouring over the land below. The sun has barely managed to rise in the horizon.
Downstairs Esther finds herself surrounded by the perks of her station. A three tiered record player in one part, a large dresser and closet towards the right of the room, three couches as part of a study room, and hanging from the ceiling more banners and flags of the Empire. Esther glares at one emblem. That of her family's House.
She turns on her radio to listen to Darcassian Public Radio. It takes her two hours to get ready. An extra hour to leave the house. The servants and even the occasional soldier chide her for her tardiness and lack of decorum. Esther cares little.
Finally, finally, Esther takes the elevator down. She makes her way to the Ampholi Military Academy, not by train, but on foot. She is late to school by at least four hours.