My jaw slides open, and I look at her in disbelief. “Why would the WUN want that?” My father was the one they should have their eyes on. Not me.

Her eyes are sad. “Because you are young and attractive. It’s easier to sympathize with someone who looks like you than someone like your father.”

It makes sense. Of course it does. The representatives have to leverage whatever they can. Still I grind my teeth together. Those who watch the peace talks might sympathize more if I dress like this, but they will also see us as weak. No one is afraid of a pretty bauble, and that’s just what I’ll be.

“Time to remove your clothes, sweetie.”

I shuck off my fatigues and stand in my bra and panties. Lisa doesn’t say anything about the sick way my collarbones stick out or my flat, empty stomach, but her brows pull together while she takes down my measurements, as though it pains her to see me this way.

There was a time when obesity was the losing battle our people faced. Not so anymore. As soon as food became scarce, curves became coveted.

Lisa puts away the tape measurer and rifles through the clothing, removing garments that she knows she can’t tailor to fit me.

“Where did you even get all of these?” I ask.

“They’re not mine. These are property of the WUN—and no, I have no idea where and when they came by these.”

I try some of the remaining garments on, and Lisa tugs and adjusts the material, writing down notes in her notepad on adjustments. After the better part of an hour, she packs up her stuff. “I’ll finish these tonight and have them packed for you tomorrow,” she says. “And I’m supposed to tell you that Jessica’s pulled out of kitchen duty to cut your hair and show you a thing or two about makeup.”

I almost groan at the thought. Getting a haircut is one thing, but makeup? I’ve never worn it. I’m going to look like a clown. All for a televised meeting that will be viewed mostly by the enemy.

Few people in the WUN will even be able to watch. The king destroyed a large portion of our electronics years ago, and he has since halted the sale and distribution of all devices manufactured in the Eastern Empire. We have only a limited number of functioning electronics left.

Lisa cups my face, bringing me back to the present. She stares at me for a long time, and I can tell she wants to say something profound. Her eyes are getting watery, and I’m getting distinctly uncomfortable.

All she ends up saying, however, is, “You’ve got this, sweetie.”

I nod my head once, not trusting my own voice. Because the truth is, I don’t. We don’t. This is really, truly the beginning of the end.