Trapped In Hisstory

"Blessings from the Goddess, Glory to Antares." the woman said while raising her arm in his direction. She curtsied. "Vanessa Lanstone, the daughter of the Marquess, greets Your Highness."

Chance stared at the lady who was in front of him. Even though he does not know her from this time and back in his present time in the 21st century, he felt like he is connected to her. 'Vanessa Lanstone must have played a big role in the real Charles' life in the past.' he thought. He bet that he would be seeing her often.

'House of Lanstone...' he thought, and observed the lady from her feet up until her head. Seeing her straight and silver hair, there was no doubt that the woman was indeed from the family of the Marquess.

"Please raise your head, Lady Vanessa." Chance said, and the lady did as she was told. She put her hands in front of her and smiled. Even Jasper blushed at the sight of a beautiful and graceful lady standing before them. One that was not from Antares would assume that she was a princess.

Her silver hair, one that he had gotten from her father, made her look like she was from the Royal family. 'After all...' Chance thought and glanced at the King who had an indescribable expression on his face. Between pleased and displeased, Chance does not know how the King was feeling right now.

Chance closed his eyes, then looked back at the lady from the House of Lanstone. "Pleased to see you in the celebration, Lady Vanessa. What is it that you came here for?" he asked.

She smiled, "I would like to greet Your Highness a happy birthday." She responded.

Somehow, he felt no threat coming from Vanessa and so the Crown Prince smiled in return, "Thank you, Lady Vanessa."

"Your Highness, speaking from my family's stead, I would like to ask if you want to come over to our table. Just to take a few moments of your time," she said. Her eyes shifted to the two people behind the Crown Prince. "That is if I am not interrupting you with the other gentlemen."

Chance looked at Jasper, who seemed to not be bothered or would complain. He would just let the Crown Prince go, Chance snorted, 'You obviously did not like the Saville sisters and now you changed after seeing Vanessa.' he thought and shook his head from side to side. "Go on, take him away." Jasper said with a smile, and Chance glared at him. But he just laughed.

Chance looked at the Second Prince of Canopus, who was just staying silent. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Caliber smiled at him, "Yes, do not worry about me."

"I will go for a bit. Wait for me." Chance said, and the two of them just smiled with no complaints.

Chance faced the lady. "Lead the way."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Vanessa Lanstone started walking and the Crown Prince followed, matching her pace as he saw the Marquess and his wife on a table, making him no need to follow behind. The two of them walked together, side by side, and Chance did not expect the people around to look at them and react as if they were stunned.

"What a beautiful silver hair."

"Lady Vanessa got it from the Marquess, it made her look even more beautiful."

"His Highness and Lady Vanessa are walking together, white hair and silver hair. They shine whenever they go."

"The Baroness must be gritting her teeth by now."

"The two of them look great..."

Chance clicked his tongue, but not loud enough for Vanessa to hear. 'So many whispers, can they not mind their own business just for once?" he thought.

The two of them arrived at the table of the Marquess and the Marchioness. A man who was probably at the same age as the King of Antares with silver hair, hands wrapping around the waist of his wife with a golden brown hair. With these two different hair colors, Vanessa got the same as her father.

The Marquess saw the Crown Prince and her daughter stop by their side, and so the couple turned to face them. "Greetings, Your Highness. Happy Birthday!" he greeted, looking genuinely cheerful for celebrating the Crown Prince's special day.

Chance cannot help but to look at the face and hair of the Marquess. There was no doubt that they would be mistaken as part of the Royal Family. "Thank you...uncle."

Marquess Lanstone was surprised yet happy to hear his nephew, the Crown Prince, calling him uncle again.

Calliwell Lanstone was indeed his uncle. The brother of the King, Cadell Howard. From what Chance found out while studying the families, Prince Calliwell was supposed to be the one to seat on the throne. Unfortunately, there was an incident that made the past king, King Chrollo, take the title of Crown Prince from him. 

Not only the title of Crown Prince but also the name of a Howard. Calliwell Howard, or rather, Calliwell Lanstone was kicked out of the palace and the royal family. Calliwell took the last name of his dead mother and lived on his own.

Regaining his glory back from good deeds, King Chrollo was satisfied with his behavior, but he can no longer get the title anymore. Instead, the King made him a Marquess.

Calliwell and the Lanstone Family would have been part of the royal family.

But somehow, Chance kept getting a feeling that...King Cadell was the reason why Calliwell was kicked out. Chance glanced at his father, 'For someone like you, you probably planned everything so you could be the King.' he thought as his eyes met with his father's gaze.

"I am glad to see you again, Charles. We meet sometimes but not close enough like this," he said. "You have indeed grown so much!" the Marquess added while letting out a laugh.

'For someone who was kicked out of the family, and got his title taken away from him...how could he be so happy with no worries.' Chance thought. "I am pleased to see you again as well, uncle. Thank you for coming to the celebration." 

"Of course, I would come! It is my little nephew's birthday after all." he said and Marchioness Margaret smiled along with the laughter of his husband.

"Or would you rather have me call you Your Highness?" Marquess Calliwell asked.

Chance shook his head. "No need, uncle. Even if I become the King, I would still be your nephew." he responded and smiled.

Calliwell smiled and raised his glass to him. "I am looking forward to seeing you on the throne. It is your rightful place." 

Chance just smiled as a response and his eyes went to the daughter of Marquess Calliwell and Marchioness Margaret. Vanessa stayed still in her place and did not speak if she was not called. Manners of a real lady could be seen in her every movement. That is probably most of the people have their eyes on her besides the royal family.

Chance and Vanessa stared at each other and it felt like the lady wants to tell him something using her eyes. Then Chance remembered what just happened to the Saville sisters earlier.

"I already noticed your daughters, Lady Louisa. But as for the matter of dancing with them, I do not think that it will be your choice."

"Leave and do not humiliate yourselves any further."

"Well, what do you expect? It is not like the Crown Prince himself will ask for a dance."

Chance looked around and observed his surroundings in secret. Since the King was being suspicious of him, maybe it was the best time to distract King Cadell.

Chance took a few steps towards Lady Vanessa and stopped in front of her. He bowed and extended his hands, making others look at them. "Lady Vanessa, may I have this dance?"

King Leonidas stopped drinking, and his attention shifted to the Crown Prince and the lady. King Cadell, who had his eyes on his son since the beginning, squinted at the sight of the two.

Vanessa Lanstone smiled and placed her hand on top of the Crown Prince's palm. Chance took it and kissed the back of her hand. 'Am I doing it right? I see this a lot in the comics...' he thought, a bit nervous.

Chance stood up straight and guided the Lady of Lanstone to the center of the ballroom to have their dance. As they walk together, the whispering became louder, sharing different thoughts, be it negative or positive it was good that it will lessen the King's suspicions.

Chance saw Caliber looking in his direction, but Chance immediately looked away. 'Sorry, Caliber. I will explain to you later.' he thought.

Lady Vanessa and the Crown Prince started dancing and the people around them complimented them and stared at them with admiring gazes. Other pairs started to join the dance as well, coming in sync with the two of them.

"Your Highness seems to know my thoughts well.." Lady Vanessa said with a smile.