Strange Sickness

Since I thought that the celebration of her arrival was something extremely important, I took extra care in dressing up for the occasion. Instead of making it a state affair, the king had opted to arrange a small dinner party for the royal family members and some prominent members of nobility instead.

"Can I ask a question?" I asked Prince Leonard while we were getting dressed.

"What is it that you want to ask about?" He asked without looking my way.

"This might sound a little strange," I said before hesitating.

"Just ask away," the prince replied encouragingly. He turned to face me, and I could tell that I had his undivided attention at that moment, which made me even more nervous to state my question.

"Didn't they know in advance that the baby is a girl?" I asked the question that had been burning on my mind for a couple of days now.