Dinner was an interesting affair.
Robin introduced Bamboo rice, and spicy pickled bamboo shoots. Most of Robin's crew soon overcame their surprise and dug in, savoring the new flavor. They had somewhat gotten used to the hero's culinary feats of genius by now.
Brandi’s family was super impressed as well. They loved it immensely, to the point where the remaining bamboo shoots on the dining table disappeared. Robin ended up bringing out some of the prepared food she had made earlier to supplement the rest of dinner for her crew.
“But, seriously, Robin! I need that recipe!” Brandi pleaded. “This is the most my wife has been able to eat in a long time! Her appetite hasn't been good lately.”
“Well,I can't just give it away…” Robin glanced at Jasmine, who was looking at her with a scary expression. It was a bit difficult being the subject of so many intense gazes at the same time. “That's why….ah! I got it! How about a trade?”
“A trade?” Brandi asked.
“That's right..” Robin glanced around quickly for something easy to take along. She caught sight of a small blue gemstone hanging off of Amaretto's wrist on a bracelet. “Oh! How about that?” She pointed to it.
Brandi paused, and then he looked at Robin with suspicion in his gaze.
“...Hero…I trust my people's opinions of you...BUT! No matter how much I need this recipe, I won't trade for it with my daughter!” Brandi growled, with a sharpened gaze, looking like he was about to rage and throw tables.
“WHAAAT!? No! No no no no! Not your daughter! I wasn't talking about your daughter! I was pointing at her bracelet! The bracelet!!” Robin exclaimed, shocked at the sudden turn of conversation. “If it's something that can't be exchanged, then of course I can understand-”
“Oh, so that's what it was! Ahahahah! Of course, the Hero wouldn't be similar to other humans.” Brandi’s mood changed quicker than the flip of a page. He smiled sheepishly.
“My bad there, Hero Robin. I’ve dealt with more than a few bad ones in the past. I hope you understand.”
“That’s all right. No harm done.” Robin sighed in relief.
“No, I feel guilty about it now. I mean, I chose to invite you to my home. Judging you by what others wanted to do was definitely wrong of me.” Brandi shook his head. “Would you like some nice liquor as an apology?”
“That's not-actually liquor sounds good. Let's go with that.” Robin suddenly changed her mind. Brandi seemed the sort to insist on gifting her something as an apology. She could just give it to Keith or Christian later on.
“Let the matter end there, then. I understand why you would have thought that way. And I don't blame your reaction. No decent human would aim to take your young daughter from you. And decent humans are not usually those who wander the land.”
Robin shook her head. Then her sleeve was tugged. Glancing down, she saw Amaretto.
“Yes? What is it?” Robin asked. Christian watched the exchange, quietly.
When it came to children, Robin always seemed to soften his voice and make himself look smaller, so as not to startle them. He never made them feel like he was disinterested or not listening. He always answered their questions, even if they were for small things.
In short, if Robin were a father, he would definitely be the favorite of not only his children, but other people's children.
‘How envious…wait, what?’
Christian blinked. Did he just catch himself envying children?
“You said you would give us the recipe if I give you my bracelet, right?” Amaretto blinked at Robin with her wide eyes. “Right?”
“That's right. Do you want to exchange it?” Robin smiled with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Yes.” The girl nodded. “I want to help Mama, so you can have my bracelet to trade it for the recipe.” Amaretto took it off and handed it to Robin.
“Hmm?” Robin looked closely at the gemstone on the bracelet. “This blue jade…it's an elemental gem.”
“An elemental gem?” The girl tilted her head, curious.
“That means it's worth a lot more than a regular gemstone. I'm afraid this won't do.” Robin shook her head. “It's far too valuable to exchange for one recipe…”
“No, that's okay-” Amaretto started saying. She thought that Robin would refuse to trade completely, so she panicked. But mid sentence, Robin interjected.
“It's too valuable for one recipe, so I will trade this gemstone bracelet for two recipes. How about it?” Robin smiled at the girl merrily.
“!!? Yes!” Amaretto beamed excitedly as she realized that she would get more than she wanted. She turned to Brandi, seeking confirmation. Brandi grinned broadly and gave her a thumbs up.
“Thatta girl!” He beamed, the very picture of a proud parent. The rest of the children cheered, and were very merry as they began clearing off the dinner dishes.
Robin had anticipated something similar to this might happen. She had already written out both recipes as well as instructions on how to make bamboo wine, that was ‘accidentally stuck’ on the back of the instructions.
Robin took out the already prepared recipes, and gave them to Amaretto.
“And with that, the trade is complete. Congratulations.” Robin smiled warmly at Amaretto, as she shook her hand. “I hope your mother can eat well and gather her strength for the big day.”
“Thank you!” Amaretto beamed a sunny smile, before scampering over to Brandi. “Dad! Dad! Look! I got them!”
“Looks like my little Retto has done it!” Brandi grinned and patted her on the head.
“Daaad! I’ll grow shorter if you keep doing that!” The girl protested. Everyone broke into a hearty round of laughter after that.
“Strange…” Jasmine looked at Robin suspiciously. “For you to already have the recipes all written out like that…almost like you had intended to do all of this ahead of time…”
Robin laughed and avoided answering.
“Robiiiin?” Jasmine seemed willing to pursue this line of questioning until Robin answered.
“Ah..Oh look at the time! I must go, I have a prior appointment!” Robin fled the scene like a child who had been caught stealing cookies.
“Hahahahahahahah!” Brandi chortled. “He’s an odd one isn't he?”
“Well he is the hero…” Jasmine sighed.
“Regardless of how generous he is.”
“Huh?” Amaretto blinked in confusion as she looked back and forth between Brandi and Jasmine. Why did they think-
“Amaretto, dear? Can you come here?” A voice called out from her mother's bedroom.
“Coming!” Amaretto handed the recipes to Brandi and ran down the hallway towards the bedroom.
Briar watched in amusement as Christian successfully made his exit and headed after Robin. ‘Huhuhu.’ Briar’s eyes curled upwards in amusement as she pondered something…
Christian knocked on Robin's door.
“Robin? You said you’d make time to talk after dinner?” He asked. The door opened inwards.
“I'm aware. Come in.” Robin invited.
“Ah…no, it shouldn't take too long…” Christian stood there in the doorway, hesitantly.
“Um…Robin…what..am I to you?” Christian asked, hesitantly.
“How should I answer…a comrade? comedic relief? My Deeearest younger brother~?” Robin teased.
“Robin. I am-” Christian bristled up a bit upon hearing that last title. He stopped when he heard what Robin said next.
“But, that's not right. Most of those are just titles. Anyone can call another person a name. But that might not be who they are, really and truly. Just like...even if I call myself the Hero, I am still just a human in the end.”
Robin looked down at her hand and closed it into a fist. “If I am a hero, then I know what heroes are. Heroes are just like everyone else. We live, we breathe, we love, we bleed..and feel pain. We can even die.”
her fist opened as it seemed to lose the power to even maintain its form. Robin looked up, towards Christian, with a troubled smile.
“So for you to ask me what you are….how can I answer that?”
Robin had set aside her playfulness for a more serious tone. She looked at Christian with a gaze that seemed to be looking through Christian. “You are a prince, Christian, set above others to rule over, guide, and govern your people and your kingdom…”
When he had heard ‘Prince’ his heart had felt like it entered into freefall. How many times had he heard those words? ‘Prince’ ‘Your Highness’ ‘Heir to the Throne’ Such words had been used to scold and reprimand him, to push decisions on him, to limit him, to restrain him, and…to alienate him. Once someone says the words ‘Prince’ they dare not become his friend. Vassal? Servant? Ally? Underling? Sure. But…never friend.
“...But, more importantly, you are my very best friend.”
And once he heard this, it was as if his heart had grown wings and swooped back up, riding an updraft as it soared into the sky. Because Robin was the first person to consider friendship over status. He even said Christian was his ‘Best friend’.