Chapter Text
"I," Roman said, "am going to save the kingdom."
That declaration didn't have the effect he intended. No one was in the room but him, Logan, and the silver he was supposed to be polishing. Still, he could have used some ominous thunder or a trumpet fanfare. Just a bit of thunder would do. But the sky stayed resolutely clear. Only a few squeaks punctuated the silence--Logan's feet on the floorboards as he wiped the table.
"I'm going to save the kingdom," Roman repeated.
"Good for you," Logan replied, not looking up from the table. "Be back by dinner."
"I'm serious." He frowned. "Don't you know something has to happen? Someone has to do something!"
Logan sighed. "Something? A brilliant plan for saving the kingdom."
"That's not my plan. My plan is to find the king and kill him."
"Credit for simplicity, I suppose."
"It doesn't need to be complicated." Roman grabbed a few apples from the cupboard and stuffed them into a pack. "The castle is just through the woods. If I hurry, I can make it by nightfall. I can sneak in, challenge the king to a duel, and rid the land of his evil influence."
Logan put down his rag and looked up. "You're actually doing this? I thought you were joking."
"I never joke about justice."
"You're not thinking this through," he said. "We have a whole dining room to clean. You can't drop all your responsibilities to play the hero."
"Justice is my responsibility."
"We have a job. Did you drink spoiled water or something?"
"I drank the water...of justice." Roman sighed. "That one didn't exactly work."
"Correct."
"But our entire village has been under his thumb for too long. I'm tired of the terrible economy, not to mention all the raids. How can everyone just sit back and let him do this?"
Logan shrugged and polished a corner of the table. "He's not evil, you know. It isn't so bad."
"Everyone calls him the Evil King."
"That's just bad PR. It doesn't mean he needs to be killed. That would completely destabilize the government and that economy you're complaining about--"
Roman sighed. "I thought you, of all people, would understand."
Logan finished wiping the table and walked away, keeping his back to Roman. "I don't know what you mean. Only a fool such as yourself could understand this reckless mission."
"All this hurts you too."
"No, it doesn't."
"You're working for people richer than you to pay the bills."
"That's not the king's fault."
"It is!"
"Only tangentially." Logan adjusted his glasses and started laying down the silverware. "You didn't polish this, Roman."
"Who cares about silverware?" he argued.
Logan shrugged. "Probably the people who will be eating from this silverware in a few hours."
"Well, I won't be there to hear the complaints." Roman put the pack on his back and walked toward the door. "You don't have to be there either, you know. You could come."
"I don't want to die, thanks."
"I won't die!" Roman drew himself up. "I'm the best fighter in the village. Have faith in me."
"You don't even have a weapon."
Roman opened his mouth, then closed it. Irritatingly, Logan had made a good point. He looked around and saw the heirloom silver sword over the mantel.
Logan glanced back. "I can tell what you're thinking, and if you steal that, the king won't have to kill you. I will."
Climbing onto the table, Roman reached for the sword and unhooked it.
"And now the table." Logan rubbed his eyes. "I just cleaned that. Roman, please leave before you ruin any more of my hard work."
Roman deftly jumped off the table. "I will. I'll see you when I've vanquished the Evil King and saved all of us. Have fun polishing tables, Logan."
Logan took up the rag and began wiping away Roman's footprints. "Why now?"
"What?"
"Why are you suddenly doing this now?"
"I've wanted to do this for years."
"Well, why now?"
Roman shrugged. "No reason."
Logan sighed. "I highly doubt that."
Roman didn't want to talk about this. "I--it's nothing."
"Did you get in an argument with Janus again?"
"So what if I did?" Roman practiced slashing with his sword. It wobbled and almost cut off a chair leg. "That stuck-up little brat can't tell me what I can and can't do. I'm going to show him and wipe the stupid smirk off his face--"
Logan folded his arms. "Getting in fights with your employer's son is a terrible idea. Then again, that's all you're full of today, isn't it?"
Roman laughed. "Believe it or don't, but I have to go. Goodbye, Logan, it's been fun."
"Is there any way I could talk you out of this?" Logan asked.
"No."
"Well, then." His voice hardened. "Have fun dying, I suppose."
Roman paused. "If you're really so worried, you could come along. Don't tell me you don't have any kind of grudge against the king--"
"Go." Logan tossed the rag on the table and stalked away. "I'm not talking to you about this anymore."
"Logan--"
"Just go."
Roman reached out, but Logan had disappeared into the kitchen. Now Roman stood alone in the dining room with a pack of food and a stolen sword. There really wasn't any turning back. Not that he would turn back. He would prove Janus wrong--just because he got off on the wrong fight and lost a few family members in the raids didn't mean he couldn't save the day. He was a hero. Logan could just deal with it.
He walked out the door, ignoring the small sliver of doubt in his mind.
He had a kingdom to save.