Days slipped by and Cedric refused to leave his room, and this left Sofia to deal with everything on her own. If she needed his signature and seal, she would go to him and he would give it.

It wasn't until the twelfth day he finally emerged from his room and Sofia was shocked to see him up and about before her. He was clean, dressed, and sitting at his writing desk when she arrived to wake him. He had continued to keep the hair above his lip, but now he was allowing it to grow around his mouth into a well-trimmed goatee.

In her eyes it defiantly made him look older, but she couldn't say she neither liked it nor disliked it. But she accepted that if it made him happy than it was going to stay, and she couldn't say one way or the other. But she did wonder why he seemed so set on changing his appearance; was it to distance himself from who he was? Was he going through some new kind of crisis?

She didn't have the answer to these questions as she moved to his said and, to her surprise, he looked at her and smiled. She had never seen him smile in such a way! At least not since she was very young! The smile was wide, and his body language was relaxed like he had a weight taken off his shoulders. She looked up and down with a frown and a look of curiosity as she took in the loose shirt and breeches, he relaxed in.

"Sofia?"

She jumped a little when she heard him say her name and she cleared her throat as she waved the maid into the room and had the tray placed beside him on the writing-table. She didn't miss the way he looked at the maid, his eyes darkened a bit, but shrugged it off as she looked at the papers in her hands.

"Are you ready to continue your responsibilities, my Lord?" She asked as pulled out a list given to her by the cooks in the kitchens detailing recommended dishes for the Ball.

"Yes, I believe I have had plenty of time to rest." He said as he took the paper from her hand and began to read it. It went on like this, him reading and signing off on papers. If he wasn't sure of something he conferred with Sofia and considered her opinion. When finished he stood, and Sofia handed him one last paper.

"What's this?" He asked as he read the paper.

"You have been holed up in this room for some time my Lord… I have scheduled an appearance in the village… Nothing big just to have face with the citizens. Just to go through on a horse or in a carriage and wave at them and to assuage any rumors that have formed wh-"

"Rumors? What kind of rumors?" He sounded a little curious at the news and he looked at her blinking. Sofia still thought he was acting too strange, but she went with it as she thought about the rumors that had spread among the castle workers and in turn, the villagers.

"Mostly word has spread that you had fallen ill with some life-threatening sickness that not even magic can cure." She shrugged and to her surprise, Cedric laughed at this.

"I suppose the fresh air will do me some good." He said as he turned and walked out the door. Sofia blanched at the fact he walked out in such frumpy attire and was quick to grab a tailored jacket and his crown. As they walked through the halls Cedric continued to read the paper through as Sofia coaxed him into the jacket and tried to fix his hair before placing the crown on his head. He sighed and handed her the list before fixing it himself and straightening the jacket.

By the time they reached the stables Sofia had gotten guards together for his escort and the horse master already prepared a black-winged stallion for him, Sofia getting the dappled mare once more and his escort either having to walk or received regular horses to ride. Everything was for a show for the public. Ride through the street for all to see he was perfectly healthy, give a few nods, and wave to the children…

It was simple and there was nothing for him to mess up.

And that was exactly what happened!

Word had gotten around fast that the small parade was coming down from the castle and sure enough the villagers came to line the streets to see what was happening. Sofia watched diligently, not only for the safety of Cedric but the people, holding her breath with every move Cedric made. She tensed when he raised his hand but relaxed when she saw he was only waving at the onlookers.

Sofia saw it wasn't as jovial as when her family had their surprise parades and she worried that this would get to the man riding beside her. But he was so calm and that alone made her even more uncomfortable. She slyly leaned over, making it look like she was just adjusting her position on her mount and sniffed the air around him… No, he wasn't drunk.

Letting the curious behavior go for now they continued through the streets, planning to circle around and make their way back to the castle. It was the moment Cedric pulled the reins to his horse that redirected Sofia's focus back to him. She watched as he steered the black-winged stallion, Cimarron, closer to the onlookers. The citizens looked nervous as he drew closer to them and stood stiffly when he came to a stop, his mount making irritated nickering sounds.

Two children were standing there with their parents holding them by their shoulders and pulling them close as they looked up at Cedric with fear. If he noticed the fear for him, he didn't acknowledge it as he leaned down toward the young girl who was being held by her father. He held her wide gaze and smiled as his eyes slid to her basket and studied what she was selling.

"How much?" He asked and the little girl blinked for a moment before holding up her basket so Cedric could investigate it better. It was filled with flowers of varying colors and he made a show of humming and hawing over the choices.

"Three coppers for one my Lord." She said and Cedric sat straight, patting his 'pockets' making a show of looking for coins. He then smiled and, to the slight irritation of Sofia, plucked one of the gold buttons from his attire and held up for the child to see. He made her giggle a bit as he rolled and flipped the piece of gold between his long thin fingers. It glowed as he did this, but it quickly faded as he dropped it into her basket and held up two fingers, indicating he wanted two flowers. The girl handed over two small flowers with a large grin and Cedric took them with a nod before urging Cimarron forward to continue the small parade.

Sofia watched, heart pounding from the slight panic attack she experienced watching him and sighed in relief when he moved on. The precession continued on and Sofia watched, waiting for her heart to finish drumming against her chest before she rejoined them.

"Papa look!"

Sofia glanced over to the small family to see what the little girl was so excited about.