Ever After

bonus- the engagement

((This is the engagement thought Eikko and Henri's families eyes. Since most EVERYTHING would be said in Finnish, I am just going to use English instead of relying on Google Translate for every sentence spoken, and then leaving you guys to go and translate it yourself.))

niko

We've been at the Jaakoppi house every Report so far, so Queen Eadlyn's special announcement was no different. When the news broke that there was a surprise Report airing, Mom loaded Dad and I up and we hustled over right away. 

Annika was the one that opened the door, her expression slightly sour. She was one year younger than Henri, and had been completely against the entire Selection idea since the beginning. Almost any time I saw her, she was sulking in her nineteen-year-old spunk.

And, as a twelve year old boy, that obviously meant I thought she was glorious. 

I smiled, trying to be charming. "Oh, good day to you, miss."

She rolled her eyes at me. "Come in. Mom and Dad are expecting you all."

"Oh! You made it!" Mrs. Jaakoppi was always grinning, a straight-up paradox of her daughter, but from what I remember of Henri, he shared her enthusiasm over everything. "Yes, yes, come in! It's about to start!"

"Oh, I do hope they show Eikko again," Mom beams, "he looked so good in his suit! I never could get him to wear one!"

Annika and I shared a glance, the one thing we agreed on. That our brothers were idiots for getting themselves tangled up with the royal family on television in front of the entire country. In my opinion, the royals were grand, but they were too out in the open. I would hate if my entire life was splayed across every newspaper.

Of course, I was twelve, so no one really cared what I thought. 

Mr. Jaakoppi sidled up to Dad and I, shaking my hand like I was important. I always liked him. He nodded to us, and he and Dad started talking about the economy, and today's other news. 

The entire country now knew about that Illea boy's focus on Queen Eadlyn. He was apparently planning an engagement. No one had bothered to answer when I asked, but you could tell the question hung in the air. What did this mean for the Selection boys?

"Nikolas!" Mrs. Jaakoppi took my face in her hands and kissed both my cheeks, something I'd become accustomed to her doing. "How have you been, dear?"

We'd seen each other's families only four days earlier, for the coronation and when Eikko had walked with the Selection boys- Mom had gushed about how proper he looked, and Mrs. Jaakoppi had attempted to take pictured of Henri and Eikko while they walked, looking very much like brothers.

The TV played a tune, and we all ran into their living room, crashing onto the couch as the Report started. Even Annika looked anxious. Was this the end of the Selection? Had that boy proposed to the Queen? Was she marrying him, and forgetting the Selection boys? What was so important it couldn't wait until the usual Friday to be announced?

As the anthem played and pictures of around Illea showed on the screen, Mom and Mrs. Jaakoppi made themselves comfortable with Annika and I on a couch. Dad and Mr. Jaakoppi stood over the sofa, leaning on their elbows like gentlemen. No matter how shy my father was, you couldn't ignore that he was poised. 

When the camera first opened, no one was in front of it. It took a split second before Queen Eadlyn stumbled into view, looking very winded and even more frantic.