A month passed by, there was more of a commotion than usual this day, the palace was cleaned throughly by the maids, the chefs prepared dishes from the moment the sun peaked out, the time taken for each dish was triple the normal, they would not allow even an inch of imperfection to the taste, the amount, and the image the dish should take. The head chef made sure to re-examine the dishes, if he notices even a small smudge he will have them re-due the dish, while the one that was no good was given to a servant. The King was specific about not throwing good food just because of appearance, so that was what the head chef would do, give it to the most hard working worker the dish.
The head butler wasn't idle around either, he sent his apprentice out to each section of the palace to recheck and to follow with anything that's missing or needing a deeper clean, after he does so, then the head butler would do a triple check himself of the areas, if he finds it satisfactory, he would then have all stewards and his apprentice follow him out to check the outside of the palace, the gardens and the place where the carriages will be placed after the guest arrive.
He checks the hay, water, and all needed care for the horses that will be placed in the large stable next to the carriages, he makes sure to check each of the stable workers and had them rechecked so there was no one who sneaked in through taking the identity of their workers. After all that, he goes in to meet up the head maid and discuss more of the needed preparations and making sure not to forget even one small details.
While all this was going on, the second in command head maids of each children readied the children in clothing specifically designed for this one day, each on had a maid do specific areas of the children, two maids had to care for the hair, two with the coat and undershirt, one with the dress pants, each one check for wrinkles, or threads that are out even by a cm, the same goes for the girls and their dresses, not even one thin strand should show, and their hair well combed, styled to match each one, and no out of placed hairs.
"Is everything almost done", Romeo, the head butler, looked toward his apprentice Sebastian, the boy only 14, but already well organized.
"Yes sir, the last thing needed is to check the young princess".
"Ah... remembering past ceremonies, the only cause for alarm is the person this is being done for", Remember the first five children's ceremonies, he can only close his eyes and sigh, looking as if he aged 10 more years in that moment.
"W-well maybe it'll go well with no protest this time, fath-cough! sir", A small flush appeared in Sebastians face, 'ah... I accidentally almost called him father, this is our workplace, I'm not supposed to'. Quickly going back to topic he continues "The young princess, from what I have heard is quite calm, she does not fuss around too much, allows her maids to bathe her with no protests, goes to sleep easily in nap time, as well as night, and only fussy when she needs a change or is hungry".
"Yes that is true.. Yet that's even more worrisome than her acting up as normal infants her age", Romeo had a serious look, his slanted fox eyes open with a dangerous look and a hint of worry.
"What do you mean sir?", Sebastian looks up at his father, tilting his head in confusion.
"sigh... The King and Queen are worried about the young princess health, she is too calm for a child.. almost to the point she seems like a doll, that is why they visit her more frequent than they used to with the other prince and princesses. They needed to see if she stops showing emotions, if so maybe she was cursed, but we are not certain, and it is too soon to examine her, we do not want to leave any effects on her if we tried".
"I see, but maybe today would be the perfect moment to, today is her 6 months celebration, they are to take her to the fairy sanctuary hidden in the deep of the kingdoms palace to receive a blessing, maybe his highness could ask for her health?".
"Yes that is what he is planning to do, that's why we have prepared even more offerings for the Fairies", remembering the offerings, he had Sebastian double and triple check it, while he goes to Lily's room to see how its going "Hopefully nothing interferes with the ceremony of the princess's 6 months celebration..." thinking of it, he can only sigh in worry.
Heading to the room he can hear cluster and shuffling of things, he chuckles a bit and then decides to enters. The first impression when entering is just total mayhem.
"This won't do! that dress is to gaudy, let's use this dress instead!!".
"Noo! that ones too plain, it won't allow the princess looks to pop out, this one will show that today is her day!".
"Your both wrong, this dress was especially made for today, it has to have the royal color and gold lace!".
There was three groups of maids, each holding up a dress. One that was a plain yet elegant victorian style dress, the sleeves a sheer long bell design with white and sky blue silk, the designes sewn on it of white doves, the rest of the dress a light sky blue with two white doves in the chest area, the ribbon in the middle white and made of silk, the lower area of the dress puffed up, like those seen in porcelain dolls.
The second dress a light pink color Victorian style with the main fabric being silk, the sleeves made with clear see through fabric, small jewels delicately sewn in it. the hem of the dress was showered in little diamonds and light colored rubies, while going up the dress the jewels decrease. the middle was wrapped with red silk, and the chest are has a pink bow with a good sized red ruby.
Then the last dress was an silk fabric emerald color Victorian dress, the hem had gold threaded on it of different designs, the middle of the dress wrapped with a golden lace and only a few emerald jewels and diamond were sewn in it. The top chest area had white and gold sewn on it and the shoulder to wrist of the dress was made with silk emerald that's loose and doesn't restrict her movements, the end of the sleeves had small diamonds sewn in in.
Romeo raised an eyebrow and looked around, finding what he was looking for he can only chuckle. The young princes was just looking on in her crib, the other maids that were designing her hair had to wait till they picked a dress so they can start with it, and Claire wasn't working today since she is one of the esteem guests. Walking toward the crib, Romeo bows down to look at the princess in the crip, she looks up when a body covers her view of the good show and when a shadow just blocked the light above her, she comes face to face to Romeo and widens her eyes in surprise.
Romeo wanted to see if the princess would show any other expression than that and grew even more worried when she didn't 'a stranger just approached her, normally babies will cry or show some wariness to them, yet she only widen her eyes, this may be more serious than I thought, I should report it to his highness'.
While he was thinking all this, the reason she didn't react much wasn't from anything serious, but because she has seen him now and then when he hands her dad papers in here when she was in her crib, and the other maids didn't stop him from approaching her, but they did quite down a bit from his appearance. She looks on as he is about to leave through the door and thought of something, quickly taking action she starts crying and wailing.
'I don't have much pride left to save, so might as well go for it', the maids quickly stop arguing and try to appease her with the maids who are supposed to do her hair, Romeo quickly came back in when her her her wails.
"What happened to the princess!?".
"S-S-Sir, we-we do not know, she has never cried this badly before!!?".
"What should we do!? Princess seems to be suffering with how strong her wail are!".
Seeing the guy come back she stretches her arms out toward him, as if asking to be carried.
"Could it be... maybe she wants to be carried?"
"Then what are you waiting for, carrie her".
"Y-yes sir!" The maid bends down but Lily just slaps her hands away and cries even more, her hands reaching out toward Romeo.
'God dammit people, take the hint already! I can't keep the crying act for long, I can feel the bit of shame I have left creeping up!'.
"Could it be... Sir Romeo, but I believe she wants you to carry her..?".
Romeo looks at her in surprise and notices the same thing she does, the Princess has her arms stretched out toward him, he looks in confusion but complies. Reaching down he lifts her up very professionally and lays her in his arm, the moment he does, she stopped crying and started to giggle.
"Well... this is the first time I've seen the princess cry so badly, normally she is so calm and cries for food or her diapers needing a change" The maids look on in surprise and looks at the Princess in Romeo's arms.
They weren't the only ones surprised, even Romeo was 'I don't believe that I have done anything to leave an impression on this child'. But thinking that he received a message from his son through magic, a telepathic message, telling him that he checked all the offerings, but if he wishes to check as well.
'Of course, I'll be there in a few'.
'Understood'.
Romeo was ready to hand the Princess to one of the maids but she grabbed him tightly and looked ready to cry again if he handed her over. The maid noticed and lowered her hands to her sides, the princess calmed down after.
"Sir... I don't believe the princess wishes to leave your side right now"
"I believe so too"
"Sigh... I have to go check on the offerings, I can't stay for long" Romeo felt like he was in a dilemma, he needs to check on the offerings and go to his highness to report the princess's strange reaction to his first appearance toward her, but it seems that the princess won't allow it anytime soon.
"M-maybe you can take her along?" a maid quietly said.
"T-that doesn't seem like a bad idea, the moment you leave her here, it's most certainly that she would cry all over again and become quite fussy, there are 3 more hours left till the celebration, and you wouldn't take longer that an hour or so to return, and it would take only and hour and a half to prepare the princess since she does not yet have enough hair to style with and cannot yet use any type of cosmetics, so maybe it would not even take that long to dress her either. She already took her bath and was changed".
"That's true, if he does leave her here, she wouldn't allow us to dress her and may kick a fuss, could possibly damage the dress or injure herself" when the maids thought of the princess injuring herself, all of them looked toward Romeo and pleaded with him.
"Please Sir, I know it's unbecoming, but the princess heath is at stake!".
"Yes Sir Romeo, can you do this one thing for us, we'll make sure to have everything prepared for the princess when you return, so can you appease her by allowing her to accompany you!"
"""""""PLEASE!""""""
Romeo had no way of denying them, he too felt that the princess health is the most crucial thing so ended up agreeing, this was the first time he held a royalty of this age, while thinking of how to explain this to those that see and his highness, he can here the child in his arms giggle and clap her hands. Looking down he can do nothing but chuckle along.
"You seem quite happy to succeed in your small antics my Princess, I hope your proud of yourself"
"Ayee~!".
Surprised to hear a response, he momentarily froze, but shaked his head 'The princess is still to young to comprehend what I just said, it was most likely baby noises'.
While thinking that way he continued to walk toward his destination, with the little princess closely and protected in his arms.