"At last, Wormy. I have created the perfect spell that will finally lead the amulet of Avalor to my hands"
The bird cawed in villainously as response. Which Cedric didn't really understand at first but it didn't matter
The two are currently hiding behind the rose bushes, trying to conceal themselves from the way eyes of Sofia and her animal friends currently playing at the garden
Knowing Sofia, she would go out of her way just to make Cedric a part of their silly childish games, which the sorcerer had no time of
Cedric smiles, putting his wand up and about to utter the magic words that will finally bring end to his desire of the Amulet
"Corondo—"
"Oh no!"
All of a sudden, a feint yelp caught him off guard. It sounded like Sofia's
And so without hesitation, he immediately rushed to her side. Sofia was currently kneeling down on the lawn, panic-stricken and nervous
Cedric felt bad, something bad must've happened
And so he cleared his throat which garnered the little girl's attention
"Good day princess, is everything alright?"
Sofia raised her head up, looking straight at Mr. Cedric with tears on her cheeks and her nose red as a tomato.
"Oh Mr. Ceedric, I have been so careless!"
Cedric raised his eyebrow, quite intrigued over the crying princess' plea
"And what could you possibly mean by that, princess Sofia?
"My amulet, I lost it when I was playing just now!" Sofia whined, giving out a sniffle in the process
Intrigue caught up to him upon hearing the word 'amulet'. He internally heaved out a chuckle upon realizing this is the perfect chance that he has.
He doesn't even have to use a spell this time, just his acute searching skills
"Oh no, nothing you can do about it now, pr—"
She started crying again, more so loud this time that it caught people's attention among the surroundings. Cedric wanted nothing to do with the look that they were giving him whatsoever. They were probably thinking that it was him again and his blunder, causing their dear princess Sofia to cry
And so he immediately comforted the little girl with his hand caressing her back
"Now now child, I'm here for you" Cedric soothed
"It must be just here somewhere, let us find it together"
Sofia smiled, wanting to embrace her dear sorcerer as her heart fluctuated up and down
"Oh thank you thank you, Mr. Ceedric!" She whined, moving forward to give the sorcerer a hug but was stopped midway by him
He wasn't really fond of hugs.
And so he stood up and reached out for Sofia's hand, aiming to assist which the princess took eagerly
"So tell me, princess Sofia." Cedric began
"Where did you last see your Amulet?"
"I was— playing by the tree" Sofia sniffled
Sofia started crying again, her panic coming back to her senses
"What if we never find it, Mr. Ceedric?" She bawled
"Ohh, and I promised Dad to never lose it too. What should I do"
Cedric knelt down to meet the little girl in her eyes as he slowly uttered
"We'll find it princess; lose all those thoughts in your head. We will find it"
"Or at least I will, He he he" Cedric spoke internally
Sofia dried her eyes with her hands as she gave him a small smile
"If you say so Mr. Ceedric. We will find it" she responded
"You'll stay with me until we find it right?"
"Wait, what?" Cedric muttered
Sofia then clasped both of her hands with his as she looked at him in his eyes. Her adorable face could melt any nefarious man in existence
"Please Mr. Ceedric, I don't wanna do this alone." She begged
"At least until we find it, stay with me please"
She tightened her hold unto the sorcerer's hand, not planning on letting go anytime soon. Cedric however groaned to himself. There's no point in finding it if she'll be with him the whole time
"Fine…" he uttered in defeat
Sofia closed her eyes as she batter him an adorable smile
"Thanks Mr. Ceedric. You're the best!" she giggled
"It's CEDRI— nevermind" he responded
"Let's just get this over with"
And so they started walking to the garden, but something was bothering the sorcerer throughout. Sofia was holding his hand, and she couldn't move much being held close to her
"Could you at least let go of my hand, princess" Cedric suggested
"I won't be going anywhere you know"
Sofia shook her head, hesitating with defiance as she looked straight ahead
"no" She responded sharply
"You know, this could be far more faster if we separate the search and—"
"No" Sofia interrupted again, not wanting to hear any of Cedric's preposition
The sorcerer sighed in defeat, clearly losing hope of getting that Amulet for himself if he cant even shake the little girl off his hip
"Aw, Merlyn's Mushrooms…"
xXx
The sun was about to set and the afternoon was nearing its end. The surroundings are now getting dark but the two are still searching for the missing amulet
Sofia was panicking more so than usual now, but she had hope. If her favorite sorcerer had said so, then they will find it at the end of the day
Cedric however had lost enthusiasm. He doesn't even want to search for it anymore. He's searching with her because he literally couldn't shake her off and a silly promise that he made
Out of nowhere, Wormy can be heard cawing loudly in the background. Sofia couldn't really understand what he was trying to say because of the absence of the amulet on her neck.
Cedric, however took this as the best opportunity to slide off.
"Looks like Wormy has to do a potty, I'll take care of it now, give me a moment princess…"
"Wait, I'll come with you"
"No no, Wormy is a very private bird you see— and he gets embarrassed very quickly"
Sofia frowned
"Oh… okay" she stated
"But make sure to come back, okay?"
"Of course Princess Sofia" Cedric responded as he turned around, his face forming a very nefarious look as he chuckled a villainous laugh
"Of course."
Meeting Wormwood, he now realized that he was trying to show him something. And just as his eyes passed on the ground, it gleamed of disbelief
"MERLYN'S MUSHROOMS!"
Sofia on the other hand was col. She's fighting the feeling of hopelessness and anxiety for she mustn't give up no matter what happens
On the corner of her eyes, she saw Cedric walking towards her which brought a smile to her face
"Mr Ceedric! Please tell me you found it on the way"
The sorcerer shook his head, indicating no
The Princess frowned, disappointment soon invaded her smile
"I'm so sorry princess, we best head on in now. It is getting dark out here"
Sofia grabbed his sleeve which prevented him from walking away further
"No, we need to find it now!"
"But princess Sofia…"
"Mr. Ceedric pleaassee!" Sofia begged, tears now flowing from her eyes
"Don't leave, please…"
Guilt struck Cedric, as if it was hard enough to resist. Now that in his pocket, there contained the object that they had been looking for the entire time
And he could just, turn away, leave her be and be victorious. Then rule the kingdom— and be king!
But somehow
When he's looking at her like this
It brings a wave of guilt inside him that he thought had been filled with nothing but resentment to the deepest hallows
But.. she's different
He had to make a choice somehow, this could end well for him, or end well for the both of them
And so he finally gave in
"Let's continue searching then, princess Sofia"
Sofia then gave him a warm smile with a small nod of her own.
"Look! It's a fairy" Cedric yelled all of a sudden, pointing at a certain direction
"What where?" Sofia uttered, looking at the direction Cedric was pointing
And the sorcerer took that chance to drop the amulet of Avalor on the ground just a few steps from where they are standing
Sofia then turned to Cedric which gave her a mischievous smile
"This is no time for pranks, Mr Ceedric"
"It's CEDRI— Oh My! Look at that"
Cedric then pointed at a certain amulet lying on the ground.
"I'm not falling for that anymore" Sofia pouted
Cedric heaved out a sigh
"Would you just look, princess"
Sofia turned. And to her surprise…
It was there
The amulet of Avalor!
She squealed in delight as she immediately took it from the ground and wore it on her neck
"Now I will never lose you again" Sofia whispered
"I'm sure you wont." Cedric whipped in sarcasm, his voice full of regret and defeat upon giving up the only chance that he had of getting his hands on the amulet
Sofia's rosebud lips curves into a full smile as she looks at Mr. Ceedric. Her eyes tearing up of joy
"We did it Mr Ceedric!" Sofia cheered, lunging herself at the sorcerer
"Oh no, not a hug" Cedric interrupted, gripping his hands on both of her shoulders, preventing her from getting close
"We oughta get back now, princess Sofia."
"Lets!"
xXx
"Oh spare me the look Wormy, what was I supposed to do?"
Cedric muttered to his raven, giving him no time of day. He knew that it was an opportunity right there, and he let it slip out of his hands yet again
Just like always, the pathetic excuse of a sorcerer
God only knows how triumphant they would've been if he took the initiative and just kept his pockets sealed, but alas!
Cedric had to be a goody-two-shoes when the little princess started sobbing
Yet again, a failed attempt.
Wormwood closed his eyes of hopelessness, slowly diverting his feather to a deep slumber. If he knew better, he would've kept it to himself and just give it to Cedric afterwards
Cedric however, felt regret rushing through his veins. The feeling of finally getting what he so wanted is now just a peck of imagination
He pondered to himself how hard can it be to just ignore, or to at least show apathy.
There's just something about the princess that really penetrates to his thick walls. The walls he had set to keep the others away from knowing his true self after all those years of constant belittlement
He had sworn to himself that no more is the sorcerer that would go out of his way to please everyone, and no more is the sorcerer that would be deluded by kindness and such
But earlier, it had come to him yet again
The feeling of empathy and compassion
He could never handle to see Sofia in sorrow, it hurts him. He had always been selfless since day one, and Sofia's soft spot towards him made Cedric realize that
"I just don't know anymore…" Cedric whispered to himself, burying his face on his palms in the process
When all of a sudden.
A loud series of knocks can he heard from the door, as with a very familiar voice that Cedric knew very well
"Oh Mr, Ceedric!"
He raised up, not wanting to answer it first for seeing her face would just remind him of the pathetic excuse of decision he made back there
But he found himself opening the door anyways
"princess Sofia. It's late, why are you still up"
Sofia batted her eyelashes at him which she also giggled in addition
"I just realized that I didn't get to hug you today so—"
And just like that, the princess lunged himself at the sorcerer, snuggling him close
"Thanks for helping me search for the amulet, Mr. Ceedric" she muttered
He never liked hugs, but…
Cedric felt warmth, and a different series of emotions flowing through. He couldn't explain it well, but it wasn't so bad
"I made you something" Sofia stated
"Made me something?" Cedric repeated
"Yes, but first you have to close your eyes"
"What is this about, princess?" Cedric irked
"Oh just do it."
Cedric then closed his eyes as he felt something going on with his wrist. It felt soft and ticklish at the same time with sounds of giggling hovering in the air
She is definitely up to something.
"And… finished" Sofia stated
"You can open your eyes now, Mr. Ceedric"
Open he did, as stumbled upon his vision is a certain cute present on his wrist
"What's this?"
"A special lavender corsage made for a very special friend" Sofia responded with a sweet smile on her face
Cedric was taken aback, not expecting to be stunned whatsoever. For some reason, such a small corsage could cause him delight
And so he smiled back at the little princess
"Thank you princess Sofia. Run along now, it's late"
"Okay, see you tomorrow Mr. Ceedric!" Sofia uttered as she gleamed him another genuine smile before turning around back to the stairs
Cedric closed the door and collapsed to his chair, his mind still jumbled but somehow he could find clarity
"What do I really want?" he whispered to himself
He knew that pursuing his endeavors would destroy his friendship with the only person who had shown him genuine kindness
Looking at the little present that she gave him, he felt contentment somehow. The colors definitely reminds him of her
The raven cawed again, which took his attention
"Oh come on Wormy, we can always steal the amulet some other day…"