Not only did Princess Bethany no longer care that she was somewhat neglected, but she dressed up in male clothing and did practically whatever she wanted.
Cid wasn’t sure why she wore male’s attire, but he has got an idea towards it. It might have been because it was more comfortable for her, which seemed more like the answer, as the other idea he had was because she just wanted attention. The reason why he thought she wore male’s attire because it was more comfortable was because she didn’t want attention from her parents anymore for some reason, and well…With all the running, hiding and skipping that she does, he himself would think it would be easier to wear what she’s wearing instead of a dress.
She had clung onto Cid for quite a while after that incident but once David joined them, she started to calm down. Cid knows that the death of the drunken man who had hugged her weighs on her heart, even though she wasn’t the one that killed him.
It was weird that she had taken his words so literally but was actually very specific about her actions. She might dress in male attire, but Cid knows that the attire is made by her because she didn’t want to kill someone because of it.
No…Cid admires her deeply because she has overcome that person’s death and has even learnt from it.
…At one stage, the Princess had even stayed away from seeing him for a whole month, and Cid was sure it might have been because she was worried that he might become someone that the King would be angry with.
For some years now, David, Princess Bethany and himself were now known of as friends. The Princess would always be the one to speak to those who try to ostracize or make fun of their friendship, ciming not only her innocence but also using her power as a Princess as well. So…David and himself were no longer getting scorned, nor do they get bullied any other way. Well, at least not because they hung out with the Princess…
Their reputations stayed clean and hers did not grow worse…It ended up pretty well because if a certain other secret friend had to get involved things may have turned out pretty dramatic! Luckily, they were able to figure things out between themselves!
They were all friends now and it seems that she had gotten over her ordeal, which was good.
Princess Bethany then became more outspoken and happier after about a year...And it seems that this was just a part of who she was, and it had never really appeared until she, assumedly, felt comfortable with those around her.
Beyond that, Cid never really thought about it, but he was sure that this was how the Princess worked, or something like that.
When Cid started to feel strange about getting something from her, that was when he started to give her jewellery. The first piece was something that he had just lying around and hadn't finished, thinking it was good enough as a thank you and something to give to her because she had given something to him.
…As time went on though, he found that he was spending more and more effort into what he gives her and even on purpose would take one stone or gem out of something, to say that it's 'broken', just so that he could give it to her.
To a certain degree, Cid was worried about himself!
He'd now often also use gems, stones or colors that would suit her the best and it was starting to freak him out!
Before, jewellery crafting was simple. Do this, do that, add something different and done. Now he worried about how a certain colour would suit a certain person's skin or a certain person's clothes.
And that's how Cid figured out that he liked the Princess…
That he liked someone that was completely out of his reach!
‘Forbidden fruit’ was the perfect saying for his feelings for the princess.
He knew that he can’t be with her more than friends in this life and most likely any others. But…He had fallen…
Wanting to think that his attraction towards her would slowly dissipate, so that he could just go back to be the normal friend that he was a while ago, he could only see his attraction steadily getting worse…Or said in another way, growing even more fond of her…
It was starting to get to a point that he wanted to see her once every day, just to see that she was ok and that she was happy.
It had now even gotten to a point that Cid was disliking his countries King because of the way he treated his own daughter!
He found himself excited, his heart pounding, embarrassed and to a sad, stupid decree, completely captivated! Which did not help him at all!
He wanted her to sit next to him, like she was now. He wanted her to be herself yet stay away from all the other men…It was becoming a mess!
The only thing he could do or tell himself, is that his life went on a different path then hers. That he needed to break away from his stepfather, he needed to get more money to do that and that means…He had no time for romance.
So…He tries not to think about his most precious, most alluring ‘forbidden fruit’…
Besides…There was just no way he could tell her!
It was a big secret and Cid tried very much to act like he used to before he knew, and to not think about her in any other way besides the fact that she was his friend.
But certain things do change, and he can't help but change a few things around. Certain things like, he can't look at her for too long, nor can he be too close to her.
Their fights mostly end now with her winning and he not getting vexed as much as he used to.
Besides thinking about her and jewellery, he also finds that he anticipates her arrival and doesn't know what he would do now without her constant loitering around him…
Every now and again, Cid would catch a free glimpse at the girl beside him...A secret smile stashed in his heart.
It was only David and her that made him forget about his life problems, and that was something that he was thankful for!
…Yet another reason to be fond of her…
If neither of them were around, Cid would barely speak, barely show any enthusiasm…He’d just do his work, focusing so much that without wanting to, he would make something that people apparently liked…But really, he would probably waste away and not care for anything…
So…He found himself to be very lucky…
***
Cid stumbled into the back door of the new mansion, that was now owned by his stepfather, and a few items fell down, making noises.
It’s not like the items will fall further if they are already on the ground…
“Stay there then.” He mumbled, while he continued to shuffle towards his side room, that was close to the kitchen and undry.
He was so tired!
So…Very tired!
Falling onto his bed, not even able to wash his face first, Cid closed his already half-closed eyes and feel right asleep.
Cid was sure that the reason why he was pushed to work this te was because he hadn’t signed and handed over his father’s business to his stepfather.
‘There’s an order for fifty more of the test earrings, needed for tomorrow. If I see that you haven’t finished it before you sleep, I will not pay you this week!’
Week after week, Leonard had always seemed to come up with excuses not to pay him his wages.
It had taken Cid two years to convince his stepfather to give him payment since he was such a crucial, needed aspect of his jewellery crafting business, and he was only accepted to get that because Cid went on strike and simply stated that he would work again when he was going to get paid!
That had been such a hard few days of his life. He endured through that much pain and suffering through beatings that he was just about ready to give up and state that he would work again for free…
It became obvious pretty quickly to Cid, after his mother’s death, that Leonard wanted a lot for nothing.
And so…Cid had grown up so quickly that even his best friend David was astonished to his change.
They had used to py together, so he would have known, but then that all nearly completely stopped…
After his mother died, Cid had only taken a few weeks to fall into a working routine, simply because he still depended on Leonard at the time.
Being eleven and sad, his life turned upside down and since then, he had been doing a lot of work, with little pay and with not much other option besides to run away.
Running away required effort and Cid knew that it would be something that he hadn’t been ready for back then…Now that he wasn’t entirely depending on Leonard, and he had made a name for himself through his jewellery, Cid felt that he could try and hold out for as long as he could. The more money he had, the better…
He didn’t want to run away, this was his home now. He was close to David and his family, close to the Princess, he was doing something he liked doing and if he ran away, he wouldn’t have any of those things!
It was definitely a st resort, so his mediocre skills on hunting and secret stash of money was going to have to wait!
Falling down on his bed like this, in utter exhaustion, was something he was used to now.
He had been pushed and pulled so much, that now, it seems that he was able to pull through anything.
The problem was…He was still so far away from his goal!
He needed to make more of a name for himself, get some more money, so that he could then start up his own business.
Originally, he wasn’t going to fight his business with Leonard’s, and make a business far away, but over the st couple of years, he’s stocked all of what he has had to endure all these years in wanting a business that will compete against his stepfathers! All those beatings and having to work so hard, how could he just walk away now? No, he will, one day, have his own business that thrived!
…And Leonard will then regret treating him so badly!
