*The day following King Norman learning about Fin and Annika’s betrothal*

Staring off into the distance, his clothes rumpled and his expression cold, the King listened to the messenger as he gave his report regarding the members of Lady Jenoure’s household.

“In conclusion, none of them are likely to be the spy,” the monarch surmised in a dark tone, which startled the poor Knight greatly. The King had never been seen in such a bad mood…

“Y-Yes, sire. Shall I start questioning the kitchen aides?”

“Yes, but I would like you to do so under Captain Antonio’s supervision.”

“I will request his presence, your majesty.” The Knight bowed and exited hastily, he was not enjoying the new side to his King.

The Knight closed the door quietly behind himself while Norman rested his elbows on his council room table. He was hungry, but knowing that the very man who was causing him grief would have to prepare the meal somehow put him off of the idea. Even so, he knew he wouldn’t be able to make it through the day with so little sleep, and was gradually working through his anger to summon a servant to fetch him his morning meal, when a small knock on the door interrupted him.

“Enter,” Norman barked without much thought, but immediately regretted his tone when Eric opened the door hesitantly, a frown on face at the unfamiliar tone from his father.

“Sorry… father… I just…”

Norman schooled his expression quickly, and stood up. “Don’t ever apologize for wanting to talk to me, come in. Is everything alright?”

Eric looked a little more certain of himself, but still closed the door as quietly as possible behind himself, as though nervous to agitate his father.

“Yes, but… mum wanted me to ask if you’ve eaten yet.”

Norman sighed inwardly. Ainsley knew him all too well…

And that was just the way he liked it.

“I was just about to send for some food, would you like to join me?”

The boy nodded excitedly, his eyes alight with joy. “I was going to go see Fin because it’s been a few days, but this is even better! What if we invite him to eat with us?”

Norman struggled to keep his expression neutral. “Mr. Ashowan will unfortunately be quite busy today for a few more hours, so I think it’d be best if we didn’t interfere with his work.”

Despite keeping his emotions in check, the Prince immediately grew wary of his father yet again.

“Is Fin okay?” the boy asked while hoisting himself up into a chair on his father’s left.

“He is fine… he…” Norman suddenly eyed his son curiously. “Eric, do you happen to know that Mr. Ashowan is interested in a lady friend?”

The boy broke out in giggles that brought an unconscious smile to the King’s face.

“Yes! He won’t talk about it, but I know he has liked a girl for a loooong time.” The boy sighed and shook his head as though he were forty years older than his current age.

Norman slowly sat back down, his interest piqued. “Did he ever tell you who it was?”

“No. He would always turn bright red when I asked him! Like a tomato!” The prince burst laughing again, and for some reason, even the King found the image amusing.

“I see… you really like Mr. Ashowan, don’t you?”

“Of course! He’s my friend!” Eric announced seriously. “He took care of Lina and mum, and Kraken stayed with me when I was scared.”

“... Yes. Kraken…” Norman’s improving mood swiftly deteriorated in the blink of an eye at the mention of the large fluffy kitten. “Were you scared when I told you that Mr. Ashowan is a witch?”

The Prince shook his blonde curls. “No. Fin helps people, he doesn’t hurt them.”

The King stilled as that piece of insight sunk in.

It was true… Fin never hurt people. The only times when he was a threat was when he was trying to protect those weaker than himself…

A good person who gave everything he could, had found someone incredible who loved him back. Norman’s agitation was reduced greatly, and reaching out to ruffle his son’s hair, he decided he needed to face the redhead again, but this time he would be a little more receptive.

“Go tell the guards that we want some breakfast.”

Eric laughed. “Daaad, it’s lunch time!”

Chuckling to himself, the King gestured for his son to get on with his request while leaning back in his chair. Closing his eyes briefly, the monarch wondered if his wife knew what effect Eric would have on him surrounding the matter of her best friend’s fiance… and subsequently if that had been her plan all along...

*

Norman had just finished his lunch, and sent Eric off to resume his studies, when yet another knock rang out.

“Yes?”

Lord Fuks entered wearing a strangely mischievous smile.

“Your highness, I have summoned the cook for you to question as you requested.”

Norman blinked and gave the Lord a flat expression. “That was nearly two hours ago. I’ve already finished speaking with Lady Jenoure. What in the world have you been doing?”

“Well you see, Sire, Mr. Ashowan during our first meeting seemed to find my name… humorous.”

Norman groaned outwardly. “Oh Gods, Richard you know I told you to just punish people like a normal Earl. Why in the world, do you keep-”

“It’s one of the few things that still brings me joy,” Lord Fuks explained with a bright smile. “Besides, I chose this punishment with your majesty solely in mind.”

“What did you ask him to do? Shave his cat? That would definitely improve my mood…” the King half muttered to himself.

“No, no. Nothing quite that insane. Mr. Ashowan, His Highness is ready to see you!” Lord Fuks called out in a strange sing-song tone…

Norman was just beginning to rise from his seat, when Fin literally stumbled through the door holding a bottle of…

“Oh good Gods. Is that absynthe?” the King demanded while leveling Lord Fuks with a disapproving gaze.

“He didn’t like my whiskey- a fact I am still trying not to be offended about.” The Earl sniffed a little as Fin bowed and nearly fell over.

“How in the world is getting the cook drunk helpful to me?” Norman asked wearily as the redhead then managed to sidle over to one of the chairs and plunk himself down gracelessly.

“He’s damn funny when he isn’t thinking about what he should say.” Daxaria’s Chief of Military grinned and slowly joined Fin and the King at the table. “Mr. Howard will be joining us shortly with the list of questions your highness compiled. We’ve also added a few of our own.”

Norman eyed the redhead warily as he gradually moved back into his seat.

Fin on the other hand appeared to be having trouble keeping his eyes open.

“Mr. Ashowan, are you aware of where you are?” The monarch asked tiredly.

“I’m… here… with your majesty,” the witch slurred heavily.

“Yes. Are you capable of answering my questions?”

“I’ve answered… the first two… Didn’t I?” The cheeky smile on Fin’s face had Norman rolling his eyes to the ceiling as he begged the Gods for patience.

“Mr. Ashowan, I understand your current state isn’t your fault; however, this is indeed a serious meeting. So please do your best to-”

“I’m serious! I promise!” the cook interrupted while slapping his hand over his heart in an effort to look more somber.

“... Good. I would like to first ask before the rest of the council arrives, why in the world does your cat only attack my ankles?”

Fin blinked, and struggled to focus his gaze on the King. “He bites you?”

“Yes! Not enough to draw blood- but it is horribly annoying. He springs out from under my bed at the worst moments, has pooped in my shoes, stolen bites from my meals, paws at the door to my chambers at all hours of the day, and-”

Lord Fuks let out the smallest of snorts, but quickly regained his composure after the deadly look the King shot him.

“Furthermore, on more than one occasion he has seated himself on the crown’s pillow as though waiting for me to place it on his own damn head! The Viscountess told me you have developed an ability to talk to him, so can you please demand why he is insistent on being such a nuisance?!” Norman pounded his fist on the table startling Fin into sitting up straighter.

“Erm… I can call and ask him?” Fin offered while clearly at a loss at what else to say.

“Please do!” Norman snapped aggressively.

Fin closed his eyes, and was quiet for a moment, but when his gaze did open again, he nodded.

“He shooould get here in an hour or less…”

Norman grunted, but as if on cue Captain Antonio, Mage Lee, and Mr. Howard entered the council room.

After everyone had bowed, and stepped forward, Mr. Howard suddenly hesitated and narrowed his gaze when he stared at Fin.

“Why is the cook drunk?”

“Lord Fuks thought it’d humor me. It does not,” Norman announced while shooting the Earl another disgruntled glance that didn’t seem to bother the elder in the slightest.

“Am I allowed to drink then?” The assistant grumbled while plunking the book and ink pot down rather forcefully.

“Captain, I will listen to what you have found regarding Mr. Ashowan’s aides after this meeting. Now, I need to discuss with all of you, what in the world we are going to do with our cook.” The King ignored Mr. Howard’s comment and fixed them all with a cool expression.

“Well, once Kate and I are married, I can name him my heir. The matter of making me a Baron perhaps we move forward? While I don’t think the other courtiers will take exception before the war, they may comment on the speed with which it transpires,” Antonio began patiently.

“I’m aware, Captain; however, I want to hear more from Mr. Ashowan on what his plan was before you fortunately took a liking to his mother.”

Norman turned to the cook who he then realized had fallen fast asleep.

The Captain kicked the redhead under the table forcing him awake.

“Bay leaves!” Fin burst out as he jolted awake.

Norman rubbed his temples slowly as a small headache began to build.

“Mr. Ashowan, how did you and the Viscountess plan on making your relationship acceptable?” Mr. Howard repeated the King’s question sensing that the monarch was already on his last nerve.

“Aaa… nnika said I’d get knighted before the war… an’ then… I’d do… good stuff. Good things, and… and, yeah.”

There was a thick silence that followed the poor explanation.

“Mr. Ashowan, did you seduce the Viscountess hoping to elevate your position and wealth?” the King eventually managed.

“Nooo! She… she kept… bothering me. Then she kissed me! I said no… but then… aides and Jiho were saying, right, you know?”

The Captain let out a long sigh. He had a hunch this was not one of Lord Fuk’s better ideas.

“I will take that as a ‘no’.” The King stared at the redhead who smiled pleasantly back at him.

“How did you propose?” Mage Lee suddenly burst out.

It was Mr. Howard’s turn to groan. Everyone knew the old man was strangely obsessed with weddings…

“I asked her, an’ then… and then you showed up!” Fin pointed and laughed at Lee.

Everyone turned to the mage who was quick to hold his hands up defensively. “I went to ask Fin to come back after the food poisoning incident.”

Everyone collectively shuddered at the painful memory of the incident.

Before anyone could stop him, the mage continued his original line of questioning.

“What do you mean you ‘asked her’? Did you get down on one knee? Did you give her flowers? Cook her the best meal of your life?”

“No,” Fin shook his head dramatically. “I just said we were… we were being stupid and should get married.”

The tiniest laugh that followed the redhead’s explanation was from none other than the King.

“The Viscountess agreed to marry you with that proposal? Gods, she must be quite fond of you,” Mr. Howard announced in disbelief.

“It surprised me, too… she bought me tunics!” Fin explained helplessly.

Norman didn’t know why, but the exasperated awe in the redhead’s voice was growing more amusing.

“So, you’re saying that the most beautiful woman on the continent, wore you down so that you could start courting, and decided to marry you after you just outright asked her? Gods, I knew the maids found you attractive, but that is ridiculous!” Mr. Howard’s sickened expression made Norman clamp his hand down over his mouth.

“Mr. Ashowan,” Once the King had regained his composure, decided to try and move on to his next question. “Will your father target the Viscountess if he knows of the nature of your relationship?”

“To a point.” Fin’s expressive face suddenly fell flat as his gaze moved to the council room table. “He would most likely try to use her to hurt me.”

The men’s jovial moods shifted immediately as the cook was suddenly reminded of the weight on his shoulders.

“I didn’t… With Anni- The Viscoutness. I didn’t… want to hurt her just by… being with her. I just wanted to cook. I like cooking. I didn’t know how things would… work out. She’s the planner.” Fin was trying his hardest to make coherent sentences and it was very obvious to everyone present. “I just knew that… if I could be more… be better… maybe I could try to make her happy. I don’t want her to be alone anymore, and I… I think I can help even more people if I let her push me.”

Norman straightened in his seat, an idea brewing in his mind.

“Mr. Ashowan, I had once asked you to view Austice as your home… and you announced that it was not possible. If you are made a Viscount alongside Lady Jenoure, you would be given duties to perform as a noble… you would be responsible for your estates and tenets, but you would also bear responsibility to your kingdom…”

“That’s right,” Lord Fuks jumped in, a glint in his eyes. “We all have duties to perform as nobles. For example, mine is acting as the Chief of Military… yours could be, say… a protector of Daxaria.”

Fin slumped back in his chair, his eyes lost in thought for a while.

“So you’re saying… protecting the entire country would be… my… responsibility?”

“Yes,” Both Lord Fuks and the King said in unison.

“The problem… with… that… is I might die really, really quickly.”

Everyone was stunned into quiet at the casual declaration.

“Why in the world would you die?” Antonio demanded gruffly.

“Well… when someone is intensely afraid… or hurt… I can sense it. I can… even see some images to know where… they are. If I was to protect… everyone? Especially during a war where no one feels ‘at home’ an’ I can’t refill my power… I’d use up my magic too quickly, and die. Though it isn’t a bad idea… if I die while casting a shield it’d become a curse, and protect… the kingdom for… forever.”

“You dying while using up your magic makes a curse?!” Mage Lee exploded in great alarm.

“Yeah… though it can be unpredictable which is… why it’d be only an… okay option.” The redhead slurred and shrugged his shoulder before uncorking the absinthe and taking another quick sip.

“Gods the more I learn about witches the more I understand why people are scared of them,” Mr. Howard announced while glancing at the King nervously.

The monarch was in deep thought, and wasn’t saying anything, which made the Captain finally burst out.

“We are not letting him sacrifice himself just like that!”

Norman said nothing for a moment, but began to stroke his beard pensively.

“I feel like the ability to hold a war that has as little blood shed as possible is within our grasp… we just have to find a way around Mr. Ashowan’s certain death…”