Trapped In Hisstory

Clayton stared at him, trying to process what he just said. He tried to figure out what he meant but his brain would not cooperate and his mind was a total mess.

"Of course there is something to misunderstand!" Clayton exclaimed, "Your words are just….too..." he continued but could not find the right words to describe it.

"Tell me, Your Highness, what are my words?" he asked, going closer to him even more.

Before Clayton knew it, he had already taken a step back, conscious of how near he was as every touch of their skins sent electricity flowing in their bodies. 

"The words you say do not sound like something that should be said to someone who is not even a friend or a...lover." Clayton said while trying not to meet his gaze.

Clayton does not understand why he suddenly felt conscious of the servant. He was not like this before but now every time they are together, Clayton feels awkward and always finds himself trying to create distance at every chance. 

Clifford looked at the Second Prince as he said those words, "The reason why I said things like that was because you are not 'someone who is not even a friend or a lover'." he said and put his hand on Clayton's face, making him face him.

Clayton looked into his eyes, and he suddenly remembered that Clifford said that they were friends before, "O-oh that is right, we are friends…" he muttered.

"It could be more than that if you want." Clifford responded, causing Clayton to widen his eyes because of what he said.

Every time Clifford walked forward, Clayton took another step back just so they would not be close to each other.

Clayton could not take another step anymore and was trapped as he leaned into the wall with both Clifford's hands on his sides. "W-what do you mean more than a friend! We should only do such a thing with mutual feelings." he said, trying to find excuses.

"Your Highness, do you not like me?"

"No, I don't. How bold of you to assume that." 

Clayton was surprised when Clifford suddenly leaned forward to his face and his body immediately moved and sat down on the floor to avoid it.

Clifford gazed down at the sitting prince dumbfoundedly, he laughed, "That was fast, Your Highness." 

Clayton blushed and his heart was still beating insanely quick, 'We almost—we almost kissed!' he thought, screaming inside his head. It was a good thing that his body moved on its own, or else something would have happened.

Clifford has a hand on his lips, covering the lower part of his face. He was blushing, but he could not hide the reddening of his ears.

He knelt down to match Clayton's level and had a grin on his face that he has been holding back, "Since when..?"

Clayton felt nervous as he looked at the servant flustered, "What...what do you mean?"

"When did it start? When did you become so conscious of me?" Clifford asked.

~~~~~

"Clifford, I-"

Clifford had a dark color on his face as if his energy was drained. 'As I thought, a servant becoming friends with a prince is impossible..." he muttered, making Clayton even more guilty.

Clayton's vision: Clifford puppy with his ears down.

The Second Prince clicked his tongue, annoyed, but he cannot just let it be. He went near Clifford and caress his back. "N-no, no! You misunderstand!" he said, trying to comfort the sad puppy in front of him.

"No, I understand. How could Your Highness be friends with a servant you just met last night..."

Clayton's hand made its way to the bridge of his nose, pinching it and massaged the temples of his head, "Fine, you win! Stop this act, little dog!" Clayton shouted, cannot handle it any longer.

Clifford almost laugh so suddenly, 'L-little dog?' he thought. His face brightened up. "I win what, Your Highness?" he asked with a smile.

"Friends! Friends, we will be friends!" Clayton answered.

Clifford grinned. Clayton was flustered after seeing Clifford Hill's smile. 'Damn it, what is wrong with me?' he thought.

He admitted that he did expect something, 'I actually thought he had feelings for me so quickly,' he thought. But knowing that he does not hold feelings for him, it was fine. It is a good thing, that way, there will not be anything problematic to happen.

Clifford was happy that the two of them are now friends. At first, Clifford Lockhart just wanted to meet with him, talk to him, then just go. But he realized that he cannot do it. He wanted to find an assurance that they will meet again, that he will see Prince Clayton again. The only thing he could do so, is when they become friends.

~~~~~

Clayton remembered the disappointed feeling he had when Clifford wanted to be friends, 'Why was I so disappointed that time?' he asked himself, 'Did I want something more than—no way.' he denied and shook his head.

He probably became conscious of the servant as a man when he "kept saying those sweet words..." Clayton muttered.

Clayton's eyes widened when he realized he said it aloud and he immediately covered his mouth with his hands.

Clifford smiled and removed Clayton's hands, "It makes me happy to know that I have a chance." he said.

Clayton stood up, "W-when did I say you have a chance?!" he shouted, all flustered.

"It means you see me as a man and not only a friend," he said, "I will try harder now."

"Stop saying it as if you really like me!" Clayton said, annoyed by his teasing.

"But I do."

Clayton stared at him in surprise and his heart felt like it stopped, 'You are not going to seriously believe that, don't you? No one truly loves you.' a voice whispered once again.

Clifford noticed that the prince was in a daze and held both his arms to get his attention, "I like you, Your Highness."

Clayton suddenly turned cold, the wall that had a slight crack was starting to fix itself once again. He could not bring himself to believe his confession, as all his life all the things he heard was a lie.

"Since when?" The Second Prince asked, not meeting his gaze.

"The first time I met you in the library." Clifford confessed.

~~~~~

"Your Highness, if it is all right. I would like to ask something." the man said and a look of embarrassment appeared on his face again. Chance definitely saw it. What a lie it was for him to say that he was not embarrassed about anything.

"What is it?"

"That person...in the library. What is his name?" he asked, looking directly into the eyes of the Crown Prince, eagerly waiting for a response.

Chance blinked and stared at him. He scratched his cheek with his index finger, "Erm, there are four of us in the library." he said.

"Go on."

"The librarian, Edmund?"

"Hmm, I think not." he replied.

"My knight, Alec?"

"No, that person cannot possibly be a knight," he responded, putting his fingers on his chin.

Chance finally knew who he was talking about. "You mean Clayton?"

"Was he the one reading a book?"

"Yes, indeed, that is him." the Crown Prince said and the Lockhart's face lightened up. "I thank Your Highness for your help," he said, and his smile widened. 

Chance smiled to see how glad he was to know his brother's name. "I guess that explains why you were peeking behind the door." he said with a teasing smile. The man stopped smiling when he realized he was smiling widely in front of the Crown Prince.

"Y-your Highness, you might misunderstand me." he said, nervously.

Chance chuckled at his reaction. "Of course not, do not worry." 

It seemed like the son of the Duke and Duchess has never seen or known about Prince Clayton, seeing how curious the man was about his name. "Just so you know, Clayton is my brother." he said, which made the man turn his head to look at him.

"Forgive me for my ignorance. I did not know Your Highness had a brother." he said.

Finding out that there are people who do not know the other prince of Antares makes Chance's heart ache. He must still be hiding behind his walls, walls he made with the excuse of being the son of a concubine.

"Clayton is the Second Prince of Antares. The son of His Majesty, King Cadell with his concubine, Her Highness, Melanie." Chance said so that the Lockhart would know. Seeing someone curious about Clayton made him happy.

~~~~~

Clifford told Clayton about it but the prince's mood seemed to have worsen. Clayton could not focus at his confession where he feel in love with him in the library because his mind stopped thinking straight when he heard how the Crown Prince introduced him.

It was that time where he snapped at Charles for happily saying that he was the son of the concubine. 

'So have you really decided not to take revenge?' the voice continued to whisper, trying to take control again.

All of a sudden, his eyes widened when Clifford pulled him into a kiss.

And the demons behind his back disappeared, filling his mind full of Clifford's face.