Red & White

thirty seven.

Harry was forced to wait a full twenty-four hours before he could go out to Leah in Wales.

Two things were blocking his way. Firstly, a war attack that was previously planned was still scheduled to begin during that night. The English soldiers were going to secretly attack a military base on one of the borders of Wales. Secondly, an official telegram had to be sent to notify the Welsh dungeon that Leah legally had to be released and that the Prince of England was coming the following morning to retrieve her.

He hated waiting, knowing that she could technically be back in his arms, yet he was still in the castle by nightfall.

The lead generals were told that Prince Harry had to stay back from the scheduled attack. King Robin and Queen Anne wished to privately speak to him. So, after the crowds had died down and the Royal Family rode home to the palace, the three family members all sat down in one of the many drawing rooms.

Harry sat across from his parents, who were offered a glass of wine from a butler. The butler was declined with a harsh, unfamiliar glare from the King.

The vast, darkened room became deathly silent.

After a long sigh, King Robin mumbled, "Harold."

Harry instantly rose from his seated position, not wanting to hear what his parents had to say. "There's nothing you can do anymore, Father. Everyone knows. Leah will be back with me."

"She's a peasant," the King tutted, almost in shock himself.

"Yes, she is, but she's no different from us. Inside, we all have a brain, a stomach, and a heart. The only difference is her heart is bigger than yours."

King Robin rolled his eyes. "Don't be so immature, Harold. You know the strict rules of relationships. We are royalty and we must follow certain customs."

Harry shook his head. "Society is changing. It's time these idiotic customs changed, too. Love is love. I can't un-love Leah. She's my lover and will always be."

"You don't know what love is," the King dared to say. He, himself, stood up to prove that his son was smaller than he. Robin paced over to the window and faced the view overlooking the sunset.

"And you do?" his son bit back. "You and Mother were set up. Do you even love her?"

Queen Anne whimpered, clearly uncomfortable with this topic. King Robin was fuming.

"Of course I love your mother, how dare you say something like that!"

"Then how dare you say I can't love Leah! What if I took away Mother from you for weeks just because she came from a different background than you! What if I forbid you from seeing her when she was struggling to continue to live!"

His father didn't say anything. His face was emotionless. The air was thick with tension as the Styles men glared at each other. Anne stared up at her son in awe.

"Answer me!" Harry bellowed, loud enough for the townspeople to overhear.

"This is different, Son, and you know it. She's not like us. I do not approve of your relationship and I have the final say in who you can and cannot see."

"You sure as hell approved of her when she was my date to my birthday ball. What's different about her now? She's the same Leah. Except weaker and tinnier because she's starving in a fucking dungeon all because of you!"

"Now, Harold-"

"No! You know what? My entire life I have been playing by your rules. I've done my classes much to your desire. I've attended every single gathering you host because you ask me to join and I listen. I've taken archery lessons that you set me up for so that I could shoot. I've obeyed every one of your commands. It's time I listen to myself for once."