The Queen's schedule was tight, and her appearance at the birthday banquet was brief. Kai did not expect to be summoned for a private audience. He knew his place. He was respected in football circles, but not at a level that demanded royal attention.
When Queen Elizabeth II entered the hall, the atmosphere shifted at once. Conversations paused, caras turned, and the evening reached its high point. After her departure, the room relaxed again. The music softened, and clusters of guests began chatting while they waited for the hosts.
Kai and Ma Fanshu remained in a quiet corner. No one disturbed them, and they were content to observe.
About half an hour later, the main doors opened.
Prince Harry entered hand in hand with ghan, Duchess of Sussex. After a short speech and warm applause, they cut the cake together. Staff moved efficiently through the hall, distributing slices.
Then ca the formal round of thanks.
Prince Harry and ghan made their way through the crowd with wine glasses in hand. Harry's movents were precise, almost rehearsed. He greeted each guest with the sa asured smile, the sa toast, the sa polite nod before moving on. No one received extra ti, and no one was overlooked.
Until he reached Kai.
Harry stopped.
He blinked, leaned slightly forward, then did a double-take to confirm what he was seeing. He glanced at ghan beside him.
ghan noticed at once that her husband, who had seed restrained all evening, suddenly looked animated.
"Kai?" Harry said instinctively.
In such a formal setting, using only a first na was not ideal, but the surprise was genuine.
ghan gave him a brief look of correction, then turned to Kai with a gracious smile. She lifted her glass.
"Thank you for coming. I can see His Royal Highness is very pleased."
Kai smiled and raised his own glass. "Happy birthday, Your Royal Highness Henry."
Harry paused for a second, then tilted his head back and finished his drink in one go.
ghan stared at him. Kai looked down at his own glass, hesitated for a heartbeat, then followed suit.
Harry's expression brightened. He stepped forward and gave Kai's shoulder a firm pat.
"Wait for ," he said quietly.
He took ghan by the hand and continued the formal circuit. This ti, however, he moved faster. No stop lasted more than a few seconds. Within minutes, he had completed the round and returned.
"Let's go," he said with a wink. "The real party starts now."
Before Kai could fully process it, he and Ma Fanshu were ushered out. A car was already waiting at the entrance of Kensington Palace, and within monts, they were on their way.
Kai looked at Harry in mild disbelief. "It's your birthday banquet. You're leaving?"
Harry loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. "After the toasts, there's nothing left for us to do."
Kai frowned slightly.
ghan smiled. "It is called Henry's birthday banquet, but in truth, it is largely political. His na is simply attached to it."
Harry nodded. "Exactly. ghan, have them bring out my private wine later."
Kai shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, Sir. We've got a match tomorrow."
Harry slapped his forehead. "Right. You're playing Chelsea F.C.."
He clenched his fist and leaned forward. "You beat them, yes? Beat them strongly."
Kai chuckled. "That's the plan."
They arrived at Harry's private estate just after seven. Since Kai could not drink, Harry ordered the lights switched on at the indoor football pitch.
"If you won't drink," Harry said, "then we play."
Old shirts from Arsenal F.C.'s 2005 to 06 season were brought out. Harry pulled one on with enthusiasm and placed the ball at his feet.
"Watch carefully," he said. "I'm going to get past you."
Kai lowered his stance without replying.
On the sideline, ghan stood with Ma Fanshu.
"Will this be alright?" Ma Fanshu asked, concerned.
ghan smiled calmly. "It's just friendly play. Henry admires Kai. The chance to show sothing in front of him ans a lot. And Kai will be gentle."
At that mont, Harry pushed the ball forward, attempting a quick feint.
In one smooth movent, Kai stepped in and executed a clean tackle. The ball was taken. Harry, unfortunately, was not.
He stumbled forward and landed flat on the turf.
Silence.
Ma Fanshu and ghan stared, montarily frozen, as the birthday host lay face down on his own indoor pitch.
(T/N: My guy's legs are rated E for everyone😂)
Kai pushed himself up off the turf and brushed the grass from his sleeve.
"You need to sharpen your change of direction," he said calmly. "Right now it's a touch slow, and you're telegraphing your move. And don't stare into my eyes when you're about to cut. I can read it too easily."
Prince Harry rolled onto his side, rubbing his nose with a wince.
"Careful," he muttered jokingly. "I am a Prince."
Kai gave a small shrug. "In my country, we don't really do royalty. Technically, we did once, but that didn't last."
Harry let out a breath. "Fair enough."
He was already grinning again. "Another go?"
Kai lifted an eyebrow. "I won't go easy on you."
"Good," Harry replied at once. "Co on."
For the next thirty minutes, Harry hit the ground in every way imaginable. Slipped. Tackled. Outmuscled. Outpaced. Each ti, he sprang back up with the enthusiasm of soone who refused to admit defeat.
At one point, Kai wondered privately whether this was less about football and more about stubborn pride.
Finally, ghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped in and called ti on what she described as their private Champions League final.
Harry drained half a bottle of water in one go and exhaled loudly.
"That," he declared, "was brilliant."
The four of them settled on the sidelines.
Harry looked at Kai with a thoughtful smile. "I think I finally understand what Arsenal's opponents go through."
"You did well, Sir," Kai replied politely. "Your level is high."
"Call Harry," Harry said quickly. "We're friends, aren't we?"
Kai studied him for a mont, then nodded. "Alright, Harry. I an it. Among amateur players, you're very good."
Harry's expression lit up. Praise from his football idol clearly ant sothing.
"I've always wanted to ask you sothing," he said after a pause. "In decisive monts, you always seem to shift the ga. What drives you?"
Kai admitted. "In those monts, I move forward. I attack the space. I don't know if the chance will co, but I do know that if I stop moving, there will be no chance at all."
"If you stop, there's no chance," Harry repeated quietly.
He leaned back, gaze drifting. "Whenever I watch you play, I think about that Champions League final. We were so close. I still wonder. If we'd kept eleven n on the pitch, would it have been ours?"
Kai shook his head. "I don't think about that. The past doesn't change. We either build what cos next, or we stay stuck where we were."
Harry was silent for a mont.
"Staying stuck," he murmured.
ghan glanced at Kai with mild surprise. If she had not known the context, she might have thought the conversation had turned personal.
Harry drew a slow breath. "My reputation hasn't always been great. When I was younger, I made poor choices. So of it was rebellion. So of it was anger. I knew better, but I did it anyway."
He gave a faint smile. "Back then, I admired strength. That's part of why I loved Arsenal. They were powerful, but they played beautifully."
"Of course," he added, a note of frustration slipping in. "That was our only final. Everyone thought we'd win. And then it slipped away."
Kai t his eyes. "Correction. It won't be the only one. We'll reach another final. And we'll win it."
Harry searched his face. "Is that a promise?"
"You can take it that way."
Harry straightened slightly. "Then I'll make one too. I'll speak to Arsenal Football Club tomorrow. From now on, I'll be at your ho matches."
Kai frowned lightly. "You're a British Prince. Showing up at every match might cause a stir."
Harry shook his head. "Not as a Prince. As a supporter."
He stretched his hand to Kai. "Captain. Will you have as a fan?"
Kai held his gaze for a second, then smiled. He shook his head in quiet amusent and extended his fist.
Harry watched the outstretched fist for a mont, then closed his hand to bump it lightly.
"Hello, Kai."
"Hello, Harry."
. . .
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