Trapped In Hisstory

Chance lit up when one of the servants answered that there is a child that fits his description of Teri, the little girl they saw by the window.

"Really? Who is it?" The Crown Prince asked and held the maid by both arms, "Where will I find that child?"

His continuous questions put pressure on the maid and she panicked, she looked nervous after all it was the Crown Prince right in front of him.

"I... it's..." The maid looked down at both of her feet, hesitating to answer.

"The Crown Prince is the one asking you, you should not hesitate and answer it at once." Alec Valorian said and even though the maid was not looking at his face, he could imagine the frightening look that the knight was giving her.

The maid's hands gripped her clothes, "I apologize, Your Highness. I am just afraid that I might be wrong and waste your time—

"It is all right. If you are wrong then I will look again, you do not have to be scared." Chance said, trying to reassure the maid.

The maid raised her head and her face brightened, she never knew that the Crown Prince was too lenient. "From your description, I could only think of one child. I once saw her in the palace, but I do not know if she still visits." 

"I see, so from which family is the child?" Chance asked, eager to know so he could go to them at once.

The maid put his hand on her chin, "I believe I saw that girl with the Lanstones. So I presume that she is a lady in that house." she responded.

It was just yesterday that he met the Lanstone Family and now it is being mentioned again. But it was surprising that the child is a lady in House of Lanstone, he could very much remember that Teri's hair was not silver. 

"I said that the child I am looking for has a black color right? How could she be part of the Lanstones?" Chance asked in confusion. It is not possible for a child born by the Marquess to not have silver hair. Even his wife does not have black hair.

"I do not know, Your Highness. But I am certain that it was a child from the Marquess household."

"A black-haired girl from the Lanstone House..." Chance muttered. He placed his hand on top of the maid's shoulder and patted it, "I am grateful for your help. I will see it myself."

The maid blushed and bowed, watching the Crown Prince as he walked away with his knight. 'He...is not as scary as I thought he would be.' she thought and happily resumed her work.

"Alec, what do you think?"

"Pardon?"

"Do you remember what Teri looked like?" Chance asked. It was just recent so he thought that Alec would still remember.

Alec seemed to not be pleased to hear about the little girl, and he does not want to recall even one part of her face. "...Yes, Your Highness."

"I am not wrong, am I? From what I remembered, Teri had black hair."

Alec nodded, "Indeed, the little girl we saw at the library has a black hair."

Chance wondered how the girl was in his uncle's house. 'Could she be wearing a wig? Probably not since it looked so real.'

Chance even considered that his uncle may have an affair or had a child with another woman but he felt like that was not the case. "Adopted?" he thought.

"Possible." Alec nodded. "But do keep in mind that there is a possibility that the one in the House of Lanstone is the same one from the library." 

"I will keep that in mind so I would not have high expectations. But it is not bad to hope, let us see it for ourselves." Chance said.

He looked at the clothes he was wearing and it was enough to bring outside. It was Chance's plan to find the girl today so he should move fast.

"Did you ask for a carriage?" Chance asked since visiting the Lanstone household was a sudden agenda.

"No, Your Highness, but there is always a carriage waiting." Alec responded. "But is it a good idea to use the royal carriage? Your visit to Lanstone might reach the King."

Chance chuckled, "It is fine. He will not find out the reason why I planned to go there."

"But some might make their own reason and it would make you look bad to the King."

Chance placed his hand on Alec's shoulder, "Then I will let them know that I visited the Lanstone to meet with Lady Vanessa." 

Alec was a bit surprised. To think that the Crown Prince will use Lady Vanessa as a reason, he never expected it. 'Come to think of it, what did they talk about when they were dancing?' he thought.

Alec followed after the Crown Prince and after a while of walking, they came across Tristan. "Oh, Your Highness!" Tristan greeted with a smile on his face.

The Crown Prince felt awkward, how could this knight still be smiling at him even though he forgot his whole existence and left him in Canopus?

"Oh, Tristan."

"Where is Your Highness going? I can come with you two." Tristan said, excited to go out again.

Chance did not want to answer and tried to find a response that would not be too rude, "We do not need you to come with us, go away." Alec said and waved his hand as if trying to shoo a fly away.

Chance was speechless as he stared at his personal knight, 'Here I was thinking of a response that would not make me sound rude, but you—' he thought and face palmed.

"Eh? But I am also His Highness's knight!" Tristan said, he was frowning knowing that he would not be able to accompany the prince.

"You are a knight in the First Squad. I decide what you will do."

"But His Majesty ordered that I also protect the Crown Prince, therefore I am also his knight." Tristan insisted.

"No, I am Charles' only knight. He is my master, only mine."

Tristan and Chance both fell silent and stared at the Valorian Knight. Chance did not know how he would react, he never knew that his best friend, his knight would be this possessive over the master he serves.

".....Anyway, His Majesty only ordered you to be a knight back in Canopus. We are no longer in Canopus." he said and continued walking.

'Is he shy because of what he said?' Chance thought and looked at his knight who turned his back, not showing his face.

Chance did not move and waited until Alec noticed he was not with him. After a while, Alec turned around again and approached him, "Let us go now, Your Highness." he said and extended his hand.

Chance felt a bit bad for Tristan because he is always getting to come with them, but he needs to look for someone, so taking Tristan would not be a choice.

Chance put his hand on Alec's and they both got out of where Tristan was until they were far enough not to be seen by the knight anymore. 'Wait, why is he escorting me like a lady?' he thought and removed his hand.

They both left the palace and rode the carriage that was waiting for them outside. Alec opened the door for Chance and he stepped inside and sat down with Alec following.

The horses started moving and Chance just peeked outside the window, watching outside as they waited until they reached the House of Lanstone.

Teri was the one he was looking for and he hoped that they were right about him being in the Lanstone Household. 

Vanessa Lanstone came to his mind, they were just together last night and now they might meet again.

~~~~~

"Your Highness may be correct," Vanessa said while walking with Chance.

"Regarding?"

"About me being a scheming lady." she responded and smiled. "Do not worry, it is not in my plan to bother you, but there are indeed some things that I want to get." 

"Vanessa Lanstone," Chance stated her name and snorted. "What are you planning?"

"It is too early to tell you what I want, but I can assure you that it will help you as well."

Whatever it was she was planning, Chance could only guess that it would be connected to the royal family. Knowing how Charles's uncle, the Marquess that was a former Crown Prince, ended up being kicked. He wondered if her plan was revenge. "Lady Vanessa...are you doing this for Marquess Calliwell?"

The two of them stopped as they were a few feet close to where the Lanstones were. Lady Vanessa removed her hand and faced the Crown Prince. "All that I will do, is not for my father, or my family," she said and smiled.

"But only for myself."

~~~~~

Sure enough she was interesting. Chance cannot help but be curious about Lady Vanessa.. "Hmm, I wonder how you will help me, cousin."