"Are you sure you're okay to do this alone?"
King Roland uttered to a certain princess who was on the doorsteps of the castle. It was almost night time and the path back to the castle could be a bit dark at times
"I'm okay, Dad. I can handle myself" Sofia responded in a confident tone as she showed the bag she was holding "I just have to return these books to the library and I'll head back immediately"
"We could have someone else do it for you, Sofia. It's dangerous to go out at night" he reprimanded with worry on his face. But then he remembered something "I could have someone for you to go with if you want"
Sofia sighed "Dad, I can do this alone. Trust me" she didn't want to bicker with him but she had to reassure him somehow
"Are you certain?" he asked
Sofia nodded.
"Alright then. Be safe, Sofia" King Roland uttered, when suddenly, a certain puff of green smoke appeared out of nowhere and a man walked out from it, which caught his attention
"Many pardons, King Roland. That last potion was very stubborn to keep on the vial"
"It's alright, Cedric"
Hearing that name stunned Sofia. With her eyes wide opened, she turned and saw no other than the Royal Sorcerer himself with a quirky grin on his face
"Mister Ceedric?" her expressions lit up in surprise
"I was gonna have Cedric come with you to the library tonight as your escort" King Roland explained
"You were gonna have Mister Ceedric walk me home tonight?" somehow, there was a prang of regret on her eyes
"Sofia definitely doesn't need an escort, Your Majesty" Cedric then approached the young woman and put his arm around her shoulders "She's Sofia the First, strong and brave, a mere walk at night isn't a trouble for her"
"Right?" he turned to her but she didn't respond
"That's what she told me, and you're right. You don't have to go with her, Cedric. You can head back to the workshop now" King Roland said
"Music to my ears… he-he" Cedric was already halfway to the stairs when he said that. Sofia-sitting is the last thing he'd want to spend his evening on for sure
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"Actually… it might be a bit dark at this hour."
Cedric halted upon hearing that
"What was that, Sofia?" King Roland asked
"The path to the library might be a bit dark at this hour and it might be cold too.." Sofia looked away and twirled her fingers on her back "Perhaps… Mister Ceedric could accompany me after all"
"That's no bother, Princess" Cedric slid in front of her and pulled out his wand. He then conjured a spell that brought a lantern out of thin air "Here. You're all set now" he winked in addition
When Sofia received the lantern – it was evident on her face that she was struggling to bring it up. "I think… it's way too heavy for me.."
Cedric just grinned and turned to the King who was skeptical of Sofia going alone now
"I can make it smaller if you'd like" Cedric suggested
"No, Cedric" King Roland uttered "You will accompany Sofia tonight and you must never leave her side no matter what. Make sure to walk her home tonight and stick close to her"
"B-But…" Cedric hummed in response
"That will be all, Cedric. You two can go now" Cedric watched as King Roland walked away with a defeated look on the Sorcerer's face
A giggle was heard from his side and Cedric turned to her.
"What happened to strong and brave?" he asked her
Another giggle came out of her before looking at him straight in the eyes
"On some occasions, yes" Sofia teasingly responded "And on some occasions, I'm just a girl who needs Mister Ceedric!" she gave him a sad pout in a playful way
"Hah, very funny" He whispered in a sarcastic tone
"Shall we go?" Sofia then linked her arms with his closely as they walked out of the doorsteps of the castle. When they finally reached the gate, Cedric notices something from Sofia
"What the…" Cedric uttered seeing how Sofia is lifting the lantern rather easily now without any hint of struggle.
"Weren't you just complaining about that lantern being too heavy earlier?" he whined, surprised at what he's seeing
"Looks like my strength finally kicked in, ehe-he" the girl quirkily uttered with a nervous giggle at the end
"This is ridiculous. You just wanted me to come with you!"
"Of course not. I wasn't looking forward to spending the whole night with your side under the moonlight while we walk the empty streets of Dunwiddie. Not at all" she bit her lip and was looking away from his gaze when she mumbled this
"Okay, then you can do this alone right?" he leaned in closer, when a bright idea came to him.
It was deception time.
"Sofia…" Cedric knelt down to her level with a serious look on his face "You are a strong, brave and smart girl. You don't need me or anyone at all!"
"Consider this your opportunity to show your dad that you're not some damsel in distress that needs to be saving" he winked at her
"Hmm… maybe so.." Sofia was looking up with her finger on her lip, emphasizing she was in deep thought and was considering it
Cedric took this as a go sign to swiftly leave as he sneakily turned around and tiptoed back to the castle
But suddenly, something pulled him back and he couldn't move further. And with this, he just sighed in response. Especially when the girl herself walked in front of him with that certain smirk on her face as she linked her arms on his
"But not tonight, Mister Ceedric~"
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"Can you please remind me what we are doing in the park tonight when we already returned the book back to the library?"
Cedric asked while holding a chocolate chip ice cream cone on his hand currently seated on a nearby bench on the park.
The park was well lit from lanterns set from the posts. This evening would've been perfect moment for a romantic date for sure
He turned to his side and the sight of a certain little girl looking up at the stars at the sky was what he saw
"Romantic hah" he sighed in disappointment
"Mister Ceedric look!" Sofia pointed at a certain glowing formation at the sky "That star's name is Cassiopeia…"
"And that one is Altair" she added while pointing on a different star
"And that one is…"
Cedric spaced out on her and she looked genuinely happy explaining to him the names of the stars are. He has never seen anyone have this much enjoyment in his company ever.
Yet here she is, having the time of her life beside him under the star lit skies. "Who needs a romantic date when you can have this instead?" he thought to himself
Moments like this is what's keeping him from being truly pessimistic. A reminder that not everything in this world is against him. A reminder that the most beautiful things come in small sizes from a distance.
Like a glowing and shining star up above.
"Mister Ceedric?"
"Yeah?"
"What is your favorite star out of them all?" she raised her legs up to the bench and embraced her knees with her baby blues looking up at him
No response came out of him, but the smile on Cedric's face was enough for an answer
"No comment."
"What?" Sofia asked "Not even one?"
"I do, but I'm not gonna tell you"
"Why not?"
"Because you have a vanilla ice cream smudge on your upper lip" Hearing this made Sofia's cheeks red as she then reached checked her pockets for a handkerchief but she forgot to bring any
Cedric chuckled in response as he then pulls out his own paper napkin from his pocket and gently wiped Sofia's lips with it. She looked embarrassed while looking up at him
"Thank you" she softly muttered
"Yeah, well that's what escorts do.." Cedric then stood up to his feet and stretched his back "It's getting late. Shall we head back, Sofia?"
Sofia took his hand with a gleeful smile on her face