Seeing her all alone by herself on the stables, Cedric was sure he was finally gonna get someone tonight. Gwen and him actually get along well and they share quite the similarities. They love to invent things and all. In fact, it was them who made the first prototype of the working machine that lets you take pictures of people
It was his magic that added the color. And they made a wonderful partnership working on that back then
Surely, she'd consider.
"Hey Gwen!" Cedric finally came out from the corner to greet the woman
"Oh… hey Cedric" she greeted back "What are you up to?"
Scratching his cheek, he tried to be coy and smooth with it. With the smile she was giving him at the moment, surely she'd agree
"Would you like to come to the New Year's Ball with me tonight?"
"Sorry, I cant."
.
.
.
.
"What?" was all he could muster upon hearing her response
"Jasper already asked me so I'm already committed."
Hearing that crushed every single hope in him.
"That's too bad then… hehe" he made sure to utter a nervous laugh to alleviate the awkwardness of the situation
The woman then bid her goodbye. And she carried her whole basket of trinkets and went inside of the castle.
Now discouraged, Cedric sat on a nearby bench and contemplated to himself. "Why is every woman in the castle somehow busy, not going or taken.."
"Now I should've known it was you"
From out of nowhere, Queen Miranda sat beside Cedric, surprising him in the process
"Queen Miranda!" he uttered "I promise I'm not slacking!" He knew how busy the day is.
"Of course you are… hee hee" she playfully giggled "But don't worry. I understand your circumstances"
"Circumstances"
She nodded "James and Amber told me."
"I see… ha-ha" Cedric faked a laugh. Those twins are out there yapping to everyone about his business "Quite embarrassing that it reached to you though, You'r Majesty"
"Now tell me, Cedric. Why do all these unnecessary things instead of just asking her out?"
"Her?"
The Queen only gave her a frozen look and he immediately knew who she was pertaining to
"Oh… her.."
"Yes." she uttered "Did you two have a fight or something?"
"No no no… we didn't fight or anything. It's just… difficult to explain" he looked away "I guess I just assumed that it is unnecessary since she definitely already had been asked out already"
A round of silence followed after with silence in between them. That is until Queen Miranda finally spoke up
"You know what I think?" she uttered "I think you're just taking shortcuts"
"Shortcuts?" Cedric's eyes widened in surprise
The Queen nodded "You taking these unnecessary shortcuts… when the main road is there all along. And still, you refuse to take it because something is holding you back."
The man was silent after that. Still trying to decipher what she was trying to mean with what she said
After a few moments, the Queen finally stood up "Well, I'll leave it to your judgement, Cedric. I know you'll do the right thing" she made her way back to the castle with Cedric watching her leave
What was the shortcut supposed to imply? And how is he supposed to take the "main road"? Such thoughts kept him from thinking all on himself
But before he lost himself in his train of thought, Cedric stood up. This place is too busy. He had to go somewhere else before he stumbles upon someone again.