Epilogue Chapter 145: Noble Acknowledgment

Eric stared down at the two infants fast asleep in their bassinet and tilted his head while staring perplexedly at them.

“Is something wrong?” Fin asked the young Prince who was nearing his ninth birthday.

The young royal had been beside himself with excitement to meet Fin’s children, and had even tried to steal his baby sister from her nursemaid so that they could all meet.

Suffice it to say, the young royal had almost been punished and not allowed to meet the twins. So it was particularly strange that he wasn’t responding as jubilantly once he finally lay eyes on them.

Annika glanced at Ainsley who stood behind her son looking equally puzzled.

“It’s just… I thought that twins were supposed to look identical,” Eric sighed, his shoulders slumping.

Everyone broke out into good humored smiles.

“There is such a thing as fraternal twins where they look nothing alike. After all, didn’t you hear that there is a boy and a girl?” Fin asked with a chuckle as Eric looked up at him with open disappointment.

The boy’s eyebrows shot up. “I just heard them say they were twins! A boy and a girl?!” He looked at the sleeping infants with renewed interest. “Which one is the girl and which one is the boy?”

“Do you see the one with black hair? That’s Tam, he’s the boy. The one with lighter hair? That’s Katarina,” Annika explained while resting her hands on the edge of the bassinet and smiling down at her children.

The Prince was about to say something else, when Fin’s daughter stirred in her sleep, a long yawn stretching her small rosebud mouth.

“Ah, the child that never sleeps…” Annika sighed wearily while Fin rubbed her back in sympathy.

Then, the small infant opened her eyes and Eric fell completely still. “Wh-Why are her eyes golden?!”

Fin smiled at the Queen who was staring at his daughter with equal surprise.

Her expression was identical to her son’s amusingly enough…

“She’s most likely a witch. A witch can have… unique characteristics associated with their element,” the Viscount explained while placing an arm around his wife.

“Woooaaahhh, that’s amazing! Can she make giant fireballs?! Can she become a sun?!”

Fin was having a hard time keeping a straight face, and even the Queen had to resort to biting her lip.

“Err… it is too early to know, Eric. She most likely won’t show any power until she is a few years older.”

The Prince was disappointed all over again. “Well… what about him?” he asked, pointing at the still sleeping boy belatedly.

“We aren’t sure about him yet. He’s incredibly quiet… we honestly thought he may be a mute until one day he saw Annika and I all the way across the room hugging and he started screaming damn impressively.”

The Queen shot the redhead a warning look over his language.

“Ah… I mean… really… really loudly…” Fin cleared his throat guiltily.

Eric stared at the still sleeping child for a moment before growing bored and moving his attention back to Katarina whose golden eyes were fixated on him.

Reaching out with his index finger, the Prince bowed.

“Lady Ashowan, lovely to meet you. Please don’t set me on fire.”

Unable to stop himself Fin burst out laughing while Annika looked mortified, and the Queen appeared mildly concerned.

“Don’t worry, Eric, I’ll make sure she doesn’t grow up to be that kind of person.”

The young royal nodded, a mature expression suddenly overtaking his childish features that had already aged significantly in the span of a year.

“I know you will. Just like Alina is the best Princess in the world because she has me, and Mum, and Father. Well… I’m glad I got to meet them before we have to leave… again.”

Eric’s moment of wisdom had passed, and instead the look of a child on the brink of complaining took its place.

“I’m sorry you have to leave Austice.” Fin pressed his hands into his pockets as Annika bent down and picked Katarina up who, for once, wasn’t squirming like a worm to look around at everything. “But I’m sure you’ll like Rollom. The Alcide Sea on that side of the continent is incredible, and who knows. Maybe one day you’ll get to live here again!”

The Prince began to fiddle with the corner of the sheet in the bassinet. “Maybe… Even Morgan is going to Sorlia so I can’t see him either.”

Just then, the swish of a fluffy tail swept by Eric’s leg.

“KRAKEN!” the boy burst out excitedly before swooping down and picking up the familiar to cradle him against his chest. “I haven’t seen you since the babies were born! Where were you?!”

The feline blinked slowly up at the eager face, then released a small chirp.

“He says he had to guard them,” the redhead gave a small apologetic smile.

Annika stepped forward then and slowly crouched down, her daughter cradled in his arms.

“Your Highness, I am sorry I frightened you during the birth. I’m sure it didn’t help that I didn’t want any visitors for a little while, but I-”

“Three months.” The bitterness in Eric’s tone was followed immediately by a look of guilt that he then chose to hide by burying his face in Kraken’s magnificently fluffy chest.

“I… I am very sorry. It was just that… I didn’t feel like myself for a long time, and I needed to get used to having two children.”

Shyly, the curly blonde head lifted again. “I’m sorry too… it sounded scary. I was just worried.”

Annika smiled kindly. “Thank you for worrying about me.”

Ainsley’s proud expression made Fin smile as the pair watched the two talk, when they were all suddenly interrupted.

“Your Majesty, My Lord, My Lady,” Clara greeted quickly. “Duke Iones has arrived unannounced to meet the new Ashowan family members.”

Both Fin and Annika let out a long breath, sharing weary smiles of understanding.

“Ever since the word got out that people can meet them, it feels like we are hosting guwata non-stop,” the Viscountess explained while slowly straightening and patting Katarina’s back unconsciously as the child began to wriggle.

Fin rounded the bassinet and gently touched his wife’s back. “How about I take Kat, and you and Her Majesty enjoy some time to yourselves. Clara, you’re fine with staying with Tam while he sleeps aren’t you?”

The maid’s blue eyes cut to the sleeping child warily. “He won’t need to be changed will he?”

Fin chuckled while Annika shot him a grateful smile and handed him their daughter. “If he does, go and get his wet nurse.”

Clara was visibly on edge, but somehow, she managed to dip into her usual graceful curtsy. “Yes, My Lord.”

Giving Annika another peck on her cheek, Fin then bowed to the Queen, and began to leave the room when suddenly Eric moved behind him.

“I want to go with you,” the Prince murmured quietly, while glancing briefly at his mother with an obvious expression of guilt.

The redhead looked to the Queen, who smiled in understanding and nodded.

“Well let’s not keep the Duke waiting shall we? So tell me, how are your swordsman lessons going?”

Fin and Eric disappeared through the doorway, with the lad’s happy chattering echoing back up the corridor all the way until they reached the bend that would take them to the stairs.

Both Annika and the Queen excused themselves to the solar, and once the door had been closed behind them with the warm afternoon sun casting the room in a comforting glow, Annika half melted, half collapsed into the nearest sofa.

Ainsley regarded her friend sympathetically before primly seating herself beside the noblewoman.

“Do you remember when Eric was four or five years old… and we had just met, and you said to me-”

“Oh, for the love of- Are you really going to say ‘I told you so’?!” the Viscountess blurted out with a look of utter disbelief.

“Ah yes, I remember exactly what you said… ‘Children- if I should ever suffer having one- and one is the most I will endure, will be cared for by their wetnurses and not bother me until they can speak. At least then I can teach them something worthwhile.’ So imagine my surprise that the formidable and cold Annika Piereva- then soon to be Jenoure, and now Annika Ashowan, is keeping her twins in a bassinet in her chamber because ‘the wet nurse won’t do it right’.” Ainsley’s glowing smile succeeded in making Annika cover her eyes with her hand in an effort to hide from its glory.

“Blame Hank. He started turning me soft. Of course Fin just had to come along... Then the Gods decided to give me two children at once, and on top of that, one of them doesn’t seem to need more than a couple hours here and there at most.”

“It could be worse… Tam could be the same way, or you could’ve had triplets…”

Annika’s face grew ashen. “Don’t even joke. No more children after these two. None. Zero. I am done.”

Ainsley’s devious smile did not calm down the Viscountess.

“In more important news… you are leaving Austice for… how long do you suppose?”

The Queen let out a long, sad sigh as she leaned back into the couch cushions, and gave a small, sad smile to her lap. For a moment, she once again looked like the timid shy young woman Annika had seen in portraits.

“I don’t know how long. We first came to Austice because we realized that, for a military city, it was outrageously corrupt and not at all organized. Things have improved significantly, but even if we have retaken Rollom there is much that needs to be rebuilt, and we need to restore order there as well. It’s a fishing city, but there have been a couple of mines discovered that hold real promise… Ah. But you’re the one who told us about those, so it isn’t a surprise.”

Annika nodded seriously. “Yes. Particularly this new type of steel we could wield. Stronger than most, yet not overly heavy… I am waiting on the reports from my blacksmith and mercenaries to tell me what they manage to accomplish with their findings. The collaborative effort with the witches could yield some incredible results.”

The Queen nodded.

The conversation quickly descended into further talks of business and politics- topics Annika had sorely missed despite loving her children wholly.

As the sun began to settle itself in the arms of the horizon, a small knock on the solar door ended the conversation between the best friends.

“My Lady, the Viscount sends word that dinner is prepared. Her Majesty and the Prince are of course welcome to stay,” one of the younger maids had entered and curtsied to them with her head bowed.

“Very well, we will be down to join them momentarily,” Annika replied before having to stifle a yawn.

The maid took her leave, and the two noblewomen rose to their feet, while both stretching in very unladylike ways.

“By the way… what happened with your sister-in-law Janelle and her daughter? Last you told me she was furious with you…”

The Viscountess’ face grew still for a moment as she straightened her shoulders and glanced out the window at the setting sun. “She still refuses to speak or have anything to do with me. Even though it isn’t safe in Troivackia for her, she is insistent on returning, and intends to live hidden from the court… she still blames me completely for Charlie’s death.”

Ainsley wordlessly reached out and gently patted her friend’s shoulder.

“Maybe in time she will grow less angry… especially if she learns exactly how much you were supporting them.”

Annika let out a long sigh and shook her head. “Regardless of whether or not Charlie spied for me, I would’ve sent them the money. He just was a true Troivackian and refused to live off the funds I provided without doing anything to earn them.”

The two women exited the solar then, each deep in their own thoughts and worries, that is until they entered the dining hall, and were greeted with the smiling faces of their loved ones… and Sir Harris who appeared to still be struggling with how to dress like a noble.

He wore a bright green patterned tunic that clashed terribly with his skin tone, and wore brown trousers paired with a cream coat that had black designs around its buttons and on its collar…

All in all, a mash-up of everything, and unfortunately no one had been able to bring themselves to tell him.

“You look like a court jester,” the Prince suddenly announced as the platters of food magically floated onto the table.

Apparently, a child Prince was less concerned about offending the Duke’s sense of style.

“Eric! That was incredibly rude! Apologize this instant!” Ainsley demanded, her gaze already apologetic.

To his credit, Lord Harris laughed while watching Annika struggle to hold her daughter who had glimpsed the shining cutlery and dove for them.

“It’s alright, Your Majesty. I… erm… I miss dressing in peasant clothes, if I’m honest. Noble fashion is just a headache to me,” the former kitchen aide shook his head as though chastizing himself. “Ah well… perhaps I should just lean into it and get a hat with bells on it. What do you think, your highness?” the Duke asked with a cheeky waggle of his eyebrows.

Eric pondered the suggestion for a long moment, but seemed caught between wanting to answer and knowing his mother would chastise him again.

“I for one… think it’d be great fun if everyone could tell where you were at all hours of the day,” Fin volunteered with a bright grin.

“Yes, it would certainly help me make an entrance no one could forget…” Sir Harris agreed seriously.

“You’re starting to sound like Lord Fuks!” the redhead began to laugh more heartily, his son perched on his lap staring around the room calmly.

Sir Harris’ palm slapped the table.“Well, we all know the man is a pillar of society we should all emulate. Very well, that settles it! I shall buy a hat with bells, and wear it whenever I visit my beloved sister Lady Marigold!”

At this, Annika and the Queen couldn’t even stop themselves.

The image of Lord Harris, the man who had taken away Lady Marigold’s full inheritance, and overtaken her former house, showing up wearing a jester’s hat, and her having to curtsy to him was too much to bear.

They all burst out howling, and no one could stop laughing for the better part of an hour.