As always, Louis' Birthday Ball was extravagant. The Great Hall was decorated in fine silks and tapestries from around the world, the long table was set with polished silver, servants kept every glass full of wine. Louis' grand entrance was a spectacle, another regular occurrence.
At the top of the Grand Staircase, the servants had rigged up ten Chinese flames. Louis was so excited when His Majesty had described the things. Apparently the Chinese had created these flames that could explode in the air into different colors. These things were going to be set off behind him, giving him the illusion of walking through flames. I thought it sounded ridiculously dangerous, but Louis loved the idea, and that's what mattered.
"Squeeze my hand if you become frightened, Hazza." He whispered to me as we stood in place.
"And now, introducing his royal highness, Crown Prince Louis Tomlinson of England!" The familiar announcer's voice boomed through the hall.
I took a step forward as Louis did and the flames shot off behind us. Startled gasps echoed through the hall before everyone realized that the brightly colored flames were staged. Finally though applause took hold and soon the room was full of cheers. Once at the bottom of the steps, Louis strode proudly up the table, smiling and waving to all the nobility that stood, awaiting his arrival. He stopped at his chair and released my hand waving for everyone to be silent.
"Thank you all so much for coming to the party!" He yelled down the table, "As you all surely know by now, I like to enjoy my dinner before dancing, so let us all dine together!"
Cheers broke out again as everyone was seated. I went to leave the hall to join all the other playmates in an annex room off the side of the Great Hall, but Louis grabbed my hand to stop me.
"You'll dine with us tonight Harry." He told me, gesturing with his free hand to the empty seat beside him.
I froze. What did he mean? How could this be possible? I, the playmate, dining side by side with Europe's highest ranking nobility and royalty. The mere thought had my brain buzzing into overdrive.
"But..." I tried to come back with a reason I wasn't able to sit with him, because there were many, but the smile on his face stopped me.
Tonight would be the first and last time I every dined with Louis, and I would make the most of it.
When I sat, Louis connected our hands under the table as he conversed with those around him. The King sat at the head of the table, with Lord Payne on his right and Louis on his left. Across from me was another king, one I didn't recognize. Another nobleman sat beside me. I felt suffocated by all the unfamiliar faces. After looking at the plate I realized I had no idea which fork to use or what glass to drink from. I was unprepared and would probably embarrass myself in front of these men.
"How wonderful of you to finally join us Louis! We were beginning to think you weren't coming!" The King laughed, but his undertone showed his annoyance.
"Well Father, I had a few matters left to attend to before I could enjoy the party." Louis joking stated.
That was all that was said throughout the entire meal that I could follow. The king across from me was French. He was the uncle of Louis' betrothed. I hated him just by association. Politics was the discussion at the table tonight and Spain was a particularly hot topic.
Louis seemed just as interested and added to the conversation as much as the other men seated with him. He was born to be king. It showed in everything he did.
I managed to stumble through dinner without using the incorrect fork or drinking from the wrong glass. The food, especially compared to the servants' meals, was divine. I've never tasted such rich flavors all in one bite.
