I think if Cid finds out things are real and/or the girls find out he made it all up, that is pretty much the end of the series (in this comedy-filled form). That is the secret sauce that makes the balance between comedy/serious work. Take away that ingredient and the whole thing just becomes serious. I personally think the serious story that is happening unbeknownst to Cid in Eminence is actually a really good dark fantasy story. So, if the comedy were removed through the loss of Cid’s ignorance, it might still be a good story, but it would be dramatically different in tone.