King ◇ Phan AU

C12

Guest, noun: a person who is invited to visit someone's home or attend a particular social occasion.

A large carriage rushed across the bridge that Dan saw Phil on yesterday. It was white with pieces of gold metal decorated around it, white horses carrying it forward. It stopped outside the castle, two guards rushing to assist with the horses. A tall man with an abnormally long beard stepped out first, pride written across his face. A lady came out – who was around her 40s – wearing a green dress that showed all of her right curves. Then out came a shorter boy with dirty blonde hair, smiling widely as he walked out. He gestured for someone else to come out, then a girl with short, brown hair stepped out of the carriage. She had a baby pink ball gown on and a small, silver tiara sat on her head.

Dan looked shocked, he was still in his silk pyjamas and probably the most important guests he'll ever see in his life have just arrived at his door. Luckily, Tanya was always around the corner when Dan needed help. After picking out a black suit with a checked shirt underneath, Tanya was ready to face Dan's hair.

"Any specific hairstyles I could try?" Tanya asked, Dan thought hard. Literally everything they had tried looked odd on Dan, but there was one they hadn't experimented yet. Phil's fringe.

"Can you do Phil's hairstyle but with a twist?"

"Sure can do!"

Tanya straightened out Dan's curls, then used styling wax (brought all the way from a faraway country by his dad) to create a perfect fringe that covered his forehead.

It was in a different direction than Phil's, but it suited Dan very well.

"Thanks so much, Tanya!"

"Quick! Get downstairs before your dad starts screaming again!" Tanya chuckled, opening the door to let Dan through.

He walked down the staircase to see the four guests standing at the bottom with his father. The two men were chuckling as the brother and sister talked to themselves.

"Daniel!" His father cheered, causing everyone's attention to turn to Dan.

"So this is the famous Daniel we've heard about," the man said, reaching out to shake hands.

"It's Dan, by the way." Dan said, shaking the man's firm hands.

"Daniel, this is Jonathan, King of Oudela." His father pointed to the man, "this is Natalie, the Queen of Oudela." He pointed to the woman, "This is Joseph," he pointed to the shorter boy with blonde hair, "and this is Zoë, your future wife." He pointed to the girl.

"Not that long now!" Jonathan cheered, the parents also giggled in joy. Dan could see in the corner of his eye that Zoë had just rolled her eyes. Does she not love me? Dan wondered, or is she just like I was?

"Dinner is served," Hannah announced, leading the royals towards the great dining hall where Dan and Phil once ate breakfast. And when he got whipped, Dan remembered.
They all sat down at the table, Zoë sitting next to Dan, ready to have some small talk.

"Daniel," his father spoke up, "what happened to your hair?"

"I-I-I...well I..."

"I did it," Tanya announced, who was standing on the stairs.

"Well, can you undo it please, it looks horrible!"

"I like it." Zoë smiled, Dan smiling back. His father had shut up, leaving Dan be.

"So, Dan," Queen Natalie started, "what's been happening lately?"

"Well-"

"Well, Natalie," his father interrupted, "he's just had Choosing Day, and he chose a good choice in the beginning."