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"You're dwelling on something."
"Sorry?" Sofia's attention left the watermelon she was trying to shrink, and she looked up at Cedric with confusion in her eyes.
"You're dwelling on something, it's clouding your mind," Cedric observed, looking down at the princess with folded arms, "A sorcerer knows, Sofia. A clouded mind is no good when practicing magic."
"Sorry," Sofia sighed, turning back to the melon, "I'll try to forget about it."
"Don't bother with that, it will only make it worse," Cordelia chimed in, "Best to speak your mind on the matter, dearie."
Cedric kneeled down and placed a comforting hand on Sofia's shoulder.
"Is this something you wish to speak to us about?" he asked, "Or is this moreso something you'd rather share with your sister, or your animal friends?"
"I don't know," Sofia shook her head, looking down at the grass, "I just feel so... so angry."
Huffing, she smacked her fists against her sides as to release some of that anger.
"Dear me, whatever has you feeling such a way?" Cordelia asked, "It's... It's not to do with that happened before, is it?"
"Yeah, it is," Sofia nodded, "But nothing to do with you, or the shrinking spell, or anything like that. It's all to do with my Da..."
Sofia trailed off, and she coyly covered her mouth with her hands.
"King Roland?" Cedric finished.
"Yeah, him," Sofia confirmed, "I'm really angry at him."
She took a breath to continue, but then glanced up at Cordelia. Did she know what had happened on the night Cedric had all but succeeded in taking over the kingdom? Well, probably not; Cedric would've never shared information like that with her. She should probably be discreet about mentioning it, she figured. Save Cedric the lengthy explanation.
"Remember the night Grimtrix attacked and Roland said that we should all try to treat you with more kindness and respect?" she asked Cedric.
"Oh, how can I forget?" Cedric groaned, rubbing his temples, "The second worst night of my life, that was."
"Sorry, what was this?" Cordelia asked.
"Nothing important," Sofia replied.
"I'll explain later," Cedric said.
"Thing is, he goes and says all that," Sofia began to pace, folding her arms, "But then as soon as something goes magically awry, what does he do?"
Cedric stood up and visibly braced himself. Sofia began to count on her fingers.
"He doesn't take a moment to think about who might be actually to blame," she snapped, "He doesn't suspect that it might be Cordelia's fault, even though she's a sorcerer too. He doesn't suspect me, even though I'm the one supposed to be practicing the shrinking spells in the first place. And he doesn't even suspect Calista! Who, no offense, but after what happened last time she was here? She would be my first guess."
"Cedric, what is she referring to?" Cordelia raised her eyebrow and glanced at her brother.
"I'll explain later," Cedric repeated, forcing a smile. It wasn't convincing.
"But no!" Sofia exclaimed, all but ignoring the two adults, "No, the first thing my dear old stepdad does is waltz right up to Cedric's workshop and blame him for everything that happened. He didn't question anything! Didn't speak to anyone! Just yelled at an innocent man for something he didn't do!"
She turned to Cedric, now rather out of breath.
"I mean, you heard him! He promised to treat you with the respect you deserve and then does THAT!"
"Well, I will admit, it was rather hasty of him," Cedric agreed, now rather unsure of himself.
"He can't just do that," Sofia said, "That's so unfair of him!"
"Perhaps you should put that anger to use?" Cordelia suggested, "Speak your mind to him. It might help him see his errors, so that he might correct them in the future."
"I couldn't," Sofia shook her head.
"That is not likely to go over well," Cedric added.
"And once I start, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop," Sofia sighed, "I have too many pent-up feelings that I really don't want spilled in front of him. Or anyone, really, except Mr. Cedric."
"I see," Cordelia nodded.
Suddenly, Sofia lunged at Cedric, drawing him into a tight hug. He responded by holding her shoulders, trying to provide some form of comfort. Sofia was silent for a moment, just thinking.
"More often than not, I find myself wondering what she sees in him," she eventually muttered, "Why she married him. Why I'm even here."
"Perhaps it was fate's cruel way of drawing you here," Cedric suggested quietly, once again kneeling so as to draw Sofia into a proper hug, "You know, magical legend speaks of an idea; for every good thing brought into the world, an equal amount of bad should be brought into existence as well, so as to maintain balance. Perhaps Roland is merely a curse that balances your blessings."
"Funny, how my life somehow keeps revolving around blessings and curses," Sofia commented.
"Is he really that bad that he might be described as a curse?" Cordelia asked, her face falling.
Cedric nodded.
"In Sofia's case, yes," he said, "It's a complicated matter to explain, but ultimately, it is up to her to share."
"He's not a good dad," Sofia added, "And especially not a good stepdad."
"Oh dear," Cordelia grimaced.
Sofia sighed, and then she smiled as she stepped out of the hug.
"But that's alright," she said, looking at Cedric, "I can bear it. I have a better dad right here in front of me. Even if nobody else knows it."
Cedric smiled, and Sofia's anger was forgotten.