There was a house in the woods.
And so for sixteen long years the whereabouts of the princess remained a mystery, while deep in the forest, in a woodcutter's cottage, the good fairies carried out their well-laid plan. Living like mortals, they had reared the child as their own and called her Christi.
A window of the cottage opened, and Christi appeared, humming some tune.
Christi was a young woman, magically blessed with wavy waist-length ebony hair like the night sky, blue eyes, a tall and slender figure, and lips that shamed the red rose. Her skin was fair and flawless. Her face was less rounded and more refined, giving her an appearance of maturity rather than youth despite being only sixteen.
As a peasant, she wore a black bodice over a grey long-sleeved calf-length frock with a white petticoat, and went barefoot. She wore a black headband and carried a purple shawl when going out.
On this her sixteenth birthday the good fairies had planned a party and something extra special for her surprise.
Shinobu was clumsily sewing a dress.
Kanae was clumsily baking a cake.
Kanao surveyed them all with disgust, and brought out their wands. "It's been sixteen years, and I won't have her see this mess!"
With a few waves, everything was beautiful.