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I couldn't breathe, I tried to again. My ribs expanded only a little bit. Holy crap and I thought that the dresses I wore before were horrible. Nope. 

I was wrong. Really wrong as I sucked in more air into my compressed lungs. 

It was like I was inside three wetsuits at all once. If only I could reach behind me and unloosen the damn strings. Or maybe a button… My fingers trailed down my back as I tried to reach anything to loosen the bodice just a bit but instead was met by a slap to my hand. 

"Ow!" I yelped, snatching it back and soothingly rubbing it. Damn it. 

"Don't you dare try that again Miss." Wendy glared at me. The two young maids that were helping with my preparation for tonight's dinner stood to the far side. Each face was blank but I could tell they were curious about the reappearance of the infamous Miss von Haust.