Arriving back at the castle Cedric and dismounted without looking at the guards or the horse master. He made his way toward the castle, humming to himself and Sofia arrived behind the last of the guards looking confused and worried after Cedrics retreating back as he vanished into the Castle.

"Lady Sofia?" She looked to a guard who stared toward the castle before looking at her. "Is he okay?"

"I don't know but I'll figure out what's going on I promise." She said and he nodded as he looked back toward the castle.

"I don't know what's more unsettling… His volatile nature or him being overly happy." He mumbled and Sofia just shook her head as she turned away to enter the castle. Looking around she frowned wondering where Cedric had gone. Sighing she made her way to the stairs, seeing one of the maids polishing a suit of armor and cleared her throat.

"Did you see which way the King went?" She asked and the maid looked at her, a young woman with muddy brown hair.

"He went in the direction of the study my Lady." She said and Sofia nodded before turning and going the opposite direction. She moved quickly up the stairs and through the halls. Every step she took was filled with purpose and her jaw was set as she thought back to the little girl as she excitedly showed her parents her basket. Sofia assumed it was to show off the golden button, that small bobble would have been enough to get them decent food for half the month. What Sofia saw was every little flower in the little girl's basket turning gold. Sofia knew the catalyst for the transfiguration charm would have had to have been the button. But the reason Cedric would show such kindness eluded her and she reasoned that whatever caused such a change had to be in his room.

When she reached the room, she was quick to enter and close the door, looking around to see if she could see anything that would give any clues.

She sifted through papers on his writing desk and looked under his bed. Searched the side tables and even skimmed through his many books. Nothing seemed off about any of what was there, and she frowned as she looked through a drawer, looking confused at a bowl of fruit and setting it aside to look through more papers. When she found nothing there, she sat in the chair and looked around exasperated wondering what could have caused such a sudden change in him.

Her eyes fell on the stand holding a large heavy tome.

Sofia recognized it as one of the Goodwin's family spellbooks.

Something clicked in Sofia's head and she quickly went to it and opened the heavy cover. Combing through she skimmed hexes, charms, and finally potions. She flipped through the pages, finding some potions that seemed interesting. Most of them where different healing brews but one caught her eye and she read the page. From what she could gather from the messy scrawl it was created to help suppress one's most negative personality traits to make one more appealing to others. Warnings were smudged to her annoyance.

"You have to be kidding me…" She breathed as she read on. She was somewhat proud that he was actively trying to change but suppressing any part of your emotions to such an extreme was dangerous and never the answer.

"Three days… So, he will be like this for another three before he will need more…" She mumbled and looked up at the door with a frown. With a heavy breath, she gripped the two pages that detailed the potion and ripped them from the book. She paled, seeing what she had done but held steadfast in her choice as she folded the pages and hid them in her breast pocket, closed the book and swiftly exited the room. She needed to get back to her tower and have Wormwood take the pages to Cedric's family, far out of reach.

"For his own good… He needs to learn how to handle it without using tricks like this." She hissed to herself, mostly an attempt to convince herself that it was the right thing. She especially didn't want him on some elixir when the Ball came around! The suiters needed to see what they are facing if they did pursue him.

Cedric hummed as he sat in his study.

Maps detailing the new trade routes were strewn about and he was looking over some of the letters of the bachelorettes who had accepted the invitation to the Ball. He felt nothing but contentment and he knew that wasn't right. He should feel nervous or even happy, but he was just content, and he wasn't even sure if he liked it or not.

One letter caught his eye and he blinked at it. Ivory parchment and curling writing made with rich dark green ink. It was from his family…

More than from just his family, judging by the had writting, it was from his father. It was an answer to his invitation, and it was just two simple lines;

"Thank you for the chance to witness such an important occasion.
What should we wear?"

- Goodwin the Great

No love was given…

Cedric felt nothing as he read the two lines over and over. Sighing he stood from his seat and left the study to find Sofia. He wanted to show her the letter, to show he did what she had recommended.

He hummed to himself, a nameless tune as he walked.

He had de-ja-vu seeing the long hallway before him but jut he couldn't place where he had seen it... Other than every single day of his life when he walked through it. He could feel the panic and anxiety trying to rise but it couldn't take hold in him, the elixir he used kept him disjointed from every negative feeling and, to his realization, the good too. It was for the best in his opinion, finding a haze of contentment preferable to the outbursts of rage and panic.

When he arrived at the far side of the castle and climbed the dark stairs he began to wonder if he should even bother Sofia at this time, since she never came to check on him once they had arrived back. Shaking his head, a little, deciding he had every right to bother her in his own home. Remembering what had happened the last time he came to the tower Cedric knocked on the door and listened for her to give permission to enter, not wanting to catch her indecent again. There was a lot of scuffling around and hurried footsteps before the door opened with a flustered Sofia standing there looking at him.

"My Lord!. W-What brings you here?" She asked as she stood aside for him to enter. He held out the letter to her as he passed, and she took it reading the short response. He watched her face light up and she smiled at him.

"You invited them? This is wonderful! You can begin rebuilding your family relationship!" She said happily and he just nodded numbly in agreement.

"Yes… I thought this would please you and I was right…" He stated as he looked around the room. He didn't see Wormwood and he frowned. "Is that old bird out?"

Sofia looked confused for a moment and then it dawned on her what he was asking.

"OH… Yeah, he goes off sometimes… I think it's to goes someplace quieter to sleep." She said with a shrug and Cedric only nodded. She studied him as he looked around the room and frowned as she took in his dull eyes and blank expression.

"Are… Are you doing well my Lord?" He looked at her, actually seeming confused by her inquiry. "I mean you seem a little… Unwell." She tried to clarify and still he just stared, no anger or annoyance insight.

"I am well Sofia… Better than I have been in a long time in fact." Cedric said and he looked away, eyes falling on a vase with wilted flowers. "Your flowers are dead…"

She just nodded as she looked at the short letter in her hands with a frown, feeling Goodwin could have been a little warmer in his response. She noted she should send a message herself asking for the size of their heads. After all the parents of the King should have their own circlets at least.

In her musings, she never saw Cedric remove the wilted flowers and replace it with a single solid gold poppy. He then went back to the door with a mumbled goodbye which Sofia returned distractedly.