The couple ate slowly talking a little as they tried to figure out something to talk about, some common ground other than magic. Instead, Sofia listened to Cedric talk about some ideas he had been having, from the school to possibly funding for larger cattle farms since their trade in leather had gone up and maybe reopening more of the mines since there had some magic users inquire about stones for alchemic purposes. Sofia watched him talk, never looking at her long, always looking at his plate or in his cup. The few times he did look he seemed to become flustered and look away again, unsure of what to say to her.

She began to wonder if having him drink would be better. At least he would be less fidgety and more open when it came to talking, even if he risked becoming emotional. She really didn't want to talk about work when they should be talking about other things. What she wasn't sure, but she knew it shouldn't be work.

"Would you like to go on an outing on the water this coming weekend my Lord?" She asked interrupting him and she watched his shoulders tense, but his face remained relaxed. He took a large gulp of tea before answering and cleared his throat.

"I… I do not particularly like being on the water…" He said and watched as Sofia pouted slightly and look at her plate.

"To bad… It has been a long time since I had been on a ship and I thought a day at sea may be nice…" She said and shrugged slightly. She didn't miss Cedric audibly swallowing and he poked at his steak with a slight 'hum' and 'haw' sound. He acted like he was thinking about it, but in reality, she had him the moment she pouted, and he smiled weakly at her.

"Maybe a day wouldn't hurt… Or maybe longer if you wish? We could leave in the morning and return the next… The night sky is splendid at sea…" He said and Sofia smiled widely at him, reaching across the table and taking his free hand in hers. He was slow at first, looking at their hands together and then he began to rub the back of her hand with his thumb. His mouth going dry as he breathed through parted lips and becoming lost in his head as he studied one of the ruins on her hand. In his haze, he imagined the chance to trace any other marks she may have hidden from his sight.

"That sounds wonderful, but would you be too exhausted to do your kingly duties once we return?" She asked and he blinked at her, coming out of his haze and moving his thumb away from the ruin to rest on her knuckles.

"Perhaps a bit tired, when sleeping anywhere that isn't my room I do become a bit restless… But to say 'exhausted' insinuates I would be partaking in more… Extraneous activities." He smiled at her and she reddened, hiding her smile behind her teacup. What surprised her was his smile suddenly dropping and his eyes widening before becoming downcast. He pulled his hand away and cleared his throat.

"I… I shouldn't say such things…" He said and moved his hand under the table and out of reach of Sofia. "To insinuate such things cheapens you and I shouldn't even be bringing them up I-"

"It isn't like such topics were discouraged, my Lord… Believe me, if you ever caused me any disservice in any way and it caused me any displeasure you would know… I would make sure you knew." Sofia said, leaving her hand where Cedric had left it, an obvious invitation. Cedric still looked put off by the thought of how he 'flirted' and kept his focus on the plate.

"I will still refrain from such conversation in the future." He said and Sofia sighed and looked back at her own plate, keeping her hand on the table as she ate slowly.

He took her hand once more after some time and she smiled without looking up, feeling as he rubbed the back of her hand once more.

Sofia left Cedric's room late into the evening, around midnight, having had dessert and stayed for more talking over one more tea. What left her head spinning as she moved through the halls was the kiss, he had given her once she had stepped outside his room. It had been slow and soft, allowing her plenty of room to pull away if she wished. When she didn't reject him, he became bolder and deepened it. When he was done, he moved back, wished her a peaceful night, and watcher her walk away before closing his door. She would never know that Cedric smacked his forehead against the wall, chewing himself out for doing such a thing.

When Sofia returned to her own room she sighed and leaned against the door and couldn't decide if she felt happy or disappointed by the whole evening. She remembered how he held her hand as they ate and thought about the kiss, he sent her off with. To be honest she had stayed so late because she wanted to see if he would be as forward with her as he was with the other women he brought to his quarters. Maybe that was where her disappointment came from, the fact he hadn't been and sent her to her own room for the rest of the night. Shrugging she went to change into her sleepwear and snuggled into her bed with a content sigh.

"Goodnight Wormwood." She said as she listened to the old Raven click at her before going silent once more.

When morning came Sofia was shocked to find she overslept and rushed to get ready, grabbing her papers on the way out and stomping her way down the stairs in a hurry to get Cedric moving. What she hadn't expected was Cedric already awake and not in his room. Instead, she found him in his study staring intently at a letter.

She waited for him to acknowledge her arrival and when he did, she saw his hardened eyes soften just slightly before looking back at the paper and then handing it to her. She moved to stand at his side and read the letter and covered her mouth in shock. It was a proposal for an alliance and trade between the Kingdom of Tangu and Enchansia.

Her mind raced, this paper in her hand causing confusion and uncertainty as she read and reread it. Cedric watched her reaction and concluded she did not know that such a proposal was going to be sent to him.

"Do you have anything to advise me on Sofia?" He asked and Sofia blinked at him, seeming to remember he was even sitting in the chair she was standing by.

"I do not my Lord… If this is truly a genuine offer, then it would be a huge opportunity to really give our present economy an increase… But if it's a trick it would ruin everything… There is only one win and two losses here… A wonderful chance, a trap, or a missed opportunity." She bit her thumb as she kept rereading the message over and over trying to glen some hint that this was genuine but saw nothing.

"It says he would be willing to come to Enchansia to meet and discuss the possibility of forming this alliance… Would you advise against a simple meeting Sofia?" He asked and Sofia looked at him. To her it sounded like he already decided he was going through with a meeting when he asked, 'would you advise against…' and she just didn't know how she felt. Swallowing she placed the message down and faced him fully.

"A simple meeting seems safe enough… But be sure to have plenty of loyal protection… Take precautions." She said quietly, eyes shifting to him as she spoke.

Cedric reached out and took the hand not holding the missive and Sofia watched as he rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. Sofia had come to notice it was the same thing he normally did with the amulet, rubbing the stone with his thumb when he needed assurance.

"You, of course, will be at my side Sofia… With our combined skill I am sure it is far more than enough protection." He said with a calm tone and she smiled at him.

"I am sure it would be… But having only us two would make you appear overconfident… I am also sure he would have his own royal sorcerer with him along with a few guards… You should take a few as well."

Cedric looked to the hardwood of his desk as he thought, continuing to rub her hand as he reached for another paper and held it up to read before setting it aside out of sight and giving Sofia a half-smile.

"Will you prepare the answer Sofia… I wish to meet with the King of Tangu… See what he has to say and offer."

She gave him a soft yes and he let go of her hand, allowing her to leave the room to attend to her duties.


Cedric leaned back in his chair with a sigh, closing his eyes and enjoying the quiet around him. He then frowned and peaked his eye open, only to scowl and turn his head to the side, away from the glaring eyes of the wraith.

"Begone… You no longer have power here thus no purpose." He growled and the wraith of Roland grinned wickedly, standing straight and proud, showing off the bloody evidence of Cedric's crime as if it was a great badge of honor.

'Oh, I have plenty of reasons to be here 'King'… One being to make sure you never forget what you did…'

"You have failed… My sin has no hold on me anymore and everything is finally falling into place. The Kingdom is thriving now, and I have finally earned the trust and love of the people." Cedric jumped when the wraith gave a bark of laughter. It was a loud hollow sound that caused Cedric's blood to freeze in his veins. A weight constricted his lungs, as his anxiety threatened to consume him.

'You earned nothing false King! The so-called love and trust you have seen are not yours to claim but Sofia's! You are nothing more than a starved dog she has thrown scraps to! A man dying of thirst in a desert whom she has taken pity on and given water!'

Cedric said nothing as he opened his eyes and stared out the window as the wraith's words sunk in. Cedric knew he, it, spoke the truth. Nothing he has done thus far had been by his own choosing, but by recommendation and encouragement of Sofia… But they all worked. He signed the documents, he made the speeches, he is the face the people saw when the changes were made.

'Sofia tells you what's important, Sofia tells you what to sign, Sofia writes your speeches, and she does it all from behind a curtain. She even picks out your clothes for you when you are not awake... You are a Puppet King…'

Cedric chewed his lip as the wraith's words sunk in. He didn't miss the gleam in the wraith's eyes, knowing his words got to the magi. Only to frown at Cedric's next words.

"Well then… On top of me needing to make my own choices. Sofia's actions have given her plenty of experience to be a Queen." He smiled and the wraith scowled.

'You still din it wise to pick a creature you can't hope to control to be your Queen… Your choices will get you killed.'

"Least they are my choices made with a clear head and not from paranoia and fear."