All at once, the floodgates opened and his words started to spill out…

"I simply don't understand how I could be born to such greatness and be left so incredibly inept. From what I understand, magical talent should be in our genetics and I should at least have SOME hidden talent. I have had to work extraordinarily hard to reach this point in my life and even now it isn't good enough."

Sofia continued to sit in silence, holding his hand softly and letting him spill some of his deepest thoughts.

"What must I do to prove that I am worthy? I keep asking myself the same questions and trying to wrap my head around this…this unknown equation but it is no use. I cannot win. And why is it that my own father cannot stand me? He has always been distant and every single time I started to improve my skills, he seemed even more disgusted with me. I don't know what I did to be such a disappointment to him."

Cedric was frustrated and bitter, there was no hiding any of that, but he felt like a weight was slowly lifting from him the more he spoke his thoughts out loud.

"What is even worse is that my Mum never did anything to keep him from treating me like an outcast. I know that he resented giving me our family wand and he makes sure he mentions it any time I have to see him. 'I don't know why I entrusted the wand to you, Merlin knows you will never pass it on.,' it is like the insults never stopped and the only rebuttal my Mummy ever offered was a casual, 'Don't listen to him Ceddykins,' as thought that made up for the verbal assault."

Sofia's heart was breaking for him and she wanted to say something, anything, but she couldn't find the words. She knew there had always been tension in his house but Cedric rarely spoke of his father and the only inclination she had of their relationship was an experience at Mystic Meadows many years before.

"This is why I find it absolutely necessary to perfect my transmutation spell and prove, once and for all, that I am not just a shadow of my father. This Quadricentennial is my chance. I will win over the kingdom, the King, and my father. Then no one shall refer to me as only Goodwin the Great's son. I will finally have a name!"

He knew he had gotten too worked up but it felt good to let it go.

"Cedric, I don't even know where to begin."

"You don't have to say anything Princess. I…I just needed to talk to someone."

"And I am glad you talked to me, I really am, but I need you to know that what everyone else thinks doesn't matter. I don't…"

"I know you don't think it matters," Cedric cut her off abruptly, "but when you're a Princess that comes with privilege and no one looks at you and expects you to be anything."

Sofia shot daggers at him, eyes starting to swell.

"I…I didn't mean that," Cedric was never one to articulate properly when he was nervous or excitable.

"You're right. No one expects me to be my father but I still know what truly matters and obviously you're too hung up on your own pride to be able to see that."

She was right and he knew it.

"I am sorry Sofia."

She had already begun to clear the bench and pack things back into her basket. Her tears were flowing freely now but she remained silent. She always wanted to help him see himself in a different light but how could she do that if he was so caught up in pride?

"Sofia, please don't," he said as he softly placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Cedric, stop."

Cedric removed his hand and took a step back. Her body was turned away from him but she could feel the distance between them and that void was cold.

She spun around to face him directly, "Cedric, look, I am sorry. I am not angry at you. I just wish you can see what I see and I get so frustrated that you don't see that. I like the man you are, no matter whose son he is.

Without thinking he closed the gap between them and embraced her in a hug.

"I wish I could, Princess, I wish I could."

Sofia let herself stay in his embrace a while longer before pulling away slightly and letting her hands find his.

"I fed you and now I am going to leave you to your work. I know that this is important to you and even though I don't agree with your motivation, I want you to be proud of yourself and what you do out there."

"You're simply amazing. I promise, this will be over and done with the day after tomorrow. You'll see."

Her shoulders were heavy, as was her heart, but she wanted him to be happy. They said their goodnights and he walked her to the workshop door, as was now customary for them.

When Cedric came back to his desk he felt a pain of guilt. Sofia was right and he wanted so much to be able to let go but maybe he just wasn't as good of a man as Sofia thought.