“Sire you cannot be serious!” Mr. Howard half exclaimed, half groaned as his wine goblet halted its journey up to his mouth.

Norman quirked an eyebrow at his assistant, his stern features remaining firmly in place.

“Oh Gods… where to even begin with how much I disagree with this…”

The King leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands together. “Enlighten me, Kevin. You’ve given me sound advice in all my decisions as a ruler.”

The assistant placed the wine goblet back on the table before resting his elbows on either side of the beverage and rubbing his wizened face furiously.

After a moment, his formerly neat hair was sticking up at odd angles and his eyebrows looked slightly demented.

“You want the Princess to marry the son of a mere Viscount for some reason, and not just any Viscount. The Ashowans! Do you know the stories I have heard about them all the way in Rollom?! They are infamous for their oddities!”

“Also for saving the kingdom and advancing our technologies with the Coven of Wittica’s help far beyond anything we ever dreamed. Our economy is booming, and we are well underway to having a publicly funded education system that could further these revolutions. We are even in discussion with a unit of Earth Witches that could build us roads of stone not just in our cities, but connecting them! This is all headed by Finlay, Annika, and the Coven! You know I’ve tried to make him a Duke time and time again, and he refuses. His accomplishments are all thanks to his oddities.”

“Did you not hear the story about his daughter and the donkey? Or about the barn fire and his daughter? Or the time she ran off and-”

“-I… I have. She was a few years younger then. Not to mention all those stories are about Katarina, not her brother-”

“Fin’s son is not right in the head, Your Majesty! I am sorry, I know we all don’t wish to insult the poor lad, but he is not well.”

“Finlay had his own issues when he first arrived here, and he overcame them with flying colors. I believe Alina is more than capable to help Tamlin Ashowan on that journey,” Norman recanted calmly.

“You’re the only parent I know that wishes hardship on their daughter. You want her to heal him?” Mr. Howard snapped before grabbing his wine goblet and chugging down its contents in one go.

“No. I believe that he will do that himself, and having a kind companion can be a blessing during those times.”

“Alright… I didn’t want to have to resort to this, but…” the assistant fixed his deep blue eyes on the ruler and took a fortifying breath. “If Alina marries Lord Ashowan’s son, whenever you go to visit her estate, you will have to see Kraken, his familiar.”

The King’s face paled.

Silence rested over the pair for several long moments.

“Perhaps I was hasty in the planning of this arrangement… or perhaps I can insist that they live here instead…” Norman murmured to himself with a deep frown.

Mr. Howard let out a very long aggravated sigh. “Perhaps we should wait and see what the Princess thinks about the suitors herself. She is a young woman of sound judgment… Sire, I know you want her to marry Fin’s son because you are afraid she will choose one of the Troivackian men, but I doubt she would consider them as a viable option.”

Norman’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly as his hazel eyes fell to the council room table in front of himself. Sunlight the color of honey poured in through the windows, illuminating the lazy dust drifting through the air.

It was a peaceful afternoon that didn't have any business being as wonderful as it was.

“I can’t lose both my children. Eric, I… I don’t know if he will ever return, or if he will ever be ready to be King. If something should happen to him or myself… Alina and her husband would need to be able to take care of this land. They would also need to win support so that the four Dukes don’t go to war in order to inherit the crown… and the only house I can think of that could face those odds would be the Ashowan family.”

Mr. Howard said nothing. He knew Eric’s absence had only added to the grief of losing Ainsley, and what made it even more difficult was the younger royal was incredibly adept at hiding his activities… which made things even more worrisome. Especially because Norman believed that if he just gave his son time and his privacy he would one day return…

Only Finlay Ashowan had ever found out the true depth of Eric’s state, and ever since that day, the two had not spoken. Nor would the redhead relay anything other than that the Prince was alive.

If Kevin Howard were entirely honest with himself…

It was something he could never forgive the House Witch for.

As he stared at the King, his employer, his leader, his friend… and saw the intense pain in his eyes of not knowing the wellbeing of his own child, the assistant wished for the thousandth time he was capable of getting the information out of Finlay Ashowan once and for all, and punish him properly for his silence.

*

Alina stared at her reflection grimly, despite the flurry of excitement behind her being of a more happy robust nature…

Maids gushed to one another and exchanged exciting creative ideas about her hair and her jewels that made her gut rot with anxiety.

For some reason… they were all terribly excited for her date with Prince Henry… Far more than she was.

After her unpleasant encounter with the Troivackian Prince’s older brother the King, she didn’t have high expectations for him.

“Princess Alina! We heard that at least half a dozen young maidens are completely smitten with Prince Henry, and another half dozen of married women are the same! Yet he shows no interest. He is just so friendly, and warm… his voice is beautiful too…” the maids continued on regardless of Alina’s listless response, leaving the young woman to speculate on how best to avoid their bombardment of questions after the courting date.

A knock on the door interrupted the maids, and Alina found herself grateful for the brief hush the visitor had instilled.

One of the maids opened the door a crack, and after a few words the servant turned back to the Princess looking oddly flushed. “It seems we got carried away- it… it’s time to go meet the Prince!”

Nodding with the severity of a prisoner on their way to the chopping block, Alina turned and exited her chamber, only to walk directly into a very firm chest…

“Oh- Ah… yes, I know it isn’t normal that I come to escort you myself, but I had a request to make of you, and it was best that I make it before you got too far.”

Alina’s heart thudded in her chest when she realized that she had accidentally walked straight into none other than Prince Henry, and he was gazing down at her with the most warm welcoming smile she could ever imagine.

“W-What re-request?”

“Your singing really was beautiful that day in the forest, and I was wondering if you might bring your lute with you! I quite enjoy singing myself, but it is murderously hard to find someone here that will do so with me.”

Alina blinked up at the Prince for a moment before realizing that she was still standing pressed into him. Taking a hasty step back, she immediately bumped her head against her open chamber door. Within which stood her gaggle of maids that were all so enthralled with the scene they were frozen in place as though in a tableau.

After another beat of awkward silence, one of them had the presence of mind to grab the forgotten instrument and slowly hand it off to the Princess before backing away while bowing.

“Th-Thank you,” Alina croaked.

“Wonderful, shall we go now?” Henry smiled down at her, oblivious to the tension of the moment. Offering his arm to the stunned royal, he waited patiently as she accepted his escort.

Then, they set off to their luncheon in the courtyard.

*

Alina could feel her face burning as she attempted to tune the instrument in her hands. The Troivackian Prince was sitting contently, gazing up at the glass tower with a curious expression and kind smile as though thinking of wondrous things that he’d like to know more about.

“Pardon me, Your Highness, but-”

“Please, call me Henry. Let’s save our breaths for more important things,” he interrupted happily.

“Right… Henry… forgive me for saying this, but you aren’t anything like the other Troivackians I’ve met.”

The foreign noble chuckled. “I know. I’ve heard that my whole life… especially from my brother.”

“I’m sorry to bring up such a… a painful-”

“I’m used to these things,” Henry waved her apology off. “It’s one of the reasons I actually submitted my application to join my brother as a candidate for your fiance. I wanted to come to your country to see if perhaps… perhaps if I’d fit in better here.”

Alina stilled as a sorrowful expression moved across Henry’s face.

“I already can tell… I am far better suited to your land, than my home, but…” an emotion glimmered in the Prince’s eyes had made Alina go still. Her heart thudded against her chest.

Somehow, in that moment, she understood perfectly.

“You… are worried about your brother.”

Henry’s eyes snapped up to hers immediately, it was clear he was stunned.

“How… how did you know?”

For some annoying reason… Alina felt tears threatening the back of her eyes. “I… I’m worried about my loved ones too.”

In the moment of quiet understanding that passed between the two royals a gentle breeze passed over the exquisitely set table.

“Princess, would you like to sing a song together?”

Alina found herself unable to stop herself smiling at the man across from her. Someone who could finally understand the pain, heartache, and endless worrying that came with having family members that meant the world to them be troubled sat across from her, asking her to do one of her favorite things...

“I would love to.”

*

Strolling back to her chamber with her lute in hand, Alina couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

To think she had been able to spend almost her entire luncheon with the Troivackian Prince singing, and learning new songs from his home, was beyond her wildest expectations of the date. He really was charming, kind…

“Your Highness! What a joy to see you in such high spirits!”

Turning with her smile still intact and her cheeks rosy, Alina faltered for a moment when she realized that she was faced with none other than Earl Richard Fuks.

The man was… beyond elderly. He had always been thought of as a tad mad, yet as his age advanced into his nineties, he seemed to become more and more ludicrous with each passing year.

Currently, the noble was clad in a crimson robe, under which his long sleepshirt was visible. Clutching the head of his cane with trembling wrinkled hands that were missing a good number of fingers, the noble attempted to bow to her.

“Good day, Earl Fuks. I pray to the Goddess that this day finds you in good health?”

“Yes, yes. Nothing wrong with me. Tell me, did you have a good date with that Troivackian?”

Alina blinked in the face of the elder’s baldfaced question.

“I...er… Yes, I did.”

“Excellent! You know I worried about that child becoming King at such a young age. Can’t imagine what nonsense he had to put up with,” Lord Fuks shook his head sadly.

“Oh, I actually had my luncheon with the King’s brother, Prince Henry.”

“That ponce?! Forgive me, but that man is a carefree layabout who would do nothing but lounge around and play music all day if allowed to.”

“There is nothing wrong with music!” Alina burst out suddenly before realizing her show of emotion was making the steward attending Lord Fuks perk up.

Lord Fuks sighed. “Of course not, but… ah well. Ignore my ramblings. Tell me, have you seen my grandson anywhere? I was just coming out here to see if the lad might be interested in taking a carriage ride with me into Austice.”

Alina managed to resume her polite smile after a brief moment of forcing her face into a plain expression. “I haven’t, sorry. I didn’t know your son Les had had a child- I’m sorry!”

“Ah, no need to apologize. He’s a fine young lad, only four years old now! He’s named-”

“FATHER!”

Alina turned startled as the younger Fuks family member rounded the castle corridor and barrelled down to them with impressive speed.

“You can’t just disappear like that because you don’t want a physical examination!” Les Fuks panted, his white hair was still slicked back somehow despite his sprint.

“Nonsense! I don’t need yet another examination! I had one last Wednesday. Now, stop hiding my grandson from me, I want to treat him to a carriage ride and perhaps some strawberry tarts from one of the shops in Austice!”

Les Fuks straightened slowly while still breathing heavily and pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Father, you- ah! Your Highness! I am sorry I didn’t greet you properly!” Les immediately dipped into a deep bow before Alina, who gripped her lute closer to herself reflexively.

“No… not a problem! Earl Fuks was just asking if I had seen your son. I apologize, my Lord, I was unaware you had a child! What is his name?”

At this question Les Fuks stiffened and shot his father an accusatory glare- which was met with the most innocent expression imaginable.

“My son’s name… is… Aster.”

“Oh, what a wonderful name, Lord Fuks!” Alina smiled while attempting to ignore the glow of pride from the Earl himself. It was clear something was somewhat amiss.

“Yes. A wonderful boy- takes after myself quite a bit!” Earl Richard Fuks managed to straighten his spine ever so slightly as both his hands rested atop his cane. “Though Princess, please feel free to call him by his nickname. Ass.”

Alina was so shocked that she barely remembered not to laugh. She had been warned by her father about Earl Fuks’ tendency to try and garnish favors from people who might find his name funny.

“I… I beg your pardon?” she asked while blinking several times in a row.

“Father, we are not calling him… Ass… as a nickname. Please, you are offending the Princess!” Les Fuks begged his father, but the elder was ignoring his son’s pleas wholeheartedly, his eyes glimmering with pride.

“Nonsense, what is there to be offended about! I am allowing Her Highness to feel comfortable with one of her loyal subjects. My dear grandson, Ass Fuks will be a loving and devoted noble in her brother’s court one day!”

Alina bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood, and yet when Les Fuks dropped his forhead to his hand, she couldn’t help but burst out in hysterical laughter.