Trapped In Hisstory

Chance was sitting down, leaning over the headboard of the bed. He stared at the unknown as he was busy thinking of what he should do next. "Hopefully, Fate will give me a dream soon." he muttered.

The incident of the six prostitutes has already happened in his own celebration. The latest dream he had was about their execution. Since the male prostitutes are already dead and it happened exactly as it was shown in the dream, that may mean that he will have another dream.

There are too many people that he was curious about. He would need answers soon. Especially about their roles in the real Charles's life. 

He had just arrived at Antares recently and already met new people that surely play as a key in what will happen in the future. A clue to his ending.

"You can call me Teri, Your Highness."

"Call me any name you would like, do not mind this blank face right here."

"Yay! Thank you, Howard! You are now my friend." 

A new friend. That would be good. That was what Chance thought before. Although having a friend is indeed a good thing, he cannot just trust anyone anymore.

He sensed no threat from Teri; she looked just like a cute girl who Chance would feel like pinching her cheeks and cuddle. But her identity was too mysterious. He needed to keep his guards up.

There were so many questions that he had for the little kid. Who she was, why she was in the palace, why she was in the library, and why did she suddenly leave.

Not only that, there was one more question on Chance's mind. "How does she know Fate?" he thought. "Fate is the spirit that only I can see."

Or so he thought.

He was not sure, anyway. Fate never said anything about him being the only one who could see its spirit. Fate has been mysterious from the start, but even so, he agreed to their deal to live as Charles Howard.

"Howard." the girl called out, and Chance turned around to look at her. "Once you see me again, approach me. And I will guide you to hear the prophecy." Chance looked at him with furrowed brows, but the girl just smiled.

"A prophecy that even Fate did not tell you."

Chance's brow furrowed even more when he recalled what the little girl said. He bent his head back to rest it on the headboard, looking at the ceiling. 'Something that Fate did not tell me...' he repeated.

If Fate knew that and did not tell him, how come Teri knew it? He thought.

Fate, the spirit's reaction when Chance mentioned the girl, was also suspicious.

~~~~~~~~~~

"What is the prophecy, Fate? What is my prophecy?" 

Chance could tell that Fate was surprised by his question, as the spirit did not speak for a long second. "If I may ask, who did you hear that from?" The spirit said in a more serious tone than the usual.

"I heard it from Teri."

Fate was confused, and he turned to face Chance and approached him. "Who is this Teri you are referring to?"

"A little girl that I met recently. She told me that there was a prophecy that even you could not tell me." the Crown Prince responded and he raised his gaze to look at the spirit.

"Chance Howard, when you see that girl again."

"Come with her to hear the prophecy?"

"No. Stay away from her."

~~~~~~~~~~

Fate was telling him to stay away from Teri. When he looked back at when they were at the library, Alec also had a grim look on his face, obviously displeased when he was talking to the little girl. Alec also told him to go and to stop talking to her.

'Why would they react that way over a little girl?' he thought. Knowing how emotionless Alec was all the time, he would never say that for no reason. Unless he knew that little girl, or maybe he could really sense that she was dangerous. 'I should be careful when I see her again.' he thought.

"Once you see me again, approach me. And I will guide you to hear the prophecy."

'But...what if she could really help me? It might lead to a clue.' he thought. If one day he really needs an answer, he should find the little girl and take Alec Valorian with him for his own safety.

If it is Alec's reaction, Chance would understand that it was because Alec just sensed something, but does not know who the little girl was. But as for Fate, the spirit surely knows who Teri was. Assuming that the spirit's reaction might be because it knew her identity.

If that was the case, then Fate must have told her to get away from Teri, because Fate does not want him to be in danger. Or...Fate does not want him to know anything.

Then an idea that he feared came into his mind.

"What if Fate...is the bad one all along?"

He went into a daze.

All of the sudden, he shook his head to remove his absurd thought out of his head. There was no way that could be true. It might be possible, but even though Fate's actions are sometimes suspicious, it was all to help him know about King Charles after all.

He felt like his head was going to explode from all the thoughts circling around his mind. He was not only curious about Teri, but there was another woman that caught his attention and curiosity.

The daughter of the Marquess, who was once in line for the throne.

Vanessa Lanstone.

Charles Howard, the Crown Prince's cousin. He did learn about their family back when he was preparing for the celebration, but he never knew about the lady's personality and other details about her.

The longer he had the chance to talk to her, the more he felt like Vanessa was not what she seemed to be. Vanessa expected Chance to ask her for a dance.

"Fortunately, I benefited from your actions. It helped me quite a lot, Your Highness."

"Requesting to dance with her has helped her, she said. Helped her get the attention of other nobles that she was dancing with the Crown Prince," Chance muttered to himself. "If that was her intention, then I think she wanted more power."

Chance thought that it was to get power so she could have her schemes carried out. To help her father, who was kicked out of the royal family, but her response proved him wrong.

"All that I will do, is not for my father, or my family, but only for myself."

Chance let out a snort. "I never would have thought that she was so selfish. I wonder what the reason behind it." he said.

But there was something that Chance was sure of, even though he does not know much about Vanessa Lanstone yet.

He was sure that she played a big role in the last King's life.

"But is it as an ally or enemy?" he asked, though the answer would not be revealed until the time has come.

He raised his hand and placed it on his forehead to massage his temples. It was morning but he cannot help but think deeply about the people around him.

He felt the person beside him move as the blanket moved slightly. He stared down and saw Caliber have just woken up. He opened his eyes and stared at Chance sleepily, then smiled, "Good morning to you, Crown Prince." he greeted.

Chance felt like all the stress he had from thinking vanished in an instance. He chuckled, "I prefer Your Highness to call me by my name." he said.

Caliber grabbed his hand and put it on his own face. "I prefer the same." he said in return.

"Caliber."

"Charles."

They both smiled and Chance lowered his head near Caliber and the Second Prince of Canopus immediately claimed his lips. "Good morning, Caliber." Chance greeted with a grin.

Caliber cannot hold back his smile. "I could wake up like this every day." He said and moved from his position to wrap his arms around his waist. 

"Why did you not wake me up?" Caliber asked.

"I wanted to let you rest, aren't you tired?" Chance responded. Half truth. Chance's mind was too full of thoughts about Fate, Teri, and Vanessa that wanted some time to think that was why he did not wake up Caliber.

"You are asking me if I am tired?" Caliber asked and a smirk spread across his face, "Should it not be me asking you that? You are the one who should rest." he said.

"After all, I think you were very tired." he said and chuckled.

Chance's face reddened. "Caliber!"

"I meant tired from the celebration." He said and laughed at his cute reaction.

Chance smiled, but there was something bothering him. Caliber has been smiling and laughing as if nothing happened. During the celebration, or even after it, Caliber never asked anything about what he and Leonidas talked about.

And also about Vanessa.

"Caliber, are you not bothered about....Vanessa?"