Chapter 2: Happy Birthday, Princess Sofia

It was a regular day at the village bakery for Birk Balthazar until Princess Sofia happily arrived and approached him. She was just as happy as back when she ran towards the King and the Queen to tell them she passed her sorcery test. "Papa! Papa!"

"Sofia!" Birk was happy to see her. He's surprised as well since it wasn't a regular visit day. "What brings you here?"

"I've come here by royal carriage to bring you this, Papa." Sofia said as she handed him a piece of parchment. "This Saturday is my birthday and you're invited. The party's at the castle. Bring up this invitation."

"Oh, thank you, Sofia." Birk gladly accepted the invitation.

"Sorry if I leave so soon but I have invitations to deliver to my friends in the village, Papa." She said. "Goodbye."

"Bye, Sofia." Birk replied. After Sofia left, Birk started worrying. Sofia might have allowed in into her life to some extent but, thanks to her stepfather, she's a Princess. She'd probably receive so many good gifts from her bigshot friends she won't care about anything he might give her. Deciding not to fret much over this, he decided to close the bakery earlier and walk around the village looking for some ideas.

'What can I give a Princess?' Birk thought in despair. He noticed he's next to a toy shop and decided to enter, certain there'd be something his Princess might like. Two minutes after browsing around, he learned he's not the only invitee to think about looking for a present there. Sofia's best friends Ruby and Jade also went there. "Hi, Mr. Balthazar." They said.

"Are you also buying a present for Sofia?" Jade asked.

"I'm buying this doll!" Ruby exclaimed after picking said doll.

"And I'm buying this one." Jade added after picking another one.

"So, this this Sofia's first birthday as a Princess?" Birk asked out of curiosity.

"No, Mr. Balthazar." Jade answered. "You should have seen last year's party. All those Princes and Princesses and the gifts they gave her."

Now Birk was even more worried about Sofia rejecting him.

Meanwhile, Princess Amber was stepping out the castle when her stepmother spotted her. "Where are you going in such a hurry, Amber?" Queen Miranda asked.

"I'm just getting a gift for Sofia at the jewelry store, Mom." Amber happily answered. "Last time I was there I saw a tiara that practically had my, uh, Sofia's name on it."

Miranda smirked. "You won't be trying to tell Birk what to give Sofia, will you?"

"Well, I might drop by at his bakery and give some suggestions." Amber admitted.

"Honestly, Amber, I know you care about Sofia but you'd better make sure James won't give her a cannon." Miranda maliciously suggested just to get Amber out of Birk's case.

"Mother, I know James is obsessed with cannons but even he wouldn't…" Amber hesitated. "Never mind."

That night, Birk was having a nightmare about the party. Sofia was surrounded by the expensive gifts when Birk gave her his gift. She's so unimpressed she quickly dismissed it with an Amber-like sneer. Sofia then approached the King, expressing her gratitude for the fact she could get better stuff. "You're the best Dad ever, Dad."

Birk then woke up. 'No, Birk.' He thought to himself. 'You know Sofia better than that in spite of the little time you spent with her in comparison to the Royal Family.'

In spite of Birk's insecurities, he went to the party. "Papa!" Sofia happily exclaimed. "You came!"

"Of course I came, Sofia." Birk said and then hugged her, glad his gift had already been placed on a table with other gifts so he'd not be around to see Sofia rejecting it.

Sofia's friends from Royal Prep soon approached her and she introduced each one of them to Birk, who bowed to each Prince and Princess. He felt so out of place among so many Royals he only stayed around for Sofia.

"Open my gift, Sofia." Amber excitedly asked. "I'm sure you'll love it."

Sofia unwrapped it and was not surprised that it's a tiara. "You bought it thinking about wearing it yourself, didn't you?" She accused her stepsister.

"Sofia!" Amber exclaimed with fake outrage. "What makes you think so?"

"It has your name written on it." Sofia answered with a frown.

"It was my way to make sure you'll remember who gave it." Amber lied with a weak smile.

"Don't worry, Sof." James reassured Sofia. "You'll love my gift."

"A cannon?" Sofia asked.

'Is this what his sisters think of him?' He thought in frustration. "No." He answered as he showed a bracelet not bigger than Birk's, making the baker briefly relieved until Sofia unwrapped it and found a golden bracelet. "I'd give a necklace but you wouldn't take off your amulet."

"Where's yours, Papa?" Sofia eagerly asked.

"Right at that table, Sofia." He answered while pointing at the table. To his dismay, she rushed to get it. After she opened it, he took her brief silence as Sofia's difficulty to find something good to say about it.

"This doll's dress… is the same color as mine!" She happily exclaimed. "Thank you, Papa."

"You're welcome, Sofia." He replied in relief.

"She liked that stupid doll better than my tiara?" Amber asked in shock. "What kind of Princess is she?"

"A good one." James teased his twin.

End chapter.