Trapped In Hisstory

Chance was in a daze as he holds his drink near his lip but not taking a sip. He was not moving; he was too deep in his thought and he did not even notice the nobles that were passing by his table. The ladies who were present at the celebration went to his table.

"Blessings from the Goddess, Glory to Antares!" three ladies said. The other two looked like adults but one of them was still a teenager.

"Stella Saville greets Your Royal Highness."

"Lorella Saville greets Your Royal Highness."

"Jessa Saville greets Your Royal Highness."

The three of them introduced themselves, taking turns and bowing to the Crown Prince. They all wore their prettiest smiles so that they can make a good impression on the future King.

The smiles of the three faded and they glanced at each other when they received no response from the Crown Prince. "The daughters of Baron Saville appear in front of Your Royal Highness." they said and curtsied, but as their gazes look up to him, they saw that Prince Charles did not even bother looking at them.

With an annoyed expression, they turned their heads to their mother, Baroness Louisa Saville. The Baroness clicked her tongue and gestured for her daughters to go away so they would not be humiliated any further.

The ladies who were about to approach him as well, retreated for a while after seeing how the daughters of the baroness were ignored.

Chance did not even notice the three female nobles who went to introduce themselves to him as he was busy thinking about the conversation he had with the King.

~~~~~~~~~~

Chance felt like the heavy feeling in his chest was lifted, knowing that the King actually supports the two of them. "Your Majesty, why do you seem relaxed? Your brother has a...male lover."

King Leonidas turned to him. "I am well aware of the law of your Kingdom. There are many consequences once your relationship has been revealed."

"Once the people find out, there will be consequences. A punishment for this love that you desire."

The King's golden eyes shone as he stared down at the Crown Prince. "I wonder what you would do once royal and heavenly judgment strikes you down."

"Will you stay with him...or leave?"

None of them spoke, and the blowing sound of the wind could be heard because of the silence between them. 

The King may like the Crown Prince, but he still has doubts on whether he would stay with his brother. No people that a person love will always remain by their side. There will come a point where the situation would be too difficult to handle, and sometimes the only answer was to end everything...and leave.

The eyes of King Leonidas slightly widened when he met the Crown Prince's gaze. Leonidas could tell that he was anxious, that he was feeling down because of what he asked him, but his eyes did not waver, and looked directly at the King. King Leonidas did not expect the look on his face because the Crown Prince he had seen until now always lowers his gaze and has no confidence in him.

Leonidas smirked, amused by what he was seeing.

"Why would Your Majesty ask me that question?" Chance asked, not taking his eyes off the King.

"Even if I am now the King, I believe I still have the right to be concerned about my brother." Leonidas responded. "Although you are happy to be with him and he is happy to be with you, I wonder how long that happiness can last."

"One day, your relationship will be put in danger. Would you risk everything just for 'love'?"

Chance looked at him with a serious expression on his face, not glaring nor smiling, but observing the King, "I believe that Your Majesty also has someone in his heart. If that question were also used to ask you, I wonder how you would respond?"

Leonidas went silent as he stared at the Crown Prince. The image of a lady with black hair with her loose nightgown, with tears running down her cheeks as she desperately begs for him to save her, appeared in his mind. Leonidas was amused, knowing what the Crown Prince meant. "It seems you are already aware of the answer I am thinking."

"Whatever it was, Your Majesty, I would do the same. 'Just for love'." Chance said.

The King of Canopus chuckled. He never failed to amuse him. "I wish to remind you that it will never always be 'happy'. The two of you will have a lot to go through."

Chance smiled. "I believe you misunderstood me, Your Majesty. I do not love just for happiness. I am aware that it will not just be happy moments with him," he said, "but I would like to be with him whether the moment is happy, sad, or painful."

Chance took a few steps forward, approaching the King without taking his eyes off of him. "I know Your Majesty has doubts, I know I have nothing to prove yet of how much I am in love with your brother,"

"But I will do whatever it takes for us to remain together until the end." he said, "No matter what..."

King Leonidas saw the determination in his eyes. He knew that the Crown Prince meant every word he said. "And so your answer is..."

"I will stay with him." 

King Leonidas stared at the Crown Prince of Antares, and a smile formed on his face. It was not an amused smile that he always wore, this time it was a sincere smile that was telling him how grateful he was to hear the words he had said. "I will trust your words, little one."

King Leonidas bent his body slightly and went near Chance's ear, "If you decide to go against your words and leave my brother, the whole Canopus will be your enemy," Leonidas whispered, it frightened Chance for a bit but he did not want to show that he was weak.

Leonidas stood up straight again and smiled. "But if not, then we will always be your ally. Not your family's ally, but yours." he said. "We will always provide you the help you need,"

"Even if it is a war against your father."

Chance's eyes widened. "Your Majes-"

King Leonidas chuckled. "I am only jesting. But know that when it happens to come to that point, Stein and Canopus will side with you."

Chance bowed to the King, expressing his gratefulness. "I thank Your Majesty for your blessing." He raised his gaze to the King and saw him trying to recall something.

"Hmmm," the King muttered and chuckled, "Speaking of blessing, I believe I had already given it to you way back."

~~~

Leonidas went near Chance and planted a kiss on his forehead.

Chance Howard was dumbfounded by what the lion-like man did to him. A sudden kiss? His hand made its way to his forehead and touched it. The feeling of the lips was still there, and he glanced at Leonidas, who was just standing calmly with a smile, as if he did nothing.

Before Chance could explain, Leonidas let out a chuckle. "It is a blessing from me."

'A…a blessing?' Chance repeated in his mind, confused by what he meant.

~~~

Chance blushed remembering the time when Leonidas gave him a kiss on his forehead, "W-what does it mean, by the way, Your Majesty?" he asked, trying to hide his embarrassment from appearing on his face.

"If you get a blessing from me, no one in my kingdom will go against you." he answered. "I expressed my blessing through a kiss." he added and winked.

So the blessing does not necessarily have to be a kiss, Chance thought. That explained the aide, Weston's weirded out reaction to his master. "Just do not tell my brother I kissed your forehead or else he will get mad at me." he said and chuckled.

Chance laughed as well, knowing that Caliber gets jealous often. "I hope you remember our conversation even after a long time." he said and Chance nodded, "I will, Your Majesty."

"For just once, again, will you call me Leon?" 

Although he would not dare call a king without proper honorifics, he decided to give it a chance, "I will...Leon."

~~~~~~~~~~

After their conversation, they went back into the greenhouse to meet with the others. All of them were curious, but they did not dare ask since it was their privacy. Chance was expecting Caliber to ask him many questions about the talk he had with his brother, but he unexpectedly did not even ask questions, not even one.

They went back inside the palace with Caliber holding the Crown Prince's hand but distanced themselves for a while when they entered or else the King of Antares, Cadell, will be suspicious.

The Crown Prince took a sip from his drink after recalling their conversation.

"But I will do whatever it takes for us to remain together until the end."

He smiled. He should be happy, but the drink tasted even bitter than ever, so was his smile.

"Just what on earth would you really do, Crown Prince?" he asked himself.