A New Anti Reality

Chapter 2

Dinner was an interesting sight to behold. Not only had Greylock been a pleasant guest to have but his family had seemed to quickly have adapted to being back at the castle fairly well. Cedric had to admit, he liked the positive atmosphere.

However, the sorcerer sudden liking to dinner turned when his friend had asked to privately talk to him. Hearing this, made the teen's eyes to narrow in slight anger. "Whatever it is Greylock, can we wait til later tonight?" The man suggested when he put down his drink.

"But you promised me, you would tell me a bedtime story tonight, Uncle Cedric!" Calista whined

Oh, given the duty of story telling do you, Uncle Cedric..." Greylock joked with a smirk. "my,aren't we just going soft?"

The future ruler's narrowed eyes turned into a glare. Standing up, Cedric walked over to the guest and tightly pulled the man out of the room much to everyone's confusion.

"Should we save the dessert til they get back, Your Majesties?" Baileywick asked the group as he nervously stood between Cedric's and Sofia's seats.

No, go ahead, Baileywick. I don't think Cedric would mind missing desert. He's not very fond of that kind of thing anyway." Sofia said kindly to the man.

"As you wish,Your Majesty." The man said then left to tell the staff to start serving the next coarse.


In the the newly decorated office the king would privately use, Cedric sat at the desk while Greylock paced the floor trying to think of a way to start the conversation. "Well, what was so important you had to tell me? Cedric asked still slightly angry at the man.

"It's about Juliana..."Greylock said as he ceased his pacing to face Cedric. "Ever since you killed off Roland, she and I...we've been spending more time together." There sorcerer said.

"So?" Cedric asked

"Well, we are sort of engaged now."

With sigh, Cedric slumped into his chair and thought over this news. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you two practically hung out together all the time," Looking up at the brunette man lead the royal to realize something. "If this was the news why couldn't you just have announced it to everyone else in the dinning hall, why keep it a secret?"

"Well, Juianna didn't want the news to come out til we were both ready to announce it. And considering she is away for a while...I feel like I need to at least tell you."

"I see." Cedric muttered as he understood the reasoning behind his friend's actions tonight. "Well, I'm happy for you Greylock."

"Thanks, speaking of engagements when do you and the princess plan to 'tie the knot' so to speak?"

"Sofia wants to find her mother first."

"Hm, do you think Miranda is still alive?"

"I'm not sure, I would have thought by defeating Roland, his magic would have worn off and she would return but perhaps his magic may be stronger than that. I'd hate for Sofia to come across the fact that her mother is gone..."

A dead silence filled the air as both sorcerers thought over that very possibility. Would they really find the former queen dead? If they had to imagine what Roland would have done, he probably would have killed her off as well after what she had done. But then again, there could have been a spec of mercy in him, and he could have just let her run away as Roland had forced her to so.

Not wanting to think over this thought anymore Cedric decided they needed to go back to the dinning hall. "If you ever need my help in searching for Miranda, Cedric, I will come." Greylock said as they walked out of the office and down the hall.

"Thank-you, but I feel this will be a trip Sofia and I would need to take alone." The dark-haired man said. "I don't know what we'll find but I have a feeling it will be very traumatizing for her."

When the two men entered back into the dinning hall, they found the group was enjoying the fly cakes that had been served.

The rest of the dinning experience had been spent on light conversations. No one even had asked what the two friends had discussed and to Cedric, that was very much a relief.


Later, after seeing Greylock off,Cedric saw to Calista's supposed bedtime story which turned out quite amusingly with the little girl interrogating the man about how he and Sofia became friends. Eventually, he got the her to calm down and tucked into bed.

"You go to sleep now." Cedric said as he stood up and began making his way out the door.

"but Uncle Cedric, I want to hear more..." The little sorceress whined.

"And you will but not tonight." He said as reached the door.

"Okay but one more question." Calista said as she sat up to look at him.

"What is it?"

"When you become king will that make me a princess?"

"If you were my daughter it would but since you are my niece that would make you 'Lady Calista'."

"Why?"

Giving a sigh he explained. "Your mother and and father will be a Duke and Duchess and you are their daughter. Do you understand now?"

"I think so." The little girl said as she scratched her head.

"Good, now go to sleep." He said sternly.

Making sure she had her eyes closed Cedric placed a good night kiss on the crown of her head then exited the room.

"I think someone is starting to become Calista's favorite person..."Sofia joked once Cedric had closed the door.

The man scoffed "Please, that kid is a troublemaker. She didn't want a bed time story. Instead she tortures me with questions. That little imp."

Sofia rolled her eyes good naturally as she wrapped her arms around his waist pulled him to her as she listened to him ramble about his niece. Inside, deep down, the princess knew Cedric loved Calista. If he didn't Cedric wouldn't have made her the future leader of his resistances had the prophecy not been real.

Realizing it had grown quiet, Cedric looked down to his future wife cuddling him. "Were you needing to tell me something?" He asked as he placed his hands on her arms and began to run his hands up and down.

"Baileywick said that our trip to meet the villagers will be tomorrow afternoon."

Hearing this made the sorcerer freeze up. Could he handle meeting his future subjects, tomorrow? He had a feeling they would want to deal with the criminal acts that were falsely placed on his shoulders.

For a long time, Cedric had believed he was guilty of his father's murder but when Sofia came back into his life she made him see the truth. If only 'they' had all been there when the truth was revealed.

Seeing that Cedric was in shock Sofia leaned into him and ran her hands up and down his arms, doing the same with his chest to finally wrapping her arms around his neck playing with his hair. "It will be okay. I'll make sure they won't hurt you."

Once those reassuring words were given Cedric's body relaxed. In return he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "Sofia,I-"

"You'll do just fine. I know you'll prove your innocence to them." She interrupted.

Had the rest of the night not been filled with plans the couple would have stayed like this in each others arms. Sadly, that was not the case. "I better go meet up with Miss Winifred and Cordelia. We're working on designs for my wedding dress." Sofia said as she looked up at him.

"Already, huh?" He asked with a slight smirk.

"Well, Winifred insisted we work on the drawing of the dress so I gave in a little but I think I'm going to let my mom have the final say when we find her."

Sensing the positive outlook the woman had in finding the long lost family member made the man to remember what he had told Greylock earlier. "Sofia, there is something you should probably know..." He said gently as he took both her hands in his and gave her serious yet gentle look."

"What is it...?" She asked.

A long silence fell between the couple as the sorcerer thought of a way to warn the girl of his suspicions but as he saw how happy she was right now...did he really need to divulge his thoughts on her now?

Before Cedric could make up his mind a voice broke up them out of their staring trance. "Princess Sofia, Miss Winifred and Cordelia are waiting for you in the parlor." Baileywick said as he walked up to them.

"Oh, thank-you, Baileywick. I'm on my way there now. If you want...you can retire for the night."

"I'll actually be on my way there once I instruct the maids to start cleaning the dinning hall." With a bow to both of them and biding them goodnight the man left to see to the last of the chores.

"Just think pretty soon, you'll be ordering him around and he'll be at your heels." Sofia joked once they were alone again.

"Yeah, but I guess I'll let you do that for now. You better go see to those designs."

"Right, oh, what were you going to say a minute ago?"

Deciding he could tell her later, Cedric placed his hand under her chin. "That you'll make a beautiful bride." He said then bent down to give her a gentle kiss on the lips. Once it was given the sorcerer started to make his way back to the workshop. "I better go study one more time before I turn in."

"D-don't stay up too late." She stuttered.

Once she was alone the woman started to blush. "H-he thinks I'll be a beautiful bride...?" As Sofia thought more on his statement her face became even redder.

All of a sudden another voice brought her out her daze. "Come on Sofia, we've been waiting on you forever!" Cordelia said as she dragged the princess along to the parlor.


A/N: Well, I know we haven't gotten much anywhere in this chapter but I guess this is establishing the relationships of the characters. I promise that in the next chapter we'll see some action taking place. Please review!