Yes…

    My beauty is now unrivaled.

    I stand completely still, caught in the reflection before me.

    The mirror holds a version of myself I never expected to see.

    And for a moment… everything else just falls away.

    The dress wraps around my body like it was spun from midnight itself. Gothic in design, regal in presence, like something a vampire queen would wear in a storybook. The bodice fits perfectly, hugging my shape without squeezing, with delicate black lace tracing blooming roses over the fabric. At the waist, a velvet ribbon ties into a large bow, soft and elegant, its tails drifting down like silk in the breeze.

    The skirt flares out in layered waves, sheer and shadowy, each tier shifting from black into a deep, ember-like crimson. The way it catches the light… it almost flickers, like glowing coals beneath smoke.

    Even my tail hasn''t been left out. There''s now a neat little black bow tied near the tip. I blink at it, amused, and then smile.

    It''s… cute. Unfairly cute.

    To my surprise, this comes with not only the dress, but the full set, from head to toe!

    The boots, knee-high and fitted like they were forged for a dark queen, gleam softly, their heels clicking as I take a step. A tiara rests against my hair, made with some kind of dark metal that shaped like curling thorns, set with rubies the color of fresh blood. The stones shimmer, like red stars caught and caged in metal.

    I spin.

    The dress leaves a trail of black and crimson sparkles in the air, like ash and flame caught in a slow wind.

    I lift my arm, there''s some sparkle too.

    Even the smallest movements are now incredibly flashy with cool effects.

    It''s… magic. It''s a spell of beauty I never knew I could cast.

    And also, the crimson of the gems matches my eyes. Now, my ruby eyes glow more enchantingly and mysteriously, sharpened and brightened by the dress''s contrast.

    "Woah…" I gasp, still turning, admiring the view from every angle, entranced by the girl in the mirror.

    "You… you look just like a princess," Eris whispers.

    "Yeahhh…" I murmur, almost dazed.

    She steps closer. I see her hand lift from the corner of my eye, reaching out toward me.

    But then, for some reason, she stops. Her hand hovers in the air for a moment… then lowers again.

    "Eris?" I glance at her, tilting my head. "What''s wrong?"

    She blinks, then laughs softly under her breath. It''s a little shaky, a little breathless. "N-nothing. It''s just…"

    She pauses. Then, in a rush of feeling too big to contain, she confesses:

    "I still can''t believe this. How the hell did I end up with someone like you? Like… what divine mistake landed me the most gorgeous, magical girl in the world? Am I dreaming? Is this even real?"

    There''s a crack in her voice. Too much emotion. Too much wonder.

    It hits me hard.

    My chest flutters. My cheeks warm.

    Eris… gods, Eris… why is she like this? How can she say things like that and not know what it does to me?

    I giggle, stepping close and taking both of her hands in mine. They''re warm, and trembling slightly.

    I lean forward, until my forehead rests softly against her chest.

    I can hear it.

    Badump. Badump.

    Her heart is racing.

    I love that.

    "You know," I whisper, "I''ve been thinking the same thing."

    I look up at her, just a little. "Eris… you''re amazing too. I feel so lucky every single day that I met you."

    "But not as amazing as you, Felicia," she murmurs, almost like she''s afraid to speak it aloud. "You''re… you''re too perfect, Felicia. I don''t even know if I deserve you."

    "Hey!" I pout up at her, gently, playfully, but firmly. "Of course you do. Eris! You''re the only girl in the world who could ever have my heart!"

    Her eyes widen, just a little. Her lips part.

    "…Felicia," she breathes. "Really?"

    "Nn!" I nod, cheeks burning.

    Then she pulls me close, into full embrace. Her strong, steady arms wrap around me, holding me like I might slip away if she lets go.

    I melt into her, my hands pressed against her back, my cheek resting over her heartbeat.

    Badump. Badump. Badump.

    It''s warm here.

    It''s safe.

    And it''s love.

    My heart is racing too now.

    -------------------------------

    Moments later…

    Okay.

    So the dress is dead gorgeous.

    But there''s one small—no, massive—problem.

    How the hell do I take it off?

    Lie… Seriously.

    HOW???

    I tug gently at the fabric near my shoulder. Nothing.

    I reach behind me, fumbling awkwardly for a zipper, a clasp, anything.

    "Eris?" I call out, trying not to sound as panicked as I feel. "Did you find anything?"

    "Hmmm… nope!" she replies cheerfully, even as she circles me for the fourth time. "Still nothing!"

    Her hands press along the seams with increasing frustration. She even tugs at the corset-like lacing along the back, giving it one last determined yank.

    It doesn''t budge.

    "I swear, I''m using all my strength right now," she grunts. "It''s not even stretching!"

    I try twisting, shimmying, leaning forward. At one point, I even lie down and roll around like a fish on land.

    Still nothing!

    The dress clings to my body like a second skin.

    A very stubborn, very clingy, very fashionable second skin!

    This is bad.

    This is really bad.

    If I can''t take it off… then how the hell am I supposed to take a bath?

    Or use the toilet??

    And what if I leave the dungeon and it''s summer outside?! I''ll die! I''ll actually melt inside this infernal, gorgeous thing!

    At this rate, I''ll end up becoming an urban legend.

    I can already see it—the story, the rumors spreading like wildfire.

    Girl dies of heatstroke in a haunted ballgown!

    The ghost of the catgirl princess who appears at midnight… begging you to help her take the dress off!

    "Huuuuhuhu, what do I do nowwwww?" I groan dramatically.

    Eris taps her chin in thought. "Hmm…"

    And then—

    "Ah!" Her eyes light up. "Maybe you should ask it nicely?"

    "Eh?? Ask it?? Like… the dress?"

    "Yeah!"

    So… voice command?

    I sit up.

    "That sounds so ridiculous—"

    "Come on! You literally just got possessed by a sentient flying dress!" she deadpans. "We''re way past ridiculous!"

    "…Okay, fair!"

    I take a breath, step back, and put on my best polite voice. "Ahem. Um… little dress, can you please get off me now?"

    I wait a few seconds.

    …Nothing happens.

    "Doesn''t work," I sigh.

    "Did you really talk to it, though? Like from the heart? Like… like a friend?"

    I frown.

    "Try again!" Eris encourages. "Be more sincere!"

    "O-okay…" I close my eyes this time. "Dress-chan… c-can you get off me? Pretty please?"

    Suddenly—

    Fwoosh.

    The fabric flutters, not from any wind, but on its own, like it''s listening.

    "Oooooooh!" Eris leans in excitedly. "It''s working!"

    "Dress-chan!" I clasp my hands together. "Thank you for everything! You''re amazing! But can you, um, rest now? Pretty please?"

    I focus, not just my voice, but my thoughts and feelings. I picture the dress not as a tool, but as a companion. Something that protected me, wrapped me in strength and beauty.

    And then—

    FWOOM.

    A rush of warmth.

    The dress begins to shimmer, fading into black smoke. The boots vanish in a shimmer of shadow. The tiara flickers and crumbles into mist. The bow on my tail gently unravels, drifting away like a petal in the wind.

    The smoke swirls around me, then condenses, curling into a tight spiral before plink! it snaps into form.

    A ring!

    A sleek, black, elegant simple ring. Sear?h the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It fits perfectly on my finger, etched with glowing red runes that pulse like burning embers.

    "Holy shit! It actually works!" I cheer, throwing my hand into the air. The ring catches the light, gleaming brilliantly.

    And then I realize, my old outfit is back too! My casual clothes, just as they were before all the magical dress drama.

    "YEAHHHH!" Eris cries, bouncing with excitement, her tail fluffing up like a happy cat.

    "Wait!" she then gasps, eyes gleaming with curiosity, like she just got a new idea. "Felicia, what if you asked it to shift back? Like… can you turn the ring into the dress again?"

    "Ooh, right! Let me try!" I nod quickly, raising my hand again like I''m summoning a magical girl transformation.

    "Oh my lovely Dress-chan," I say sweetly, "can you turn back into your super pretty dress form, please?"

    The ring pulses.

    Then—fwoooosh!

    A rush of black smoke coils upward, wrapping around my body in elegant spirals. The fabric forms again, into rich black velvet, laced cuffs, shimmering ruby trim, and swirling gothic layers. The boots and tiara reappear, snapping into place like puzzle pieces meant to be.

    And just like that, princess Felicia is back!

    "Woooaaaah, amazing!" Eris breathes, eyes wide.

    I twirl again, sparkles of crimson and black trailing off me like embers in a gentle breeze.

    "Wait," I glance over at her. "This is kinda like your Azazel''s Guard, isn''t it?"

    Yeah, the whole thing of a ring turn into clothing reminds me of Azazel''s Guard. It''s Eris'' Sacred Tier Item, capable of morphing darkness into armor, super convienient and powerful.

    Perhaps, Alter''s dress function on the same principle as Azazel''s Guard?

    "Hmmm, it''s really similar," Eris squints, thinking. "The main different thing is that Azazel''s Guard is armor, while this—"

    She pauses mid-sentence, eyes lighting up. "Felicia! What if you ask it to turn into armor?"

    "Oooooh!!" My eyes go wide with excitement again. "Good idea! Let''s try it!"

    But before I can even say a word—

    The dress shifts into black smoke again!

    The shadows surge upward, crashing over me like a wave—

    FWOOOOM!

    Suddenly, I''m not wearing a dress anymore.

    I''m clad in armor.

    Jet-black, plated in overlapping gothic plates edged with glowing crimson. Elegant yet sharp, with dark flame dances along the edges, licking up from my shoulders and gauntlets, flickering like a living aura.