Up above is a dress as close to Amelia's gown as I could find. Here are a couple adjustments: her sleeves are a bit different. They cover probably about an inch more on her arm. Other thing is her dress doesn't have the feather in the center. It's just a band of fabric like a belt. Lastly, she doesn't have the sparkly fabric on top. It's just a deep purple silk and that's shimmery enough for our tomboyish Lee. Well anyways onto the fun part.
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TFL ch 11

"THERE IS NO WAY YOU ARE MAKING ME WEAR THAT TORTURE DEVICE!"

Gwen glares at me as she holds the corset. "Don't be ridiculous, Lee."

"I am not being ridiculous! It's torturous to wear that ridiculous corset!"

"Every other lady in the court wears a corset every day and never complains."

I roll my eyes. "To you. Anyway, just how do you propose that I fight to protect you when I can't even breathe because that whalebone cage is suffocating me!"

"You're supposed to be dancing, not fighting."

"Same thing."

At that we erupt into laughter. Setting the corset next to her, Gwen collapses onto her bed. "I give up! You are impossible. How are you going to wear the gown we picked out with your contraption showing through?"

I chuckle at how she refers to the tight band of fabric that Aspenvale's royal seamstress created for me to wear instead of a corset. On most days, that "contraption" was hidden by the high-necked dresses or tunics I wore. Unfortunately, the ball gown I chose is not going to cover it completely. I sigh. "All right. I'll wear the corset..."

Sitting back up, she smirks. "I knew you would come to your senses. You would have looked rather foolish otherwise."

I grumble as I pick up the loathsome item and walk into the changing room. "Don't be so smug... Ugh..." Once I have it on, I come out. "Now for the enjoyable part..." I mutter sarcastically to Gwen.

She retorts, "Well, the enjoyable part for me, at least." She grabs the drawstrings in the back and pulls, causing the already tight corset to get tighter. "Hold your breath."

"I am!" I gasp against the restricting pain. I feel the wind being constricted every time my heart beats. Gwen wrestles with the strings for a few more moments, then ties them. I turn to face her, my face red from the pain. "Happy?"

She laughs at me. "You'll thank me when every gentleman at the ball falls at your feet. Go get your gown on."

Again, I grumble as I walk back to the changing room. "This is too much... First, the petticoat, then the corset, now the gown, then the hair and the jewelry... It never ends!" The whole process of dressing up always bores me to no end. Not to mention how much it aggravates me. Why would anyone want to spend hours getting dressed when there are so many other things to do?

"Stop complaining,you big baby, or I'll make you dance the entire night!" Gwen calls out.

"No! Anything but that!" Gwen's giggle at my response made me smile. She always knew how to make me laugh and her friendship is the only reason I am putting myself through this torture. I lift the gown over my head and let its silky fold fall into place. Walking out, I look to Gwen for her approval. "Do you think I'll shame you?"

She sucks in a breath and grins. "You look amazing! See for yourself." She grabs my hand and drags me over to the full- length mirror. I look at the finely cut deep violet gown, open just enough to show just a few inches beneath my collarbone. Its dark hue contrasts my fair skin and the way it fell perfectly flatters my figure without drawing inordinate attention. If I were ever to look beautiful, it would be in this dress. "My, the dress certainly is exquisite." I say as I finger the smooth material.

Gwen sighs. "I know you don't think you are beautiful because you don't look like me or Princess Selina, but you are beautiful, just in a different way. Be yourself without comparing yourself to others, for tonight at least."

My eyes tear up as I look at her in the mirror. She knew exactly how I thought about myself. Her blue eyes are shining with tears as she touches my shoulder to comfort me. "I will, Gwen. I will."

With a smile, she turns away. "I'd better go get ready now."

I survey my face in the mirror. Perhaps... Perhaps I am pretty. I sigh. What did it matter anyway? I am only a servant and the only man whose attention I desire is the heir to the throne. I haven't got a chance. I'm better off if I just try to survive the night with feet that aren't entirely crushed by my dancing partners. I smile, hoping that I won't attract the worst dancers in all of Rhodenheim.

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Hello everyone!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Hope you all had a great holiday! I'm sorry that this chapter is short, but I thought you would all enjoy a chapter for a Christmas present!

By the way, if you're in the mood for a Christmas short story, check out my story Rachel Lynde's Triumph. (I know, shameless self-promotion.) It's an Anne of Green Gables fanfic, buuut it's a cute romance even if you haven't read the books or watched the movies, so check it out!

Dedicated to Baba, my amazing grandma, who is a big part of why I write at all. Thank you for feeding my love of books and helping me have the guts to write down all my daydreams! I love you!!!

Oh, and please, don't forget to vote and comment! Have a splendiferous day!!!!