A few weeks later, a small procession led by Minako and Kunzite, Minako holding Ceres in her arms. Artemis walked right behind them. Behind him were a couple of gardeners holding a small saplings. Everyone was heading towards the same orchard which was visible from the birthing chamber Minako had spent the last months in.

The orchard consisted of quince trees, each one surrounded by a plot of land, separated by one another by a small brick wall. The gates surrounding the other trees were opened, except for one other close by. They stopped at the new one. One of the gardeners offered Kunzite the key. He opened it, and Minako walked in, holding Ceres.

The gardeners went to the middle of the walled garden. Kunzite took the first shovelfull of soil. After that, the gardeners began to shovel, and to plant the new sapling. After the sapling was planted, Minako handed Ceres to one of the women, Launcekrona the Duchess of Habonde. By handing the young duchess to her, this meant Lady Habonde was to be the governess for the new duchess's household.

Launcekrona felt overwhelmed as she took the baby from Minako.

"Highness! Me?"she exclaimed.

"Yes, Launcekrona. The Duke of Ishtar and I decided you should be our daughter's governess."

"We're assigning you the care of the pearl of our oyster."agreed Kunzite.

Someone handed Artemis a sheet of paper, from which he began to read names. Each of the ladies stepped up when her name or title was mentioned, and given a staff of office.


"Not only a few months old, and already getting ready to give her first audience!"said Kunzite.

The Empress of the Moon always paid a state visit to meet the new planetary duchess, as well as when any of them were crowned as planetary princesses, given that it was the empress herself to put the crown them.

"The same gown I wore when in I first met the empress!"exclaimed Minako, as one of her attendant showed it to her.

It was actually the first time she saw it, as the only time she wore it, she had been too small to remember. The gown was made of cloth of gold and orange organza. All the Princesses of Venus wore the same gown when they were first presented to the Empress of the Moon. Although the same dress was used, each duchess was bundled in her own blanket. Which was just what they were discussing, as the seamstresses showed them different patterns and fabrics.

"That means she'll wear organza."decided Minako.

"An entire blanket made from organza?"asked Kunzite.

He wasn't very knowledgeable on fashion, which was not really his thing. However, he had a hard time imagining an entire blanket of organza.

"She might be a little cold. Organza is pretty thin. Unless you plan on using fifty layers of it! I really don't think so. No."

In her cradle, Ceres was unaware of the discussion of which she was the subject. If she had been she might have laughed to hear her father expressing his opinion on the material of a blanket she would be bundled in. She might have been surprised he knew one fabric from another.

"I've always loved organza."said Minako. "Besides, I was only thinking of using it as trimming."she lied.

"No you weren't. I may not be able to read body language like a Venusian, but I can tell when you're lying. The gingham would look bizarre."he gestured for the seamstress to discard as she was getting it out. "Unless the pink is checkered with another color that's not white."

"I never knew you knew the difference between one fabric and another. Much less about fashion in general."

"And all the time I've spent here at your court? I would be very dense if I hadn't learned something."

"For the actual blanket itself, I was thinking lamé. Then I can have them sew on some of the pearls you gave me for my birthday, when we visited Earth!"

"That'll have to be against a different background, though, won't it?"

Minako thought for a while.

"Why, yes."

"And will the pearls just be sewn randomly, or will they be in any pattern?"he asked. "And apart from the ducal symbol, she'll need her own embelm, as well. What should we choose?"

"Mama chose sheaves of wheat for me when I was duchess."Minako groaned. "I was happy when I became Princess of Venus because then I didn't have to use the wheat as my embelm!"

"Wheat?"asked Kunzite amused.

"It is one of the symbols of Ceres! Don't make me regret I told you!"

"You know, that was my first choice. The sheaf of wheat. I was going to suggest it, but there goes that idea."he sighed.

Seeing the look on Minako's face, he laughed.

"Now I realize why I've yet to see your old embelm and coat of arms."he told her. "You'll have to show me."

"Now I really regret I told you! And no,"she picked up Ceres. "there will be no wheat for my Duchess of Ceres."

"A cornucopia?"he suggested. "There could be sheaves of wheat coming out of it. Or maybe bread."he teased.

Minako looked livid.

"I am carrying my transformation pen on me, you know."she said. "Keep it up and you are so going to regret taunting me, my Lord Kunzite."

"I'm not sure why you don't like sheaves of wheat. But I'll find out eventually, rest assured. What would you like?"

"I think acorns are nicer."

"Do you like acorns?"Kunzite asked Ceres, whom Minako still held in her arms.

"Of course she does."said Minako.

The next ch will not be long in coming. It might be this same week if not early next week.