ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕠 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕠 | ʙʏʟᴇʀ

Chapter Two

Mike's POV:
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It's been two days since me and Nancy discovered about the Byres' arrival. And ever since, we've been anticipating the visit tensely.

I'm not one to hate people, it's a strong emotion, but yet everyone else seems to hate Joyce and her family.

However, they've never even told me why.

Maybe it's a bad memory or something, I don't know, and I'm not going to push the matter further - as much as I want to.

It's the evening of the 8th of June. The day they're supposed to come to our kingdom.

Me and Nancy have been kitted out in our generic, fancy-person clothing, and we have been strictly demanded by our mother to only speak when spoken to.

Me and my family are sitting in our lounge with baited breath (which if you ask me is a little stupid. Everyone seems so over-tense by this entire situation).

Even Holly is here, wearing her least favorite dress - emerald green, with golden ribbons over the hems - and she's fiddling uncomfortably with the cushion she's half sitting on, half falling asleep against.

Finally our butler arrives and clears his throat, in a stereotypical-butler-way.

"Duchess J Byres, Duke L Byres, and their sons: Johnathan and William Byres." the butler announces, taking ages to finish his sentence,  then bowing and opening the door.

Through the door steps a 30 year old woman with dark auburn hair and a sapphire tiara on her head. She is wearing a long, loose dress, of a evening blue shade. Her sons are on either side of her, their faces monotone but not angry or unpleasant. Both wearing generic fancy-person clothing, similar to I.

Lonnie Byres is behind his three relatives and his face contains a rather distressed/angry appearance. His outfit is a little less rich and we'll manufactured then my own father's gear, but still enough to be an obvious Duke whilst roaming regular streets.

Joyce curtseys ever so slightly, but not enough to look like a maid who serves us. She has maids herself after all.

"Ah, Miss Byres," Karen starts, trying to give a pleasant greeting, but her tone is too stiff for it to appear kind.

"I'm so glad you could come here in such short notice," my father continues for my mother.

Lonnie tuts, "It's Mrs Byres, and I suppose if your kingdom's best interests are at heart, I suppose this trade can happen, but if not I seriously doubt we can even be in your presence..."

He sounded like he was going to carry on, but never did. Perhaps he decided that calling Ted names would not be civil enough.

My father takes a deep breath and beckons the new arrivals to sit down. Then he starts discussing the Byres' journey here, and whether or not it was enjoyable.

It's now that I glace at Nancy. She is fidgeting slightly with her silk skirt, her cheeks turning rouge. I'm sitting beside her so I can nudge her ever so slightly, similar to two days ago, at lunch.

"Is someone crushing on someone else?" I whisper to her, taunting.

She looks at me and glares (in more of a sibling-rivalry way then an actual mean glare).

"No," she responds, "It's just so awkward after what happened last time."

I sigh at being excluded from knowledge once again.

"I still don't actually know what happened last time," I explain, huffing.

She looks away, realizing that mum is giving us dagger eyes at whispering to each other whilst in the presence of company.

I grin a little and look at Johnathan.

He looks about Nancy's age - 17 - and he's got a forced smile on his face, matching everyone in this room. I just hope no-one starts an actual argument - that'd be awkward.

Then I advert my gaze to Will.

I recognize him slightly.

"That's weird," I think to myself, "I've literally never met this boy before."

But yet he looks so familiar.

I stop pondering when I hear my name being said.

"Oh yes, Joyce, I suppose you haven't met my two youngest," me and Nancy's mother remember suddenly.

She gestures at me, "This is Micheal, 14. And this is Holly, she turned 3 last week, bless her."

I smile and sit slightly straighter as the Byres' glance in my direction.

As Will looks at me, I blink slightly.

I definitely recognize him. And by the smile that's becoming frequently more strained, I can tell that he may recognize me.

But I don't know how.

I make a mental note to discuss it whenever I am alone with him. He's about my age. Is there any chance we once knew each other? He lives so many miles away it really should be impossible.

I get my chance for the conversation three hours later, at 8:30PM.

"Right, Mr and Miss Byres, would you care to join me and Ted for some champagne?" Karen asks delicately.

"It's Mrs Byres, thank you, and yes, champagne would be lovely," Lonnie says loudly.

"Alright then," my dad says, rubbing his hands together, "Nancy, Michael, will you please call it a night?"

Nancy and I nod and exit, whilst hearing Joyce and her husband excuse their kids as well.

Johnathan and Will walk out shortly after and we all stand in the hallway for at least 30 seconds.

"So," Johnathan starts, "where will we be slee-"

But Nancy interrupts him with a small 'humph', a hair flick, a turn on a heel, and a dramatic exit. She doesn't have to behave too much when out of the same room as our parents.

"Sorry..." I apologize quietly, "...about that. You're going to be in these rooms," I explain, leading the two up some stairs and into a corridor. Then I point to two doors. "That one is your Johnathan, and there's yours,"

I don't address Will's name because I'm not sure whatsoever if I'm suppose to call him Will or William.

Johnathan bobs his head in kind acknowledgment and enters his temporary room.

That leaves me and Will alone in the corridor.

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A/N: I'm actually pretty pleased with how this book is turning out :)
word count: 1035

-Aurora 💗