Disclaimer: Well, "Cinderella" certainly isn't mine, but the CHANGED plot belongs to me, as do everything else. So do me a favor and don't land yourself in jail for life by stealing other people's things. And please review!


Part 2: The Ball Attire

The next day, Eric was awakened by his servants at six o'clock in the morning. A prince's job never ends, he thought with a sigh. Nor is it ever done. Prince . . . princess. Eric's eyes shot open. The ball! It was tomorrow! And I'm supposed to choose a bride. He sighed again. Why me? he thought in despair. Why do I have to be the one who's the prince of a grand kingdom? Why do I have to be the one who's married? Or actually, the one who's SUPPOSED to be getting married? Never had Eric's spirits sank so low as they did on that day in September. The fifteenth of September, he reminded himself cynically. Now come on, get out of bed and get ready for *groan* Father's dress inspection. Before he went to the showers, however, he was stopped short by something - or rather, someone - outside. Eric went over to the window and peered out, careful not to let the other parts of his body besides his face, be made visible. What he saw nearly made his heart drop. Edward Spencer. With a look-alike of him. Eric shook his head. You're going crazy from being enclosed in school for so long. That's his daughter, for crying out loud! She looks exactly like him! Except for the mouth and the nose. But one thought remained fixed firmly in his mind: How come I've never seen her before? And how come she decided to come out now?

Amity was beside herself sewing her dress that evening. Earlier that day, she had gone out with her father to buy cloth material and a whole bunch of needles. In, out, in, out. The pattern fixedly planted itself in Amity's mind, and before she knew it, she was done doing the hem. Amity looked at her dress is disbelief. Just a few more stitches, and then I'll be done. It was well worth it, her conscious told her. You've been working on the dress nearly nonstop throughout the whole morning and afternoon. She put her work aside for the time being and went to get dinner ready.

After dinner, Edward Spencer called his daughter down to his study. When she arrived, he began, although rather tentatively. "Amity, I've thought much about this and pondered over it many times. As much as I'd hate to say this, it must be done. Of all the things that I've done to you already, this has got to be the worst. But it ought to be done, for your own safety."

She waited patiently, wondering all the while what her father wanted her to do. She'd figured as much. "I want you to hide yourself at the ball. Remain unseen."

Drumroll! Amity thought sarcastically. But the full impact of his words hit her. "W-what?" she stammered. "Why do you want me to do that?"

Her father sighed deeply. "One of my friends told me that today, you and I - especially you - were spotted by the prince. He's in a state of shock."

Amity's eyebrows shot up. "How would he know? Your friend, I mean."

Edward sighed. "Apparently, after he had arisen this morning, he saw us coming out of the sewing goods store. My friend saw him looking out the window when he delivered the prince's uniform."

"So your friend's a servant at the palace?" Amity asked cautiously.

"Yes. And during dinner, the prince was muttering 'Spencer, Spencer,' under his breath. He even asked his parents if they'd ever heard of me." After a while, he added, "Or my daughter."

Amity's breath caught in her throat. "I see why I have to do this, Daddy, but how come even the slightest mention or the mere thought of us bother him so much?"

"The fact that I'm more powerful than he and his entire family put together," her father said dryly.

"And you're a doctor," Amity finished, shaking her head, but a small smile touched the corners of her mouth.

"Now you see why you have to hide yourself at the Commencement Ball as not to attract his attention and have him know that you're there?" Mr. Spencer asked.

"You just said why," Amity pointed out. They laughed, but her own laughter sounded hollow to Amity's ears. And her heart hurt. All her life Amity had heard about the prince (at least when she had turned ten) from her fellow servants (and friends) in the kitchen. Then one of the servants, who also happened to be her friend, showed her a picture of the prince. From that day on, Amity had been head over heels in love.

"Hide in the shadows, Amity. Among the curtains or anything like that, that can conceal you from anyone's view, including the prince's and his family's," Edward advised his daughter. Amity knew better than to disobey him. And she really didn't want to be the object of the prince's wrath, anyway. "Okay, Dad," she agreed. "I'll do it."

Her father smiled. "Thatta girl."