Upon waking, Cid could only quickly get out of his small, humble room, so that he could visit the leatherworking shop before going to work.
Getting a strap easily, considering that he had his money on him already, Cid then quickly left for his work, hoping that no one would be there when he got there.
If no one was there, he could be quick enough to finish his first product, and have it bound to himself. He then didn’t have to rush to make a better one till ter.
He felt lucky upon entering into the jewellery factory, as no one was there, and he quickly got to work to put the strap onto the water pouch, that now held his money safely next to it inside the sock.
With the strap on, Cid found that he would have preferred if it was around his waist, making him think that perhaps he should get some sort of belt instead.
But it was done for now, safely inside his clothes and attached to him…
That will have to do for now…
It wasn’t long after he finished his product and put it on though, before Freddie, his other stepbrother, came in.
“Cid! Did you hear the news! Oh, you’re here too!”
Looking up, to see not only Freddie but another worker coming into the factory, Cid looked back down again. He’d only just started working and calmly continued to do so.
“Young Master.” Stated the worker that came in.
“Hehe, did you get that book?”
“Yes, of course, Young Master…But I should return…”
Freddie interrupted them, “It’s fine! It’s fine! You really should read it, top to bottom!”
Cid looked up then, to see Freddie winking at the worker and patting his shoulder.
Seeing the worker look a bit stunned and shocked, Cid wondered what they were talking about.
It wasn’t that odd that Freddie would make someone shocked like this, but Cid could never understand him!
Freddie was nasty when Steven was around but when his elder brother wasn’t around, Freddie was…Well, it seemed like he was just a mischievous, little boy!
It was best to just try and stay away from Freddie, Cid always thought, going back to his work.
“How could you think of giving it back! You were the one that looked like you had problems at home! I’m just trying to help you solve them!”
“I…I apologize, Young Master! I…I didn’t mean…”
“Good! Just look at it and see if it works!”
Cid wanted to shake his head, it seems that Freddie was getting himself into other people’s business again!
The st time that Freddie got into other people’s business, he ended up getting grounded to the mansion!
It was strange because Freddie chooses who he was going to annoy, and he was spontaneous, and that seemed something that Leonard disliked about Freddie…
It could be a maid, having done something wrong but Freddie ends up doing the same thing and is found ughing with the maid like they were little children. Then, it could be a noble person, and Freddie was pying tricks on them, all because the boy or girl didn’t let Freddie py with them.
He really hadn’t grown up yet!
Cid momentarily remember his mother upon this thought…She had liked Freddie and had pyed with him a few times.
…It was probably the only reason why Cid tolerated Freddie a lot better than Steven, because his mother had liked him.
“Oh, I almost forgot! Cid, Steven’s getting engaged!”
Feeling Freddie’s presence coming closer to him, Cid looked up and nodded.
What did that have to do with him?
“…To the Princess!”
Stopping, Cid swallowed and repeated those words in his head.
To…The Princess?
“…Hardly fair! The King should have had at least two daughters, so that I could get married to a Princess too!”
It was really true? Bethany was…Going to be engaged to…Steven?
Cid was at a loss of words…
“Do you think a Princess is a pything?”
Looking up to see Princess Bethany enter the area…Looking a bit dishevelled, Cid couldn’t speak a word.
He knew that the Princess was bound to marry one day. He also knew that the person that she would marry wouldn’t be him but…Why did he feel so shocked when it was becoming true and real?
Seeing her walk towards him, Cid bowed his head but was unable to work.
She didn’t sit beside him, but he knew that she was close by.
The problem was Freddie was in her ear, about choosing him instead of his brother and it was not only angering Cid, but that of Princess Bethany as well!
“You…You don’t have anything to say?”
Cid looked up to see Bethany looking straight at him and he bowed his head again, “…Congratutions…”
Clearing his throat, Cid picked up something, not really even knowing what it was and tried to continue to work but…
“Congratutions?”
In a smaller voice, Cid said, “You were bound to marry at some point…Isn’t that right?”
“…And so, now that it happens, all you say is…Congratutions?”
He heard her feelings through her words but…What could he do, it wasn’t like he had the power to stop a King’s command!
He was a nobody and didn’t even deserve the pretty Princess!
“Ah, there is my bride to be! Princess…”
Steven’s voice only made matters worse for both the Princess and Cid.
Everything just became real too quickly and all that could be done…Was a quick escape from the Princess.
She ran like the wind and didn’t know why she had bothered to have left without consent to run to Cid. What had she expected?
As soon as she found out, she couldn’t even dress herself fast enough, having not even realized that her hair was a bit of a mess, and had come straight to Cid.
How…How could he just say that?
Why…Why was it all that he had said?
Doesn’t…He like me at all? She thought, then next, she even wondered if she should still send the coat and hat that she had gotten for him.
Why should she send it!? Why!?
Cid did not chase after the Princess, only watching her flee.
He didn’t know what he was thinking right now, nor how he felt, all he knew was that he wished for both of these brothers to go away!
He tried to ignore them and continue working but hushed words of the marriage flew right into his ears and Cid suddenly stood up.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Steven asked, you could hear how arrogant he was through how he said these words.
“Latrine.” Cid stated, walking away, only to be stopped by Steven. “Then you won’t mind if I go with you?”
Cid just wanted to be alone!
Cid clenched his hands but nodded, continuing to walk. Having had to ‘act’ so much till now probably helped because he really was a mess inside…
It was obvious, Steven didn’t want him to go after the Princess but…Even if Cid decided to go after the Princess, what could he possibly say?
‘Marry me instead’…
I wish, Cid thought, going into the trine.
His life, he wanted to make it his, now!
If he could make a business and expand slightly, perhaps then…
Widening his eyes, Cid then let out a small ugh.
What was he thinking?
That he will be good enough for the King, so that he could take his daughter’s hand in marriage?
No, he…He didn’t…He hadn’t pnned on something like that.
Besides…
Cid really tried to calm himself down and think less of the situation, but no matter what he told himself, he still felt upset…Really upset…
It’s because you really like her, he told himself. And…And she deserved better than Steven!
She deserved so much more!
Going back to work, Steven in tow, Cid felt slightly calmer yet…Hopeless.
He really hated this King! To give such a precious person to such a…A beast of a man!
***
The next day, the Princess came once again, and Cid was then pced to do jewellery in his room. There was a commotion about it and of course it was ‘all Cid’s fault’, but they had ‘every right’ now to detain Cid and banish him away from others until they deemed fit otherwise…
It had not been so easy though, as Cid got punished for ‘tempting’ an engaged Princess and had gotten punished.
It was the first time in a long time that the Princess had not cared that she brought punishment onto someone else for her actions.
Having seen Cid once again, to find him have no change of heart, showing that, if anything, he was accepting this, she had finally cried, dropping her present for Cid on the floor before leaving.
She had stated that she didn’t want to see him again, which had made Cid distraught but he had hid it very well.
Upon being lightly hit by Bethany’s angry fists and seeing that she had even brought something for him, Cid couldn’t speak a word for a whole minute, even though the Princess had long gone.
Picking up the items, Cid put them into a bag, wanting to know what they were yet scared that he’d grow soft and chase after her with empty promises…
Getting punished had even helped Cid overcome his emotions and he even accepted working in his small room easily.
He didn’t want to see the Princess. He didn’t want to see her cry like that, and he didn’t want her to be unhappy.
She…If only she wasn’t getting married to Steven, then Cid would feel better, but no…He didn’t want to accept it either but what other choice did he have?
The person who he was now, was not someone that could fight for the pretty Princess. The person who he was now, did not deserve her care!
Seeing that she had got him a long coat and a bck top hat, Cid felt like he was at his limits!
They had such a great friendship, did that have to be completely gone now?
With someone with a status like himself, does he have no right?
It was time…Cid thought.
It was time for him to find his own way!
His own way was going to be hard because Leonard will obviously not let him go willingly, but Cid had known this!
Yes…It was time to finalize arrangements to disappear!
You might as well say the engagement and the princess being angry at Cid was the limit…The change…The turn point…
The decision was made!
***
