Heir Apparent: A Nigerian Story.

V

They all stood.
Raudah, Huda, Masoud and Najib, side by side.

Rasheeda and Sadiq were standing behind.
The people in the castle gathered around for the announcement only known to Uncle Awwal.

He comes on stage smiling proudly.
"Well it's been a while, you've all grown so much" he says with the widest smile "I'm really emotional just looking at you all right now"

"I feel emotional too" Najib jokes earning a glare from Bella. It wasn't like royalty to say unrefined things or intrude or so she says.

"I'm sure you are. Well you four will be leaving to meet the Emperor in two weeks and from there back home"

All their smiles vanished, replaced with a frown. None of them wanted to go back home. Not even Raudah, she felt she didn't have enough merits to show her mother.

"Don't worry, it'll be just for a very short while and then you'll be back here"

The whole place erupts with whispers, everyone shocked. Normally when training is done although usually it lasts for just 9years, when it's done you pay respects to the emperor and then afterwards back to the Kingdom and you won't leave until you're done with your local training there, that's the tradition.

Bella just stares at him, not even she knew what was going to happen yet.
"But be rest assured things are about to get a lot different".

And with that he gets off the stage still smiling like he said nothing serious.

He walks over to them.
"It's great to see you all again, it's been such a long time" he smiles.

"It's not even been a month yet" Raudah admits unimpressed.
"I remember when you were just six" he gets serious "Cherish these last two weeks, that's the only advice I'll give you" he looks at Raudah "You too"

"You're done with training for this week"
They all smile brightly.

He walks to Sadiq and Rasheeda "You two need to step up" and with that he walks out.

::

They were all lying down under a tree in the garden. Raudah and Huda conversing, laughing as they did while the guys did the same but it was far from a laughing matter.

"If only there was a way I'd stay here, at this point I don't care about being the heir. Going back to Ulan is going to be torture and I don't think I'm up for it" Masoud complains.

"Me too. I've been studying my ass off since my so called mother threatened to depose my mother as Lady if I don't surprise them"
They look over at the girls "How can they be laughing when they know what's coming?"

"Because they know they won't be smiling much longer" Najib answers.

"I'm thinking of telling Raudah before we leave. Give her something to think about" he winks.
Najib laughs "That stone? Well for sure it'll shock her but Raudah is sweet, she just has a hard exterior"

He nods. He knew how hard her exterior was, he has experienced it more than anyone but it didn't bother him.

"She's beautiful and strong willed"
Najib nods "Yup, your typa girl"
"Typa?"

"You really want to piss Bella off before you leave, don't you?"
"I'll really miss her nagging"

::

Huda loves novels, though Bella has repeated so many times that it's not part of the things she should learn but it's her hobby, she always reads in her leisure time in the library.

The Hind Castle has the biggest library in the republic but it's far away from the castle, it's about 20mins away but in the same domain.

Huda likes walking there because it's always refreshing and she loves stopping by the lake for a while before heading there.

They have their separate chamber in the library in case they wish to study but she uses it to read novels secretly.
She gets her book and smile, excited she'd finally finish reading the book. It was just about 50pages left and to her that was short.

She starts reading her book, humming as she did. Suddenly the door opens and she freezes.

The man who walked in hadn't noticed her as his back was turned to her. He huffs and turns around, freezing.
"Oh hello"

She says nothing and stares at him. She knew from his looks he wasn't just anyone and she was so scared she'd be caught reading the novel. It's unorthodox for a Vassal to waste time reading novels.

She places her bag over it gently still staring at him.
"Hi" she says awkwardly.

"Sorry for bothering you I needed to read this" he raises a book "Apparently it's out of bounds and only meant for Vassals".

She smiles "Can I?"
He raises his eyebrows "I don't think I should give it to you"

She smirks before she opens the door, she could see the librarian looking around. He's a bald man, wearing their attire "You!" She shouts. He turns around and looks at her "The man you're looking for is here"

She wanted a little fun, she turns around and looks at the guy who just stared at her wide eyed mouthing "What are you doing?"

"Thank You Princess" he says walking in.
She smiles and puts her hand out "The book please"
He looks at her amused before gently placing it in her hands.

She turns to the man "I'll be reading this, can you come take it back in two minutes?" She asks smiling at him sweetly.

The librarian was hesitant and looked really worried but nods anyway and walks out closing the door. Something seemed off, the fact that he was chasing him meant the book is important and he just left it to her?

The man stares at her "You're a Vassal" he says like it's a revelation.

She nods "Yes, I think that's what we're called. Who are you?"
He smirks "Why do you need to know that?"

"Your answer depends on your chances to read this book you're hell bent on getting" she raises the book and reads the title "The Disentanglement Of The Old Testament, Prophecy and Traditions: The Quell Of A Tyranny" she raises her head looking at him surprised.

The book is completely off limits for everyone and even they as Vassals haven't read it yet, apparently until they're back from their trip home. It's supposed to be hidden.

"Why do you want to read this?" She asks suspiciously "And who are you to?"

He smiles "As expected, 14years of hard training" he suddenly gets serious "I'm the librarian's son".

"Well that doesn't make sense. Then why does the librarian's son need the book? How did you get it anyway? It's not in the library we use, it's in the Royal Archives in the Emperor's Library, I heard it's even locked in a safe and only the Emperor and Uncle Awwal have access to the library".

He smiles "You'll be using it soon, why don't you read it a bit. Get ahead of the others"

She laughs hysterically "I'm in no way interested in it, I can do well on my own"

He smirks "Can you? You sure?"
"I am and I'm so sure about reporting you too"

Suddenly the door opens.
Uncle Awwal, the head librarian and Bella where standing there.

She felt a shiver run down her spine.

::