Princes In Hiding

Swordplay

I woke up to the sound of my alarm. Even though it's Saturday, I still want to wake up early in order to prep the house for the day. I assumed that the boys are still asleep. They are entitled to have their "beauty sleep".

It took me an hour to make myself presentable. Even though I'm in my own house, I have to look decent because of our guests. Honestly, it would be nice just to wear some shorts and an oversized shirt early in the morning. "Maybe I should do that," I thought. I opened my closet to look for something more comfortable but decent enough.

While rummaging for clothes, I caught sight of the black leather bag that I hid for months. I wrapped my fingers around its handle and slowly take it out of the closet. The long slim bag brought back memories of the past. I opened the bag and brought out the only thing in there, a beautiful long silver sword with a golden handle. My father said it belonged to my mother.

I watch as the blade reflect the light coming in from my window. I have held a sword before, but most of the time, they were dull. My father taught me how to use a sword properly, how to disarm someone, how to hurt someone, but I never knew what I was training for. Having the boys here may be a pain, but it did solve another mystery. "Who knew," I said to myself, "that all those years of using a sword was for this?"

I put the sword back to its case and decide to ask my dad more about it. I slung the bag on my shoulders and start walking out of my room. I was walking down the stairs when I heard some faint screaming. I quickly opened the front door and walk out the house, finding the source of the sounds.

On the wide field that surrounds the house, my father and Florence stand facing each other, holding swords. Florence's back is facing me, but I know both of them must be exhausted. I can see my father's focused eyes not leaving Florence. Rule number one: Never lose sight of your opponent.

"Ten years of being a knight? I would never have guessed," my father tauntingly says. Florence charged and parried his sword, however, my father quickly deflected his move using his sword. My father then aimed for Florence's right shoulder but Florence quickly stepped back, making my father's sword miss him by an inch. Dad didn't give up though; he raised his sword and aimed for the temple. Florence leans back and moves away. Rule number two: Always stay balanced.

Florence leans back up and swings his sword. The sound of metal against metal goes on for a few seconds when suddenly, my father disarms Florence. I watch as Florence's sword land a few feet away from the two. Rule number three: Never lose grip on your weapon.

My father points his silver sword at Florence's neck. At this point, I don't know what else Florence can do. However, he did manage to do something. He quickly ducked down under the sword and tackled my father to the ground. It's probably a trick he learned in football. Now, Florence's sword was just a feet away. He stepped on my father's blade, picked up his sword and pointed it between my father's eyes. Both of them do not move. Rule number four: Never look away even if you think the enemy is down.

"I win, old man," Florence says slowly, catching his breath. The blade is still there, and the game is not over until my father says so. I knew this was my chance. I slowly and quietly remove my own sword from the case and sneak up behind Florence, whose back is still facing me. Once I'm close enough, I put my sword just an inch from the right side of his neck. "Checkmate," I tell him. Florence raises his sword in defeat and chuckled. I see my father smile, "Rule number five: Always assume that your opponent might not be alone."

"Game over," my father said. I put my sword away and my father stands up from the ground. "Natalia, we should probably train again," he says, "It has been a while since I last saw you hold a sword." I just shrugged. It's probably a good idea to train again. I see my father eye the sword I'm using and sigh deeply.

"Oh c'mon!" We suddenly hear someone shout from the house. We looked up and see Joseph watching through the window. "Florence! Were you seriously defeated by an old man and a little girl?" Joseph said. Florence just shook his head and laughed.

"Hey!" We hear another voice. We then see Harold looking through another window. "Does this mean Nat can be our trainer too?" he asks. Since when did I have a nickname?

"Nat? Since when did you became close with Natalia?" Joseph asked. He then looked at me, "Hey Natalia! Can I call you Nat too?" I put my hands on my hips and shake my head. I may have become housemates with them, but I have never liked nicknames. Only my dad can give me a nickname, and sadly, he chose "princess".

"She didn't get mad at me. So am I clear to call her Nat?" Harold asks. I glared at him and Joseph laughs.

I looked at Florence and asked, "Are they always like this?"

"When they're near each other, yes," he replies, "They don't have to pretend not to be twins here so maybe that adds to their madness." I can't help notice the different attitude they have when they're at school and when they're in the house. Did they really keep this facade up their whole life?

"Hey! Are you talking about us?" Harold asks, "Florence! All good things I hope." I rolled my eyes. I always thought Harold would be more well-behaved than this. It turns out he's exactly like Joseph, only smarter.

I began to wonder, "Where's the third?"

As if on cue, we see another window open and Vincent looking pissed off. "Would you guys shut up?" he screamed in frustration. Everyone becomes quiet and Vincent shuts his window again and disappears.

Florence then leaned into me and whispered, "Vincent isn't a morning person during the weekends." I nodded, making sense of his sudden change of attitude.

The twins then closed their own windows, and Florence, my dad, and I walked back inside. My father and Florence excused themselves which leaves me to make breakfast for the day. I put my sword down and began to make some waffles and sausages. I made sure to make more than the usual amount.

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Author's Note
... this is the second time I ended the chapter with Natalia making food... I must be hungry...
Anyways, hey! Long time no... read? Idk.

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