Down the Castle Halls

Chapter Five

Niall

October 2013.

There was one problem with my plan to get to know Gehar and that is the fact that I forget to get hers, Harry’s, or even Louis’ number and that I do not know what her hours are for work. It would seem weird to go to the bakery and not have her there. And I do not even know if Harry got her to finally agree.

“Prince,” Zayn approaches with Liam following right behind him. “The King would like to see you.”

I nod my head and dismiss them. I take my time walking through the castle. I have probably been in every single room and walked almost every square inch of the property but it still amazes me how such beauty could be my home.

Nothing really changes around here besides the people. Mainly it is the workers who disappear and that id because they either end up stealing something or they are spies. Even though Sonas is a place of happiness and loyalty, there are still some people who do not follow those rules. Most spies are people who work for Sonas Weekly or Wake Up, Sonas! and are looking for a good story.

They usually never got one though because they were too obvious about being undercover. We also have high security—Zayn and Liam—and their families have been working with the Horan family for years, making them are right hand guys.

Father has been resting in bedroom a lot more lately than a year ago and I could tell when I walk through the doors that he is not happy about it. Dr. Xavier is taking some of his blood from his arm and does not notice me until he finishes.

“Niall,” he says when he looks up. “I did not know you would be coming around today.”

“I asked for him,” Father speaks up.

Ever since we found out that Father has cancer, I have noticed the small changes within my Fathers appearance and health. His skin has become paler, which is saying a lot because the Horans have natural pale skin. His voice has also gotten softer and his eyes have lost their color and shine. Some things might be different with him, but he is still my father.

Dr. Xavier takes the silence in the room as his time to exist. I take a seat on the corner of the bed and end up sighing. He is still my father but he is not the same strong one who was born to be king. He seems fragile now and the doctor says it could be any day now.

Nothing could ever be worse than hearing those words.

“What did you need Father?” I ask.

“We need to talk,” he says. Even with his voice so soft, I could still hear the stern and serious tone he was trying to use.

Sighing, I say, “I know.”

The time has come. Father is going to give me the rundown on how to be King of Sonas. It is like a language that is esoteric to anyone but the royal family and the inner circle. I know most of what is to be expected from a king but I do not know the financial, secretive, and foreign parts that come with being King of Sonas. The first born usually knows that kind of stuff but Greg decided to give me the honor, at last minute of course.

Now it is my time to learn everything behind Sonas. Maybe that is why Greg does not want to be king. He knew from the beginning what was to be expected and he probably figured that he could not handle it. What if I could not handle it? I am only twenty years old. In some people’s eyes, I am still a kid (mostly the elderly but that is still a lot of people).

Father was twenty-six when he became king. It is only a six-year difference but that is still a very big difference. I thought I could be ready for this but I did not think it would happen so soon. I still want to be a guy and experience things. Want to go on dates (especially if the girl is a curly brunette with brown eyes and has no idea on who I am).