Chapter One

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15 years later...

Harry and Louis lay on their backs, staring up at the blue sky. The garden had always been one of their favorite places to go together, as their mothers had brought them there since they were young. Queen Anne had even let Harry pick out the flowers there, for she knew he loved it just as much as she had as a girl. Occasionally, the two would talk of various little things from their day, but for the most part, they just liked to lie in silence, enjoying the other's presence.

Harry looked over to Louis admiring his bright blue eyes. He had always loved his eyes. The way they shone in the sunlight, sparkling with little bits of green.

Someone cleared their throat and Harry sat up, letting go of Louis' hand. Louis propped himself up on his elbows.

"Your Majestys," a servant said, bowing. "Queen Anne has requested your presence in the family room. She said it's urgent."

Harry nodded. "We will be there in a minute. And please, don't bow like that. It's weird."

"I'm sorry Your Majesty."

"No need to apologize." 

Harry stood, holding out his hand to help Louis up.

"Harry," his mother said when they reached the family room. "Sit down. Louis, please wait outside for a moment, dear."

She motioned all the servants and guards out of the room as well, shutting the large wooden doors behind them.

"Your mother and I have been thinking," the King said, once they were alone. "It is nearing your seventeenth birthday and you still have not found love. We have decided to hold a three-month-long event. Sixty suitors have been invited to come spend the next few months with us, and with any luck, you will find someone to love."

"We've been really worried. You spend all your days alone, hanging around the castle. If you can't get out more, then we will have to bring suitors to you. Your life is on the line here, Harry," his mother added.

"That's so stupid. You don't let me go into the town, for one. And I would way rather die than be forced into love with some random girl. It's supposed to be true love, isn't it? Real love? That doesn't sound very real to me. It's my life on the line, not yours. Shouldn't I be the one trying to find love? I don't need you doing it for me."

He doesn't remember the day he was cursed, but he definitely remembers it better than they do. If it was them who were cursed, he doubted they would break the spell.

"But Harry, it could be. You don't know until you meet them. You could meet someone, Harry, and fall in love with one of them. For real. Real love. True love. You just don't know until you try."

"And what if I fail to love any of them?" He was already dreading what was to come.

"Surely you can find someone, Harry. Just please, try."

"Fine," Harry huffed and stood to leave the room.

"Harry," his mother said. He ignored her, shutting the door behind him.

"What was that about?" Louis asked, reaching for his hand.

"They are holding some sort of event so I can try to find love before my seventeenth birthday. Sixty suitors are coming to live with us for the next three months." He sighed, tracing circles on the back of Louis' hand.

"Sixty?"

"Yeah. I know I'm cursed and everything, but it seems like there are kind of forcing it on me.  And only three months? How am I supposed to fall in love with someone in three months."

"I mean, you never know. Maybe it won't even take that. And three months is all you really have. A little more, but barely."

"Maybe. Come on. Let's go to my room." They set off down the hall. "How long are you staying?"

"I dunno. Mum and Dad will be gone for a couple of weeks, but I'm sure they would let me stay for the... event if you wanted me to."

"Please," Harry said. "There's no way I'm going to survive this thing without you there."

Cursed // Larry Stylinson // Royalty AUWhere stories live. Discover now