40. My Child's Birthday Party (2)
40. My Child's Birthday Party (2)
[Chapter 40] - My Child's Birthday Party (2)
Finally, the day of the Princess's birthday party dawned.
Although the Princess's birthday party was held in the evening, the kingdom was incredibly noisy from the morning. People were setting off fireworks in broad daylight, celebrating and blessing the Princess's birthday.
The nobles of the capital opened their warehouses, distributing free alcohol and food to the people to celebrate the Princess's birthday, and the royal castle also poured money into providing food and drink to the capital's citizens.
Bards composed and performed poems celebrating the royal's seventh birthday, and people sang and danced to the poems, blessing the Princess's existence.
Fireworks went off all over the streets, children ran around like crazy, and young people were busy drinking from midday and shouting three cheers for the Princess.
Early in the morning, the palace gates opened, and the carriages of nobles and merchants who had been lined up in front began to enter one by one. They were all filled with expensive items, all gifts for the Princess.
A day to be grateful that she had grown up healthy after passing through the high-mortality infancy, to sincerely celebrate, bless, rejoice, and be happy about the future of the royal who would become a future leader.
This was what a royal's seventh birthday was like.
*
Dresses and accessories that sparkled so much they were blinding filled the room, leaving no space to step. I wanted to go see the Princess's preparations, but I had to get dressed myself as I was attending the party.
One of the maids taking care of me swallowed hard and looked at me. She soothed me like she was calming a wild puppy, saying she would touch me now and to please behave while she got me ready.
Before I possessed this body, there had been a party, and at that time, Vivian had caused a scene and a disaster at the same time. I quietly nodded and looked at the maid.
"As Your Majesty the Queen knows, there is a lot you need to prepare from now on."
"Do not worry. I will not do anything this time. The Princess is waiting, so let's hurry."
At these kind words that Vivian would never have said, the maid looking at me shed a few tears. Then, she began to list the things I had to do in the future.
"...First, a 30-minute bath in warm water, then a 30-minute bath in warmed milk, and after that, apply rose oil to your skin. And, repeat this three times. Then, after a massage and a nap—"
"...?"
The moment I heard the schedule, which was divided almost by the minute, the Vivian who had died in my body almost possessed me again. I could understand, just a little bit, why Vivian had caused a scene and a disaster at the same time last time.
Three hours just for bathing, followed by massage and gymnastics, and then hair styling. On top of that, dressing and doing my hair would take exactly enough time to attend the Princess's birthday party in the evening.
As I smoothed out my furrowed brow after hearing the schedule, the maid who was continuing her explanation looked at me with a worried expression.
I thought I had managed my image quite well so far, but it seems it's still not enough...
I chewed over the schedule that was already exhausting me, let out a deep sigh, and forced a smile.
Because Ainsel whispered in my ear, 'Smile! Smile! That makes you look like the real Vivian!'
"...Alright, let's begin."
Thus, the hellish, minute-by-minute preparation began.
*
I was really, truly exhausted.
They wouldn't let me eat because it would make my stomach stick out, and because of the corset that was tightened like torture, it was hard to even breathe, let alone move. When they tightened the corset, I really screamed, 'Just kill me!'
Having finished the preparations and managed to escape the room, I dragged my exhausted body and began to walk slowly toward the Princess's room. Before entering the party hall, I really wanted to see the Princess in her dress.
Wearing unfamiliar high heels, my legs trembling like a newborn deer, I finally arrived at the Princess's room, and as soon as I saw the Princess, I experienced the feeling of the stress I had received today being instantly relieved.
"Your Majesty the Queen!"
"Princess!"
As the door opened, the Princess who rushed into my arms came into view. The Princess was wearing a 'Snow White' style dress with a blue dress accented with red.
It was a very cute children's dress that was cuter with more frills than the dresses she usually wore, and the wide skirt made it look like it had great mobility.
The Princess seemed to like the dress too, as she spun around in front of me, showing off the dress. I put my hands under the Princess's armpits, lifted her up, and rubbed my cheek against hers.
Because she was just so, so cute.
"As expected, I have an eye for picking clothes. You are truly the prettiest in the world today. Even Ainsel is so amazed she can't say a word."
"Hehehe. Thank you! Your Majesty the Queen's dress is also very beautiful!"
I rolled my eyes to glance at the full-length mirror in the Princess's room. The dress I was wearing was a dark blue dress with fewer decorations.
A dress that wasn't puffed out but draped along the lines of my body. The front was modest, but the back was exposed to a slightly embarrassing degree. To borrow the maids' words, it was bold yet luxurious.
They said the small jewels embedded in the hem of the skirt reflected light, giving the illusion of walking on the Milky Way... The maids poured out admiration and praise until their mouths went dry. Honestly, to me, it was just an embarrassing outfit.
But since the Princess said it was beautiful, maybe it looked beautiful for some reason.
"Fufu, thank you. Since you say it's beautiful, Princess, it looks that way to my eyes too."
"I-it's true. Like, uh, I mean, it's pretty because it's like the sea!"
The Princess, using her whole body to compensate for her lacking vocabulary by waving her arms around. Seeing the Princess like that, a chuckle escaped me before I knew it.
When I glanced to the side, Fran was standing next to me, watching the Princess in my arms intently, as if she had helped with the Princess's preparations.
Was it thanks to the lessons we'd had? It seemed Fran had become quite close with the Princess. I smiled and expressed my gratitude to Fran.
"Thank you for helping with the Princess's preparations. Would you like to go to the party hall first? We'll be there soon."
"Understood. I will wait at the party hall."
Fran bowed with an expressionless face and slowly headed for the door. Seeing Fran head to the door, the Princess waved her hand gently at Fran, and Fran waved back gently too.
Even with a smile.
Fran, who had never smiled in front of me even once, showed a smile to the Princess. At first, I thought the Princess's words that Fran smiled sometimes were just a joke...
I put the Princess back down on the floor and gently smoothed her hair. I couldn't let the hair I'd worked so hard to style get messed up. I just stroked it lightly and held out my hand to the Princess.
"Well then, shall we head to the party hall too, Princess?"
"Yes! Okay!"
The Princess, who grabbed the hand I held out, shouted in a bright voice with a big smile. The Princess and I held hands tightly and slowly headed toward the party hall.
Maids and nobles we met in the hallway greeted the Princess every time, saying she was beautiful and congratulating her, and every time she received those greetings, the Princess couldn't stop her 'hehehe' laughter, as if she was in a good mood.
I wondered if this was the same Princess who had been trembling in my arms, so anxious last night; she started walking confidently with her shoulders straight. Is this the effect of praise?
Walking with the Princess, who was heading to the party hall with a confident stride, we soon arrived at the door where 'royals' enter the party hall. A structure where everyone's gaze is focused on one place when the door opens.
I asked the attendant guarding the door.
"Has the Queen Mother already entered?"
"Yes, Your Majesty the Queen. The Queen Mother entered right on time for the party."
She arrived earlier than I thought.
It seemed the Queen Mother had entered the party hall before us to see the Princess's party debut faster than anyone else.
I couldn't help but smile at the thought of the Queen Mother, who would be in the front row trying to watch her granddaughter's first party debut once we opened those big doors and entered.
I briefly stopped the attendant who was about to announce our entrance, squatted down, and made eye contact with the Princess. The Princess tilted her head and stared at me blankly.
"Princess."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Queen!"
Looking at the Princess's brightly smiling face, I briefly recalled the name I had given the Princess.
At first, I thought about giving her a different name. Because there were several names suitable for the Princess.
But, I thought this name would suit the Princess better than any other.
Black hair that sparkles as if the stars were embroidered in the night sky.
A 'girl who will be with fairies' later, commanding countless fairies.
And the Princess who will one day become the 'Queen' of this country.
The name that suits this child.
I thought, indeed, there is no other name but this one.
"I have a birthday present for you, Princess."
"A present...?"
The Princess's eyes sparkled at the word 'present'.
I smiled, stood up, and headed to the attendant. I told the attendant to announce my entrance first, and then announce the Princess's entrance.
The attendant nodded, saying he understood, and shouted loudly to announce my entrance.
"The Second Queen! Her Majesty 'Vivian Liliensole' is entering!"
The party hall doors opened, and I turned back to look at the Princess. The Princess was staring at me blankly, perhaps not having realized it yet.
I called the Princess once more.
"Princess."
At my call, the Princess lifted her head and looked at me. As if she was slowly beginning to realize something, moisture began to well up in the Princess's eyes.
"Your Majesty the Queen...?"
"This is the birthday present I am giving you."
I turned my head and, at the same time as I entered the party hall, looked at the attendant and nodded.
"Shout the Princess's 'name' and announce it to everyone."
*
At the Queen's words, the attendant shouted so that everyone in the party hall could hear, with an even louder voice, telling everyone to listen clearly to this name.
"The protagonist of this party, who celebrates her seventh birthday today!"
Hearing the loud shout that seemed to ring in her ears, the Princess clutched her chest without realizing it.
Every time the attendant shouted, the Princess's heart trembled greatly and her eyes turned red.
Gritting her teeth to hold back the tears that were about to burst out, she lifted her head and looked forward.
The lights of the party hall were dazzling.
The Princess could see the Queen, who was waiting for her in front of the door and holding out her hand. The Princess slowly took trembling steps toward that place.
To hide the emotions that made her feel like crying right away, the Princess smiled with her eyes curved and began to approach 'her' who was waiting for her.
Hearing her own 'name' that she would hear for the rest of her life.
The Princess took one more step forward to take the hand she held out.
To her, who truly loved her.
"The Princess of the Kingdom! Princess 'Titania Snow White' is entering!"