Am I the Hero?

Cahpter 4

I walked outside and the quiet and cold crisp of the night hit me. It felt nice after a long hard day of training. I took my time on my two mile walk home. I took short and slow steps to enjoy the scenery I was not able to enjoy in the rush of the morning. As the sun began to fall I could see many families hurrying their children inside for dinner and bed. The soft chip of crickets began to flood the once quiet air. As I was approaching my block I could see the glow of candles illuminating the street. The lamplighters were quick to do their jobs tonight hopinging to get home to their families in time to enjoy dinner while it was still hot. They usually take their time lighting the lamps but today just seems to have a sort of rushed feeling to it. I miss the time when nothing was rushed, when everyone took their time with all that they had to do. Continuing my walk, I passed by houses, the warm glow of their candles through the windows left a silhouette on the street. I could hear an eruption of laughter burst from a house as I passed by, getting closer to my own home. The laughter gave a warm feeling, a feeling of love and family.

As I made my way into our house there was no laughter, or warmth. The house was as still as the night was, silent and crisp. I walked in and I quickly lit the fire before I made my way to the kitchen. Lighting the oven I placed a pot on the fire. I poured in some rice and water, then put on the lid to let it cook. Then I grabbed two chicken breasts from the ice box and placed them on a skillet. I seasoned them with salt and pepper and placed them on the fire. While I let that cook I set the table for two, me and Kira. I paused for a second as I remembered the times I would have set five plates. That ended when Kira's mom and dad died, then I had to set for three. That didn't last very long because Marcel had met Amy, making four plates. When Marcel and his wife Amy moved out into their own house, I was down to two just me and Kira. I placed and straightened up the silverware as the food cooked. I am so stressed, I think I might as well take a relaxing bath. Being that I don't really have time or strength to heat up the water I took a cold bath just to try and scrub off the grime of today's work and relieve some tension and stress. I relaxed for I don't know how long, but I realized it was long enough when I heard the front door open.

A few seconds later I heard a loud thud as Kira fell upon the sofa in exhaustion. I guess we both had a hard day at work. I quickly dried off, dressed in some comfortable clothes and walked out to welcome her home. Her hair was up but not in a neat and nice way as usual, but in a way one would put it up when rushed or stressed. She still had her apron on along with her sowing glasses. As she laid sprawled out on the sofa as I checked on the food.

"Food's almost done so get yourself up to the table." I said in Kira's general direction as I began to stir the rice.

Kira sighed but obligingly sat up and walked to the table. Before she sat down she took off her apron and glasses and set them on the counter.

"Long day at work?" I asked as I brought the pot over to the table.

"I work far too hard."

"I don't disagree with that, once I get the title of knight I will make far much more money. Enough money that you can pick and choose your clients, not take any you can."

"It's not the clients as much as their ideas, such as a dress that fit three years ago should still fit now."

"Like I said I will become a knight and make enough for both of us."

"If you just turned yourself in as the missing princess then there will be more than enough money for us in the castle."

"Kira, enough of that. Gosh I would have hoped you would be too tired to bring that up."

"Victoria, if you would just listen."

"I will not, and unless you want to go to bed hungry I suggest you don't speak any more of that topic."

"Wow, abusing your power before you even have it."

"That's it, no chicken for you."

"Come on Vic, you can't be serious."

"Try me."

"Ok, ok. I am sorry. May I please have some chicken, with my bland rice?"

"Are you insulting my cooking now?!"

"Of course not your majesty."

"That's it, no rice either."

"Gees sorry, you are really touchy today, anything the matter?"

"I don't know, I woke up to screaming. You tricked me into wearing a dress and going to the ball. I had to run to training today, on an empty stomach. And some royal dude interrupted my training. That and I guess I have really been missing the old days when we had a big old happy family."

"So that's all of it?"

"Don't make fun of me."

"I'm not, actually I also miss those days. Having enough food to feed 100. Dad and Mom worked hard for us."

"Even if I wasn't one of their real children."

"Even if you weren't blood related, they treated you as one of us."

"Yah, they were just waiting to turn me in as the missing princess when the reward was higher."

"So you do admit it!"

"No, I am just saying your parents thought that I was the princess."

"Our parents Victoria, they were yours too."

"Ok Kira, our parents."