5 things Ced learns from Altena, 5 things Altena is grateful about Ced for
Ced learns from Altena that it's okay to have a life of your own. He doesn't have to have his life revolve around his sister or his mother. Altena is grateful that Ced lets her have a life of her own. They can live relatively independently from each other while still relying on each other when needed.
Ced learns from Altena that not everything that you need to know is from a book. Okay, I suppose this one is cliche, but it's not that Altena isn't smart - just that her smarts involve more than just academics. Altena is grateful that Ced is willing to try new things. He doesn't stick to his own interests; he tries what she likes even if it doesn't appeal to him.
Ced learns from Altena that it's okay to slow down and appreciate finer things in life. Altena is grateful that Ced isn't obsessed with material objects.
Ced learns from Altena that it's okay to be more vocal in standing up for oneself. Altena is grateful that Ced can stand up for himself without being hostile.
Finally, Ced learns that one doesn't have to be perfect in order to be good. And Altena is grateful that Ced is willing to admit that he has flaws.
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This idea has to be credited to a mutual, borne out of discussions over modern AUs with Jugdral characters. This is a modern AU where the Leonster characters all work at a company owned by the Leonster family (i.e. Quan). Ced's father here is Finn, though honestly it's not super important and it could easily be exchanged for Lewyn. Altena is supposed to be the next heir, and she's acting CEO because Quan was injured in an accident (caused by Travant).
Leif still fondly remembered the time when it was announced that Ced was going to be hired at the company. It was not long after Altena was installed as VP of Supply Chain at Leonster Limited. She had hired him, fresh out of college with his Master’s in Computer Science, to be part of the IT. He quickly rose to the ranks to becoming in charge of their new proprietary planning software, something which they were planning to sell to others…
In truth, Leif had known Ced for a while. He was the son of a longtime friend of his father’s, someone who worked very hard. He had even attended the funeral of Ced’s mother. And it was a joy to work alongside Ced. Nearly everyone liked him, and Asbel especially loved having him as a mentor.
So why is it that he was suddenly transferred to Business Development?
The message had been so sudden, an email that came in at 6 AM from the acting CEO herself, an unusually early time even for her.
Leif’s first stop was the office of Ced, the new Senior Manager of IT of Business Development. His question as to why the latter was moving was greeted by a sheepish grin. “I’m just moving to a new chapter in my life,” Ced replied. “A new chapter with more pay.”
Yes, it was true that Ced’s compensation was close to six figures now…but it’s not as though he couldn’t get a promotion with Supply Chain. But Ced put on a pair of earbuds as he began moving a box. A glint of something caught Leif’s eye, but he couldn’t piece together what it was…
Next was Asbel. Leif’s childhood friend was tight-lipped, though. He seemed to know why it was that Ced moved, or at least that a transfer was imminent given that he wasn’t totally surprised as Leif expected. Asbel pointed out that HR could at least be in the know.
And Nanna, the Head of Human Resources — and Leif’s wife — did confirm that Ced was transferred as a matter of HR policy. “You do know well that I can’t reveal HR issues that do not concern you,” she nagged.
“Pretty please?”
Nanna couldn’t resist Leif’s pleading eyes. (Few people can, in any case.) She leaned in towards him, a mischievous grin on her face, and said: “The acting CEO personally approved of the transfer.”
He practically banged on his sister’s office door. “Altenaaaaa!” he called out.
“Use your manners,” she said in an unamused tone when she opened the door.
“Wow, the Mondays must have finally gotten you.” Leif said this when he saw how unusually disheveled she looked, her hair a bit more frizzy than usual and her eyes bloodshot. He saw a glint of something again, but couldn’t make out what it was.
“It’s not that,” Altena demurred.
“Sister,” Leif asked, “why did Ced get transferred to Business Development? He was working so well with us. I heard that-”
“A husband and wife cannot work in the same department. You know that, Leif,” Altena replied.
Leif’s face turned blank. “What?”
His sister’s expression turned more into a scowl as she said: “Did you seriously not see that Ced proposed to me last night?”
“He did?”
He took out his phone and opened up his InstaFace. He scrolled through the timeline. It said:
Update: 10:37 PM - Ced Brave is now Engaged.
Update: 10:26 PM - Altena Claus is now Engaged.
“Ohh,” Leif sighed. “How did I not see that this morning?”
Altena facepalmed so hard that one could hear the sound of her hand meeting her face. “You’re just as much of a dolt as Father…”
"You know, Ced, there was once a story that King Lewyn told me when he was still around."
"Hmm?" Ced was quite puzzled as to why his father had suddenly brought this up in a meeting about introducing him more to Southern Thracians now that he had become their Grand Duke.
"It was on the day of his coronation. He was talking to your mother at the post-coronation dinner when she was interrupted. You had asked her 'Mama, when food?' and grabbed onto her leg. I wish that-"
Finn couldn't continue the next sentence as Altena had burst out laughing at this story. She was so loud that Ced could even hear a door crack open, as if someone had opened the door to the room to make sure that everything was okay. He caught a flash of blue-green - probably Asbel, who had thankfully left before he heard anything embarrassing.
"Oh, Saint Dáinn, I can barely breathe," she gasped as she started to calm down. "Mama, when food?" Then she burst into laughter again. "That's such, oh-my-gosh it's so cute."
Ced glared at his father for bringing that up. Silently he also cursed Lewyn for even repeating that story.
"When was that? It must not have been long after I left," Finn said.
"He was crowned in the twelfth month of 760. I must have been one year old, close to one and a half years old," Ced replied.
The older Leonstrian shook his head, the few strands of gray hair shining in the setting sunlight alongside his mop of blue hair. "I would have liked to be there..." he quietly said to himself.
"Come on, we have much more to discuss," Ced said as he moved a map towards himself.
--
Altena couldn't control herself from saying those three words again as she and Ced prepared for sleep.
"Mama, when food?" she said, half-tease and half-sing-songy.
"I really wish Father had never brought up that story," Ced moaned. "I was one year old! Why did he have to embarrass me like that?"
"It could be worse. Fee could have been there." After finishing with brushing her hair, she moved closer to him. "But besides that, aren't you glad that you have your father with you?"
"I guess..."
"You should savor every moment with him - not just because other people don't have their fathers anymore, but because you never know when he will be taken from you."
"...Father did apologize, but you're right, Altena. I should be grateful that he's still here."
"And I'm grateful for him too," Altena added. "I wish I could have met your mother as well."
Ced took Altena's hand into his own. "He was a father to you too, wasn't he? What if I asked him to tell stories about when you were a young child?"
The expression on her face when she took her hand away was enough to tell Ced: there would be no sharing of stories about what Princess Altena was like when she was a young girl.
