Trapped In Hisstory

The Canopus prince sent chills down the knights' spine and they grew cold from the meaning of his statement sends. Even though they were just standing on the field, they could feel a blade sliding around their necks from the thought of losing their heads.

Some of the knights were not fazed, for they know that they are innocent. If you have done nothing bad, then there is nothing to fear. But some knights, although they are innocent, they cannot help but feel internally scared.

This is the Second prince, hawk and the spider, right in front of them with deadly atmosphere around them. It is natural for them to be frightened. 

"A piece of advice. You traitors should come out. That way, you may get a bit of mercy from the King." Caliber stated as his eyes travel around each knight. 

The knights were all silent, and none of them stepped forward. Caliber waited for a little while, but no one still stepped out to redeem themselves. The Canopus prince let out a snort and his eyes darkened as he holds himself back.

Chance bit his lip from the tense atmosphere. He has an urge to go to where Caliber was and hold his hand to calm him, but there were too many knights gathered that might see him holding his hand.

"Who were assigned to the Venus wing?" Caliber asked. It was calm as usual, but his tone screams authority, as if its calm manner was commanding them to answer him.

"It is-" 

"No." Caliber said, cutting off Sherin's attempt to respond, "Let them come out on their own." he said. Sherin nodded and stayed silent as she observed all the knights.

Four knights stepped out of their position and took one step forward. They gripped their swords and bowed their head as they come forward, and the trembling of their body could be noticed.

"Speak." the Canopus prince commanded.

"W-we...we were..."

"Speak properly before I take your ability to utter a word." 

Chance felt uneasy. He has never seen Caliber this serious before. This side of him is frightening, but he understands why he is like that. For someone to betray him, not only him, but the royal family. He is right to be furious about it.

A knight letting the enemy get in to poison a prince and abduct a crown prince, that is treason. 'I wonder what will happen when they find out who helped the enemy...this is the 19th century after all.' he thought.

From all the topics he discussed, there was obviously no mercy in the punishments of the past.

One of the knights who came forward swallowed the lump in his throat and tried his best not to stutter, "We were the one assigned to the back of the Venus Wing, Your Highness." he answered, not meeting his gaze.

"So how much was the exchange of the betrayal of you four? How big was the bribe?"

Their eyes widened, and they knelt down on the ground, shaking their heads. "You are mistaken, Your Highness! We did not do it! We swear on the Goddess!" one of the knights exclaimed.

The two aides glanced at each other.

"Then how come the enemies got into the Venus Wing?!" Caliber burst and it startled Chance, as well as the aides who turned their heads in the sudden raise of their master's voice.

The knights were terrified to tell them because even if they were not the one who let the enemies in, they will still be punished for their fault. "W-we took a rest. The other knights came and offered to guard in our spot while we-"

Sherin looked at them with a glare, "You mean to say you abandoned you four abandoned your post," she said and the knights were shaking in fear, "to other knights to take a rest?!"

"We were wrong, Miss Aranea. We we were wrong, Your Highness!"

"We were wrong! We were wrong to take a rest!"

"Please forgive us, Your Highness!"

"We shall not do it again. Please have mercy, Your Highness!"

Their cries were loud, and their begging made Chance's heart ache. 'They must have been so tired, for them to take the offer...' he thought. They were not the ones who let the enemies in. Chance hoped that they will not receive a big punishment for it, "They were tricked. I am sure they did not mean for it to happen..." he muttered.

"I am sure they do not mean it," Alec said when he heard his master, "But it was their fault as well as why the knights could let the enemies in." he answered.

"But they wanted rest..."

"Once you decide to be a knight to serve the royalty and the kingdom, rest will be out of your thoughts." he responded.

Chance did not say any word in return. He has nothing to counter that since Alec has been serving Antares from who knows how long. Chance remembered when he fell asleep. When he woke up, Alec was still standing straight by his side. Not even taking the advantage to rest. 

Chance was recalling the times in Antares, when suddenly his knight was gone by his side. "Eh, where did he go?" he thought.

"Enough cries and begs, tell us who the knights were." Niro commanded.

The knights looked at each other. "If I recall it was the knights, Sir Maynard, Sir Herman, Sir Henfrey and Sir Nigel." one of them responded.

Sherin and Niro know very well how all the knights look, no matter how many knights they are, they have it all in their heads. The two of them looked and their foreheads creased. "Shit, the knights are not complete." Niro cursed under his breath.

He looked at the Canopus prince. "The knights escaped from their spots while we were focused on these four." he stated and Caliber's hand balled into a fist.

"Look for them."

"Yes, Your Highne-

"No need."

The three of them, Chance, and even the gathered knights looked at the Valorian slowly walking to the middle of the field, near the end of the platform where the wailing knights were kneeling. He was walking slowly with a rope over his shoulder, dragging the four tied up knights.

Chance stood up in surpise and approached a few steps closer to see clearly. Four knights who are assumed to be Maynard, Herman, Henfrey and Nigel were tied up together. They were beat up just enough for them to not resist the tie.

"I saw these four sneaking out of the gathering." Alec said.

The four of them must not have realized that there was another knight observing the gathering and so they failed to escape. "So that is why Alec was suddenly gone." Chance muttered.

Caliber and his aides stared at the four tied up knights and when the four met their gazes, their eyes widened and they tried to take off the ropes desperately. They were drenched in sweat out of nervousness. 

"Yo-your Highness!!"

"Please forgive us, it was a mistake!"

"We well never do it again!"

"Please give us a chance!!"

Caliber let out a snort. "That is not up for me to decide." he stated.

"We will do anything! No matter how hard the punishment is! Just spare our lives!" one of the knights cried out.

"We have a family! Please, Your Highness!"

Caliber pulled his sword out and raised the knight's chin with his blade. "Then you should have taken your family into consideration before betraying your kingdom." he said.

The Canopus prince moved his sword away from his face, but it left a little scratch that made the knight bleed. 

The knights know there was nothing they could do, but they still hoped that they will be saved. They spotted the Crown prince standing a few steps behind Caliber, looking down at them with pity.

"Your Royal Highness!"

"Crown Prince, Charles!"

"Please forgive us!"

"Please help us!"

"SILENCE!"

All of them gone quiet, and they turned to the servant who has just arrived. "Weston." Caliber uttered his name, and Weston nodded as a greeting.

The sound of Weston's footsteps could be heard amidst the silence, causing all of them to feel even more nervous. Weston is the first prince's personal aide. First prince, Leonidas, who is now crowned as a King. Weston is now the messenger of the Royal Family and the aide to the King.

Weston stopped in the middle and faced all the people who are presents.

"Do not utter another word, bow down on your knees, raise your hands up and hear the decree of the King!"

With Weston's announcement of the decree from the king, all of them knelt with their hands raised to give respect to the King's words. The two highest knights, the aides, as well as Alec, knelt on one knee with their hands on the sword. Chance almost knelt down, but Caliber grabbed his arm to stop him from trying to kneel down. Caliber and Chance stood still with their heads bowing down.

Weston cleared his throat as he opens the paper to read the decree.

"The Second prince, Caliber Stein, has been granted full permission to do as he see fit. Punishment will be decided by the Second prince's judgment," Weston stated and knees of the knights with faults almost gave up as they weaken from the decree, there were no more escape from punishment.

"As for the knights who are now traitors to the kingdom of Canopus, treason is grave, therefore, they shall be punished," Weston continued, and he looked at the knights tied up together.

"With death."