Harry wakes up to an empty bed. It's not cold though. So, he knows he's not in his own bed. Then he starts to remember what transpired last night with Louis.
Ah Louis.
He can still feel his body heat in the sheets, even though he's not here. Where is he?
The last thing he remembers was passing out on the couch in the drawing room, while he was waiting for Louis to clean up.
So how did he end up here?
And where was Louis?
What time was it?
Oh no, what if his parents are up already?
Harry started to panic when the door creaked open. Louis.
Louis stood there with a tray of food and an arrangement of flowers in a vase.
Louis smiled at him. "Your awake. I wasn't making too much noise in the kitchen, was I?"
Harry stared at him blankly. Did he make him breakfast? "No. I woke up on my own. Did you make breakfast?"
Louis nodded and walked over to Harry, handing it over to him where he sat on the king-sized bed, long legs tangled in the silk sheets.
Harry took a sip of the orange juice and asked, "What time is it? Is it late? Or is it still early?"
Louis could hear the panic in his voice. "It's still fairly early, babe. Don't worry. I let you sleep in a bit, so you don't have a lot of time to eat. But you were pretty exhausted after blowing me last night." Louis smirked at the memory.
Harry blushed and started to eat his food. He stared at the flower arrangement. "Did you pick these?" He looked at Louis.
Louis nodded.
Harry smiled and continued to eat his breakfast. "What happened last night? I mean—I know what we did. But how did I end up in here? Last, I remember, I was on the couch in your drawing room, waiting for you."
"When I came back from the loo, you were passed out, so I picked you up and brought you to my bedroom. It's more comfortable." Louis explained, but then he started to worry that he crossed a line. "Was that not okay?"
Harry started to chuckle. "We've both sucked each other off within the past 24 hours and you're asking me if it was okay for you to have moved me into your bed last night?"
"Yeah, but sleeping in the same bed is more intimate, even though there was no sexual activity taking place in the bed." Louis explains.
"It was fine Louis. I give you the permission to do it again in the future." Harry smiles and takes another bite. "Who knew you were such a gentleman?"
Louis chuckles. "Well, who knew you were so cuddly?" Harry scrunches his eyebrows, not knowing what Louis is talking about. "Last night, you cuddled me. You even nuzzled into me and clung to me all night. I just held you. I knew that's what you needed and so I was glad to be there for you."
Harry blushes, feeling slightly embarrassed of his actions. He's only known Louis for a week yet, he is acting like they've been dating for years. Are they even dating? They did go on a date. Harry wants to know what they are, but he's afraid of what the answer could be. So, he doesn't ask.
Harry finished his breakfast and got up to put his clothes back on. It looks like Louis had taken the rest of his clothes off before tucking him in. "Well, I hate to eat and run but I should get going before my side of the bay starts to wake up. Thank you so much for the breakfast. It was absolutely delicious." Harry says before giving Louis a firm kiss on the lips. "Mmm. Just like you." He said with a smile, dimples showing.
Louis smiled at Harry's comment. "I'll see you tonight. What time should I plan to be there for?"
"Well, dinner starts at 7. So, I would plan to be there an hour before then. That way you can get to know everyone before we sit down to eat, and they can get to know you when you charm the trousers off them." Said, Harry.
"Okay. See you then Hazza." Louis gave Harry one more peck on the lips before he was out the door.
The rest of the day went by smoothly. They spent the entire day picking out the menu and decorations for tonight's dinner party. Harry was able to sneak back into the castle at the crack of dawn, before anyone in the castle woke up.
It was now evening and time for the dinner party.
Louis arrived with Zayn, shortly after 6.
Harry greeted them at the door with Eloise. Then walked them over to the king and queen.
"Mother, there is someone I'd like you to meet." Harry grabbed her attention.
Alexandria turned around from where she was speaking with Mary in the parlour. "Ah, yes. King Louis Tomlinson of Northern Lincolnshire, I presume?" She extended out her gloved hand to Louis.
He grabbed it and raised it up to his lips as he bent down to greet her. "Yes. Pleased to finally meet Your Majesty. You have a great reputation you know. I've had a chance to speak with some of your townsfolk and they have told me about how much you do for them. The legendary Queen Alexandria Styles of Southern Lincolnshire. You, my dear, will go down in history. I guarantee it." Louis said with a smile, working his charm.
Alexandria blushed and said, "Oh you are too sweet." She gave Louis a once over and stared at his facial features for quite some time, then eventually said, "My, oh my. You look a great deal like your father. It has been quite some time since I have seen this face. And your eyes. You have your mother's eyes." She was lost in a memory as she stared at Louis.
"I didn't know you knew Louis' parent's, mother." Harry said, slightly confused.
"Oh! We'll I only met them briefly just before Your Royal Highness was born. The last I saw her she was pregnant with you." She smiled at the three boys in front of her—and Eloise. "And who might you be?" She looked at Zayn.
Zayn reached his hand out to grab hers and brought it to his lips. "Zayn Malik, Your Majesty. Just Zayn. I am a goof friend of Louis'. I've known him for as long as I can remember." He gave her a smile.
"Well, pleasure to meet you Zayn. You are a pair of good-looking lads. Either of you have a pretty lady?" She asked.
"No. We are a pair of eligible bachelors, Your Majesty." Louis answered. "Waiting for the perfect soulmate." He flashed her another smile and turned to give Harry a look.
Harry smiled back at him. "Well, let us introduce you to my best mate—Niall."
Louis gives him a single nod and gestures for Harry to lead the way. He turns to Alexandria just before he walks away and says, "It was an absolute delight meeting you. I look forward to us getting to know each other more over dinner."
Alexandria nods and smiles back at Louis. "As do I."
Harry introduces Niall to Zayn and Louis. The three of them hit it off right away. "So he's courting you?" Louis asks in a whisper, pointing to Eloise.
Ellie nods 'yes.'
"But you are engaged to him?" Louis asks Ellie, pointing to Harry now.
Both Harry and Ellie nod another 'yes.'
Zayn chimes in. "That seems way too complicated mate. Sorry, but how do you see this ending?"
Harry sighs as he looks at all of them. "Honestly?" Zayn nods. "I have no fucking idea." They all raise their eyebrows shocked at his word choice, and the fact that he doesn't have a plan. "All I know is Ellie and Niall are in love with each other—which if you were asking my opinion, happened way too fast—but I guess when you know you know. And Louis and I—" He stops himself. Niall doesn't know. Shit, "Louis and I are the rulers of two feuding kingdoms, who are trying to mend the relationship between them. Ellie and I love each other, we're just not in love with each other. And my mother agreed to step back and let me figure out the mechanics behind this." At this point Harry was struggling to catch his breath. He was spinning out.
Louis looked around the room to see if anyone would see if he put his hand on the small of Harry's back. No one was paying attention. So, he did it. He rubbed his thumb in soothing circles. Harry started to calm down.
"Sorry, mate. Didn't mean to stress you out. It was just a genuine question. It wasn't my place. I shouldn't have overstepped my bounds." Zayn apologizes.
"S'fine, Zayn. Really. I didn't know how overwhelmed and clueless I was about this situation until now. So, in a way you helped put this situation in the spotlight and I should make it my number one priority." Harry assured.
"Do you really think that's a good idea Haz? I mean with your coronation coming up; shouldn't that be your priority?" Ellie asked.
Louis' hand—still on Harry's back—clenched. Only he was allowed to call Harry Haz or Hazza. Not her. She doesn't get to see him the way he does, so she shouldn't get to call him things only he can. Harry is his. Not hers.
Harry flinched at the sudden pinching on his back and looked at Louis. He noticed Louis' sudden jealousy, so he reached his hand behind his back to meet Louis'. Louis unclenched his hand and laced his fingers in with Harry's.
Niall noticed.
"Ellie, darling. I know you have exquisite taste in fabrics. I'm planning on redesigning my parlour room and the queen has some beautiful fabrics of her own that I would like your opinion on." Niall asks.
Ellie looks at him confused. "Uh…yeah?"
Niall puts a hand on the small of her back and leads her towards a window in the grand entrance.
"What is going on?" He questions her.
She scrunches her eyebrows, even more confused than before. "What could you possibly mean Niall?"
"Between Harry and Louis." He explained.
Ellie's face softened. "That is something you need to ask Harry." She sighed.
Niall raises his eyebrows. "So, there is something going on?"
Ellie groaned. "Niall. Just ask Harry. He will tell you. It's not my place to tell you. It's his business and only his."
"So, he told you?" Niall asked.
"Yes, but he chose to, that is why we are able to be together. Just ask him. I am done with this conversation." And with that she walked away from Niall and the conversation.
If he needs to ask Harry, then he will go ask Harry.
"H! Can I speak with you a moment?" Niall got Harry's attention. Stealing him away from a conversation with Louis. Zayn had left the two of them to go speak with Her Majesty. Probably trying to get on her good side. Little does he know; she has multiple sides. She's a very 3-dimensional person.
"Uhmm…Yeah. Yeah, sure." Harry said, looking back and forth between Louis and Niall,
Louis gave him a nod and said he was going to go rescue Her Majesty from Zayn. As Louis walked away, Harry couldn't take his eyes off him.
Niall noticed.
"Harry. What is going on?" Niall grabbed his attention once again.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.
"Between you and Louis? Something is going on. Ellie told me to ask you. She knows. You told her, but you didn't tell me? What is it H?" Niall asks.
Harry sighed. "I uhhh—I don't know what you mean. You're going to have to be more specific, Ni." Harry was still staring at Louis over Niall's shoulder.
"Jesus Christ Harry! I see the way you and Louis look at each other and the way you guys steal little touches to calm each other down. And right now—You can't take your eyes off him when talking to me! What the fuck is going on?! Talk to me H! I'm supposed to be your best mate!" Niall was getting frustrated and a little hurt now.
"Fuck, Niall." Harry groaned. "It's not that I don't want to tell you! Trust me I do! I have since it fucking started! Since he showed up to my gala! I just didn't know how you would react."
"React to what Harry?" Niall's voice is calmer now.
"To Louis and I…being a thing—or not a thing—I'm not 100% sure what we are. But we kiss and stuff. So…yeah." Harry confesses.
Niall raises his eyebrows, surprised. He lets out a breath and says, "Okay. So is this why you are so okay with Ellie and I courting?"
Harry nods. "We made a deal. If we get married, I can see whomever I please and she can see whomever she pleases."
Niall gives an understanding nod. "Well, Tomlinson is a fine looking lad—not that I'm attracted to him. I just mean that—"
Harry laughs. "Niall, I get it. S'fine. And thank you."
Niall smiles at him. "I just hope you get your happy ending H. You and Louis deserve the same as the rest of us."
Harry gave a half smile. "Thanks, Ni. Me too. Although I don't think it'll ever be in the cards for people like us. But it is nice to know that I have your support. You don't know how much that means to me."
Niall leaned in to give Harry a hug.
Meanwhile, by the time Louis got to Zayn and the queen, Zayn had been upselling Louis to the queen. He was going on and on about how great of a king he is, how he stepped up for the kingdom after the death of his father. "He has been an excellent king, Your Majesty. An exceptional ruler to all his people. In ways you can't even imagine."
"I know…" Alexandria muttered under her breath. Almost like she was only saying it to herself.
Zayn hears her, but not enough to be sure of what she said. He becomes curious but decides to drop it. He was a guest of a guest after all. It's not his place to grill the queen. So, he finalizes on a smile. To which she returns a smile of her own.
Louis approaches the two and gives them a friendly smile. "I hope he is not talking your ear off about nonsense, Your Majesty." Louis chuckles.
"Not at all! He was just telling me how much of a wonderful king you are to your people." She smiled back at him.
"Well, that is great to hear." Louis smiled. "Hey Z, is it okay if I have a moment alone with the Her Majesty?" Zayn nodded and left the two of them to talk.
Louis looked to the queen and sighed. "I need you to know that I am nothing like him."
Alexandria gave him a confused look and said, "You are not like Zayn?"
Louis shook his head. "No. My father." She still looked confused, so Louis clarified. "When Harry first introduced the two of us, you mentioned how much I resemble my father, how much I look like him. And I need to assure you, that I am not him, nor will I ever be him. God forbid I do become like him, I gave Zayn the order to shoot me. I never want to be him. And I need you to know that." Louis took a shaky breath in, waiting for Alexandria's response.
"Okay. I understand Louis." She sighed. "I understand that you want to be—and by the looks of it, already are—a better ruler and leader than your father. I admire you for that. And I am happy that Harry has found someone to mentor him in his journey as a leader, himself. With you, he will be able to make those resourceful connections he needs for the rest of his life as king."
Louis was surprised by her answer. He didn't expect her to take a liking to him already. Both him and Harry thought it was going to take some convincing, especially everything that was going on with Eloise and Niall. "Thank you, Your Majesty. You have no idea how much that means to hear you say that." He said as he bowed his head down, out of respect for her compliment.
Just before Alexandria could say something, Mary called out to the room full of people and said, "Dinner is now being served!"
"Shall we?" Louis said, reaching his arm out for Alexandria to take. She gladly held onto Louis' arm and together they followed everyone else into the grand dining hall.
In the dining hall, tall, vaulted ceilings soared overhead. The glow of crystal chandeliers casted gentle shadows along the walls, which were plastered in wallpaper. Rich tapestries, lovingly woven by skilled hands, adding depth and texture to the room's already mesmerizing ambiance.
At the heart of the dining hall, a majestic table commanded attention. Its polished surface, crafted from the finest mahogany, mirrored the shimmering elegance that surrounded it. Adorned with meticulously arranged porcelain china, crystal glassware, and gleaming silver cutlery, it awaited the culinary delights that would grace its expansive expanse.
Surrounding the table, a symphony of chairs stood sentinel. At both heads of the table, throne-like chairs awaited King Thomas and Queen Alexandria.
At the middle of the table, sat Harry, next to him sat Niall, across from Niall, sat Louis. On one side of Louis, sat Zayn, and on the other side, sat Eloise.
Multiple guards flooded the dining hall floor, as they all sat down to enjoy their meal.
Around halfway into the dinner, Harry started getting a little cheeky and wanting Louis attention. The only way he could think of was by playing a little game of footsie with him. Harry managed to reach his right foot up high enough on Louis' thigh to get a reaction out of him. Louis became aware of what Harry was trying to accomplish. So, he played along. He slid his right foot up Harry's leg and pressed it right on his crotch. Harry tried to retaliate but ended up accidentally kicking Ellie in the process.
She was not happy.
She flinched when he kicked her and then gave him a warning look.
Harry and Louis looked at each other, Louis trying not to laugh because the king and queen are in the middle of a conversation with the five of them, and Harry trying not to die of embarrassment. Niall looked between the three of them, confused and clueless as to what is going on. Zayn knew Harry and Louis were up to something, but not quite sure what exactly. All he knew was that Louis can't quite keep it in his pants around Harry. So, he internally rolls his eyes at the two of them. Both Harry's parents are completely clueless as to what their son and his secret lover are up to under the dining table, they are all eating their lovely dinner off.
"Now Harry, your mother has told me the reason for tonight's event is for getting to know King Louis here, before you two further your plans to mend the relationship between the two kingdoms. So, Your Royal Highness—" Thomas started.
"Louis, please. Just Louis." Louis interrupted him.
Thomas nodded. "So, Louis. Why do you want to repair the relationship?" He questioned.
Harry and Louis both looked at each other, each searching for an answer to give. Then Louis spoke up. "We think it's time to end this silly feud, we don't see a point in continuing the bad blood when Harry and I don't mind each other—we get on really well—so it is pointless to have to pretend to hate each other over a stupid feud."
"I think that is very mature of both of you." Thomas gave them a nod.
"Hmm. I agree." Alexandria spoke up.
They all finished their meal and headed towards the lounge to share some drinks and good conversation. Harry's parents left the 'kids' to hang out without them. To give them more privacy and a chance to just be friends, without the stress of parents—also being king and queen.
Louis was sitting beside Harry, sharing a couch, Niall and Ellie were sharing another couch with Zayn, by the other wall.
Louis groans and says, "finally" after Harry's parents are out of earshot and attacks Harry's lips biting slightly too hard, which causes Harry's lip to bleed. He's been waiting all night; can you blame him?
"Louis!" Harry squeals and shoves him off.
"What? Everyone here knows about us. It doesn't matter." Louis defends.
"That's not the point! You broke my lip! It's fucking bleeding! And my parents are literally just around the corner. What if they had forgotten something and came back?" Harry wines.
"But they didn't." Louis said cheekily. At this point they had forgotten about the other three people in the room and Harry gave into Louis shenanigans. Louis starts to nip at Harry's earlobe and whispers into his ear, "You know the way you were acting at dinner was pretty naughty, Harry." Harry gulps, looking at Niall, Ellie and Zayn, who were completely oblivious to the filth Louis was whispering but knew enough to feel uncomfortable. "And the whole night you were just silently begging for it, weren't you? You knew just how to wind me up, so don't act all innocent now."
Harry just about let a moan slip but was brought back to reality when he heard Ellie clear her throat. Harry, who was now leaning against the back of the couch with his neck exposed to Louis, sat up, not pushing Louis off. Niall nudged her and whispered, "You can't just interrupt a moment with that much tension, Ellie! It's rude."
"Well, I'm sorry, Ni, but I don't really want to watch them tear each other's clothes off and fuck right here on the couch. I'm not a voyeur. Are you?" She bit back.
Niall's eyes went wide with that accusation. "No! I'm just saying, put yourself in their shoes. Imagine if that were us." Ellie rolled her eyes and gave a little smile.
During Ellie and Niall's little bickering, Louis had moved onto Harry's neck and was sucking little love bites onto the tender skin, making him giggle when he blew cold air on the fresh love bites.
Out of the corner of Louis' eye, he was making eye contact with Zayn, who raised his eyebrows, asking Louis a silent question. Louis gave him the go-ahead with a slight nod and then proceeded to lick the column of Harry's throat while moving one of his hands up Harry's thigh, inching towards his crotch, making Harry throw his head back in a hunger for lust.
"Okay, that's it! I give up! I'm going to bed. Ni, are you coming?" Ellie shouted.
Niall nodded and followed Ellie to her room.
"C'mon Hazza. Let's continue this in your room, yeah?" Louis suggested. Harry was too riled up to give a coherent reply. Instead, he just makes a noise, which Louis takes as an answer, meaning yes.
Harry and Louis stand up, and once Harry turns his back on Louis, leading the way to his room, Louis turns around to give Zayn a look, telling him that's his cue. Zayn gives Louis a nod and waits for them to walk up the stairs to Harry's room, then he starts his search for the land deeds.
This wasn't what they had initially planned, but they must work with what they have, and fast. Harry's coronation was tomorrow, so they needed to find those tonight.