The stable boy // Phan

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Hello! This is my first full length book I'm trying to write on Wattpad. There is a bit of swearing so please read with caution if you are sensitive to those types of things!💖 I don't know if my writing's any good but I hope you enjoy it!💖

Dans POV

Honestly this whole thing was bullshit. I didn't want the throne, I didn't want a wife, and I certainly didn't want to leave Magic.

Brendon, who is my oldest bother, left a few weeks ago with his newly wedded wife, Sarah (who was the only daughter of a king and queen in one of the near by kingdoms), and said he was not going to return, as he did not want the throne, he "just wanted his beautiful lady".

I thought the whole thing was pretty romantic. You could see in the way they looked at each other, taking any chance they could to be together, that they were undoubtedly in love.
I remember a few times when they had first met, they had gone out for whole days on elaborate picnics prepared secretly by the kitchen for them (the only reason i knew about the picnics, was because i often snuck into the kitchen to grab a carrot or some sugar for Magic).
I had a feeling they would leave. Sarah had a fascination for the countryside, and a dream of living in a little stone cottage, and Brendon had a fascination for her and would do anything to please her. I think it's wonderfully romantic (even though the outcome of them leaving does not benefit me); father did not.

Soon after we'd gotten the news from Brendon, Father had called us to the throne room and told us we needed to pick the next king.

Now my second oldest brother, Prince Dominic, was next in line for this occasion but he startled us all by saying he didn't want the throne. All he wanted was to live in a little house alone on the hills of Scotland and write poetry and music. My father did ask him if he wanted a wife, but he said no and denied all of father's pleas to change his mind and take the throne. Dom's quite a stubborn boy, and i really wish he had just agreed to take the crown.

I could tell father didn't want me to have the throne, and I was fine with that. I don't want it either. Adding to this I don't want to marry anyone, I just want to live in my own house with all the horses I could.
I think this was quite a disappointment to father, as now i realize, none of his son's wanted the throne.

But Dom wouldn't budge.

Father dejectedly called off the family meeting and dismissed us. I left the throne room pretty quickly, because I didn't want to be called back, and sprinted through the palace, to the stables to see Magic.
~
He stuck his ebony face out of his stable as I walked up to his box.
"Hey boy," I mumble, stroking his nose. "So, Dom didn't want the throne after all, I was wrong."
Magic pricked is ears up at the sound of my voice. I pushed his head back through his door and unbolted it then went inside.
As I sat down in the straw, I pulled out a leather bound book from my pocket and picked up the quill and ink pot I keep behind Magic's feeding trough.
Magic turned to me and nudged me sniffing for treats.
"Sorry boy, I didn't have time to grab any."

I sat there for a while, re-encountering my pretty uneventful day. Well except for when father tried to get Dominic to take the throne instead of me, that was... ...thrilling. I wrote it into the book.

I jumped as a knock rattled on the stable door, jolting me out of a blissful daydream. Annoyed, I looked up to suddenly be confronted by my fathers uncomfortable face, peeking over the door.

"Son, do you mind if I sit?" My father eyed out the straw as if it had the bubonic plague.
I nodded and he came in but didn't sit; he just stood there nervously watching Magic.

"Son, your mother and I have been thinking. Your brothers... they wish to lead... 'different', lives to what royal blood should." He seemed to roll his tongue around in his mouth, searching for the right words. "I am aware that you are not yet prepared for any of these responsibilities, however, you are the only one left to take the throne-"

"But father! You know I don't want it! I'm too young, and I have Magic to take care of!" I exploded. I'd known the second that his balding head had popped into view, what he was here for, and i didn't like it.

"Now Daniel, seventeen is not too young. We can find you a wife and Magic..." He trailed off. "Magic isn't important right now, the kingdom is much more and you're going to have to focus on that." His face had set into a stone like scowl and as he talked his arms began to move, gesturing at his annoyance.

"Father! No! I can't leave Magic, he means the world to me! I take care of him every day; he needs me." I was standing now, my fingers twisted in Magic's mane, eyes starting to sting.

"Daniel, do not raise your voice at me. I know best and you will have to cut down your time with Magic." His finger waved at me like one of the plump sausages we have for breakfasts on Sundays. "You have no choice in this! You are the only one left, and, as much as i'd rather, i won't be picking a stupid peasant off the street to run my country, so it has to be you." His arms were practically whirling about in annoyance; I thought he might take off like a plump little purple bird, and all my problems would be gone.  I glared at him as he carried on.

"Your mother says we have a lot to do before the coronation. You will have to marry a princess, so you and your mother will be going to visit the nearby kingdoms to meet all the beautiful young maidens, pick one and make her yours." He turned apprehensively to glower at Magic. "And if you're really so concerned about this horse, we can get a new stable boy to look after and ride Magic about so he doesn't get fat."

At the sound of his name Magic snorted and jerked his head at father, giving him a fright and making him jump backwards.
Father turned to look at me as he righted his hat;  A look of disgust, shot at Magic, was quickly hidden behind his fake smile.

"Well then Daniel. Your mother and i will see you later for dinner then shall we?" He slid out of the stable, closing the door behind him. He leaned over the gate and said: "Don't be late, son! This is all going to be one big adventure! You love going on adventures with that horse."
Father smiled at me. It seemed pretty genuine and it took me by surprise.

"Um... Ok..." I choked out. There was a hollow feeling in my stomach. It had settled there when father said they'd find someone else to ride Magic. He was my horse, how could this actually happen?

Father turned from the stall and made his way out of the barn, shying away from the other horses who popped their heads out to say hello.

I was left, a hollow mess, sitting in the straw, feeling extremely distressed about the fact i was going to inherit that stupid fucking crown, and Magic was going to have to have a stupid fucking pissy stable boy take my place.