p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"strongThe When and the How/strong/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"strongPrologue: The Start of Something Dangerous/strong/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"strongDisclaimer: Not my circus, not my monkeys./strong/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"strongA/N: Since there was a huge formatting issue with the first StF story I ever posted I'm hoping that this will be the first story of mine for StF you can actually read. NOTE: Sofia is twelve and Cedric is twenty six in this story, at least for the first few chapters. Cedric has no attraction to children and has the good sense not to encourage Sofia's behavior but Sofia… anyone else remember how confusing puberty was? I do and I'm sure I made more than one adult man around me VERY uncomfortable with my behavior. It's gonna be an interesting ride. I will eventually age everyone up though. /strong/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"When he first met her, she was a pest. The way she mispronounced his name irked him to no end. Of all the infuriating coincidences that might have befallen him in the cruel joke that was his life, around the neck of the annoyingly chipper princess hung what he believed was the key to everything he strived for./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Over time the little pest became an accepted and even welcomed presence in his life. Slowly the princess showed him that power was not the only way to improve his lot in life. She helped him gain confidence in his own abilities. She showed him kindness which was a near alien thing to him after his lonely and bitter adolescence./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Without realizing it he had become friends with the girl. By the time he realized how truly precious her friendship was, it was too late, or so he thought. Only in the palace dungeon did he finally realize how truly misguided he had been./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Sofia had not given up on him and because of her friendship he was able to earn redemption. He would forever be grateful to her. He had sworn then and there that he would protect her with his life if necessary. He had no idea that fate would test him in such a dramatic way when he was blasted by Grimhilda's crown. Yet he'd risen to the occasion without a second thought./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"On the day he'd freed her from the amulet he was sure the spell would drain his life force completely. It was only the last minute arrival of the protectors that had kept the spell from ending him. Yet it had been something he'd been willing to do. Sofia was light and joy and hope. His existence seemed a small price to pay to bring her back./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"But as Sofia appeared before them with him exhausted but still alive he could do little more than marvel at the turn his life had taken. He had collapsed only to be caught by King Roland. The king had praised him, bestowing upon him the title he once strove to claim through conquest, now given freely based on his great deed./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Then later his father had spoken the words Cedric believed he'd never hear. Goodwin was proud of his son. Cedric had briefly wondered if the spell had killed him after all and he was in heaven. Then he wondered if he was even destined to end up in paradise after his death and not somewhere much too warm./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"When he finally accepted reality Princess Sofia had been at his elbow, requesting a dance. As they spun around the floor, Sofia leading as Cedric's confidence had never extended to dancing, he noticed her smiling dreamily at him. She leaned in close, far too close and stood on her tiptoes. The realization of what she was about to do struck as she attempted to pull his head down to her. Fear gripped him and he pulled away rather ungracefully and ran. He didn't stop running til he'd reached his workshop./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Merlin's mushrooms," he groaned as he fell upon the couch. That girl was out of her mind. She would be the end of him. Though he'd much rather give his life protecting her it was suddenly just as likely that he'd find himself at the end of a noose because of some girlhood infatuation./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Ceddykinz," his mother had followed him and was standing in the door of his workshop "Everything alright?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"He let out a harsh little laugh "Certainly Mummy, I just barely avoided being kissed by the princess and thrown in the dungeon by the king. I'm peachy."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Winifred crossed the room and took a seat beside her son "She's at that age."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""What age?" Cedric scoffed./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""The age where she's starting to notice boys," Winifred clarified./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Mummy," Cedric sighed exasperatedly "I haven't been a boy in a long time."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""You know what I meant," she narrowed her eyes at him, not bothering to point out that he would always be her little boy."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Why me…?" he moaned "There are plenty of boys down there her own age."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""And I'm sure if she has the desire to kiss any of them she will," Winifred pointed out. She stood and pulled him up with her./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Mummy I'm not going back there," he protested./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""I know," she replied as she dragged him in the direction of the portrait "I'm gonna bring you back with me to Mystic Meadows. I'm going to bake a huge batch of fly cakes and we're going to play games."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Cedric couldn't help his smile. It was not lost on him that his mother's response to his dilemma where in one of the many issues was his age, was to treat him like a child/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"strongPrologue: The Start of Something Dangerous/strong/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"strongDisclaimer: Not my circus, not my monkeys./strong/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"strongA/N: Since there was a huge formatting issue with the first StF story I ever posted I'm hoping that this will be the first story of mine for StF you can actually read. NOTE: Sofia is twelve and Cedric is twenty six in this story, at least for the first few chapters. Cedric has no attraction to children and has the good sense not to encourage Sofia's behavior but Sofia… anyone else remember how confusing puberty was? I do and I'm sure I made more than one adult man around me VERY uncomfortable with my behavior. It's gonna be an interesting ride. I will eventually age everyone up though. /strong/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"When he first met her, she was a pest. The way she mispronounced his name irked him to no end. Of all the infuriating coincidences that might have befallen him in the cruel joke that was his life, around the neck of the annoyingly chipper princess hung what he believed was the key to everything he strived for./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Over time the little pest became an accepted and even welcomed presence in his life. Slowly the princess showed him that power was not the only way to improve his lot in life. She helped him gain confidence in his own abilities. She showed him kindness which was a near alien thing to him after his lonely and bitter adolescence./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Without realizing it he had become friends with the girl. By the time he realized how truly precious her friendship was, it was too late, or so he thought. Only in the palace dungeon did he finally realize how truly misguided he had been./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Sofia had not given up on him and because of her friendship he was able to earn redemption. He would forever be grateful to her. He had sworn then and there that he would protect her with his life if necessary. He had no idea that fate would test him in such a dramatic way when he was blasted by Grimhilda's crown. Yet he'd risen to the occasion without a second thought./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"On the day he'd freed her from the amulet he was sure the spell would drain his life force completely. It was only the last minute arrival of the protectors that had kept the spell from ending him. Yet it had been something he'd been willing to do. Sofia was light and joy and hope. His existence seemed a small price to pay to bring her back./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"But as Sofia appeared before them with him exhausted but still alive he could do little more than marvel at the turn his life had taken. He had collapsed only to be caught by King Roland. The king had praised him, bestowing upon him the title he once strove to claim through conquest, now given freely based on his great deed./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Then later his father had spoken the words Cedric believed he'd never hear. Goodwin was proud of his son. Cedric had briefly wondered if the spell had killed him after all and he was in heaven. Then he wondered if he was even destined to end up in paradise after his death and not somewhere much too warm./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"When he finally accepted reality Princess Sofia had been at his elbow, requesting a dance. As they spun around the floor, Sofia leading as Cedric's confidence had never extended to dancing, he noticed her smiling dreamily at him. She leaned in close, far too close and stood on her tiptoes. The realization of what she was about to do struck as she attempted to pull his head down to her. Fear gripped him and he pulled away rather ungracefully and ran. He didn't stop running til he'd reached his workshop./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Merlin's mushrooms," he groaned as he fell upon the couch. That girl was out of her mind. She would be the end of him. Though he'd much rather give his life protecting her it was suddenly just as likely that he'd find himself at the end of a noose because of some girlhood infatuation./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Ceddykinz," his mother had followed him and was standing in the door of his workshop "Everything alright?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"He let out a harsh little laugh "Certainly Mummy, I just barely avoided being kissed by the princess and thrown in the dungeon by the king. I'm peachy."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Winifred crossed the room and took a seat beside her son "She's at that age."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""What age?" Cedric scoffed./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""The age where she's starting to notice boys," Winifred clarified./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Mummy," Cedric sighed exasperatedly "I haven't been a boy in a long time."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""You know what I meant," she narrowed her eyes at him, not bothering to point out that he would always be her little boy."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Why me…?" he moaned "There are plenty of boys down there her own age."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""And I'm sure if she has the desire to kiss any of them she will," Winifred pointed out. She stood and pulled him up with her./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""Mummy I'm not going back there," he protested./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;""I know," she replied as she dragged him in the direction of the portrait "I'm gonna bring you back with me to Mystic Meadows. I'm going to bake a huge batch of fly cakes and we're going to play games."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 23px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"Cedric couldn't help his smile. It was not lost on him that his mother's response to his dilemma where in one of the many issues was his age, was to treat him like a child/p