"Oooohhhh! Mama, I got a painting on a wood board! An acorn in scrollwork!"Ceres ran to her mother.
The same page who had given Ceres the board handed another two to Minako.
"They must have been sent by the same person. Look."
Minako held up another board.
"A shell with the planetary symbol of Venus in it."she held up the third one. "And a white tiger and umbrella."
Opening the correspondence was one of Ceres liked most. Her mother's subjects would send letters, cards, drawings, gifts. She took the three drawings and looked about the room for somewhere to hang them. She always kept everything. In china cabinets were the numerous cards. The drawings and colorings had been framed and hung around the room. Minako also received her correspondence here when she was in residence at Ceres, which never seemed long enough for her. She would have to return to Magellan again soon.
"Behind my desk, I think!"Ceres decided.
Minako nodded.
"And?"she asked.
"This is one I should reply myself?"she asked.
Although she loved opening the correspondence, writing was never one of her favorite things. She much preferred to dictate to her scribe.
"This one is one you should write in your own hand."
Minako usually had her choose at least twenty things which she would reply in her own hand. More if she liked, but at least twenty. And sometimes she did decide to write more. Ceres decided this would be one of them, and put the card that came with them aside in a separate pile. She would write this one and the others after she finished opening the rest of the correspondence and before she dictated the others.
"An entire schoolroom of fifteen students wrote to me, Mama!"she exclaimed.
"I like to receive things from my subjects my own age!"
As she finished reading them, a valet came and announced that Kunzite was to arrive at the palace just before supper.
"Your father will be bringing someone different along."Minako told Ceres, after a pause.
"I know. Half of my household will be Terrans, so I can learn to speak good Terran, as well as other customs. I'm the Lady of the Evening Star, too. So Papa will be selecting some people over there, as well."
"This someone will be even more different. She will also be your father's daughter."
Ceres paused in thought.
"I don't have sisters. Planetary princesses only have one daughter."
"Think of it as that the Duchess of Ceres can't have sisters, but the Lady of the Evening Star can. And does."
"Is Your Grace going to receive your father like a little lady or not?"asked Launcekrona, as she buckled Ceres's Mary Janes. "Ladies curtsey, for one. And they certainly don't run."
Getting on her feet, Ceres and curtseyed for Launcekrona, who nodded.
"I'll be surprised if you remember to do so, Your Grace."
"I will."Ceres promised, as she took Launcekrona's hand, and Launcekrona led her to the hall.
Launcekrona was right. As soon as they entered the chamber, Ceres let go of her hand, and ran towards her parents. It was certainly a good thing the parlor was carpeted, otherwise, thought Launcekrona, she might have slipped.
"Not too much of a lady."said Launcekrona.
"I was supposed to curtsey."Ceres remembered, embracing Kunzite. "And walk."
"I think there will be plenty of time for you to remember to do so."said Kunzite, as he put her on her feet.
"But I was supposed to."
"Not for another thirty or so years."said Minako.
Kunzite raised his eyebrows.
"Thirty."
"That's how long it took me before I remembered to greet my parents properly."she said defensively.
"Then let's hope Shinju is a much faster learner than her mother."he said, as he reached at the table next to him, and handed Ceres a doll.
"A new one!"Ceres exclaimed.
The doll wore a veil of what seemed to be oats, and instead of a bouquet she carried what was a horn of plenty spilling acorns. Kunzite always brought her and her mother lots of gifts whenever he went to Earth. Yards and yards of silks, including sea silk, handfuls and handfuls of precious gemstones, and each time, a doll for her.
"Will she have a name?"asked Minako.
"Yes. But I haven't decided it yet."
"It's time for your supper, Your Grace."Launcekrona said, as she took her hand.
"I want to have supper with Mama and Papa."
"No."
"Not tonight."
Reluctantly Ceres let Launcekrona lead her back to her own rooms.
Fayruza was born before Kunzite married Minako. I know just how you feel. I did think about it a lot before including her in the story, as Kunzite and Minako are my favorite couple as well. They are definitely happily married.
I never imagined any of the shittenou being celibate before marrying the senshi. And if they did keep mistresses, I guess it is logical that they had children.