Author's note: I thought about skipping this chapter, because it goes back over some events, but I thought that Cedric's POV on those incidents was really interesting, especially his thoughts while he was hesitating before getting back into the bed. Plus we get to see what happened between the bedroom scene and Sofia refusing the soup. Also, I love the scene at the end of this one and couldn't work it in to the last chapter as well as I did here... Anyway, this is more like chapter 2.5, sorry. But, that's also why I only waited a day to publish it, even though I'm gonna start spacing this one out more.
Something soft tickled Cedric's arm, dragging him half-way out of the best slumber he'd had in a very long time. He was just about to write it off as his imagination and go back to sleep when he felt it again. It feels like... fingertips? Confused, he peeked through his lashes, only to find the newest princess of Enchancia tracing the tattoos on his bare upper arm, staring at him with fascination as she brushed lightly across the flesh. Quickly, he caught her wrist, stopping the child's forays.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, brat?" He demanded, gripping her little arm tightly. She ducked her head, hastily uttering an apology. He took a deep breath, reminding himself that the girl was ill, and didn't seem to handle criticism well even when she wasn't.
"I must have fallen asleep." He mused, letting go of her. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes." Sofia squeaked nervously. Cedric feigned a yawn, anxious to return to his tower and leave the recovered child alone.
"Good. I'm going, now." He pulled himself upright on the mattress, swinging his legs over the side.
"Wait." Sofia cried out, squeezing his fingers. How long has she been holding hands with me? Cedric wondered, glancing down at their joined hands with mild alarm. He broke the contact quickly, putting some space between himself and the girl. "Y-your... Your robe." She reminded him, though she made no attempt to unwrap herself.
"It's fine. Just return it tomorrow." Cedric climbed out of the bed, but Sofia reached out and took his hand again, stopping him just as he was taking his first steps towards the door.
"Please... don't leave me alone." She whispered. Cedric stared down at her in astonishment. That's right... she's always alone, isn't she? Someone to care for you when you're sick, isn't that what anyone would hope for? Memories of his own childhood tried to creep to the surface, but Cedric swallowed hard, forcing them back to the hidden recesses of his mind. Finally, he decided that he was not the sort of man that would deny a sick child such a basic comfort, no matter how irritating she might be.
"Budge up." Sofia scooted over as told, and Cedric reclaimed his spot at the top of the bed. "Just for a minute, though." He warned, not wanting the girl to mistake his pity for kindness.
"I'll stay up until then." She offered, smiling brightly at him.
"You'll do no such thing. You need sleep to get better." He admonished her gruffly. "If I think you're keeping yourself up, I'll-" He looked over to see if she was heeding him, only to find the girl fast asleep already. What's with this brat?
Cedric slowly inched his way out of the bed again, careful not to wake Sofia as he moved. He slipped from the room as silently as possible. Stalking through the empty palace corridors, he came to the front entrance and pushed the door wide. The early dawn air was chilly, and he wished he had his robe, but at least the cool breeze brought some relief to his troubled thoughts. Days spent alone in the tower, taking care of myself because there was no one else to rely on. I don't want to remember these things. He told himself, patting his trouser pockets in search of an item that wasn't there.
"Fuck!" He cursed, remembering that he'd left his cigarettes in his robe pocket. With nothing left to do, he went back inside. Having already slept more than he was accustomed to, he wasn't tired anymore, but he was too lost in thought to get any work done, either. He returned to his tower to dress, then paced the floor for a while before deciding to get some breakfast. It's been almost two full days since I've eaten. No wonder I'm so agitated.
Even at this early hour, the kitchen was a whirlwind of activity as servants rushed here and there preparing to serve the Royal Family their breakfast. It finally occurred to him, as he watched the omelettes being cooked, that Sofia's dinner had been interrupted, too. She must be starving by now...
"Do you have any chicken soup?" He asked a lanky, frantic looking chef as he was dashing by to grab something from a cupboard. The man paused long enough to shake his head before continuing on his mission. Cedric pushed his way to the food stores and gathered some vegetables, broth, and dry noodles, then rummaged through the fridge for a bit of chicken. Satisfied, he took his bundle back to the workshop. It can't be that difficult to make, right?
About two hours later, and after more trips to the kitchen to restock supplies than he would like to admit, his workshop was littered with pots and cauldrons filled with failed attempts. He was just getting ready to give up on the idea entirely when he tasted his current batch. It's not going to win any awards, but it'll do. He removed the pot from the heat source below before it had a chance to burn again.
Leaving it to cool, he rinsed the spot on his hand where he got scalded on his first attempt, then wrapped a bandage around the injury. Next, he brewed some elderberry tea, since it was supposed to be good for the immune system. Finally finished, he placed everything onto a tray, checking it over with satisfaction. S'right, the sooner the brat gets better, the sooner things can go back to normal around here.
He was just bringing the meal to Sofia when he spotted the maid knocking on her door to collect her for school.
"Thank you, Violet, but-" Sofia began to explain from within the antechamber.
"The Princess is sick. I discovered her in the kitchens last night with a high fever and sent her to bed." Sofia opened the door further and Cedric could tell by the crimson of her cheeks that she wasn't anywhere near well enough to be up and walking around. "She shouldn't even be out of bed." He added pointedly, shooting her a stern glare.
"Oh... Alright. I can take that in and make sure she gets some rest." Violet told him, reaching for the tray. He felt a hint of disappointment at not being able to deliver the soup he'd put so much effort into making, but it wasn't really the sort of thing he could argue about. It was her job, not his, to take care of the girl, after all. Besides, this makes her someone else's problem. He handed the tray over to the maid, letting go as soon as he could be sure she wouldn't drop it, then began to walk back to his workshop.
"I'm not hungry!" Sofia insisted, loudly enough for him to hear. The next sound was that of a door being slammed. Cedric turned to see the maid standing in the hallway, her face a mix of uncertainty and... sadness? Cedric couldn't be sure, but that was definitely the impression he got before she hurried away.
He returned to the tower, but once again found himself unable to concentrate on work. Instead, he kept thinking about the scene he'd witnessed in the hall, and how completely out of line Sofia had been. Despite trying to convince himself that her tantrum was none of his concern, it continued to nag at him. Annoyed, he stormed back down to her room, determined to give her a piece of his mind.
Taking a deep breath, he flung open the door and marched up to the girl's bedside. Sofia was curled up on the mattress, obscured entirely by her coverlet save for a small portion of her face, which peered at him miserably.
"Go away!" She demanded, pulling the fabric down over even that little bit. Undeterred, Cedric yanked the blanket off of her, ignoring her small squeak of protest.
"No. I have something to say to you, and you are going to listen, damn it!" He paced the floor, collecting his thoughts before speaking again. "You behaved like a rude, spoiled brat. The way you treated your maid earlier was completely uncalled for."
"I didn't want that person to take care of me." Sofia explained quietly, face flushing in anger.
"Why not? That's her job, innit?" Cedric demanded, flummoxed by her words. "She was only trying to-"
"Because it's her job!" Sofia spat out, surprising both of them with her interruption. She clamped a hand over her mouth, just now coming to terms with why she reacted the way she had earlier. She didn't want anyone to pretend to be concerned for her out of obligation, she wanted someone to actually worry over her, the way Cedric seemed to the night before. She stared up at him, willing him to understand a feeling she didn't have any words for.
"I see..." He paused, recognising her frustration. "All the same, I want you to apologise to her. Understand?" Sofia nodded firmly, gripping the bottom of her nightgown in determination. If it would make him less angry with her, then apologising to Violet was something she could easily do.
"I have work to do. Get more sleep, you still look like shit." Cedric informed her, quickly taking his leave.