The inner council members all glanced at each other with matching confused expressions before once again resuming their musings of why in the world the Viscountess Jenoure and the Queen had been invited for a meeting. Fin on the other hand looked deeply pained, while the King looked murderous.

“Your highness, is there a reason we have been summoned at this hour of the night?” Lord Fuks asked without his usual bravado. The elder was clearly aware of some underlying tension in the room.

Norman didn’t even bat an eye as he peered blindly ahead of himself over his clasped hands. “There is indeed. Mr. Ashowan, I would like you to announce to the council exactly what you have just reported to me.”

All eyes shifted to the redheaded cook who suddenly wished he was anywhere in the whole of Daxaria than right there.

Clearing his throat, and sensing Annika holding her breath at his side, he lifted his gaze to the men. "Lady Jenoure and I are betrothed to be wed."

The moment of silence that followed was deafening.

The first to explode was of course Mr. Howard.

"Mr. Ashowan, while you might think yourself capable of taking over for the Court Jester's empty position, I can assure you Lady Jenoure would not find such jests funny. Furthermore you should be reprimanded for-"

"Mr. Ashowan was not making a joke." Annika's deadened gaze fixed on Mr. Howard whose mouth was already beginning to form the rest of his tirade. Instead, he ended up having his jaw hang open, unable to move.

Mage Lee had his forehead in his hand, unable to lift his gaze, Captain Antonio looked strangely proud, and the Queen looked as though she were trying not to laugh.

There was yet another beat of quiet before Lord Fuks decided to break it.

"Mr. Ashowan, I must confess your... romantic objectives are impressively ambitious. However... this union is not... feasible."

Fin felt his cheeks flush with heat, meanwhile Annika's intense stare moved to the elder.

“It is entirely feasible, Lord Fuks. Is it not true that the topic of Mr. Ashowan being knighted in the near future was addressed?”

The Earl straightened in his seat, a glint of humored interest in his eyes as he met Annika’s gaze without so much as a blink.

“It was indeed, Viscoutness. However, there is still a significant difference between yourself and a Knight.”

At this, Captain Antonio cleared his throat, and all eyes but the King’s swiveled over to the military man.

“While I am somewhat… surprised by this announcement,” Antonio began slowly. “A baron’s son is not considered a poor match for a Viscountess.”

As everyone in attendance fell into stunned silence, Ainsley couldn’t help but let out a small snort that she quickly tried to cover up under her husband’s acid glance.

“Gods… Captain did you know about this?!” Mr. Howard burst up from his seat.

The King’s stony expression turned to Antonio, his entire body rigid. “You will answer the question immediately,” the monarch ordered, his voice full of steel.

Antonio shook his head sincerely. “Please trust me, your majesty. I am surprised, but… I am merely stating facts. This union, Lady Jenoure may be correct in believing it to not be entirely far-fetched.”

“How attainable it is is the secondary issue at hand.” Norman’s voice boomed. “Mr. Ashowan, would you care to share the theory you stumbled upon?”

Swallowing with great difficulty, Fin then shared his newly discovered idea of what Aidan Helmer was trying to do. The room fell into a thoughtful quiet, until Ainsley spoke up.

“While you were correct about his earlier arrival time, Mr. Ashowan, it may not be the case that you are right about this other attack method. The problem is we need to find out who are the spies for Mr. Helmer.”

“We need to question everyone who knows about the two of you,” the King declared while leaning an elbow on the table and staring pointedly at the couple.

“We can probably shorten the list quite easily by thinking logically about who had the means and the opportunity,” Mr. Howard sniffed while plucking small crumbs of sleep from the corner of his eyes.

“We shall craft a list of questions now then.” Norman nodded and slowly covered his mouth as his hazel eyes at long last dropped to the table instead of one of his subjects.

Lord Fuks leaned forward then, a mad glint in his eyes that made a twist of dread rise in the pit of Fin’s stomach.

“So… are you going to tell us how you did it?” The old man smiled with pure demented joy.

“Lord Fuks!” the Queen gasped, though she was already beginning to laugh. Fin had turned the color of a tomato, and Annika looked so alarmed that she couldn’t mask her expression quick enough.

“I must admit… I, too, want to know how in the name of the Gods the two of you formed an attachment.” Mr. Howard looked up, his own curiosity palpable.

“Yes, Mr. Ashowan, how in the world did you get the noblewoman known as one of the most beautiful in Daxaria when you’re so… you.” Mage Lee spoke finally, as he addressed the redhead through half-lidded eyes.

Fin looked to the ceiling and then turned to face the mage while his hands clenched under the table.

“By annoying her until she decided she wanted to annoy me back,” he snapped, his agitation making Ainsley burst out once again into a series of snorts. The King, while the witch was unable to see, rolled his eyes before closing them in exasperation over the two men’s usual squabbling.

“That does make a lot of sense,” Mr. Howard nodded somberly, and it was Annika who raised an eyebrow at him.

“Oh? I’ve heard rumors that you say that from experience. Is that how you developed your own feelings towards Mr. Ashowan?”

While Ainsley was beginning to laugh to the point of tears, even the Captain was beginning to join in at that point, as the assistant turned scarlet and stood up indignantly.

“I have never had feelings for the cook!”

“Yet you understood how I fell in love with him so easily.” Annika smiled prettily, and Fin wondered for a moment if Mr. Howard were going to attempt to flip the long heavy table under his flexed palms.

“That’s enough. From all of you. Once we learn who the spy is, we will decide what will have to be done about the two of you. For now, no one is to share this information, and we are to carry on as though nothing has happened. Understood?” When Norman spoke, the weariness in the voice drew every eye to him. It was clear that the man was incapable of hanging on to his anger for very long when his wife was in such good humor at his side.

“You all are dismissed. Mr. Ashowan and Lady Jenoure, provide the Captain with the list of people who are aware of the two of you tonight. Antonio, you are to commence the interviews and I expect answers before the final meeting of Mr. Helmer’s stay.”

Everyone eventually quieted down and stood. They bowed to their King and Queen, and dutifully filed out of the room leaving the monarchs alone.

As Ainsley wiped the residual tears from her enjoyment from her cheeks she turned to her husband and reached out to clasp his hand.

“Norman, you know it isn’t as outrageous as it initially sounds. Captain Antonio looking to marry Katelyn Ashowan and naming Fin as his heir is an entirely reasonable match. It would just have to be conducted carefully. Why are you so angry, my love?”

The King let out a long breath as he rested his elbows on the table and rubbed his eyes, and all at once the Queen was reminded of the young man she had met and fallen in love with. The way he stressed about becoming King, and stayed up countless nights to study… always with his tunic sleeves pushed up, and his hair unkempt…

“It’s the duplicity of it. I don’t like the ones closest to me lying and hiding matters that affect the entirety of the land. I know you were insistent that Annika not marry again unless for love, and I feel… betrayed. As though you did not take heed to my judgment. Then the two of them are so… strange… yet there’s a power about them that is intimidating. Especially when they are together, and it makes me uneasy.”

Ainsley reached out, and gently touched Norman’s hand and brushed her thumb against the back of his warm knuckles.

“If you think for a minute I cheered when I found out Annika and Fin were going to marry, you are quite wrong my dear. I was happy that she had fallen in love with someone that clearly loves and cherishes her in return, but… I had hoped she’d pick another noble here in Daxaria. I didn’t want my friend to go somewhere where no one cared for her, which is why I was against her arranged marriage. This, however, is…” Ainsley trailed off, then chuckled again. “Honestly, you and your council seem to have a great deal of fun together. I am glad you have found your own friends.”

Norman turned at long last and gazed into his wife’s warm eyes, finally let out a long sigh.

“I think Mr. Howard might try to stab Finlay one of these days…”

“It’s fine, Mr. Ashowan will just wave a flagon of wine at the man and he’ll be spared until their next spat.”

With a slow nod, Norman shifted his seat closer to Ainsley. “I will not go easy on them. I just need you to know, and I don’t want you to interfere on whatever decision I reach.”

Ainsley immediately grew serious, and nodded. “I understand. I know you’re a King first… but I also know that my King is a fair man.” Reaching out to cup her husband’s cheek, Ainsley smiled beautifully. “To be honest, they remind me of us a little when we were trying to persuade my father.”

Norman couldn’t help but light up under his wife’s touch as he then leaned forward and kissed her. When they pulled apart, a strange expression suddenly crossed his face, and Ainsley immediately grew curious.

“Is something wrong?” His wife asked while dropping her hand to his shoulder.

“No, it’s just… you are exactly right. They are a little bit like us so… why not see if our Mr. Ashowan can come through similar trials I had to to earn my place?”

Ainsley’s eyes grew round. “Oh… my dear… that… is brilliant.”

*

Fin rubbed the back of his neck and stared off into the night in front of his cottage. Annika had left through a secret entrance of sorts that she would not disclose to him after giving the Captain her list of people. Fin had requested he give his own list over a cup of tea, and so Antonio and himself had headed out, both not saying a word until they reached the redhead’s threshold.

“Captain, I…” Fin trailed off and let out a long breath. “Thank you for your support in front of his majesty. You have been… far more generous to myself than you need to be.”

The military man gave a small smile and gestured towards the door of the cottage.

The pair entered, and immediately Fin saw to getting the fire and candles lit, and the kettle set to boil. The cozy scene welcomed the two men into its embrace, and they saw to seating themselves by the hearth while the witch magicked the room to keep their discussion from reaching any curious ears around them.

Once settled, Antonio leaned his forearms on the table, and fixed his lone blue eye on the redhead. “It was reckless, Fin. Going after a woman of Lady Jenoure’s status.”

“I swear I never meant to use you to earn my place beside her. We were already together when I found out about-”

Antonio held up a hand and silenced him. “I know. You are not that kind of man to take advantage of your mother’s new husband. If you don’t mind my saying so, your political savvy and ambition is embarrassingly poor.”

Fin said nothing; he knew that, while insulting, it was true.

“I have heard a great deal about your life before you came to the castle from your mother. She loves you dearly, and as you know, I lost my own wife and son during childbirth. In my mind, the two of you are the Gods’ way of lessening the pain, if only a little. That I have the love of another wonderful woman and a step-son that is a good man… I want to embrace this gift of goodness. I never know how long I will live.” Antonio smiled as Fin grew obviously uncomfortable at his heartfelt words. “You are a grown man, I do not wish to make you awkward around me. I only want you to know, if you need my support, my name, my protection, you have it. You have been the one protecting everyone for many years, and it doesn’t hurt to have family at your back these days. Given that Sirs Taylor, Andrews, and Lewis have all come to me and informed me that they wish to remain under your command even when their time of punishment has come to a close, I take it you have made friends. Good friends. Having family on top of that is… well. I shouldn’t have to tell you, House Witch.”

Fin straightened and met the Captain’s gaze head on, feeling entirely undeserving of the man’s kindness, and at the same time… grateful that his mother was going to have a husband who was one of the best men he had ever met.

The Captain was right, having good friends and family behind him… was far more than he ever thought possible, and just as wonderful as it was meant to be.