The Announcement
The magical land of Hogwarts was stunning and everyone admired the royal family of the kingdom. The benevolent King Fleamont and Queen Euphemia were kind to all their subjects and both of them were exceptionally proud of their son, Prince James.
Prince James was brought up in their image; kindness to all, no matter their station. He loved fiercely and it was obvious if anyone looked close enough at the way he looked at his bodyguard, Lily. However, they were discreet about their relationship; worried how the King and Queen would take it.
One day, however, he was taken to see his parents at their request by Lily. Once James was seated, with Lily standing behind him, his father told him of the idea that he and his wife came up with for their son.
“James, as you are 19, you need to find a wife, someone who will be your equal, your partner, your other half and who will help you rule. We will be holding a ball in your honour for your 20th birthday and inviting all available female suitors of close rank from this kingdom and neighbouring kingdoms. You will choose from the available and suitable suitors.”
James looked down, disappointed for a moment that he wouldn’t be able to have that life with Lily, but he had already told his parents that he’s polyamorous, so he decided to make a deal. He took a deep breath and said, “ok, I have two conditions.” He waited until both his parents nodded and his father gestured to him to go on. “Firstly, about the ball, I want you to invite everyone of appropriate age, no matter their title or standing, as long as they have no issue with me being polyamorous.” They had no issue agreeing to this, but still wanted him to find a wife. “Mama, father, I’m already in love with a beautiful woman.” They looked at him, and gestured for him to keep going. “I’m in love with my bodyguard, Lily Evans.”
James heard a gasp from behind him and looked back to see tears in Lily’s eyes as she looked at him.
“This is acceptable,” Queen Fleamont told them as she stood up and walked over to her son and his lover, and embraced both of them. “However, you can’t be his bodyguard once you’re married.” She pulled back and cupped Lily’s cheek. “As you are still an amazing bodyguard for our son, you will stay as his guard until closer to the time you will marry. Is this acceptable to you?”
James and Lily both looked at each other as Lily smiled and curtsied, “yes, your majesty.”
Euphemia pulled back and smiled at both of them as Fleamont walked over embracing them both before turning to Lily, “you’ve been like a daughter to us. It would be an honour to have you join us officially.”
As Fleamont walked back to his seat, but didn’t sit down, Lily smiled and embraced James, before she pulled back and kissed him.
“The two of you are excused. We have a ball to prepare for,” Fleamont told them as he sat down.
“And James,” Euphemia called just before they got to the door, making James turn to his mother and see her beautiful smile, “we’ll make sure your request is fulfilled and every available suitor is invited to the ball.”
With that, Lily and James walked out and happily went back to his chambers.
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You hated this life, you were a slave to your stepmother and her daughters. They didn’t treat you like anything other than something they would wipe off the bottom of their shoes.
Everyday, you wished on anything and everything you could find or think of that the work you were doing would help change your life. When you were away from your stepfamily, you would try to work as hard as you could to find a job that also provided a place for you to live. It didn’t matter what it was at this stage, the only thing that mattered was that you could get away from here.
When the invitation to the ball arrived, you were in awe. You wanted to go and hopefully meet someone who could help you get out of this miserable existence. In this life, you were just a slave to your stepmother and her daughters. It was exhausting.
You smiled to yourself all that day as you remembered clothes of your parents that you found ages ago and stored them in your room. It wasn’t even really a room, it was the attic, and it was tiny.
Nothing could wipe the smile from your face.