Chapter 57
Three days later, Christmas eve
Queen Genevieve
Genevieve woke up to find the bed empty; her husband wasn't by her side, and then she remembered it was Christmas eve.
He had to organize a couple of things before the ball began, as so did she. She got up, got dressed, headed to the dining room, and served herself and her son breakfast; she had to hurry; there wasn't much time left.
"Hi, Genevieve." Said Lacey as Genevieve looked up to smile at her.
"Good morning, Lacey. Did you sleep well?" she asked as Lacey nodded.
"Yes, I did thank you, Genevieve, will there be chocolate cake at the party Genevieve?" she asked.
"I don't know… I think so; Edaline is helping with the cooking today; why don't you, Janessa, and Kathleen help her out in the kitchen and make yummy deserts." Said Genevieve.
"Can we really help her?" asked Janessa as she came into the room, followed by Kathleen.
"Of course, you all can; I need lots of help. besides the more help, the faster I finish." Added Edaline as she walked out of the kitchen.
"Just make sure to go get ready an hour before the ball starts, or you won't have time to get ready." Said Genevieve as they all nodded.
"There's my favorite nephew." Said Courtney walking in as she took hold of Henry.
"You say that about all of them." Said Edaline chuckling.
"What can I say? I love my nephew and nieces." Said Courtney as she was playing with Henry.
After everything that had happened, she had finally found some peace; she felt a bit happier with everything that happened with Levi.
But she was still a bit hurt from what happened, but I see that Bailey has been there for her as well, making sure she feels better.
This brought some concern to Genevieve could Bailey be interested in her sister? Courtney just got out of one marriage; could this really help her.
"Thanks again for taking care of Henry, Courtney." Said Genevieve as Courtney just smiled.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm happy to help any way I can; besides, I love being with Henry." Said Courtney.
"Do you ever think about having children, Courtney?" asked Hadley as she walked in.
"Maybe… I do love children, but I need to find the right person for that." Said Courtney.
"Oh, I don't think that will be hard; I see what you've been up to." Said Fallon smirking while Courtney pretended not to listen and went back to Henry.
"Do you know you have very nosy aunts, Henry?" said Courtney to him as he only laughed.
"Come on, Courtney, we all know something is going on between you and Bailey; what is he again?" asked Edaline.
"Isn't he a duke?" asked Hadley.
"I think he is." Said Fallon, Smiling.
"I have nothing to say here; come on, Henry, let's go and play." Said Courtney as she took him, and Genevieve only smiled; she loved that she and all her sisters still had excellent communication.
"Well… everyone, let's get to work; we have a big day ahead of us." Said Genevieve as she got up and headed the list of the food to Edaline; she smiled and headed to the kitchen.
Then she headed the list to Fallon the presents.
"Fallon, I need you to buy some last-minute presents for me." Said Genevieve.
"Of course." She said as she looked at the list and got confused.
"We're having special guests, and Hadley will go you to pick them up in the royal sled." Said Genevieve as she handed a letter to Hadley.
"Give this to his mother, and this will tell her everything and what she should bring; by the time you get there, Phoenix won't be here. That way, Courtney and you can help them get ready for the ball." Finished Genevieve.
"Alright then, are you ready? Hadley?" asked Fallon as she nodded excitedly, and they left to do their errands, and Genevieve got ready to decorate; she and Isla worked on the Ballroom, what used to be their room.
They put up the tree where the flower stones used to be, while Tobias and Philip put some tables by the entrance where the food and refreshments would be and did more preparations throughout the day.
Princess Edaline
Boom! Crash!
"Girls be careful; I don't want you to hurt yourselves." Said Edaline as she reminded herself that they were almost done; they only needed a few more deserts to be done.
"Well, it looks like we're almost done. Thanks for the help, girls; we just need a few more deserts, then you can go play for a while before going to change." Finished Edaline.
"Can we make some cupcakes?" asked Janessa.
"What about chocolate cake or pie?" said Lacey.
"Or cookies." Said Kathleen.
"Well…. We have enough pumpkin pie, pudding, and oh yes, we need more cookies and cupcakes, then we can make some cake, Janessa, you mix the batter for the cupcakes." Said Edaline as she looked at the list.
"Lacey and Kathleen make the batter for the cookies, and I'll make the cake batter." She said as they all nodded and started working.
A few hours passed, and they were doing the last batter, and the triplets had just filled up the pans, and Edaline was with the previous cake batter.
"It smells amazing here." Said Philip as he entered the kitchen; Edaline couldn't help but stare at him, it had been three days since they talked, and he tried to get close to her.
She thought he had given up, but maybe he hasn't yet. "Thanks, Philip; we were helping Edaline cook and bake all day." Said Janessa.
"She's just stirring the last cake mix." Said Lacey.
"That's enough, girls; thanks for the help. You can go on and play for a while, but then you have to get ready for the party." Said Edaline.
"Before we go, can you put the pans inside the over for us, Philip?" asked Janessa.
"Yeah, we're not allowed to be near the over, and Edaline is busy." Said Kathleen and they all left giggling.
"Girls?! I'm sorry, Philip, you don't have to do it. I'm almost done here. I can do it." Said Edaline.
"No, I have nothing to do. I'll help you out; it's no trouble at all." Said Philip as he put the pans inside the oven before Edaline had the chance to say anything.
As she finished, she put the batter in a pan and inserted it into an oven; when she looked behind her to do the dishes, she saw that Philip was already washing them.
He had just finished and was standing there now looking at her as she was looking at him; nothing was said; there was just silence.
"Thank you… You didn't have to do that to help me with the kitchen." Said Edaline as she smiled at him; after their talk, she felt a bit better; she didn't have the sensation of having to run away.
"It was no trouble; I helped my mother bake and cook, so I'm familiar with the kitchen." Finished Philip.
"Oh, that's awesome… will you be at the ball?" asked Edaline, hoping not to be too obvious.
"Yes, my family usually spends it here, so I will meet them here soon… would you like some help decorating the cupcakes and cake?" he asked.
"Don't tell me you're good at that too?" she asked with a smile.
"Well…. I don't like to brag, but yes, I am." He said with a smirk.
"Is there anything you're not good at?" asked Edaline as Philip thought for a moment.
"Croquet." He said, chuckling.
"What? No way! That is like my favorite game. I used to play it all the time with Delia; it's a straightforward game; how do you not know?" asked Edaline.
"I just never learned. I saw people play, but I was never taught, so I never learned." He said as he and Edaline both laughed.
Ding!
"Great, just in time, the food is ready." Said Edaline as she and Philip took out the deserts.
"Where are the decoration things? Oh, found it," asked Philip as Edaline was surprised.
"You're going to stay?" asked Edaline.
"I told you I was going to help you; I'm not going to let you do this by yourself; it's a lot of work; besides, I'll probably be stuffing my face with these deserts too. So, might as well help you." Said Philip causing Edaline to smile as they both started Decorating the deserts.
Princess Hadley
"Here we are, Hadley; do you have Genevieve's note?" asked Fallon.
As Hadley nodded excitedly and raced to the door, she was overjoyed; she knew this was one present she knew Phoenix would love. She knocked on the door, and a small brunette-haired girl opened the door; it must be Phoenix's little sister; she resembles him a bit.
"Hi, you must be Phoenix's little sister, right?" said Hadley.
"I am Phoenix's only sister; who are you?" she asked.
"I am Hadley, and this is my big sister Fallon, is your mom around?" she asked.
The little girl nodded and smiled as she called her mother and came up to the door with a little boy behind her; she had also had brunette hair which made Hadley know where they got the brown hair from.
While the little boy had black hair, he probably got it from their father. "Hello, can I help you?" said the lady.
"Charlotte, it is, right? My name is Hadley, and this is my sister Fallon; we have come to escort you and your family to help out with a big surprise." Said Hadley as Charlotte got confused.
"I don't understand?" said Charlotte.
"My sister Genevieve sends this letter for you." Said Hadley as she handed her the letter.
Dear charlotte,
You probably know me by the title of Queen Genevieve, but in short words, I am Genevieve, my husband, king Derek, and I would love it if your family would join us this Christmas year.
My sister Hadley talks with your son Phoenix, our personal guard and Derek's best friend, and she got the idea of wanting to surprise him this Christmas year by bringing in his family.
It would be an honor if you accepted to be our private guest and stay with us at the palace; it would give us a chance to get to know each other.
It would be my pleasure to meet the woman who had helped my husband when he was a child, please bring a few things you might need, but we have most items here. Please accept our offer and help my sister Hadley surprise Phoenix.
Sincerely, Queen Genevieve
When Charlotte finished reading the card, she was shocked.
"So, that means you are…..." said Charlotte as she was beginning to bow down, but Hadley stopped her.
"No, Charlotte, please. You don't have to bow down." Said Hadley as she picked her up.
"But you two are royalty, the princesses of Glidonia." Said Charlotte as the little girl got excited.
"They are mama?" asked the boy.
"Yes, Liam dear. Lilian, dear, go pack some things were going on a trip." Said Charlotte.
"Where mother?" asked Lilian.
"To the palace." Said Fallon.
"Would you like that?" asked Hadley as she kneeled.
"Well, hurry up and pack up a few things then; the royal sled is ready whenever you are." Said Hadley as Lilian and Liam went to pack with excitement.
"Thank you so much, your highnesses." Said Charlotte as Hadley smiled.
"Charlotte is no problem, and you can call me Hadley." She said as she went over and helped her; they carried the things to the carriage and headed on to the palace whenever they finished.
"Don't you have coachmen?" asked Lilian.
"Yes, we do, but they have days off, especially these three days since it's Christmas; we give our staff the day off and the guards, but we keep some of the ones that want to stay." Said Fallon as the little girl nodded.
Queen Genevieve
Genevieve couldn't believe the time; it was two hours before the party, and everything was ready; the tree was in the middle beautiful and decorated, and tables around the entrance with plates, glassware, punch, and more drinks.
Food, deserts, and there a few tables with Christmas cloths with chairs on the far side to not block the center of the dance floor, the red carpet at the entrance and the walls decorated with lights and bells and a few of Genevieve's surprises.
"Done, now I can go and get ready." Said Genevieve as she went to her room to get ready; the triplets were prepared and had the things she told them to collect.
Genevieve put on a long dark blue dress with sleeves; the top and bottom of the dress were decorated with golden patterns of leaves, and her hair was in a braided bun with loose curls.
As she puts the brush down, she sees the door open; it was Hadley with Charlotte, her daughter, and her younger son, followed by the rest of her sisters. They brought their stuff to get them ready, Charlotte and themselves; Derek was going to work on the boy; he must have sent Phoenix to change already, so he should be here any minute.
"Charlotte, my name is Genevieve, and these are the rest of my sisters, Courtney, Edaline, and Isla; she's Hadley's twin, and the triplets Janessa, Kathleen, and Lacey." Said Genevieve as they bowed down and then rose.
"Thank you so much for coming." Said Genevieve as Charlotte smiled, and Derek entered with Henry and raced to hug Charlotte.
"Derek, you've grown so much since last time, and now you're a father; your mother would be so proud of you if she was still here." Said Charlotte as she smiled.
"Thank you, Charlotte; I came to collect Liam, he's getting ready with us, and then I'll bring him back, so you guys can walk together to meet Phoenix." Said Derek as Charlotte nodded, and they left, and the princesses did their work.