The Boy Across The Bay

Chapter 15

Harry was having breakfast in the dining hall, with Eloise sitting across from him. Niall had snuck out shortly after Louis did. Even though Harry's mother knew of their little arrangement, his father still didn't. Which means they can't exactly flaunt their relationship in front of everyone.

"So," Eloise was the first to speak up. "Louis spent the night." She smirked at him.

Harry opened his mouth to speak in protest, "I-"

Eloise interrupted him. "And before you try to convince me nothing happened...I saw him leaving your room in a blissed-out state. Looking like he had a fun night. Like he really enjoyed it." Harry was blushing at this point, feeling slightly embarrassed, yet proud of himself. "I helped him get out, going unnoticed of anyone else in the castle. You're welcome." She smiled.

"I-Uh-T-Thanks, I guess."

Eloise shrugged, "That just means that you owe me one."

Harry just chuckled and nodded, stabbing the eggs on his plate with his fork.

"So...Does that mean Louis is coming to your coronation today?"

Harry was about to answer but just then Mary entered, interrupting the two of them. "That is exactly what he wants."

They both turned to her, confused. "What? Me?" Harry asked, feeling slightly panicked and hoping she didn't know about the two of them.

Mary shook her head. "No. King Louis. That is what he wants. It's one step closer to the finish line and to getting everything he wants."

Okay, now Harry was fucking confused. "What do you mean, Mary? One step closer to getting what exactly?"

"Well-" She sighed. "I don't know if I should be telling you this. Your parents made me promise not to. But I think considering you're being crowned king today, it's time you found out." Okay, now Harry was intrigued. He nodded for her to go on. So, she did. "Long ago when the kingdoms were being established, the Tomlinsons and the Styles—your ancestors—had agreed to have two neighbouring kingdoms in Lincolnshire, one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere. They both agreed to split it equally. However, the Tomlinsons screwed over your ancestors and managed to take way more than half of Lincolnshire, in the Northern hemisphere. From that point on, your family resented the Tomlinson's for this. As the generations went on, the Tomlinson's didn't know why they were mad, nor did the Styles' but they were taught by their fathers and mothers before them to disapprove and resent the other family, so the feud continued for the generations to come. Until now." Neither Harry nor Eloise said anything, so Mary took it as a sign to continue. "The late King Jack had always wanted the land in full, no 'halfsies'. He spent his whole life making your parents' lives miserable, trying different ways to take their land, but was unsuccessful. Ever since Louis was a little lad, his father drilled the hatred he had for your family into his head. So, when Jack died, Louis was nothing but furious, he wanted to finish what his father had started. The best way to do that, was to get to you, Harry."

Harry gulped, "get to me how?"

"Gain your trust, your friendship even. Whatever could get him into this castle and-" Mary suddenly stopped. She shouldn't be telling him this. Harry looked like he was going to be sick. This was too much.

Eloise looked at Harry and then back at Mary. "And what?"

"I-I can't say. It's not my place. I shouldn't have told you any of this. I'm sorry." Mary looked to Harry, "I am so sorry you had to find out like this, Harry."

"So, he knew about the feud—about what caused it?" Eloise asked.

Mary nodded.

"You're wrong. Lou would never do something like that. He would never use me—he's not using me. He's not that kind of person." Harry just kept staring down at the floor.