Cedric frowned, looking at a certain corner with a smirk on his face. He was currently at the village library in Dunwiddie to borrow a book about more wildlife and foraging ingredients for a concoction. The Library in the castle was rather pretty outdated, and the man had to literally make out of his way to research about such matters
"hah, so much for accommodation huh" he scoffed to himself, thinking about how much his work in the castle sucks
Before he could succumb to his poor circumstances in his mind, his attention was yet again diverted to a certain girl sitting on one of the tables afar. Cedric immediately knew who it was from all the time they have spent with each other
"All against my will.." he whispered in his thoughts
She was just sitting there, silently reading her book. Many may mistake her meekness and think grace and poise, but Cedric knew better.
"She's the opposite of those.."
"hey Mister!" the elderly librarian in front of the table yelled out to him, which he immediately turned to
"Are ya gonna borrow or nah?"
"I am I am… he-he.." Cedric scratched his head in embarrassment, handing the book to the librarian. Even by just standing still and doing nothing, he still finds a way to make a fool of himself
This garnered everyone's attention in the library. But for some reason, not the girl he is pertaining to. She just sat there reading her book without a care in the world
"Nothing good happens when she's around.." he scoffed softly while glaring at her
"Here." The librarian handed him the book with a stamp at the front "Three days from now and exactly afternoon."
"And don't be late" she added in a serious tone
"Right right…" Cedric looked away in an apathetic manner
The man took the book and decided to head to the exit. Luckily for him, the girl hasn't seemed to notice his presence still. Meaning she hasn't seen him looking like a fool just now. Cedric smiled knowing this
When he reached outside, he felt a couple of raindrops hitting his skin. It was drizzling all of a sudden.
But Cedric thought this through and brought his own raincoat just in case inside his satchel. He wore it without hesitation and he is now protected from the rain.
He then went on his way back to the castle with the book in his satchel. He was to return It three days from now, and this time, he made sure to keep a mental note. Last time, he was way overdue and almost got in trouble. Not just from the Library, but the entire Dunwiddie Village itself
But luckily for him, someone vouched for his case and the librarian understood his circumstances. A certain little girl that he knows of
When her face flashed in his thoughts, he stopped all of a sudden. He noticed the drizzling had gotten more intense. It was raining now. Cedric slowly turned around and gazed at the distant image of the library
"Sofia brought her own umbrella…" Cedric murmured softly, with hints of concern in his voice
"r-right?"
Somewhere in that library is a little girl who might have trouble making her back to the castle in these circumstances. When he needed help, it was Sofia who convinced the librarian to let him off the punishment.
It was her, Sofia was always looking out for him..
Why can't he do the same?
.
.
"Psh, who am I kidding… of course she brought her own umbrella!" With her eyes closed, Cedric turned his attention back to the path with a confident smile on his face
"This is Princess Sofia we're talking about." He convinced himself and nodded his head "She'll be fine"
"Besides, I have to get home sooner or I'll miss the apple pies afternoon snacks" The man then resumed back on his steps back with only the image of a hot delicious food and his comfortable workshop in mind
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The rain continued to crash down the library and Sofia looked out the window.
"hmmm.." Sofia hummed
But instead of worrying, she closed her eyes and just enjoyed the wonderful sounds of nature outside. Somehow, it put her at ease
.
.
"H-Hey.."
A familiar voice called out for Sofia as she slowly opened her eyes. And before her is certain man wearing a drenched raincoat.
Despite him looking away and hiding his face, Sofia still immediately knew who it was in an instant
"I was.. wondering you'd be stranded and forgot your umbrella" the man scratched his chin in a coy manner, looking elsewhere but her eyes "s-so I came to pick you up"
Sofia didn't respond and he found this odd. When he finally garnered to courage to look at her face, she was just spacing out and staring at him
.
.
"Sofia?"
In that moment, her pink lips curves to a lovely smile as her gaze softens when they finally met his
"Let's go home together, Mister Ceedric~"
"Right.." Cedric looked away once more "I mean… you actually forgot about your umbrella, right?"
Sofia stood up and gathered her books from the table to put back to her basket. When she opened it, she fazed for a second seeing an actual mini umbrella just resting at the bottom.
She turned to look at Cedric from the corner of her eyes, and a smile forms on her face. And so, Sofia stored her books atop of it and closed the basket
"Yeah.." she beamed him a silly grin "I kinda forgot to bring one.. hehe.."
"Then I'll escort you back to the castle. Let's share mine" Cedric said, as he watched Sofia tidy up her table
After a few moments, she was finally finished "I'm ready" Sofia said, holding her basket that contained her books "Let's go home."
"Right.." Cedric muttered as he escorted the princess to the exit. Sofia made sure to give Mrs. Estrella the Librarian a polite curtsy at the counter before leaving. The elderly woman smiled in response
When it was Cedric's turn to pass by her, he also gave her a polite wave as well. But the woman glared at him
"Three. Days. Don't. Forget."
In that moment, Cedric's smile turned into a nervous one. When he opened his eyes, he noticed a section on the counter with a "Lost-and-Found" written on it. And on that table was an umbrella all along
Cedric sighed realizing this. Sofia would've been fine either ways.
"What ye lingering around for? You need something else!?" The librarian called him out. Cedric immediately dashed out of the library as response
"Damn, I'd never thought I'd meet an actual witch before"
"Hmm?" Sofia turned to him
"Nothing Nothing." Cedric shook his head sideways
Suddenly, Sofia's face changed into a playful one "So what book did you borrow earlier?"
Hearing that stunned Cedric with his eyebrows furrowed "You knew?" he repeated in uncertainty "YOU knew I was here in the library"
"Mhmm.. she hummed in a teasing way
"I even saw that thing with Mister Ceedric at the counter earlier" she teased, giggling in the process
Cedric's face turned red in embarrassment remembering that scene. But his embarrassment soon turned into annoyance knowing Sofia saw the whole thing when he thought she was too busy reading
Watching her face right now, he should have known better. For some reason, Sofia's is always present whenever he does something goofy or silly, even when she's preoccupied
"What did I even expect?" he muttered in his thoughts "Nothing good happens when she's around.."
"And she's always around!"
When her giggling finally ceased, Sofia wiped a tear from her eye "But I shouldn't be teasing you, right?" she gave him another playful look, insinuating something
The girl took a few steps ahead with her hands on her back, as she looks glances at him
"You're actually being kind coming back for me"
"W-What are you talking about..?" Cedric looked away once more, avoiding her gaze
The princess smirked "You actually were on your way back to the castle when you stopped and remembered me." Sofia went on with her eyes closed "That was very sweet of you~"
Before Cedric could respond, Sofia turned around to face him "I saw the whole thing from the window"
"You actually got worried and walked back, right?" she followed up with a question
The man sighed and turned away once again. Sofia knew all along and was just playing along.
"W-Well.. t-that's.." he started stuttering like a fool, trying to make up of excuses
"Hmmm~" Sofia hummed playfully, her eyes narrowing into a teasing manner "Too bad Mister Ceedric has to miss out on the apple pie back at the castle"
In that moment, he finally had enough and confronted her about it "How do you know this much? I haven't even told that to anyone"
"I just know" suddenly, Sofia's gaze narrows with a playful smirk on her lips as she slowly turns to him
"I know everything about Mister Ceedric~"
Cedric chuckled "Yeah whatever you say, princess.." that would've been absolutely creepy if it did not came from a little girl
"Anyways, let's get this over with" The man then took off his raincoat and flattened it
The girl then noticed this and walked closer to him "Where's your umbrella?"
"I brought a raincoat instead since I thought it would be only for my use. But we can share this"
"But if you're not feeling it, you can borrow an umbrella from the Lost-and-Found section back in the library" he suggested
The girl smiled and nodded her head sideways "No, thanks.."
She went closer to Cedric and embraced his arm close to her. "I prefer this.."
"Why are you getting so close for?" Cedric asked
"We have to fit under the raincoat or else we'll be hit by the rain!" Sofia reasoned out "So we have to be close to each other no matter what"
Cedric tried to shake her off but she didn't let go. And just like that, she attached herself to him like a koala. He didn't think this through at all. And having his worst nemesis snuggling close to him is a fate worse than being drenched in the rain
"Again" Cedric just accepted his fate and stared at Sofia's delighted smile beaming at him
"Nothing good happens when she's around"
-e n d-
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The rain continued to crash from above, dominating the entirety of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Cedric and Sofia decided to settle under the shade of a tree to wait for the rain to ease down.
It had a rather nostalgic and ambient atmosphere in that place with just the two of them sitting next to each other
"This rain isn't letting up soon" Cedric finally broke the ice, looking at the girl who was still clinging to him for some reason
"We aren't even under the rain anymore" he sighed in his thoughts
He then remembered something as he looked at her
"Hey Sofia, do you remember that time when you vouched for me at the library and they dismissed my punishment"
"mhmm" Sofia hummed softly "That was a month ago. Mrs. Estrella was really mad too"
He sought deep within him a courage to convey the following to the girl. It is only normal for him to show gratitude for what she did to him
"Yeah.." Cedric uttered coyly "I haven't had a chance to thank you for that time"
"So thank you, Sofia.." Cedric whispers softly "I appreciate what you did"
Suddenly, another wave of rain came crashing down and it was even more intense than before. Cedric sighed realizing this
"If only this rain would finally let up and end so we can go home.." he commented as sudden cold breeze of wind brushes by
With a smile on her face, Sofia closed her eyes and savored Cedric's warmth close to her and the wonderful sounds of the rain crashing down at the surroundings
.
.
.
"I want this rain to last forever.."