One More Step

Kyra and Anna just wanted to stand their ground not knowing that their actions have been seeing by some foreigners that planned to settle in.

They still had a bit reluctance to stay, but seeing two children that held their head high even in this kind of situation and didn't budge back they felt they can breathe here as well.

After all, in the future, their children will grow up here as well. But the words the children said were comfort and worry at the same time.

They were foreigners and didn't deny it, but felt as well as complete citizens of this country. Does that mean they had no personal and emotional connection to their roots?

Is that a good or a bad thing?

Actually, the citizens had the same thoughts and felt happy. They felt that these children regarded this place as their original home so they could stand with their back straightened against such bullying.

Some of them recognized the children from the market and knew that they were orphans that disliked being pitied. So they didn't offer help, but will in future have an eye in them so that they could live safely.

One of those that wanted to protect these children was no other than the crown prince himself.

"Your Highness, why do you think of them so highly?" Asked on of the guards not understanding Crown Prince's stance.

"They live here and as long they feel part of our country why should I not think of them as my people. These girls are actually real refreshment. Think about how many foreigners live trough whole country not only in the capital."

The soldiers became silent. Some foreigners were good warriors as well. If they would join their army, they could become even stronger.

"Your thoughts I know. But we could use only those that have the same mind as those two girls. But can we be sure? I think these girls feel that this is their own country as only our people interacted with them. Their ancestry land didn't even take notice of their situation. After Lord Jang opened his hand to help them in mist critical point of their life and not some of their people, their hearts just became open to us."

"Does that mean they hate their mother country?" Asked the curious one.

Crown Prince just shook his head. "It's worse than that. They don't even acknowledge now that country. It died in their hearts. I think that is worse if than hating it."

Soldiers looked at him and coldness passed their back understanding the meaning.

Their own country gave up on them in the most needed time, but the one that they were born in helped them survive.

That little act of kindness that Lord Jong showed was the most important part of setting their minds.

"What should we do about them. As my information came out, they are quite proud and hate any kind of care. They are actually gathering now the money to pay back the house to Lord Jong."

Crown Prince chuckled. "Interesting children indeed. I heard for a while they ate just some grasses and some bread unwilling to ask for help from anyone."

The soldier nodded. "Actually, they are selling those grasses to the restaurant and earning money like that. I heard they have a bunch of weird ideas. Somehow I have to feel that they will survive just fine."

"Let's see what else they have in their little heads. Let's go, I can't come late to grandmother's birthday." He looked at himself in the mirror and with a smile left the room.

But other people's business was important to the girls. They strolled from one play to the other but on end choose to go to the restaurant to eat lunch.

When they arrived the waiter took them to the next floor and gave them a table next to the window.

They ordered simple dishes they could afford with the money they had in the pocket.

"We would like to eat dumplings please."

"Any side dishes?"

Side dishes were still quite expensive except for some preserved food like sour cabbage or salted vegetables.

Kyra looked at Anna with a smile. "You crave for sour cabbage, don't you?"

Anna nodded and ordered it.

When they got the dumplings and cabbage and started eating they could hear talks if people as they sat in free space, not in a room.

"This place has been gifted by the Queen Empress. But those children eat dumplings?"

The voice seemed arrogant.

"You are stupid. This place started because of those dumplings. The owners were selling dumplings before opening this place. Most people that come here will try at least once their dumplings. The girls are not wrong." The other voice seemed to try to soothe the person's words.

"Humph... Still. That is the cheapest dish in the restaurant, can't they buy more?" The man just didn't want to give up.

Sounds of standing up could be heard and Kyra's eyes turned cold as she shook her head to Anna that had angry expression. "Let me, please..."

Anna inhaled slowly and nodded.

Suddenly someone stopped at their table and knocked on it to get their attention.

"You two... here."

The girls turned their heads and saw a handsome young man in teens that had scholarly clothes but a ruffian expression.

Kyra scanned him from up till down with chopsticks still in her mouth and then chuckled.

"What are you laughing about?" He snapped at her.

"Oh... I actually thought that you are ruffian that came to beat us up for eating dumplings. Never thought that scholars in this country act like you. Good that I learn new things and stay away from scholarly people. "

Kyra blinked few times at him innocently and then stared at him with those big eyes.

He felt his face flushing after hearing such words. "I... I just felt that at such auspicious day you should eat some better food."

Kyra and Anna stated at him and then at dumplings on the table.

"What is wrong with dumplings?" Anna was seriously now annoyed.

He looked at her face and now even his ears started flushing. "They are too simple."

Kyra smiled at him. "You know some people just love eating dumplings. Do you even know how much work is included in each dumpling? They seem simple staple food but actually can feed a person completely. Please if you don't like us eating these foods use from now on private room. Like that, you won't see commoners like us enjoying simple things in life."

He actually wanted to make a room but they were all rented in advance. But these girls didn't know that.

It made him even angrier. He was about yo leash at them when hand pressed his mouth and another young man dragged him back to their seats.

The young man saw astonished expressions on girl's heads and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about my friend's demeanor."

Kyra rose her eyebrows as she sarcastically chuckled. "He has such a good friend."

The man froze while the first successfully came out his hands and snapped at them. "What do you mean?"

Anna chuckled. "To have such a friend person don't need enemies."

The young man that acted as savior stared at them with a dark expression. "Explain."

Kyra smiled and then stood up looking at the young man. "Number one he was acting like he wanted to stop you talking but his voice was louder, making everyone take notice of things that are said. Making you lose your face the first time. Number two he could have brushed off everything and made you look at those interesting things outside instead of letting you come to bother two girls that is when you lost your face second time. And number three is when you spoke all those words he could have turned it in something light to talk about but made it look like you are bulling us. Actually, you listened to what was our reasons and was just trying to understand things. Even tho you have quite a fiery temperament and loud voice you didn't offend us. But his last action seemed like we were bullied by you and made you lose even more face by dragging you away and making everyone point their fingers at you."

Anna nodded. "Actually we were angry not at his actions than at yours. One more thing. I sit from this side of the table and can clearly see his face. He looked as he had quite fun looking as you made yourself look like a fool. Good friend indeed."

The girls stood up bowed in front of him and turned to leave. But were stopped by the other man. "You have to give me a chance to explain."

Kyra stared at him like he was a crazy person. "Why should we?"

He choked as he couldn't find the proper reason and as he tried to find something to say the girls already left.

He turned his head and saw that the youth looked at him with a white face and cold expression. "Young master Yi, I... "

The youth just turned his head and left not even giving him time to explain.

Actually, the fact about the dumplings was at first spoken from him.

Young master Yi was a fiery person and felt after looking that the girls should eat better food, but he was bad in expressing himself and blurted out stuff he didn't mean.

But after careful thinking, he felt that the girls were right. Last few days he always got in trouble whenever he was with him.

Now he remembered every situation and realized that every time that person just gave him start.

Young master Yi held his head. He needs to go home and tell his father about this. It seems someone is trying to make him lose face and his family honor.

He stopped in tracks after seeing the girls talking to elder pair of people that acted like they saw their own grandchildren.

It seems these girls were nice to everyone but he acted in such manner, he will need to find a way later on to excuse himself.

A small smile cleared his face and he turned to his carriage and went home.

The two girls were still a bit angry. They called the servant and asked him to pack the rest of the dumplings.

"What happened to make you so angry?" The elders never saw them in this state.

They recounted what happened and then sighed. "To look down in your main staple food in front of our faces... You make such amazing dumpling that is tasty and can stop hungry belly. We just like that taste."

The grandma patted Anna's hand while looking at her angry pout. These children are just too cute.

"Grandma, we will come layer on again to eat before leaving town. We have no wish to cook at home so can you make us some sweet-sour pork, stir-fried noodles and soup? You can take the amount from whole the money for today. And make for uncle Chen big portions. He has a healthy appetite."

Anna knew that Chen would probably be hungry so they ordered the food in advance as they had to go and rush to cut the greens straight after they come back home.

The servant noted everything and left while Kyra and Anna sat a bit longer and chatted with two elders.

After while they went again for a stroll looking at all the stuff that was sold on the streets.

From handmade sweets to some small gadgets and thinkers.

On many places were set up stalls with riddles and whoever finds out the answer would get some sort of presents.

The girls just shook their heads. The riddles were for those that read those sophisticated books and they haven't. So they just strolled and found in one corner an interesting thing.

Old man and his grandson selling some blades. But Kyra's steps froze when she felt strange by looking one of the blades.

Anna saw her weird expression and turned to the old man with a smile. "It seems my sister took a liking to this blade. May I ask how much is it?"

The old man looked at Kyra and nodded. "It is a good blade but poor quality. Are you sure you want it?"

Kyra nodded. "I just like it. Somehow it seems like I just have to buy it. My words probably seem strange to you."

He shook his head. "Everything has a reason. This blade I made from the slob of metal I found on the mountain. But no matters how many alloys I tried to add the just stayed pure. It took me quite a lot of time to forge a blade from it. It can't even cut well. I will give it to you for a simple price of fifty bronze coins. "

The girls took their little money bags and gathered the fifty coins and gave them to the old man.

Kyra smiled when she touched the blade and put it into her backpack.

The bowed lightly to the man and wanted to leave but Anna wanted to say something and was stunned.

The old man and everything he sold disappeared. The girls looked at each other and shrugged.

If that is the way they got a good blade...