It Doesn't Matter
Sofia giggled joyously as Cedric twirled her, the skirt of her pastel purple gown swirling around her legs.
"You're rather happy tonight," the sorcerer noted, but even he couldn't keep a goofy grin off his face.
"Of course I am," she chirped, beaming up at him. "Amber's ball is off to a good start. Plus, this is the first ball we've attended together since we announced our courtship. Besides," she leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, "I'm always happy when I'm with you."
The ball in question was Amber's Butterfly and Blossom Ball. Enchancia's future queen had come up with the idea a week prior. After spending an entire afternoon going over documents with her father, Amber suddenly found herself wanting to attend some kind of party. She had asked Baileywick when the next ball was. To her shock, the steward had reported that there were no royal functions for over a month. The Spring Ball was the previous month, and, unless one of the other kingdoms decided to host a ball, there were no celebrations in Enchancia until Mother's Day. Resigned, Amber had gone for a walk in the gardens. Watching butterflies fluttering around the colorful flowerbeds gave her a rather silly idea, but she could use any excuse to plan a party. Preparations had begun the next day, and invitations were sent out. And now the ball was in full swing.
"Did I tell you how lovely you look?" Cedric asked softly.
Sofia blushed prettily. Amber had insisted in the invitations that everyone was to wear spring colors. This hadn't proven a problem for the younger princess, who loved light purple hues. Sofia's gown was pastel purple with white rose petals scattered throughout. A light green sash tied around her waist matched the thin lace on the ends of her elbow length sleeves. White flats were just barely visible under her skirt. Her hair was done up in a simple bun. Her silver tiara was adorned with a small gem shaped like a flower. The only jewelry she wore was her amulet, having forgone her Enchantlet. To Cedric, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, but something was missing.
He pulled his wand from his sleeve. Holding out his other hand, he muttered a spell as he pointed the wand at his hand. A fully bloomed dark pink rose appeared in his outstretched palm. "A dark pink rose," he hummed, holding it up for her to see. "You know, this particular color symbolizes gratitude and appreciation. I know I didn't always show it, but I am truly grateful that you came into my life. You helped me, changed me, in so many ways. I wouldn't be here without you." A gentle smile crossed his lips as he reached out and carefully slipped the rose behind her left ear.
"Cedric…" She smiled radiantly as she reached up and caressed the flower lightly.
"It matches your amulet," he chuckled.
Sofia giggled and reached up, linking her fingers behind his neck. "You're the sweetest sorcerer in the Ever Realm." She slowly leaned up toward his face, closing the distance between them…
"Cedric! Sofia! There you are."
The two jumped apart as Amber glided toward them. The blonde princess looked lovely as always in a sleeveless gown with a pale yellow bodice and a flowing white skirt. She had chosen to wear her hair down. The diamonds on her tiara sparkled when they caught the light, as did the diamond studs she wore in her ears.
"H–Hi, Amber," Sofia stuttered, trying to will away a blush.
Amber smirked at her younger sister's flustered expression. "You two are such cute lovebirds," she cooed teasingly. "Ever since you announced your courtship, you haven't been able to keep your hands and lips to yourselves." She snickered when they both blushed profusely. "Anyway, Cedric," she went on, giving the sorcerer a pleased smile. "I wanted to tell you that you did a wonderful job." She gestured to the whole room in general.
The sorcerer smiled shyly. Of course, he had done his part in preparing for this grand event. As Amber requested, the ballroom floor was enchanted to resemble a grassy meadow full of wildflowers. Holographic butterflies fluttered about the room in varying colors. On the buffet table, a punch fountain was set up. The liquid spewing from it was charmed to taste like the drinker's favorite flavor. It all looked quite nice, and Cedric was pretty proud of himself.
"I'm thinking of making this an annual thing when I'm queen," Amber hummed, tapping her chin with a delicate finger. "And, of course, I'll need my royal sorcerer Cedric the Sensationally Great by my side."
Cedric blinked. "That's… a rather long title, Princess Amber."
"It suits you," the blonde girl grinned.
"It really does," Sofia said enthusiastically. "You really are sensationally great." She giggled.
"Even so, if I had to choose a title it would be Cedric the Sensational. That one is special." He smiled meaningfully at Sofia, who returned the sentiment. While he did like being known as Cedric the Great, that title belonged to his father, Goodwyn the Great. Cedric the Sensational, on the other hand, was all his own. And it was Sofia who gave it to him. That made the title special to him.
"Mm," Amber hummed thoughtfully before giving the sorcerer a pointed stare.
He blinked, surprised by her sudden shift in mood. "What?"
"Cedric, I specifically asked that everyone wear spring colors tonight." She gestured at his usual dark purple robe. "You stand out like a black swan in a flock of white ones." She nodded toward Baileywick, who was busy keeping an eye on the refreshments to keep James from eating all the cookies. The steward had exchanged his usual jacket for a beige vest. "Even Baileywick did as I asked."
"That's strange," he quipped sarcastically. "When has Baileywick not done as you asked?"
Amber rolled her eyes. "You're missing the point, Cedric."
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Princess Amber." He folded his arms and gave her a defiant look. "But I don't look good in lighter colors, so I prefer to wear dark ones. Besides, my tie is yellow and that is a spring color, is it not?"
The future queen stared at him for a minute before turning to her sister. "Now he's Cedric the Sensationally Stubborn," she declared with a dramatic sigh.
Sofia laughed. "Oh, let it go, Amber. I really can't see Cedric in a lighter color, and I like him in dark purple. It suits him." She gave her sorcerer a loving smile, which he returned. Turning back to the blonde girl, she linked her arm with Amber's and started leading her toward the refreshments. "Let's go try the punch. It's supposed to taste like the drinker's favorite flavor."
"Ooh, I've been meaning to try some," Amber exclaimed excitedly. "Maybe it will be strawberry and vanilla for me."
Cedric chuckled in amusement as he followed the two princesses.
A few minutes later, after tasting the punch, which did indeed taste like strawberry and vanilla for Amber, the two sisters stood near the buffet table chattering away. Cedric, who had no interest in joining the conversation, was leaning against a wall behind them, watching in amusement as the two girls giggled together. At one point, Sofia turned toward her sorcerer. She was about to ask him to dance when the ballroom doors opened, and a few late guests walked into the room.
Sofia smiled when she recognized her old friends, Hildegard and Clio, both of whom wore gowns in pastel versions of their signature colors. However, her smile faltered when she caught sight of the girl who walked just behind them. The girl wore a bright orange gown that was much too bright to be considered a spring color. Her curly red hair was piled on top of her head with a few tendrils framing her narrow face. A tiara encrusted with diamonds was in place on her head. She looked around the room with haughty green eyes. This was Princess Lydia of Lackaria. She was a former classmate of Hildegard's from the School for Royal Fashion, and Sofia and Amber had met her a few times. Lydia was one of the very few people Sofia couldn't stand. She had a very high opinion of herself, and she could be rude and cruel if there was something she didn't approve of.
Sofia grabbed her sister's arm. "Amber," she whispered, "Why did you invite Princess Lydia? Don't you remember what happened the last time we saw her?"
Amber sighed heavily. "Of course I do. She said I looked like a tramp who didn't know anything about fashion." She scowled momentarily at the memory of the day Lydia found fault with one of her best gowns. "But what could I do, Sofia? She's a guest at Hildy's castle, and it would have been rude not to invite her." She took Sofia' hand and squeezed it. "Let's just try to be pleasant to her and hopefully nothing will happen." With that, she stepped forward to greet her two best friends as they approached her.
"Who is that princess in the hideous orange thing?" Cedric wondered, moving up behind Sofia and leaning down to whisper in her ear so only she could hear him. "That gown looks like it was made out of fruit peels."
" Cedric!" She swatted the snickering sorcerer on the shoulder, just barely able to contain her own giggles.
"Sofia!"
The princess smiled warmly as she walked over to her friends, giving them both hugs. "Hildy! Clio! I'm so glad you could make it."
"We would have been here sooner," Hildegard said crossly, shooting an irritated look over her shoulder, "if Lydia hadn't taken forever and a day getting ready."
Lydia just shrugged. "Blame your maids, Hildegard. I gave them very specific instructions on how to do my hair, but they couldn't do it right. Perhaps your father should start looking for more competent servants."
The Friezenburg princess narrowed her eyes, but before she could say anything, Clio laid a hand on her arm.
"Calm down, Hildy," the brunette said softly.
Lydia stepped forward and gave Amber a curt nod. "Princess Amber, nice to see you again."
"Likewise, Princess Lydia," Amber responded with a tight smile.
The Lackarian princess turned toward Sofia and offered her a smile. "Princess Sofia, I heard you were courting."
"That's right." Sofia smiled in spite of who she was talking to.
"Wonderful!" She looked toward the buffet table where several princes—including James—were gathered. "Which of those princes is the lucky one?"
"Oh, I'm not courting a prince." Well, she couldn't fault Lydia for assuming such. They hadn't seen each other for several months, and Enchancia didn't have ties with Lackaria. Hildegard may have mentioned Sofia was courting and left it at that. She turned and held out a hand toward Cedric, smiling happily when he moved to stand beside her, taking her hand. "This is our royal sorcerer Cedric. He's the most wonderful sorcerer in the world, and I'm so happy to be with him."
Cedric blushed darkly. "Sofia…"
"Aw…" Clio sighed dreamily. "You two make such a sweet pair."
"Yes, very charming," Hildegard complimented with a small smile.
Lydia, however, did not share their enthusiasm. Her smile faded into a frown as she stared at the couple before her, disapproval written all over her face. "You're courting… him?"
Sofia frowned and looked at the other princess, not liking the way Lydia was looking at her sorcerer. "What's wrong with Cedric?" No one had ever shown disapproval of her being with the royal sorcerer. Yes, some people had been surprised, but no one had objected.
"Oh, a few things," the redhead sneered, wrinkling her nose. "First, he's old. He's old enough to be your father. Second, he's probably seen you grow up, seen your body change. And finally," a look of disgust crossed her face, "he's a servant. Servants should never be allowed to court royals." Whether it was intentional or not, her voice had risen, causing a few other guests to stare at them.
"Lydia, stop it," Hildegard snapped, wishing she hadn't brought the Lackarian princess to the ball. This was not going well.
But Lydia wasn't listening. She turned an icy glare on Cedric, who had been standing quietly next to Sofia not saying a word. "You don't belong with a princess, old man," she seethed. "You should go back to your magic playhouse and let her be with someone her own age."
Sofia gasped when she felt Cedric release her hand. She turned quickly to see him backing away from her, a look of devastation on his face. "Cedric…" She reached for him, but he just moved farther away, backing into the wall as if trying to disappear. Sofia's heart went out to him when she saw his lips tremble. She knew he sometimes doubted himself because of his age and status, but she had always chased those doubts away by reminding him of how much she loved him. However, no one had ever outright told him he didn't belong with her. When Sofia turned back to Lydia, her eyes were blazing with a fury she rarely felt. "How dare you say that to him," she said angrily. Her hand shook as she pointed at the other girl. "You—"
"Sofia," Amber interrupted, laying a hand on her sister's shoulder. She nodded toward the distraught sorcerer. "Take Cedric somewhere quiet while I deal with her." She threw Lydia a furious look.
Sofia wondered briefly how her sister could remain so calm, but it didn't matter at the moment. She turned her back on Lydia and hurried to Cedric, who was staring down at his feet. He didn't seem to notice she was in front of him until she took his hand. He looked up at her with such a pained expression that her heart sank to her feet. Without a word, she gently urged him to follow her, which he did. No one tried to stop them as the princess guided the sorcerer out of the ballroom. She led him down the corridor to a parlor. She had Cedric sit down on the sofa and then looked at the fireplace. Even though it was spring, the evenings could still be cool, and there were a few logs ready for a fire if needed.
"Can I borrow your wand to start a fire?" she asked softly, looking back at him. "I left mine in my room."
Cedric's only response was to lift his left arm, granting her access to the sleeve where he kept his wand.
She sighed, reaching into the sleeve and withdrawing his wand. Pointing the wand at the fireplace, she muttered a quick spell, watching in satisfaction as flames leaped onto the logs, bathing the room in a warm, orange glow. Turning back to the sofa, Sofia took Cedric's hand and slipped the wand back into its place. Still holding his hand, she sat down next to him. They sat in silence for a few minutes just watching the fire dance on the logs. The distant sound of music from the ballroom was the only thing that could be heard.
"She's right, you know," Cedric said quietly, breaking the silence between them.
Sofia blinked, turning to look at him. "What?"
"That Princess Lydia is right."
"Oh, Cedric…"
"I should just go back to my tower and let you be with a prince." He stared down at their hands, but he made no move to pull his away. In fact, he tightened his grip on hers.
"Cedric…"
"I really am too old for you, Sofia. You should be with someone your own age. And—"
"CEDRIC!"
The sharpness of her tone finally got his attention, and he looked up at her in surprise.
Sofia drew in a deep breath before giving him a gentle smile. "Don't pay attention to anything Lydia says. It doesn't matter what she—or anyone else—might say." She squeezed his hand as he continued to look at her. "It doesn't matter how old you are. It doesn't matter what your status is. I love you, and that's all that matters." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Sofia…" Her words touched him. The fact that she loved him, no matter what, filled him with happiness. Suddenly, he felt very foolish for letting a stranger's words get to him. He should have turned that horrid princess into an orange and sent her back to her kingdom. He was unable to contain the huge smile that crossed his face at the thought.
Sofia laughed upon seeing the boyishly mischievous smile she loved so much. She threw her arms around him and gave him a tight hug, which he quickly returned.
"There you are."
The pair jumped and turned toward the entrance to the parlor where Amber was standing.
"Amber?" Sofia asked. "What's going on?"
The future queen shrugged. "I just came to tell you that you two can come back to the ballroom if you'd like."
"What about Lydia?" Sofia asked hesitantly, not wanting to see the redhead again.
"She's gone," the blonde said simply. "Hildy sent her back to Friezenburg to gather her things and go home."
"Oh," the younger girl sighed in relief and glanced toward Cedric. Seeing him nod, she turned back to her sister and smiled. "We'll be right there."
"Excellent!" Amber beamed and turned to walk back to the ballroom.
Sofia got to her feet and pulled Cedric up beside her. But before she could start walking, the sorcerer wrapped his arms around her and gave her a long, sweet kiss on the lips. When he broke the kiss, she gazed up into his brown eyes. "Not that I don't love your kisses, but what was that for?"
"For being my Sofia." He smiled and reached up to lovingly caress her cheek. "Now let's get back to that ball, shall we?"
Blushing lightly, Sofia happily took his hand Together they returned to the ballroom and spent the rest of the evening dancing in each other's arms. It didn't matter what anyone thought of them. They loved each other, and that was all that mattered to them.
A/N: And I'm taking a break from STFSAW to give you… MY 100TH STORY! I managed to achieve my New Year's resolution. LOL! And of course, it had to be Cedfia. This story has been in progress since 2019, the year I started writing for STF. When I first started writing, I heard about the Cedfia antis and their very lame reasons for hating the ship. This story was inspired by that. By the way, did you guess who Lydia represents? (wink, wink) This story would have been done sooner, but I kept getting sidetracked. A few months ago, I decided it was perfect for my 100th story, so here you go. Thank you to everyone who has been with me for the last few years.