Cedric walked back and forth, quite shaken and nervous about something. His tower seemed small, compared to the distance that he was taking
His raven was closely watching him without a clue in the world what on Merlyn's Mushroom world could have caused such travesty on the sorcerer
"Perhaps I should go out for today! – but then again, I would be back here by afternoon and she would be here by then" he mumbled indistinctively
Something was definitely bothering Cedric, and it wasn't about the spells, or the workshop, not even the fact that his hair was growing out longer with the passed days
It was something about a certain girl who would come to his tower everyday just to have fun or to tease him. It wasn't even about sorcery lessons anymore, she would just come over to do random things like color books, play cards and even sometimes, do nothing at all. She would just sit there and watch him work
This didn't make sense to him, she had lots of friends – and yet, she would accustom herself to be with a man like himself, a princess should be with other princesses and princes, not with some guy who sulks in his tower all day
He knew it was coming up, no doubt about it. It would always come every year and he will have no choice but to attend. That snuggling little bubber would always play mind tricks to make him agree, especially that adorable 'puppy face' of hers
And so this day, he wants to change all of that. As an adult, he needed to put some authority over the girl, even though she is a princess
"That is it, Wormwood! I have to set an example for -"
The door suddenly bolted open which cut off his remarks. His shoulders drooped down upon the realization of what this means, he already had a full idea of what is gonna happen next
"Oh Mr. Ceedric!"
And there it is.
The sorcerer slowly turned around with a forced nervous smile in his face with his eyes closed
"Aha, if it isn't Princess Sofia herself" He greeted in a slight ostentatious manner
"I definitely didn't expect you at all…" he added in a slight sarcasm in his voice
"What do you mean, Mr. Ceedric? I'm technically here every day!" Sofia responded with a giggle, clearly loving his reaction
"Of course you are child, now what can I help you with?"
"Can I at least come inside and sit down?
"Must you?"
Sofia rested her hands on her hips upon hearing that
"Of course, I must." She responded as her right eyebrow raised, indicating playful suspicion
"Unless you're hiding something here that your adorable princess and apprentice shouldn't see, Mr. Ceedric~"
She then beamed him a leer of tease which the sorcerer found really annoying and insufferable
"You know there's nothing here but books, and bottles and magic stuffs, sometimes rats" He stated
"And don't call me that! – you know, I'm starting to think that you are indeed doing it on purpose"
She prepares her chair nice and tidy with a smirk on her face as she sits down with her eyes locked on his
"I don't know whatever could you mean-" she uttered in a smug manner
"Mr. CeeeeeeeDRIC!."
"Okay, now you're just being annoying..."
"Suuuureeee…" she mumbled in response, still having the same look in her eyes
The sorcerer heaved out a sigh after that
"I don't really get it, Princess Sofia. I never see you act this way with others. And yet whenever you come over and the door is closed with no one else but the two of us, you turn into a different girl." He implied under his breath
The young princess scooted her chair next to him
"Do you hate it?" she asked with a slight worry in her eyes
"Hah, hate it? I despise it. You act like this all the time and it gets on my nerves…" He responded with clear sarcasm
Sofia bumped into his shoulder playfully. She had been around with him too much already to read between the lines of his words. Cedric is the type of person who would mock and compliment you at the same time, but most of the 'time', it would come out as opposite of what he really means
"Don't you think its weird how you understand me so well just much as much I understand you internally" she implored, running her fingers on her chair
"It's like I can sense whenever you are lying, my Sofia senses are tingling whenever that happens"
The sorcerer let out a chuckle upon hearing that. He didn't want to show it though. It would come off as disrespectful to the girl
"Now that's something right there, Sofia senses?" He jested internally
"Is that some kind of a superpower or something?"
The Princess gave him a gaze of suspicion yet again despite his clear clarity of wording
"Now I can sense that you are ridiculing me, Mr. Ceedric" she uttered proudly
Cedric was stunned upon hearing this, he was speechless on how on Merlyn's Mushroom World did she come to know that
"Wha.. How…"
"I told you already, Mr. Ceedric." She uttered with a smile on her rosebud lips
"I can read you like an open book, thanks to my Sofia Senses" she added with a playful wink
He groaned, with his teeth gnashed. Now it would be extremely difficult to even escape the princess's tight grasp against him. And now it's coming, it's definitely coming
"So umm… Mr. Ceedric?"
"Here it comes…"
"I was wondering if you could att-"
"Why would you look at that!" He interrupted, flicking out his wand out of nowhere and pointed at a book
"yeah… it's a book" she slowly muttered
"Yeah!" Cedric stated in fake delight
"And speaking of books – I have to book myself to upstairs to get something. So stay right here, or leave if you want to…"
Sofia gave him a look of disapproval upon hearing that. Cedric internally wished she would choose the second option but it seems like she's staying.
Upon reaching upstairs, he finally distanced himself from the princess and her 'Sofia Senses'
Now there's nothing to stop him from his plan, and he knows exactly how to implement it.
xXx
Sofia sat alone, humming to herself with her eyes closed. Her birthday is coming up and she has someone special in mind that she wanted to be present in that day
Last year was quite hectic, Cedric didn't even come at all. This made her mad, very mad~
For at least 3 hours at least, Cedric managed to win her back by making her a special giraffe plush which she loves very much. She still has it on her bed till this day
But now, there's no stopping the girl from making him attend. She'll make him promise to her so that he will be sure to attend. Sofia knows how Cedric takes promises seriously
As she opened her eyes, there he was sitting next to him. He was looking ahead for some strange reason.
"Mr. Ceedric?"
The sorcerer bolted awake in response, he had his eyes open yet it seems like he can't see anything. This made her very suspicious.
Cedric then leaned to the left and uttered
"Yes Sofia, I'm here"
A big rush of silence then engulfed when he did this. No response whatsoever
"Sofia?" he repeated
"Mr. Ceedric, I'm right over here."
Sofia stated, Cedric was talking to her yet he was facing left, she was on his right
The sorcerer realized this and immediately turned to the other direction. He let out a chuckle the alleviate the blunder that he just made
But instead of alleviating it, this only made Sofia even more suspicious. And so she tested it out. The girl leaned in closer to him to see if he was going to react, but surprisingly, he didn't.
Now her Sofia Senses were tingling, and it didn't take her a while to figure out what's going on with Cedric
"So Mr. Ceedric…"
"Yes, Princess Sofia?"
"I was wondering if you could come to the…"
"Nope. No thanks." He responded flatly
"Don't you wanna know the full thing?"
"Well you're gonna invite me right?"
"Yes, to the Merlyn convention tomorrow."
This caused a major rush of excitement to him as he took of what seemed like an invisible thing from his eyes to look at her
"Really?" he asked with delight
It was at this moment Cedric knew, he fricked up…
As Sofia gave him her most dangerous adorable look, the puppy face. Like the combination of all the cute things in the world formed up into one girl, something that she knows he would never resist. Cedric froze on the spot as her lips pouted, making a cute puppy face
"So Mr. Ceedric…" she slowly uttered
"You'll come to my Birthday Party right?
Cedric mumbled a few words, he was about to look away but Sofia leaned in closer to keep his gaze to herself
"You promise you'll come right?"
"I… I uhhh" Cedric continued to mumble
He wanted to look away, but it was too late at this point. She deliberately made him remove his invisible blindfold which is the only thing that prevented her look from working on him
Now it was not even funny, he couldn't resist her. He's gonna say yes, and he's gonna be with those people in her birthday, all because he was stupid enough to fall for her trick
"Aww, Merlyn's Mushrooms…" he uttered internally
"Fine… I'll go to your party." He finally answered
"Do you promise?" She asked softly
"Yeah, I promise" Cedric scoffed, looking away in defeat
Sofia cheered in delight. Her plan worked and it made her so happy.
"Now you've made your promise, Mr. Ceedric. You have no choice but to attend!"
"Yeah, I figured that would be that case" He stated
Cedric huffed a sigh, now he has to practice to handle big crowds. Sofia was looking at him with a very big smile, clearly enjoying the whole thing
"I mean, how hard can it be? I'll just sit on the corner while you and your friends and family have fun" he scoffed with a proud smile
Sofia didn't think this through, and she didn't like this one bit.
"Mr. Ceedric!" she whined with a pout on her face
"What?" he laughed, seeing how worked up the girl has become.
Not taking any more chances, he decided to close his eyes entirely, who knows what stunt she will pull next
"You're supposed to be there, with me!"
"Yeah, I'll be there for you alright – watching you from the corner!" He jested, knowing well he had the upper hand now
Cedric slightly opened his eyes and saw the Princess pout with dismay. He was loving the whole interaction, now the tables have turned
"Fine, If that's what you want, I won't ever talk to you ever again. Mr. Cedric. Goodbye." Sofia dictated as she hopped out off her chair and walked out of his tower.
Cedric tried to call her but she didn't stop. Perhaps he was too harsh on her. But knowing the Princess, this is merely nothing
Finally, the workshop had silence and peace. Cedric needed to think of possible gifts to give to a girl though. But that didn't matter to him at the moment
For now, it is peace and quiet as Cedric slowly closed his eyes
When Suddenly
"Mr. Ceedric!"
The Sorcerer groaned, he was expecting her to come back but this is ridiculous. He at least wanted an hour of peace
"Princess Sofia, I thought you won't ever speak to me again?
"I just remembered something - my Sofia Senses told me" she uttered with a smile
"Knowing you Mr. Ceedric, you prefer some alone time without any company. So the best punishment would be to annoy you even more, every day even!"
Sofia smiled even more, she didn't mean what she said earlier of course. And good thing she found an excuse to make it seem coincidental
She would probably be very sad if that did happen. She didn't want to "not talk to him ever again" over a silly birthday
Cedric however frowned. There is just no getting rid of Princess Sofia no matter what.
The Princess the returns to her seat with a sudden melancholy on her face
"It's kinda sad though…" she slowly muttered
"Do you dislike going to my birthday that much?"
"Well, I'm not really good at large crowds, and that's the reason why." He answered
"Not related to your birthday whatsoever."
"But still…" Sofia slowly muttered, she had an even more sad look on her face
Cedric heaved out a sigh of exasperation. He wanted to say something that he would eventually regret later on. But seeing Sofia sad is something that he just can't tolerate.
"If it's okay with you… we can have an after party here in the workshop" Cedric slowly mumbled, looking away of embarrassment
"If that's okay with you…"
This filled Sofia with nothing but joy, hearing his suggestion really made her happy inside
"Yes! Let's do that, Mr. Ceedric!" She babbled with delight
Cedric smiled back
"And maybe we can invite some of your friends and family – like your parents"
"They would be WAY too tired for an after party, Mr. Ceedric."
"How about James, I'm sure he'd love to be a part of it…"
"No! James is very messy and loud. He's more fitting for big parties" Sofia responded
"What about Amber, I'm sure she…"
"No!" Sofia interrupted
"But she's…"
"NO!" Sofia interrupted again, a bit angry this time
Cedric grew confused over this as Sofia let out an exhale to calm herself
"Here's the thing Mr. Ceedric, if we would somehow invite more people. Then that would give out the secret plan. Dad definitely forbids staying up late so that means it's gonna be forbidden, and we won't be able to hold the after party in the first place" Sofia explained carefully
"I guess that makes sense." Cedric stated
"I guess it will just be the two of us then…"
Sofia rested her cheek on her palm as she stared over Cedric
"Yes, just the two of us…" she uttered under her breath, watching him close
"Just me and you, Cedric."
He eventually took notice of this and asked
"What was that?"
"Nothing nothing." Sofia responded with a nervous grin
"Anyways, isn't it time for lunch now?" Cedric stated
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Sofia hopped out of her chair upon the realization
"I guess I'll see you later, Mr. Ceedric."
"It's CEDRIC, and go on."
The young princess waltzed out of his door, but paused at the last minute upon remembering something
"Make sure to eat lunch as well." She stated with a concerned look on her face
Cedric nodded in response with a reassuring smile on his face
The young Princess beamed a smile in a warm in response as finally closes the door
Upon Sofia's absence finally, Cedric stretched his back fully with the stress built up from that scene. Now he can just relax, and think up of a good present for Sofia
But looking back, somehow he felt as if he was finessed, after all, she managed to convince him of coming to her birthday party and hold an after party in here
Somehow, he felt as if he was playing on her palm all along
xXx
"Sofia, you seem more happy than usual today" Miranda stated, noticing her daughter's happy mood
It was lunch on the dinner table as the whole family couldn't help but notice why a big smile is on the young princess's face.
"Right in the palm of my hand~"
~The End~