Royalty // Larry Stylinson

Chapter 7: Ride of his life

Harry's POV

Louis let me, Gemma, and mum get settled into the area that his private secretary had prepared for us. I tried to concentrate on them, but after Louis had taken my hand in his in the back of the car, I was a mess. I melted into his touch, well aware that Gemma had nudged me teasingly once she saw our entwined fingers.

Soon, Louis's private secretary came back, introducing himself as Roman and informing Gemma and mum that the Queen wished to speak to each of them regarding the current vacant positions. I wished them both luck, planting a kiss of their cheek before heading off to prepare lunch.

Once everyone had eaten and I had cleared away, I headed back to the left wing to see how it went. As I walked in, they were both beaming, and I knew right away that Her Majesty had loved them both.

"We got the jobs!" Gemma squealed, running over to embrace me into a hug. I congratulated them both before showing them around, spending some time with them before I had to prepare dinner and they started working the following day.

As I entered through the kitchen door at around 5pm, I noticed another person behind the counter. At first, I thought it might have been Louis, but on closer inspection I knew that wasn't the case.

The boy looked up at me, smiling brightly. "You must be Harry!" I smiled falsely as a million thoughts rushed through my head. Had I been fired? Did Louis tell the King or Queen that he didn't want me here anymore?

I almost missed the part where the boy introduced himself as Niall. He was a year older than me, and clearly had a passion for food. He seemed excited and I was happy for him, I just couldn't figure out what this meant for me.

I was on the verge of tears as I felt a pair of small arms wrap themselves around my waist and a nose nuzzle into the back of my neck. "I see you've met Niall." Louis whispered against my skin.

My thoughts almost disappeared for a moment under his touch. I changed my mind, it wasn't toxic. It was captivating. Like it made everything else disappear. He soon broke away from my body, standing with his back to Niall in order to face me, and his smile fell as his eyes met mine.

He lifted a hand to wipe a tear from my face as he whispered caringly. "What's wrong?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as I just shook my head and ran from the room back to my dorm. I was confused, but I felt so guilty leaving him there that I cried even more.

As soon as I entered my room, I poured my heart out to both mum and Gem. They rocked me back and forth as I told them about Louis and Niall. Just as I finished explaining, Louis appeared hesitantly at the door to our room, and Gemma got up to speak to him.

Mum held me, whispering sweet nothings into my ear as I watched Gemma lead Louis outside.

Louis's POV

"What's wrong?" I chocked on my words and I could feel my eyes well up just at the thought of Harry being unhappy. He was so precious, and now he was broken. I couldn't help but think it was somehow my fault, although that was my natural reaction to everything.

"He thinks His Majesty has fired him." Gemma started quietly, not meeting my gaze.

"Wait, what? Fired him how? When?"

Gemma looked at me with pain coursing through her eyes. "I don't know, Louis. He thinks Niall has replaced him."

I smiled, suddenly understanding what she meant. I silently cursed Roman for not telling Harry, but in the moment it didn't matter. "Oh, Niall has!" I think I was a little too excited too quick and Gemma raised her eyebrows in astonishment.