Chapter Six
Finn was halfway through replacing the hinges on the village hall door when Jeremy, one of the estate messengers, found him.
“Lord Finn.” Jeremy was breathing hard, like he’d run the entire distance from the main house. “Your brother wants you. Immediately.”
Finn’s stomach dropped. “Which brother?”
“Lord Jericho, sir. He said to tell you it’s urgent.”
“Did he say why?”
“No, sir. Just that you should come right away.”
Finn looked at the door, at the tools scattered around his feet, at Trent who was holding the replacement hinge steady. “I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“I’ll finish it,” Trent said. He was grinning. “Go on. Maybe the king wants to knight you or something.”
“More likely he wants to ban me from the capital for wasting his time.” Finn wiped his hands on his work trousers. “Fine. Tell Lord Jericho I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Jeremy nodded and hurried off.
“You don’t think…?” Trent started.
“No,” Finn said firmly. “I don’t think this has anything to do with the castle, or the king, or anything like that at all.
It’s more likely Jericho has got the drawer stuck on his dresser again.
You know how finicky that thing is, and to Jericho, that would be an emergency especially if the drawer held his favorite shirt. ”
But his hands were shaking slightly as he gathered his tools. Hopefully Trent wouldn’t notice.
/~/~/~/~/
Jericho wasn’t in his bedroom, he was waiting in the library, standing by the window with a letter in his hand and an expression that could only be described as supremely smug.
More than his typical smugness - this was the type of smug Jericho reserved for when he secured a dance with a lady he liked, or he’d managed to complete some political maneuver Finn didn’t understand but knew it made his brother happy.
“Stop looking like that,” Finn said as he walked in. “You’re making me nervous.”
“You should be nervous.” Jericho held up the letter. “This arrived from the castle an hour ago.”
“And? What does that have to do with me?”
“You’re being summoned back for a second interview.”
Finn’s knees suddenly decided they didn’t want to work, and he quickly grabbed the back of the chair. “What did you say?”
“His Majesty requests your presence at the castle for a week-long second interview, starting three days from now.” Jericho was practically vibrating with satisfaction. “I told you. I told you you’d be perfect.”
“That’s not… I can’t have been perfect. I was completely honest and listed every fault I have. I even admitted I’d probably insult visiting dignitaries within a week.” Finn’s mind was racing. “He must have misunderstood something I said.”
“Or,” Jericho said slowly, waving the letter, “he actually liked what you said. I know it’s a revolutionary concept, but it could be true.”
Finn snatched the letter and read it himself.
The words were exactly what Jericho had said.
King Darragh formally requested Finn’s presence at the castle for one week, beginning three days hence, for the purpose of further evaluation as a potential consort candidate.
Accommodations would be provided. Formal attire was recommended but not required.
“Not required,” Finn muttered. “Like he knows I don’t have enough formal attire to last a week.”
“We can fix that,” Jericho said. “Mother will be thrilled to help.”
“Mother won’t know about this. Nobody can know about this.” Finn looked up and glared at his brother. “Nobody’s going to know, because I’m going to write back and politely decline.”
“You’re going to what?” Finn didn’t think he’d ever seen Jericho’s face that particular shade of red.
“Decline. Turn him down. Explain that there’s been a misunderstanding.
” Finn set the letter on the desk. “You weren’t there, Jericho.
I was completely honest in that interview.
Brutally honest, if you want the truth of it.
If the king wants a second interview, surely that can only mean he didn’t understand what I was trying to tell him in the first one. ”
“Or it means he understood perfectly and wants to get to know you better anyway.”
“I don’t understand why he would do that?”
Jericho moved closer, his expression shifting from smug to serious. “Finn, did you like him?”
The question caught Finn off guard. “What?”
“It’s a simple enough question. The king. Did you like him?”
Finn thought about Darragh’s laugh. The way his whole face had changed when he smiled. The way he’d leaned forward when Finn talked about Safe Harbor’s perception problem, as if he was truly interested in what Finn had to say.
“He was…fine,” Finn said carefully.
“Fine.”
“Fine. Better than fine.” Finn sighed. That was the problem with having brothers and always being honest. “He was funny. And I felt he was honest with me. He actually listened when I talked, even though I was saying things no sane person would say in a royal interview.”
“And?”
“And nothing. It doesn’t matter if I liked him. I’m still completely wrong for the position he’s offering.”
“Are you, though?” Jericho sat down in one of the leather chairs.
“Because from what I’ve heard about the king, honesty is at the top of the list of things he values in a person most. He spent six months meeting eligible women two years ago and hated every second of it because they all wanted his crown more than they wanted him. ”
“I don’t want his crown at all.”
“Exactly.” Jericho smiled. “Which is probably why he wants to see you again.”
Finn paced to the window. The village spread out below, familiar and comfortable.
His whole life was spent in that village - fixing roofs, helping neighbors, doing work that actually mattered to real people.
The castle was like a far-off world. A world of politics and protocol, and that massive summit event Darragh had mentioned.
“He’s hosting the World Council summit in six months,” Finn said.
“I imagine that’s the only reason he’s looking for a spouse now.
Do you have any idea how terrifying that is?
Representatives from every major kingdom, all watching Safe Harbor for signs of weakness.
And he wants me there? He must’ve gotten the wrong idea about me. I’d ruin everything.”
“Or,” Jericho said, “you’d do exactly what you’ve always done. Be yourself. Help where you can and treat people like people instead of titles.”
“That’s not how royal courts work.”
“Maybe it’s how this one could work if the right person were involved. If that right person liked the king.”
Finn turned to face his brother. He could tell Jericho wanted to know – one brother to another. If Finn said that he didn’t like the king or have an attraction to him, he knew Jericho would drop the subject and never mention it again. But it would be a lie, and Finn didn’t do that.
“I’m really attracted to him,” Finn admitted quietly. “Me…attracted to the king. Is that completely insane?”
“No.” Jericho’s expression softened. “It’s human. He’s an attractive man, from what I’ve seen. And if you liked his personality, too…”
“I barely know him.”
“Which is why he’s offering you a week. So you two can get to know each other better. People like us have gotten married with a lot less. At least he’s giving you the chance to get to know the man behind the crown before the vows are said.”
Finn leaned against the window frame. His heart was pounding, fear and excitement tangled together in a way that made no sense.
He shouldn’t want it. He definitely shouldn’t have even been considering it.
He was the only person in his family who’d spent his whole life avoiding court politics.
The idea of being consort to a king was absurd.
But that moment in the throne room kept replaying in his mind. The way Darragh had looked at him, really seen him, when Finn had talked about Safe Harbor’s strengths. The way he’d laughed, when Finn had said he’d contradict the king if necessary.
He wants someone who won’t bore him, Finn thought - someone who’ll be honest, even when it’s uncomfortable.
“A week,” Finn said slowly. “One week to figure out if this is completely ridiculous or…”
“Or maybe the best opportunity you’ll ever have.”
“For what? To embarrass myself in front of the entire royal court?”
“To find out if you and the king could actually build something together.” Jericho stood.
“Look, I know I pushed you into this. I know you’re angry about that.
But I’ve seen you around the village, Finn.
You light up when you’re helping people, when you’re solving problems. The king needs someone who can do that on a larger scale.
The best person for that job is one who sees people for who they are instead of the title they have. ”
“I still don’t know the first thing about running a kingdom.”
“Did you know the first thing about fixing roofs when you started? About organizing village projects? About negotiating with merchants for better prices on supplies?” Jericho smiled. “You learned, Finn, because you cared about getting it right.”
Finn wanted to argue. He wanted to point out that roofs and kingdoms were completely different things, that caring wasn’t enough when a man was dealing with international politics and strict protocols, or a summit that could make or break Safe Harbor’s reputation.
But the letter was still sitting on the desk. King Darragh’s signature at the bottom, bold and decisive. A week. Not a lifetime commitment, just seven days to see if an impossible idea could somehow work.
“I need to think about it,” Finn said.
“You have three days before you need to be at the castle. That’s plenty of thinking time.”
“I need to think about it alone. Without you hovering and looking smug like you do.”
Jericho held up his hands. “Fine. I’ll go tell Mother that you might need some formal attire prepared, just in case.”
“Jericho…”
“What? I’m being practical.” His brother headed for the door. “Oh, and Finn? For what it’s worth, I think you’re braver than you give yourself credit for. The fact that you’re even considering this proves it.”
He left before Finn could respond.
Finn looked at the letter again. The king’s seal was pressed into dark blue wax. It all looked very official and intimidating. But the words themselves were straightforward. No flowery language, no excessive formality. Just a clear request for Finn’s presence.
He could have chosen anyone for second interviews, Finn thought. All those other candidates, the ones with actual court experience and political training. But he chose me.
The thought should have been terrifying, but it made his heart sing. Finn picked up the letter and read it one more time, slower the second time. Looking past the signature, he noticed a postscript at the bottom, written in different handwriting than the formal request. Smaller and less precise.
Don’t overthink this. Just come and see if we can stand each other for a week. - D
Finn laughed. That line was pure Darragh and was just like the man who wrote it - cutting through the formality to say what he actually meant. No pressure, no expectations. Just an invitation to see what might be possible.
“This is completely insane,” Finn said to the empty room. But he was already mentally cataloging what he’d need to pack.
/~/~/~/~/
Two days later, Finn stood in his bedroom while his mother fussed over the formal clothes she’d somehow acquired in record time.
“The dark blue brings out your eyes,” she said, holding up a jacket. “And the gray is very dignified without being stuffy.”
“Mother, I’m going to be there for a week, not a year. I don’t need twelve outfits.”
“You need options. What if there’s a formal dinner? Or a reception? There are those at court that change their clothes two or three times a day. You can’t wear the same thing twice.”
Finn had tried explaining that he probably wouldn’t be attending formal dinners or receptions, that he was just going for a second interview, but his mother had gotten that look in her eyes - the one that meant arguing would be a waste of time.
Jericho appeared in the doorway. “The carriage is ready whenever you are.”
“I could just ride,” Finn said. “It’s not that far.”
“You’re being summoned by the king for a week-long interview as a potential consort candidate,” his mother said firmly. “You’re not arriving on horseback like you’re going to help someone fix their barn.”
“I like helping people fix their barns.”
“We know, dear.” She folded the last shirt and added it to the bag. “But this is different. This is important.”
“Fixing barns is important, too,” Finn muttered, but he let his mother finish packing.
Jericho walked with him down to where the carriage waited. The driver was loading Finn’s bags - plural, because his mother had insisted that one bag just wasn’t going to do - while servants gathered to watch.
“Nervous?” Jericho asked.
“I’m absolutely terrified,” Finn admitted. “What if I mess this up completely? What if the king realizes within an hour that this was a mistake?”
“Then you come home and go back to fixing roofs. No harm done.”
Except there would be harm, Finn thought.
Because now that he’d let himself consider the possibility he could be with the king, now that he’d allowed that tiny seed of hope to take root, going back would feel like failure.
Like he’d had a chance at something extraordinary and proven too ordinary to handle it.
“What if I like him even more after a week?” Finn asked quietly. “What if this actually works, and I end up completely out of my depth?”
“Then you’ll figure it out. Like you always do.” Jericho squeezed his shoulder. “Stop borrowing trouble. Just go, be yourself, and see what happens. That’s all anyone can do.”
The carriage door stood open, waiting. Finn could climb in, let himself be driven to the castle, and spend a week with a man who made him laugh and scared him in equal measure. Or he could call the whole thing off, send a polite letter, retreat to the safety of his familiar life.
Don’t overthink this, Darragh had written.
Finn climbed into the carriage.