The Boy Across The Bay

Prologue

Once upon a time green eyes met blue, and this is their story...

In 1821, the United Kingdom was a place where, if you're somebody, everyone knows your business. A place everyone can call home.

Almost everyone.

You would think that being the prince—almost soon to be king of Southern Lincolnshire, one would feel right at home.

But not according to Harry. Almost all of his life, he's felt like something was missing, but he couldn't quite figure out what that was.

His father told him that he needed a wife to rule the kingdom with; then he would feel complete and have a purpose in life. Harry knew it was more than that; he wanted something more, he just didn't know what.

Sitting at the table across from him having dinner, Harry's mother, Alexandria, asked, "Harry, darling, what's on your mind? You seemed distant the entire day today; is everything alright, dear?"

"M'fine mum, m'just tired, s'all." Harry sighed. "I haven't been getting enough sleep lately, I'm a little stressed out about the ball this Friday," he replied while taking a sip of his glass of red wine.

His mom took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "Don't be darling, everything will be fine. Your father and I will find you a fine wife, and soon you'll be crowned king. Then all your troubles will wash away." She smiled. "You'll have duties to fulfill as king, which will make you feel like you finally have a purpose in life, like you belong somewhere. You'll have the perfect wife and the perfect life."

Harry frowned and pulled his hand away from his mother's grasp. "I just don't feel that a 'perfect wife' will fill this void that I'm feeling. To be honest, I haven't got a clue as to what will fill it...if there even is anything."

"Don't say that, darling. You're only 19 years old; you have plenty of time to figure out what you want in life. But for now, you are getting yourself a pretty wife to give me some grandbabies while you sit on the throne and rule the kingdom." His mother stated.

"That all sounds nice, mother, but I'm just afraid that that's not going to make me 100% happy," he sighed.

"Trust me on this, dear; you'll be very happy with the wife we choose. Now nobody is good enough for my baby, but we will find the closest we can to being good enough. So whoever she may be, she'll be perfect, and you'll be happy." She smiled as she got up and walked over to Harry, kissing him on his forehead before leaving the dining room.

"I hope you're right..." Harry sighed, looking out the window just above the fireplace on the far wall of the dining room. There was a blinding, flashing blue light coming from across the bay, at the end of the property where King Louis Tomlinson of Northern Lincolnshire lives.

The Tomlinson's have a history of being very festive people. They would throw parties every Friday night, where nearly everyone went. Louis has kept up with that tradition ever since his parents died. Harry's never been to one of their parties; his family hates the Tomlinson's, the feeling is mutual, so he's been told. So he's kind of forbidden from even thinking about it. Besides, he thinks there are much better ways to spend his time than going to a party where everyone gets so drunk to the point where they blackout till the next morning, not to mention waking up with a massive hangover.

The parties are legendary, though. It would be kind of fun...right?

If only his parents didn't resent his family. Why do they?