“-And I just think you two will have such a long and happy life together! Mr. Howard loves his wine and you love food, the match goes hand-in-hand!” A maid named Madeline had dropped by the kitchen to offer Fin her opinion regarding his torrid love affair with the King’s secretary. The cook found himself wondering if Ruby would finally allow him to install a lock on both doors leading into his kitchen in light of the new absurdity that flowed through the corridors.

When maid Madeline, with her long dark curls, had finished her declaration of undying admiration and exuberant cheer for Fin, he at long last paused his work. All throughout the young maid’s speech, he had busied himself by rubbing spices into the chicken thighs he was working on preparing for lunch, but once he was quite certain she had finished, he fixed her with his most bored looking expression.

“I had food poisoning. There is nothing going on with Mr. Howard and myself. I am not even gay. Now, how is it that this is deemed the ‘official kitchen business’ that you insisted it was?” He demanded, his gaze unwavering.

Madeline gulped and began rubbing her apron nervously between her fingers. Her naturally tanned complexion paled slightly, and her wide dark eyes flitted about the room nervously.

“I-I’m sorry Mr. Ashowan, I didn’t mean to interrupt you, I just wanted to-to tell you how brave and-”

“Again, I am not gay.” Fin’s lazy tone was no less disconcerting to the maid.

The poor girl stammered a few more incoherent sentences before the witch finally decided she had suffered enough.

“I’m sure you are busy and need to return to your duties, but thank you for your encouragement- even if it was a misguided belief. Perhaps you should let Mr. Howard know that, with or without a partner, he shouldn’t be too sad about not finding someone special.”

Grateful for the excuse to leave, Madeline nodded hurriedly and then dashed out of the room without another word.

Fin began to smile to himself when he considered how Mr. Howard would feel about the news that he was dallying with a male cook.

“Mr. Ashowan.” The unmistakable voice of Ruby broke the newfound silence that the witch had only just begun to once again partake in.

“Ruby, I hope you’re having a good morning so far.” He greeted the woman without hesitating in his work.

“Oh just dandy, the suitors have all arrived at the same time! The Troivackian was supposed to arrive first, but I suppose Lord Piereva caught up with their ship and slowed them down.” Sarcasm dripped throughout her flustered speech.

Fin’s hands stopped on their own accord and his heart skipped a beat.

Once he became conscious of this obvious reaction, he resumed working and hoped the Head of Housekeeping hadn’t noticed his hesitation.

“I will prepare the additional meals necessary. I will have refreshments sent up to their quarters for the guests and their entourages.” The cook’s clipped tone made Ruby frown slightly. Fin had been becoming gradually more palatable over time, so it was peculiar that he suddenly resumed his former snarky notes.

“Everything alright Mr. Ashowan?” Ruby queried, folding her hands patiently against her apron.

“Why have you stopped calling me ‘Fin’?” The cook turned the question and dodged having to answer.

“Well, I keep hearing his majesty and other nobility call you Mr. Ashowan, and next thing I found myself doing the same. Would you prefer me to resume calling you by your first name?”

“Whichever you are comfortable with.” The redhead didn’t raise his gaze as he then proceeded to mix warmed butter over the chicken thighs.

Ruby continued to study the man for another beat of quiet before shaking her head and turning back to the castle door. As she stepped through the doorway a young maid with white blonde hair and sunken eyes began to try to wedge herself into the kitchen around the Head of Housekeeping’s girth.

“Reagan, what in the world are you doing here?” Ruby demanded severely.

“I—er— I-I’m here to-”

“Oh for the love of the Gods,” Fin muttered before swinging around. “Go help tend to the newcomers.” He snapped.

Ruby seemed to gain a spark of understanding because she suddenly grabbed the young woman’s slender upper arm and began dragging her away while lecturing her in hushed tones.

Once he was alone again, Fin pressed the tops of his fists into his cooking table and closed his eyes with a long sigh.

He knew it had just been a matter of time before Lady Jenoure was going to be plagued with nobility vying for her attention, and eventually, her hand.

It didn’t make it any easier now that the time had finally come..

Fin had pointedly ignored thinking about the inevitability of Lady Jenoure’s marriage, and now that he did so, immediately began working to convince himself that it would never have worked anyway. Besides, there were plenty of other women in the world.

Men too apparently… not that that particularly meant much personally to Fin.

After the witch tightened his fists briefly against the table’s surface, he braced himself and pushed off. He had the tray of chicken magically fly into the oven before he summoned a large glass jar of homemade cool tea from the cooling hole. It had peaches, lavender, and mint.

It was made by boiling the water and letting peppermint tea steep between ten to twenty minutes before removing the tea ball, while leaving the other ingredients to soak in the water in the cooling hole for a full day.

It was a splendid summer drink, one he was sending in a decanter to each suitor’s chamber.

Except for Lord Piereva.

For the Earl, he sent regular hot tea with a very special root Kasim had shown him… Along with some very tasty but dry muffins.

Once he had the trays assembled, he called for the footmen, who arrived promptly, and whisked the teatime meals away.

Seeing Lord Piereva’s tray disappear through the doorway brought a smile to Fin’s face, and it was around that time that his aides traipsed through the garden door.

“Fin, Captain Antonio wants to see you when you have some spare time.” Peter announced as the group brought in the peeled vegetables for the evening salads.

“It might be a while; the suitors for Lady Jenoure have just arrived. I’m sorry to say I will have to send you out to peel more vegetables before lunchtime.” The cook’s bland tone was painfully obvious as his facial expression matched his voice.

Hannah and Peter shared a meaningful glance, one that had Fin frowning in an instant. The Knights became taken aback by the cook’s shift in expression, having missed Hannah and Peter’s wordless communication.

“How many people will be staying here and how long?” Sir Harris drawled in a near whine, appearing oblivious and or uncaring of the tension in the room.

Fin’s sharp gaze cut to the Knight who nearly winced under the piercing stare of the cook.

“I was informed that one of the Zinferan suitors recently inherited his title from his deceased uncle and that he travels with an entourage of ten people, while the other Zinferan travels with fourteen. The Troivackian noble brings a modest five, while Lord Piereva has returned as well with his usual twelve.

Approximately forty-four people in total.”

Every aide’s face paled, but no one dared to groan aloud.

“I’ve done some preparations for this, however the vegetables will be the toughest as we cannot prep them too far in advance. I recommend you all get started.” Fin turned back to the next two trays of chicken thighs, and waited for his colleagues to leave.

After a good deal of shuffling, the cook was certain they’d all picked up the extra vegetables on the ledge and departed, when the softest swish of skirts drew his eyes back upwards. There must have been some level of ferocity in their gold-flecked depths, for Hannah took a sharp inhale of breath when he rested his gaze upon her.

“Yes?”

Hannah took a deep breath in, clearly fortifying her strength before speaking.

“Are you alright?” She blurted out her voice a little too loudly.

Fin’s eyes narrowed for a brief moment before he continued his work on the food.

“Perfectly fine. Why do you ask?” Suspicion laced his words as he began to wonder what Hannah was getting at.

He sincerely hoped she wasn’t going to offer her opinion on his relationship with Mr. Howard.

“Are you upset because of the suitors for Lady Jenoure?” Hannah asked softly, her cheeks burning.

Fin raised his head and lifted an eyebrow while going perfectly still otherwise.

“What makes you ask that?”

“We… Well… I… You two are always bickering, but you two talk to each other more than anyone else.” The petite blonde looked anxious, but clenched her hands into fists at her side in steely resolution.

Fin dropped his stare down to the table in front of him for a brief moment before slowly drawing himself up.

“Lady Jenoure and I share camaraderie due to my education level. I am not what you would call… ‘normal’ in that regard.” When his aide responded with a small frown he sighed and added;

“Hannah I… I’ve been educated as well as most lower level nobles.”

She nodded, her frown clearing at once. It didn’t come as a surprise to her.

“Were you the bastard of a Lord?” She whispered conspiratorially.

“No.” Fin snorted somewhat bitterly and rested his hands on his hips. “I am perfectly legitimate, I just have had an unusual upbringing. Now, please don’t think again about something so untoward. Such rumors could ruin the Lady Jenoure and that would be greatly unjust.”

Hannah looked like she wanted to say more, but was cut off when the castle door opened once more, revealing none other than mage Lee and Keith.

Fin wanted to throw a chicken thigh at them, but managed not to.

“Mr. Ashowan, we were wondering if you happened to know where the tenth fountain that was sent for the Prince’s birthday wound up. We have relocated most of the… wondrous gifts.” Mage Lee cleared his throat while Fin smiled cheekily at the mage. Keith stared back and forth between them perfectly perplexed.

“However, we cannot seem to… find the last one. We wondered if you or your aides had seen or heard where it had wound up.” The mage eyed Hannah warily as he carefully crafted the question.

“Can’t say I have, but come find me after dinner and I would be happy to lend you a hand.”

Keith’s puzzled expression cleared as swiftly as the Knights barracks when Sir Taylor broke wind, and instead he beamed.

“Father isn’t that wonderful? I can stay and offer my skills to the new guests while the cook helps you this evening. I cannot believe you said he was a good-for-nothing know-it-all with a stick up his-”

“Come along Keith.” Mage Lee barked as he grabbed his son by the back of his collar and dragged him away.

Hannah had her mouth covered as both she and Fin stared at one another and both immediately burst out laughing.

“Keith really has no filter or self-awareness does he?” Hannah managed, wiping errant tears from her cheeks.

“He must get it from his father.” Fin rubbed the back of his neck while still smiling.

“Oh! Before I forget…” Hannah strode over to a small burlap satchel she had placed on the window ledge under the round window earlier that morning.

From it she drew out a black apron that she handed to Fin.

“What’s this?” The cook asked dumbly as he looked at the expert stitching along its ties.

“I made one for all of us kitchen staff! I noticed how easily your white apron becomes stained and thought a darker color might be better. I even added a pocket! A secret one on the inside.” Fin felt his cheeks grow red and words died in his throat. He then noticed in the bottom left corner a small skillet sewn in with gray thread. Its handle was crossing a familiar broom with red twine holding its bristles together.

“Hannah, this is… amazing. You did this yourself?” He immediately removed his stained white apron from around his hips, and tied on the new black one that he could tell was made with stronger material than his old worn one.

“I did! I have to go give the rest of the aids theirs now.” The young woman glowed with pleasure at Fin’s praise.

“Did you embroider all of them?” He wondered while smiling warmly down at the young woman.

“I did! You’ll have to wait for them to show you though. No peeking.” Hannah winked while her cheeks remained rosy.

Fin held up both his hands in surrender.

“I understand. Get going then, I can’t wait to see how they look.”

Hannah had one foot outside of the garden door with the hot summer sun pouring in, when the witch called out.

“Thank you. I… feel a lot better.” The young woman cast a smile over her shoulder that would’ve made lesser men weak at the knees before she bounded outside happily.

Once again in solitude, Fin looked down at his present, his heart full to the point of bursting.

When he glanced back up at the now empty doorway, he couldn’t help but feel a deep gratitude bloom in his chest.

‘Everything is going to be alright… one way or another.’

He thought peacefully to himself right as the fattest ginger cat he had ever seen strolled across the end of the garden path. Taken aback, the cook peered around the room for Kraken, and found the fluffy black feline peeking out around the doorway and then looking back to his witch.

“You sure seem to be popular lately.” The kitten let out a broken mew before slowly trudging out towards the new visitor, his tail drooping ever so slightly as he went.

*

Annika fingered the corner of the coded message in her hand with a tremor of agitation. The suitors had just arrived, so it would be hard to meet with her informant- but he claimed it was urgent.

While she didn’t like arranging a meeting during the daytime, she acknowledged she had no choice but to go as soon as possible. Everyone would be keeping a sharp eye on her, particularly in the evening. With three prospective marriage partners sharing a roof with her, it was to be expected.

“Lady Jenoure?” Annika’s handmaiden Mary called softly to her mistress who had already thrown the missive into the flames of the hearth that blazed despite the heat of summer.

“Is it lunchtime already?”

“Yes my Lady.” The maid was perhaps in her early thirties with quiet deep blue eyes, and a complexion as pale as the moon. She had been with her mistress since her very first day in Daxaria.

Annika sighed and looked at the afternoon garb she had lain out for her first meeting with the suitors.

She had chosen her most unflattering dress. It was a plain navy blue sheath that had a conservative neckline, and long loose sleeves with long holes connecting from the shoulder down to the cuff of the dress.

She donned the fresh attire, and added simple gold studs befitting her station, and a gold ring to her middle finger.

Once she had finished with that ordeal, she bound her hair back in a simple knot at the base of her neck. After a brief glimpse of the looking glass, she deemed herself ready.

Simple. Elegant. Dull.

Adopting the slowest pace possible, Annika made her way down to the banquet hall that already sounded chaotic. She closed her eyes, briefly preparing her most vacant expression as the sounds of clattering dishware and loud obnoxious laughter filled the air.

She heard the doors open, and she stepped into the stifling hot sun filled banquet hall. The nobility seated at their tables along the wall, and the Knights at their centre tables all quieted as she strode smoothly down the wide isle that led to the throne where the King sat staring at three men.

“Ah, Lady Jenoure. Thank you for coming so promptly.” There wasn’t any note of irony in the ruler’s voice, but Annika knew he was aware of her dawdling.

“May I present Lord Geun Nam. A Lord from the Southern region of Zinfera.” The first Zinferan man turned around, his high cheekbones and dark slanted eyes regarded her with a haughty raised eyebrow. He wore bright red loose pants, and a white coat embroidered with gold flower designs. His hairless chest was exposed, and a red sash that matched his pants was tied around his hips. His long black hair was partially pulled back in a bun, and he wore a small gold cuff earring in his upper right ear.

After giving the Lady a critical once over he bowed with a flourish.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” His voice was as smooth as chocolate.

Annika kept her expression as vacuous as Keith’s brain when she curtsied back.

“Beside Lord Nam is Lord Milo Miller. He is set to inherit a title as he has inherited one of his father’s many estates in the West of Troivack.”

The man towered over nearly everyone in the room. His shoulders were broad, and his stance was strong as was customary of Troivackian men. The thick black waves of his hair were cropped short, and as he turned, Annika found herself momentarily stunned by his blue eyes. Troivackian’s were known to be dark, but periodically one was born with blue eyes or paler skin due to mixed marriages with Daxarian women. The evidence was clear on Lord Miller’s face of such a pairing happening sometime in his family history. His clear blue eyes were intense and at first off putting, until he smiled at her genially and bowed.

“A pleasure to see you again, Lady Jenoure. We met briefly at one of the Troivackian court balls many years ago.” When he straightened, his pleasant expression remained perfectly intact.

“I do not recall meeting you prior as it has been a long time since I’ve been in Troivack.” She curtsied, feeling more than a little rattled at his show of friendliness despite being of Troivackian nobility.

‘No wonder they labeled him as weak back home.’ She thought to herself.

“Last, but certainly not least, I believe you will recall Jiho? He acted as a Zinferan diplomat for our Beltane festival. Since then, he recently inherited his uncle’s title and lands. He is now Lord Jiho Ryu. He was regaling us all with the incredible story of his life- you should really hear how he went from being a dockworker to a Lord.” The King’s obvious admiration marked the man as his preferred suitor for Annika, and so when she locked gazes with the new noble, she was prepared to hate him.

Except, in his dark eyes, was surprising depth and peace. There wasn’t lust or judgment like the first Zinferan. In fact, just as Lord Miller had, this man smiled in a warm manner and bowed. His hair was cropped unusually short for a Zinferan, and was swept to the side with some kind of pomade that smelled exotic and enticing. He wore a crisp, silk white tunic covered by a long periwinkle silk coat and tan pants. He had done a beautiful job of melding the two different cultures together in one.

Annika curtsied again, almost forgetting to keep her outward facial expression that of a simpleton.

“Shall we eat?” The King’s pleasant tone permeated the hall, and as if on cue, each man bowed and offered their hands to Annika.

She didn’t have to feign being struck dumb right then.

The Lady looked to the King for help, but froze when she registered another set of eyes on her that had been hidden behind the suitors.

Her brother stood, scrutinizing her every move as he always did.

She then knew exactly how to handle the awkward situation.

With another deep curtsy she rose.

“Gentlemen you all flatter me with your kindness and consideration. However, I do believe as an unmarried woman it would be most appropriate for my brother to escort me to my place.”

There was a glint in her brother’s eye that made her want to punch him in the face. She knew what that particular look meant.

It meant he was going to toy with her, and unless she wanted to raise suspicion, she was going to have to let him.