On Occasion
Summary: The annual spring ball is coming up quickly, and Sofia is expected to attend. However, when some attending self-centered princes vie for her attention, Cedric finds himself in the position of 'protector' for once as he steps in to rescue his partner from the raucous royals. (Collab with MarionetteJ2X)
Disclaimer: I own Angel, Alamea, and Corban. The idea, Nana, and Tanya belong to my awesome friend, MarionetteJ2X. Tariq , Edmund, and Barnabus belong to me and a few other friends who helped create their personalities and looks a while ago. Everything else is Craig Gerber's.
A/N: I want to link you guys to an amazing song that helped me write this, based on MarionetteJ2X's/Deth's ideas: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Genavieve Linkowski (naturally, from Whitney Houston's amazing song). Also, the background story that's going on with Cordelia and Nigel was inspired by a scene from The Nanny (specifically the episode "Making Whoopi"). 😉 Have fun!
*Story*
"Another ball?" Cedric asked as Sofia groaned in dismay and pressed her forehead against the tall window in his tower. He looked over the official invitation that Amber had created and already sent out to several people throughout the kingdoms. It was for Saturday evening, which was only two days away now. "And you have to go?"
"I think you already know the answer to that question, Cedric…" She sighed and turned, facing him with a defeated expression on her face. "And with the girls staying with your parents this week, it's kind of hard to tell them, 'Oh, sorry, I can't. The girls need Cedric and me. Maybe next time.'"
He chuckled and set the invitation onto the worktable before walking over to her, taking her hand, and pulling her into a gentle hug. He sighed as he felt her relax against him, returning the hug, his head resting against hers. "I mean… I could just pack us up and head to Mystic Meadows as well. I'm sure Mummy would love seeing us together."
Sofia smiled with a soft snicker against his robe at the way he'd worded that. 'I'd love that too,' she thought to herself before glancing up at him. "I guess I'm stuck going to this thing… I don't guess you'd want to go."
"Hmm…" He reached up and traced his finger along her hairline, brushing some stray wisps of bangs from her eyes, smiling as she sighed in relaxation. "So… Enjoy the peace and quiet of my tower, possibly reading or working, and staying out of the eye of the public view, or…"
The princess frowned before looking down, knowing full well that asking him to go to such a thing was a silly idea. Cedric was an introvert and most certainly not a party or people person. He was not obligated or expected to go. He could have time to himself without the royal family title hanging over his head. Not for the first time, she envied him for that.
"Or…" He traced his fingers over her cheek and down to her chin, lightly tipping her head back so he could smile softly down at her. "Or…leave my tower, dressed in some sharp clothing, and spend some time with the most beautiful princess in Enchancia."
Sofia's lips twitched into a smirk even as her cheeks warmed a bit. "So you want to spend time with Amber?"
Cedric rolled his eyes and sighed, dropping his hand to his side as his partner giggled. "It seems compliments are lost on you, my dear." He chuckled as she embraced him again, a happy sigh escaping her lips as she rested her head on his chest. He returned the gesture, running his hands through her hair and stroking her back as well. "Let's try this again… If you'd like me to accompany you, you need only say so."
She hummed quietly and nodded once, not wanting to break contact with him. "I'd love that, Cedric…" She turned to smile shyly at him. "I can't believe you're willingly volunteering to go to the ball with me… I used to have to beg you to go to things like that."
"Yes, well…" He pressed his forehead to hers once more, holding her steady in his arms. "Some people are worth stepping outside my comfort zone for."
That blush held steady as Sofia laughed quietly. "Oh, Cedric…"
On the evening of the spring ball, Sofia was filled with nerves that she couldn't explain. She'd been to many of these things at this point. This was an annual spring ball—nothing out of the ordinary. Well…
She observed her reflection and sighed, tugging at her amulet. She'd removed all of her jewelry except her amulet and BerryBand (and added simple small gold hoop earrings) for the occasion. Her gown was one that Amber had ordered special-made for her. It was deceptively simple yet also very elegant. The soft cotton gown was a light periwinkle shade, the bottom of the fabric lined with pinkish-plum flowers and designs, the white ruffle underlayer peeking through each time she moved. From the top center of the gown, a set of straps ran over each shoulder, crisscrossed in the back, and tucked into the top seams. While her shoulders were bare, each midarm and downward was coated in an attached long sleeve.
"Okay, almost done," she murmured as she slid into some matching periwinkle flats and finished twisting her hair into a thick ponytail that spilled down her back in its usual wavy form, a gold and emerald tiara framing the top of her ponytail and some light pink flowers tucked onto the left side of her head, embedded in her hair. It may have been an upscale version of a fairly typical style, but it was familiar, and given how uncertain she was about going to this ball, that was something she needed. Besides... "I'm sure Cedric will like it," she giggled quietly, imagining his warm, careful hands brushing down her—
"Sofia, are you ready?" Amber's voice called from the other side of the door. "The ball is starting soon!"
The younger princess was startled not only by her sister's voice, but also by how she'd just gotten lost in thoughts of Cedric. Sure, she thought about him all the time, but… Her thoughts had become more complex lately, and she couldn't explain why. Or maybe she could… "Think about it later, Sofia." She turned around and approached her door, pulling it open, smiling at the future queen before her.
Amber was dressed in a soft golden gown, adorned with numerous accents and patterns. Her hair was tied back into an elegant bun, the locks pulled taut and perfect. She looked every bit as pristine as she always believed she was in her younger days. At least now, time agreed with her. "Oh, you look really pretty!" She grabbed her sister's hand and started tugging her toward the door. "I'm sure plenty of guys tonight will think the same." She smiled knowingly as she heard a small, disgruntled noise from the other princess. "Though I'm sure one in particular will really think so…"
"Amber, we've been through this," Sofia sighed, a bit exasperated as she felt herself pulled along the upper hallway. "I'm not interested in finding 'love' with some random princes I've never even met."
"Who said I was talking about 'random princes?'" She winked over her shoulder at her sister, giggling as the younger girl blushed at her words. "I know you prefer substance over style, form over fashion, a meal over a snack—"
"Are you finished?" the younger princess interrupted, her cheeks redder than she ever remembered them being. She knew exactly what Amber was insinuating, and of course she was right… But did she have to say it like that?
They made it down to the first floor, and Amber reached over to fix Sofia's hair, twirling the locks around her fingers to offer it some more bounce. "You know… There's nothing wrong with keeping things the way they are. It's a comforting thing to know that some things don't change. But…" She looked to the side, seeing Cedric talking with Roland and Baileywick near the ballroom's entrance several feet away. She glanced back toward Sofia, a soft smile on her lips as she watched her sister silently observing her partner. "Maybe some changes can be a good thing… You never know till you try."
Sofia looked at Amber again, a perplexed expression on her face. "Amber, I…"
"Mama!"
The younger princess blinked as she turned, seeing both Nana and Tanya rushing over to her, their bags forgotten at the feet of their grandparents, who were smiling at the scene. "Girls?" She laughed as Nana clambered up her gown and into her arms, and Tanya hugged her legs. "What are you two doing back so early?" She glanced toward Cedric's parents. "Is everything all right?"
"Oh, perfectly fine," Goodwyn assured her. "They were just a bit homesick, so we decided to go ahead and bring them back. Afraid we were unaware of this apparent ball that's going on though."
"You're welcome to attend if you want, you know," Amber assured the couple. "We would love to have you guys there, and I'm sure Cedric would too."
"Well, we accept," Winifred chuckled. "Though Goody, we must dress for the occasion. We look like homebodies instead of formal ball attendees." She withdrew her wand and dressed herself in a simple yet elegant powder blue gown that cinched just a bit at the waist yet flowed around her as she moved. She pointed her wand at Goodwyn and dressed him in a more dapper form of his red robe, his usual hat vacant for the occasion. His hair and beard were nicely combed, with even a slight wave to each.
"Ooh, Grandma! Grandpa, you look nice!" Tanya grinned as they chuckled. "Will you dress us too, Grandma?" she asked, spinning once and giggling. She had taken to calling Goodwyn 'Grandpa' and Winifred 'Grandma,' and both were elated to have the titles bestowed upon them, especially from Tanya (and to a degree, Nana). Granted, Calista already called them by the same titles, but to have these two doing the same? It meant a lot to them.
"Certainly, my dear. Stay still." She pointed the wand at Tanya first, smiling as the little girl was now dressed in a lovely short-sleeved magenta dress with plum frills along her collar and sleeves, the same colored sash tied into a bow at her back, and a similar floral pattern to Sofia's along the end of the dress; her long white hair was also tied into a ponytail that was held in place with a band the same style as the frills on her gown, a light pink petunia fastened onto the right side of her head. True to her nature, she wore no shoes, but with the length of the dress, it was hard to tell anyway. "Nana, you're next." She smiled at the smaller girl in Sofia's arms and allowed her magic to flow, changing her usual dress into a simple long-sleeved red dress, a green bow wrapped around her waist and tied in the back. She wore little red and green shoes to match. "There you are, children. All dressed for the party!"
Nana grinned and clapped her hands as Sofia kissed her forehead and lowered her to the ground beside Tanya. She took her sister's hand and beamed up at her, receiving the same reaction.
"We'll take them into the ballroom," Goodwyn volunteered, ushering the girls along. "Sorry for crashing the party."
Sofia laughed. "You're fine, Mr. Goodwyn. Thank you." She sighed and smiled at Amber, who snickered. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. You're just adorable, all excited about your girls coming back." She playfully nudged her sister, earning a light giggle from her.
"Oh, Sofia, Amber," Roland greeted as he walked over to his two daughters, smiling. "You both look lovely this evening. Amber, Desmond was looking for you in the ballroom. He mentioned that Alamea threw her shoe into the punchbowl, I think."
"Of course, she did." Amber laughed and kissed her father on the cheek. "Thanks, Daddy. I'll see you both inside." With that, she hurried off to find her husband and daughter.
Sofia smiled as Roland kissed her temple before turning and walking back to Baileywick, with whom he continued his conversation. She stood still as Cedric walked over to her, a contemplative expression on his features. "Cedric…"
Cedric was dressed in a rather sharp outfit for the occasion. Instead of his usual purple robe, he wore a long tailored dark gray tailcoat, lighter gray accents along his arms, hem, and collar. Just beneath that, he wore a white button up shirt, a maroon vest with golden buttons, and a soft black bowtie where his normal gold one would be. Some black trousers and shiny black dress shoes completed his ensemble. Unsurprisingly, even his gloves made an appearance tonight, which amused yet comforted the princess. "You look…radiant," he finally spoke, his voice a little softer than normal as he clasped his hands in front of himself. "I feel a bit like a fish out of water myself."
"A handsome fish," Sofia assured him before she could even process what had just escaped her mouth. She smiled sheepishly as he chuckled. "Was that weird? That was probably a weird thing to say…"
"Not at all. I'm sure there are some handsome fish in the ocean." He reached up and lightly brushed his fingers over her bare shoulder and smiled apologetically when she gasped and jumped a bit. "Sorry… I suppose I wasn't expecting you to choose a…mostly sleeveless ensemble...for this occasion…"
"Probably because Amber picked this." She groaned softly, placing a hand to her head as Cedric lowered his to his side. "It's really pretty, but I guess in some ways, it's not exactly me. I mean, it is with the color, and… I guess it's more the… I don't know…" She frowned and shook her head. "Ugh, I'm rambling now. I guess what I'm trying to say is… For Amber, and since it's just for this night… I guess I'll just have to smile and bear it." She laughed shyly as he gave her his undivided attention.
Cedric leaned forward and whispered, "No, my darling. I don't think you need to 'bare' anything else." He lifted his hands to her shoulders, and he could feel her warmth beneath his fingers as he traced them along her skin, even lightly brushing his nails along the side and back of her neck, her baby hairs curling around his fingers as he did so. "This is just enough for now, I think…"
Sofia could have sworn her knees were buckling, especially as she felt his hands and fingers ever so lightly caressing her skin. It was an incredible feeling. An intimate feeling… One she couldn't explain but didn't ever want to stop or forget. "C-Cedric…"
He allowed his fingers to pause at her throat, smiling as he felt her voice as she hummed quietly, her eyes fluttering closed. He moved them ever so slightly, feeling her pulse point beneath the pads of his fingertips. He stilled his hand before leaning down, whispering against the shell of her ear, "I love you, Sofia…"
She gasped softly and nearly tripped over the train of her gown, unexpectedly collapsing against him. She blinked her eyes open as she felt him scoop her into his arms, smiling sheepishly down at her. "I, um… Y-You…said…"
"Allow me, my dear," he responded, ignoring her original statement, as he walked toward the ballroom. He was a bit flushed now. What had that been? Yes, he knew about…well, everything that he was feeling and she was feeling, but…there was a time and a place for everything. Now was neither the time nor the place. 'But oh, how I wish it could be…' Forget the ball. Forget the people. He and Sofia had been alone, and… Well, there would be time later. Time to talk. Time to feel…
They entered the ballroom (mostly empty for now, save for a few guests and the royal family and some workers), only to hear the snickering of the twins.
James grinned as he sipped from some punch. "What happened to her?"
Sofia frowned and was about to respond, but Cedric beat her to it.
"It was nothing, James... I believe she was just overstimulated." The moment those words had left his lips, he immediately regretted them, especially seeing the smirk on the future queen's face.
"By what, Cedric?" She held fast to Alamea, who was cooing while playing with her mother's fingers.
Cedric flushed brightly, carefully lowering Sofia to the floor next to him. "Um... Th-The excitement of...of the party, of course!"
Amber grinned, unable to help asking, "Whose party? Ours...? Or yours?"
Sofia gaped at her sister's teasing words. "A-Amber!"
Roland smiled, clearly a bit clueless by the exchange that had just occurred. "Oh, you had your own party too, Cedric? Was it recently? I didn't get an invitation." He chuckled at the embarrassed expressions on the partners' faces. "I never took you to be the party type. In fact, I know you're not."
"It was a two-person party, Daddy." The blonde princess snickered again as Sofia groaned and grabbed Cedric's hand, pulling him away toward the table of food on the other side of the room. "Have fun, but not too much fun!" she called teasingly after the duo.
"What was that all about?" Roland wondered as he tapped his chin.
James laughed. "Oh, you know… Just Cedric and Sofia being Cedric and Sofia, Dad. Nothing out of the ordinary."
He shrugged. "If you say so." He turned and headed toward Miranda, who handed him a glass of punch.
"You think he knows and is just in denial or something?" the prince asked as he made faces at his niece, who giggled.
"I think they're all a bit in denial," Amber laughed. "Just in different ways. We must be patient, dear brother. They'll connect all the pieces eventually."
"Papa!" Tanya called from her position near the table of food, where Nana and Corban were happily chowing down on some snacks. She waved at the sorcerer and grinned. "Surprise!"
Cedric blinked before chuckling as the girls rushed to him, hugging him as he knelt down to their level. "Oh, girls! Don't you look lovely? I wasn't expecting you to be here." He glanced up, seeing his parents beaming at him from across the ballroom. "Oh, Mother and Father are here as well?"
"They just got here a few minutes ago," Sofia explained, "saying the girls were homesick. Amber told them they could stay."
"Oh, well, that's nice." He smiled toward Nana and Tanya after their hug finished, tapping each of them on the nose, earning a giggle from Tanya and a sweet smile from Nana. "The more, the merrier. Run along and enjoy yourselves." He stood again and wrapped one arm around Sofia, pulling her to his side. "I know we will," he murmured as he kissed her temple, causing the princess to blush yet again.
"Cedric…" That smile returned to her lips, not likely to fade any time soon.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Chef Andre had just sent out the last bit of food for the ball. He sighed and raked his hand across his forehead, and then he smiled as Gwen stepped over to him, passing him a glass of water. "Thank you, dear," he said before taking a long gulp of the nourishing substance. "How did your invention work out for the ball?"
She shrugged, flexing her fingers, and then laughed. "It was just a mechanically moving dessert wheel, Papa. Kind of like one of those rides you might see at a carnival, but much smaller to scale, and it can hold one treat at a time. Then the secondary mechanism I rigged up will replace the empty spots."
"Oh, I… I see." While the chef still didn't fully understand his daughter's fascination with her gadgets and gizmos, he did know that they'd definitely helped with some necessary improvements around the castle. "Come, Gwen. I have dinner saved for us." He led his daughter away, just as a few others entered the kitchen.
"Mm, I'm famished!" Nigel announced as he and Cordelia entered first, followed by Angel and Calista (who pretty much echoed the sentiment).
They weren't attending the ball, though they'd been gracious enough to lend a hand in getting things prepared. However, food would be a great stipend for all the effort they'd put into making things look good for the evening.
"I believe someone said that there were some extra finger foods on one of the rolling trays," Angel informed them. "Maybe there is enough to make a meal from those."
"I've got a craving for something sweet myself," the older man teased as he winked at Cordelia, who just smirked and returned the gaze. "And a little bold."
"Please don't," Calista pleaded with them, rolling her eyes. "You two have been oddly flirtatious since that whole tricking Uncle Ceddy and Baileywick thing a while ago. I think it's safe to say you no longer have to keep up the shenanigans."
"There are no shenanigans, darling," Cordelia countered, smiling coyly. "Just pure, honest…comradery."
"Right. Because I totally believe that."
"Oh, look here, Cordy," Nigel insisted as he lifted a napkin from a plate, his eyes lighting up as he saw the array of teacakes stacked on top of each other. "Looks like they didn't want or need these, so… Perhaps we should help ourselves." He picked up one and turned to Cordelia, grinning as he held it up to her mouth. "Have a taste."
She smiled and did so, humming in delight as she did. "Oh, mm. That's… That's delicious, Nigel. You should try it too."
Angel smiled and shook his head before laughing softly as Calista groaned in annoyance while Cordelia fed Nigel this time. "Are you all right, Chante?" he asked kindly as he patted her arm.
"These two have just about made me lose my appetite, honestly…" She scrunched up her nose as Cordelia leaned forward and licked some of the icing from Nigel's lips and giggled a little too happily. "M-Mother!"
"Delicious," the older sorceress cooed before shoving Nigel up against the counter, her lips practically devouring his as her fingers gripped his disheveled shirt.
Nigel moaned in response, wrapping the younger woman in his arms and practically clawing at her wavy brown hair. "Mm…"
Angel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Um… W-Well… I always thought they were interested in one another, but this is…unexpected."
"This is embarrassing," Calista lamented. "Mother! Nigel! G-Get your lips off each other!" Seeing that they weren't listening, she hung her head. "I kind of knew this would happen someday…"
The Native teen placed a hand on her shoulder and chuckled. "They are good for each other though, so…"
A soft smile came to her face as she glanced up at him. "I know." She sighed as she noticed that Cordelia and Nigel had finally separated and were now just staring into each other's eyes. "However, I do kind of wonder what brought that on…"
Back in the ballroom, several minutes later, people were beginning to fill the area and were starting to dance. There were kings, queens, princes, princesses, dukes, duchesses, and many other royals from all over the realm gathered to enjoy the spring ball. The kids were all dancing together, and even little Alamea, dressed in the 'poofiest' and 'sparkliest' white gown, was bouncing in place while Desmond held her hands.
Nana was holding Corban's hands, swinging around to the music, and every now and then, she simply stopped to hug her best friend, much to his delight. Tanya mostly stuck to her grandparents, though she did venture out and dance with her sister and the little prince every now and then.
Sofia was standing aside near one of the windows while Cedric had gone to get them something to drink. She was still a little giddy, a little nervous, and a little confused about what had gone on between them earlier.
"I love you, Sofia."
No prompting. No dangerous situations. No emotional outpour. Just pure, unfiltered love… For her. And he'd said it with such a sweetness and sincerity… She hadn't even gotten to respond to him because of—
"Would you like to dance?"
Sofia blinked as she looked up, seeing three princes of varying backgrounds standing before her.
The first prince was a tall, semi-muscular, dark-skinned man with playful cobalt-blue eyes. His hair was short, dark brown, and wavy, a few stray locks curling sporadically here and there. His face was lightly coated with some facial hair, but nowhere near a full-grown beard or mustache. He wore a long royal blue sherwani with gold accents and gold pants and a sash around his shoulders to match. Even his shoes were the same colors as the rest of his outfit. From his neck dangled what appeared to be a royal crest or pendant. He appeared to be around mid to late twenties. His name was Tariq.
The second prince, who looked to be about twenty-five, was about an inch or two shorter than the first man and was fairer skinned as well. He held the same muscle definition, though his eyes were a chocolate brown and his light hair fell in mostly straight layers to the base of his neck. He wore a dark teal royal tunic with copper and silver patterns lining his waist, the hem, and the center of the tunic. His sleeves were mostly black, though there were a few matching copper patterns on them as well. Around his neck, he had a deep blue cape tied and dangling to his knees. He wore dark slacks and boots, and on his head was a large silver and blue crown, which he seemed to wear quite regally. His name was Barnabus.
The final prince seemed to be the youngest, probably around twenty-three or so. He was 5'8", a medium build, with dark brown, short, and side-swept hair, though the sun sometimes highlighted hints of strawberry red hues. His eyes were a lovely hazel shade. His face, though strong and handsome, often appeared to have a sense of tiredness about it. He wore elegant yet comfortable clothing. Currently, he wore dark trousers and boots that encased each pant leg, along with a belt that held his lilac-colored tunic with gold trim in place. Around his shoulders was a dark purple capelet with silver fastenings and buttons. His hands and upper wrists were covered in dark gold gloves, finishing off the look. His name was Edmund.
Sofia immediately recognized all of them, because she'd gone to Ever Realm Academy with them (all of them, of course, had been in the more advanced courses or were serving as teaching aides at the time). She remembered Tariq being a rather arrogant hotshot coach for the Advanced Flying Derby, Barnabus being a mostly reserved teacher's aide yet often trying his hand at swordplay when he got a chance, and Edmund being something of a playboy who liked to party late and arrive to class even later (even as a more advanced student, he'd been in one of her earlier classes, which he'd apparently failed three prior times). Despite some of their shortcomings, they were all pleasant enough to speak with in passing, but the way they'd all gathered around her like she was on display was a bit unnerving. "Um… Hi, guys… Been a while."
Tariq, the one who'd asked if she'd wanted to dance, grinned down at her, practically towering over the shorter princess, his gleaming white teeth nearly sparkling under the magical lighting around the ballroom. "Yes, it has," he agreed, his accent musical as ever, which was a charming point for many princesses and other higher ranking young ladies he came across. "You look divine, Princess Sofia."
"She does," Edmund added, stepping in front of Tariq to reach out to Sofia, grabbing her hand and kissing it, which she was clearly not expecting. "Milady, if you'd worn more gowns like this, I might have called on you more often," he murmured quietly, wiggling his eyebrows at the flushing girl.
"Knock it off, Edmund," Barnabus insisted, shoving the younger prince aside, and therefore, causing the other prince to release the princess's hand. "You're making her uncomfortable."
Sofia sighed appreciatively. "Thanks, Prince Barnabus."
"Besides…" He winked at Sofia, who couldn't help the small sigh of disappointment that left her lips. "If there's anyone she'd rather pay more attention to, or dance with…" He glanced at Tariq emphatically, grinning as the other prince frowned. "…It's me."
"You're quite sure of yourself, aren't you, Barney?" Tariq scoffed as he pressed closer to Sofia, who was practically backed up against the window, the coldness of the glass seeping through both her hair and her dress directly to her skin, causing her to shiver.
"Oh, she's cold," Edmund offered, undoing his capelet and stepping forward, pulling Sofia toward him, and draping it over her shoulders. "There. Can't have a beauty like you shivering all night. It wouldn't work well if we're going to dance."
"She's dancing with me."
"No, me!"
"I beg your pardon."
Sofia's eyes lifted, and a sense of relief filled her as she saw Cedric standing just behind them, a glass of punch in each hand. "Cedric…"
"Can I help you, gentlemen?" Cedric easily moved past the princes, handing Sofia her glass of punch, which she clasped gratefully.
"Who are you?" Tariq asked with a bit of a challenging air, smirking at the sorcerer's calm demeanor.
"I'm Cedric, the royal sorcerer of Enchancia. And I must say, I don't like how you three were approaching our princess. I don't believe I've ever seen her so uncomfortable." 'Well,' he thought, 'not in a few weeks anyway, but that's beside the point.'
"I think the princess can speak for herself," Edmund yawned. "She doesn't need some creepy dude with skunk hair speaking for her."
"He's my partner," Sofia countered, causing all of the guys to pause in wonder.
"I'm sorry, your partner?" Barnabus scratched his head, his crown moving backward a few centimeters. "Is that even legal? I didn't think royals could court outside their circle."
"He's just the help," Edmund laughed. "It's not like whatever this is will last. You'll soon realize, Princess, that you belong with someone of your own kind."
"Right, someone royal," Tariq agreed.
"He's a royal sorcerer," she emphasized. "Of noble blood and a good family. And even if he weren't, I'd still pick him over all three of you, and anyone like you." She reached for Cedric's free hand and tugged him along. "Come on, Cedric."
"Boys…" Edmund lowered his head in dismay. "I think we just got rejected. That's never happened to me before."
"What about that last class you failed and had to go another year at ERA?" Barnabus winced as the younger prince slapped his crown off his head, causing it to roll along the marble floor. "Hey! That's my dad's!" He hurried after it, diving onto the precious heirloom to stop it from rolling.
"Sorry it took so long," Cedric apologized after they found a spot to stand away from the crowd. "The line was rather long, even for punch." He took a sip of his drink before noting her concerned features. "Are you all right?"
"They were looking at me like I was a meal, and they hadn't eaten in three days." She frowned when Cedric suddenly turned and coughed, his cheeks a little red. "They never behaved like that around me at ERA. I was just another student there and sometimes even a classmate to a few of them, but they basically left me alone." She finished her drink and set it on a side tray, sighing as Cedric did the same.
"Yes, well…" He cleared his throat and straightened his tailcoat before smiling gently at her. "I'm sure you were dressed a little more reservedly, like you usually do. And education tends to be the primary focus, rather than relationship seeking, when at a prestigious school such as that."
"Remind me to properly introduce you to Edmund later." She rolled her eyes as he chuckled. "It's this dress, isn't it? It's the frills and the lace and the bare shoulders thing… Probably the color too. It's not fully purple; in fact, it's probably closer to pink. A light purple but a dark pink, I guess… You always told me to stay away from pink, but did I listen? No—" She blinked as she felt a finger pressed to her lips, silencing her rambling, and her eyes instantly darted to the sorcerer's.
Cedric smiled calmly. "Would you like to dance?" He lowered his hands to hers, pulling her ever so slightly closer, humming quietly as she blinked at him.
"R-Really?" She giggled as he nodded, squeezing her hands. "Sorry, Cedric. I'm not used to you asking me…"
"I think there are many things we're not quite used to yet. But…" He reached up to her face with his left hand, softly caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers, causing her to sigh in content. "I wouldn't mind giving them a try…"
Her nerves melted away as she nodded. "I'd love to dance with you, Cedric."
"Wonderful, but first…" He reached up and unclasped Edmund's capelet from around her neck and tossed it onto a chair, smiling as she laughed at the action. "There, that's better. Come along then."
The music changed to a slower and softer tune, one filled with the warmth of the cello and the emotion of the violin, the ethereal notes of a harp, not to mention the flowing addition of the piano to accompany the other instruments. It was almost like a melody they'd expect to hear at a wedding or something, but it was certainly suitable for the ball as well.
Sofia giggled as Cedric gently pulled her closer to him, his right hand along her waist while his left hand held hers tenderly. Her own left hand was settled on his shoulder. They weren't really used to dancing quite like this. Most of the time, it was sort of just a hug and sway motion, but… This was still nice. She smiled as he guided her along the dance floor among the other couples, indulging her in a dance, as he often had to be persuaded to do. It didn't seem like she spent much time persuading him these days, though; many of these initiations were all him. Something had definitely changed…
As they danced, Cedric couldn't help noticing the annoyed or even irritated glares he was getting from the three princes. Almost instinctively, he held Sofia closer and more protectively as they danced, sending a silent message to the other men that she belonged with him…in some capacity.
"Stubborn, aren't they?" Sofia whispered as she glanced up at him. "I guess they can't take a hint… Or maybe it's rejection they can't accept."
"They're angry that they lost their chance to be with the most beautiful woman in the realm," Cedric answered calmly, smiling as she blushed modestly. "If you'd like, I can make sure they 'get the hint' and leave you alone from now on…"
"I don't think blasting them with your wand will help, Cedric," she laughed before seeing the mischievous glint in his eyes. "Or…did you have another plan?"
"Hmm…" His fingers slowly caressed her back, simultaneously twirling some of her hair, as he smiled softly at her. "You could say that… Perhaps something a bit more…intimate…"
Her heart fluttered as he dropped her hand and simply hugged her like always, his forehead pressed to hers. He was waiting to hear her response, and she could feel all her nerves reacting, sending chills down her spine and along her arms. Even despite her nervousness, she smiled back at him. "I wouldn't mind a little…practice…"
Cedric managed to control his own blush as he leaned down, whispering into her ear, "The best way to deter them is to make them think we're kissing… I-If you're all right with that…"
Sofia shivered visibly as she clutched his shoulders more firmly. "Y-Yes… I'm… I'm okay with that…" 'More than okay,' she thought to herself, practically squealing internally. If it was anything like on the galleon, when their lips had accidentally brushed against each other—his soft skin against her own sensitive-… Oh, she was perfectly fine with giving this a try.
He turned them at an angle where the princes could still see them pretty well, and he tilted his head just right to where, from the princes' point of view, it looked like they were kissing. In reality, his lips had just come in contact with the lower part of her cheek, and then the corner of her mouth.
"Cedric," Sofia whispered ever so lightly, their lips unintentionally brushing once more, though this time… She made no move to break that contact. In fact, if anything, she actually pressed a bit closer to him, her lips softly gliding over his, the contact causing goosebumps to appear on her skin. She whimpered quietly, not wanting that connection to end, even though she had no clue what she was doing, or if Cedric was even okay with this. Yes, they were mimicking a kiss to keep the princes away, but... Still, she longed to feel more, and her fingers dug into the fabric of his coat as she tugged him closer to her.
"Dang," Barnabus grumbled as he placed the crown back on his head. "Guess they really are courting. Too bad." He grinned as he glanced at the other two princes, who seemed disappointed. "She would have looked great as my queen."
"Or mine," Tariq groaned. "Guess I could always take up Maika on her offer… She's so annoying though, and to be married to that?"
"I've got plenty of options," Edmund boasted smugly with a smirk and a shrug. "I just like the hard-to-get ones, and trust me… If you know anything about Princess Sofia's background, you'll know she's very hard to get. Like the finest treasure in the deepest sunken pirate ship."
They all turned and walked off, seeking to find some other potential princesses to flirt with.
Meanwhile…
"A-Are you seeing this?" Roland asked as he was slow dancing with Miranda, who had a secretive smile on her face. "A-Are they kissing?"
"Are you surprised?" Miranda teased as she grinned up at him. "They're really close."
"I didn't know they were…that close…" He frowned curiously as he watched them. "But they're just… Have they even broken apart yet?"
"Rollie, don't just stare at them," the queen admonished, laughing quietly as Roland looked back at her. "Let them have their moment."
"But Miranda… Cedric and Sofia are… They're friends."
"Looks like their connection goes a little deeper than just friendship, Roland." She smiled gently as he hummed contemplatively. "Are you…all right with that?" Truth be told, she'd suspected something more than just friendship was developing between her daughter and the sorcerer for a long time now, but it wasn't her place to say anything. Now it appeared that they were becoming a little more comfortable with exploring their feelings, and she was honestly happy for them. As far as her husband went, she wasn't sure how he'd handle it.
"I think… I just need some time to process it," he told her honestly. "I'm not sure… I mean…" He sighed. "It's not like they've said anything yet."
"Maybe they need some time, Roland," she acknowledged. "Just like anyone else." She kissed his cheek as he finally smiled at her.
"Maybe you're right…" He hummed thoughtfully as he glanced over at his daughter and friend. "Just maybe…"
While the king and queen were discussing, Nana had caught sight of the scene and quickly tugged on Tanya's ponytail to get her attention.
"Ow, Nana," she winced as she turned and stared at Cedric and Sofia, who had parted and were now staring quietly at each other. Her eyes widened in astonishment. "Wow… I guess…" She smiled knowingly as Nana's hands flew to her mouth to hide her grin. "I guess Mama and Papa finally realized something…" She laughed quietly as she folded her arms. "Good for them."
Nana glanced up at her sister, a mildly serious expression on her face. It was clear that they were nonverbally communicating now, though many weren't even paying attention to them.
"What do you mean, we cannot ask them about it?" Tanya scoffed as Nana placed her hands on her hips. "Fine, Nana. Whatever you think is best."
The smaller girl nodded triumphantly and smiled brightly.
"D-Did we, um…? W-Was that a…a kiss?" Sofia asked quietly as Cedric flushed darkly, though he didn't let go of her.
"U-Um, I'm… I'm not sure…" He became a bit shy as he asked, "Do you… Did you want it to be?"
She noticed how uncertain and nervous he seemed, and she could tell he was just as confused as she was right now. All of their closeness, togetherness, sweetness… All those things had absolutely been leading up to something like this for a while now, but… She wasn't sure if she was quite ready to admit what was glaringly obvious. "M-Maybe we can say…that was practice…" She smiled lightly at him. "Because…" She reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from his eyes. "I wouldn't mind…trying again. After all, practice makes perfect, right?"
His blush deepened, if that was possible. "S-Sofia… I—"
They jumped and parted when the door to the ballroom banged open, an explosion of light and confetti filling the room, as Nigel and Cordelia stood at the entrance, determined looks on their faces. They seemed to be in a tango stance, a rose between Nigel's teeth, and nary a sliver of space between their bodies.
As if by magic, the orchestra switched to more high-energy, fast-paced music, and the sorceress and the former explorer/adventurer began tangoing around the room, much to the amusement of just about everyone. Even some of the patrons of the dance followed their example.
Calista and Angel entered the room, panting, as James and Vivian walked over to them.
"What's going on with those two?" James asked with a laugh.
"Mum and Nigel ate enchanted teacakes, and now they can't keep their hands off each other," Calista explained with a heavy sigh. "I finally figured it out after their fourth one each, and they grew far more…um…" She cleared her throat. "N-Never mind. Anyway, when Angel and I tried to stop them, they took off, and we followed them here." She gestured toward the other two before placing her free hand to her head. "And now… That."
"Are they finally together then?" Vivian giggled, watching the older duo dancing and dipping each other. "They honestly look so good together."
"I'm not even sure what they are anymore." The younger girl laughed tiredly. "I've kind of given up trying to figure them out."
"You said they ate enchanted teacakes and couldn't stop touching each other, huh?" James grinned as he glanced at Cedric and Sofia, who were still holding onto each other, but were now distracted watching the extremely entertaining dance between Nigel and Cordelia. "Considering what Viv and I just saw between Cedric and Sofia, I'm kind of wondering if they ate some."
Angel tilted his head. "They were experiencing euphoric closeness as well?"
"Wait, what?!" Calista's mouth dropped. "Sofia and Uncle Ceddy? Really?" She gasped. "And I missed it? Aw…"
Vivian shrugged. "I don't know, you guys… If you had seen what I just saw, then you'd know that there were three guys trying to romantically pursue Sofia, and Cedric pulled her away from them. I think they may have decided to pretend to flirt to keep those guys from bothering her."
"Right," James deadpanned at his fiancée. "Pretend. And I guess that kiss was a pretend kiss too, huh?"
"They kissed too?" Calista was about to cry: either from happiness (that Cedric and Sofia were sharing romantic moments) or disappointment (that she'd missed seeing all of those moments), she wasn't sure. "I can't believe it! It's finally happening!"
"Perhaps not quite yet," Angel predicted as he nodded toward the couple, who had shyly stepped apart and were simply talking quietly now. "I think Princess Vivian had a point. Though I do think they are getting closer to realizing their true feelings."
"I like how everyone else knows except them," James joked. "Gotta love Cedric and Sofia though."
Nana hurried up to her parents and clambered up Sofia's gown, climbing until she was happily seated on her mother's head.
Sofia glanced up and smiled at the little girl. "Hi to you too, Nana." She looked down and saw Tanya standing near her, yawning. "Aw." She then leaned down, scooping the other young girl into her arms and holding onto her. "Homesick, hmm?"
Tanya smiled sheepishly, blushing. "I missed you and Papa… And so did Nana."
Cedric chuckled. "We are glad to have you both home."
"Princess Sofia?"
Sofia turned, a bit baffled to hear Barnabus's voice, and she blinked as the same three princes from before approached her. "What do you guys want?" she asked exasperatedly as she held onto Tanya a little more securely. She could also feel Nana's tiny hands bracing against her head, which she would have found adorable, had it not been for this frustrating situation.
Cedric stepped before her and the girls, withdrawing his wand. "Gentlemen, my princess has been patient with you tonight, but I'm afraid you're overstepping your boundaries, and quite frankly, you're getting on my nerves now. Could you kindly leave her alone?"
Edmund grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, that's kind of what we wanted to talk about. We didn't mean to…step on any toes or anything. Weren't exactly expecting her to be with you, but…"
"Yes, so we apologize if we made you uncomfortable," Tariq added. "Both of you and your… Um…" He frowned as he noticed that the girls with Sofia looked nothing like either her or Cedric, so he asked hesitantly, "Your…children?"
"Yes, our children," Sofia confirmed emphatically and proudly. "They may be adopted, but they're still our daughters."
"Oh, adopted," Barnabus breathed, grinning. "Yeah, totally forgot that was a thing… That explains the pointed ears and the weird tattoos and—"
"If you leave now, you will leave in peace and not pieces," Tanya warned the trio, her voice having dropped to a more serious tonality, her eyes sparkling dangerously as the men backed up with their hands raised.
"R-Right!" Edmund cleared his throat. "A-Anyway… That's done. Um… Goodbye! Let's go, now," he hurriedly insisted as he shoved the other two away from the little family.
"Tanya," Cedric laughed as the white-haired girl blinked innocently up at him. "Nice."
She grinned as Sofia shook her head in amusement. "I try."
After the ball concluded and the guests were gone, the royal family and castle dwellers had retired to their rooms (Goodwyn and Winifred were offered a guest room and had accepted, and they had taken the girls to their beds for the evening), and the workers were busy concluding their cleaning cycle, Cedric and Sofia were standing at one of the large windows in the main corridor. They hadn't said much of anything in a long while, each lost in their own thoughts as they gazed at the moon and the stars twinkling in the night sky.
Finally, Sofia broke the silence. "Your lips are really soft." She lifted a hand to her mouth, as if trying to keep any other embarrassing words from flying out, especially as she noticed her partner staring at her, his cheeks tinged pink. "I… I'm sorry, Cedric… I meant…"
He smiled, setting her mind at ease. "I'm glad I could…distract you…from those horrid princes."
She smiled shyly as she tucked some hair behind her ear. "I… I was distracted, all right…" She looked up at him, a serious expression briefly crossing her features. "Cedric… Do you think we…need to talk about…?"
"Oh, I, um…" He reached to straighten his gloves, a bit of nervousness flooding him as he tried to think of the best way to approach this topic. "P-Perhaps… Um… S-Soon, my dear. W-We'll talk soon."
Sofia laughed quietly, twirling her hair around her fingers. "Before or after we deal with the Elementals?"
"After, I promise," he assured her. "If you'd like, immediately after… Because I think it's time… I think it's time we…"
"Yeah…" She nodded. "Alone, though, right?"
"Absolutely." He gently took her hand that held her hair and pressed his lips to her fingers, slowly inhaling the strawberry sent that lingered in her long locks. "Mm… Still using that strawberry shampoo, I see?"
Sofia blushed lightly and smiled. "Yeah…"
He smiled affectionately at her. "It suits you." He carefully pulled her into a hug, sighing as she wrapped her arms around him. "Are you…all right with…hearing what I have to tell you?"
She gripped his coat and nodded. "If it's anything like I've got to tell you… I'm perfectly happy with it."
Cedric kissed her hair before pressing his forehead to hers. "To be continued then?"
She smiled at him. "Yeah… to be continued…"
The end