Trapped In Hisstory

The Crown Prince and his personal knight climbed the stairs of the palace, about to wander around as they wait for the Royal Head Butler, who has gone to the King of Antares to inform him about his son's arrival.

Chance set aside the thought of having forgotten about something and followed after Alec Valorian, who stopped to match his pace, walking with him side by side. He kept glancing over down at the Crown Prince, making sure that he does not accidentally miss a step and slip.

Chance noticed the direction of his knight's eyes and chuckled, "I can see every step I make very clearly, Alec." he said and his knight looked at him when he spoke.

"I would like to make sure nothing bad happens, Your Highness." he said in return. Chance understood that his knight was just being careful and observant to guarantee his safety, especially since he might be guilty that he was not able to protect his own master.

"All right, I know that you are just doing your duty, as to how you would always respond when I ask." Chance said, saying his knight's line ahead of him. For sure, if he tells his knight not to be so protective, he would answer with the same 'It is my duty.'

Alec arrived first at the top of the stairs and he lent out his hand to Chance and he took it. After arriving at the second floor, he made a turn to wander but was startled to meet someone, and they collided, making the other drop the book in his hand.

Chance rubbed his lower back that was hurt from the fall because of bumping with another person. Alec immediately went over to help his master. He extended his hand and pulled him with his other hand supporting his back, "Are you all right, Your Highness?" the knight asked.

"Yes, I am all right," he answered. He suddenly remembered the person he collided with and bent down to pick up the book to give it to him, "My apologies, here is your book-" he said apologetically but he was not able to continue his words when he saw the person.

"Oh, Clayton." he muttered and their gazes met with surprise in their eyes.

The surprise in Clayton's eyes faded and his usual cloudy eyes returned as he looked at this brother, "Right, today was your return." he muttered.

Chance almost grimaced at the tone of his half brother's voice, "You seem disappointed that I had returned." the Crown Prince said as a joke.

"Whether you return or not, I do not really care," he responded with a monotonous tone, unbothered about every word that comes out of his brother's mouth.

Clayton looked at the book that the Crown Prince was holding, "Could you please return my book, Your Highness?" he asked, although he said 'please' it did not really seem like he was requesting Chance to give it back to him. It was more of a give-it-back-now-you-are-wasting-my-time kind of tone.

"Your brother has just come back to the palace, and you do not even take time to greet him?" Chance said.

Clayton looked at him with furrowed brow and with a bit of an annoyed expression as he snorted, "Since when have you cared whether I greet you or not? What is wrong with you?" he said with a scowl.

"Well, right now I care. You need to greet your brother whenever he arrives." Chance said.

Clayton looked at him with incredulity. He wondered if his brother has somehow hit his head and changed him or worse; he is not in his right mind anymore. To be honest, Chance really does not care if anyone ignores him or not talk to him, but somehow he wants to get closer with Clayton. Maybe this way, he could know more about this Howard that was mentioned in books.

"I am waiting." Chance said, hurrying his brother.

Clayton blinked, cannot believe that he has to greet his brother now. "Uh, uhm. Blessings from the Goddess, Glory to Antares. May your afternoon uh-" he greeted as he struggled to find the right words.

"Just a simple welcome back is all right." Chance said with a smile when he noticed his half brother trying hard to greet him correctly.

"Welcome back, Your Highness." Clayton did as his brother has said.

Chance put his fingers on his chin and narrowed his eyes, thinking hard. "Hmm, I think I would prefer it more if you call me by name," he said.

Clayton's brows furrowed again, "I cannot do that. You are a Crown Prince." he responded.

"Then this Crown prince is ordering you to call me by name." 

Clayton stared at him with disbelief and confusion but he still did as he ordered, "Welcome back, Charles."

Alec looked over his master and saw him grinning at his brother, "See? that sounded better." he said clapping his hand.

Clayton paused when he suddenly realized what he had done. 'Why do I have to do as he says?' he thought. He wondered why he was trying hard, and it made him more annoyed. "I would like to get my book back, please." the Second Prince requested with emphasizing the please word even more than before.

Clayton just wanted to get out of there, as he did not want to stay with the Crown Prince any longer. He held out his hand, but Chance still did not give it to him. He approached him in a surprise to startle Chance and steal the book from him, but he failed.

Clayton sighed, "I just want my book and go to a peaceful place."

"And where is that peaceful place?"

"Any place without you!" he responded and tried to take the book again. He felt mad, "You must be enjoying this, Your Highness!" he burst out, glaring at the Crown Prince with his brows forced together in anger.

Chance was surprised by his sudden rise of voice. He would never have thought that he would be mad for just trying to get him to greet his own brother. From the quotation that he had read that Clayton made, it was surely for King Charles and his male lover. He thought that somehow the two would have a good relationship, but it seemed like that was not the case for them.

The Crown Prince extended his hand to hand the book to Clayton, "I apologize, I did not mean for you to think that I am messing with you." he explained but Clayton ignored him and took the book from his brother's hand.

Clayton looked embarrassed. He stared at his book, then back to the Crown Prince with an awkward look. He turned around and walked away from where they were.

Clayton is very sensitive to his siblings. Princess Carmilla, the warm and bright Sun, the one who should have been born before him. Especially Charles, the Crown Prince, a blessed star.

He has always been distant from them, not because he hated them, but because he hated himself. Would things have gone differently if he was not a son of a Concubine? Would things have gone differently if he was not a prince? Thoughts like these always circle around his mind.

As he walked away, he shot one last glance at the Crown Prince quickly and returned his gaze in front of him. He does not understand what it is the Crown Prince wants. 

Charles had never cared about whether he talks to him or not, so why is it he is wasting his time talking to him? Talking to someone as insignificant as he is? Something inside him could sense that his half brother had changed.

Although he does not know whether he would like that change or not. "What on earth made you like this, Charles?" he thought and made its way to the library.

After a few minutes had passed by, Chance was leaning forward to the railings near the stairs, still thinking about the reaction of his brother, or rather Charles's brother. He is trying to figure out possibilities about Charles and Clayton's relationship back then. Maybe once he had gone over to the library, he could start writing about the things he had learned and made a bit of deduction.

From the very start. The moment he arrived in Canopus and now as he had arrived in Antares. Pieces of information he had gathered in his head, along with the dreams he had. It is time to act like the researcher he is, again.

"Your Highness."

Alec and Chance looked at the end of the stairs and saw an Antares servant. "Sir Nicholas has sent me here to guide you to where the King is," he stated, making Chance and his knight look at each other.

"I assume that means the King wants to see me," he muttered and Alec nodded.

He was nervous. This was it, he thought. He had a feeling that meeting with the King of Antares, his father, would not go as smoothly as he hoped. The two of them followed the servant, and he was too deep in his thoughts that he had not noticed that they have already arrived.

The large doors opened, revealing the King sitting across the room in his throne, with a lady sitting on another throne beside him. The lady smiled sweetly at him, while the King looked at him with a stern expression.

"Welcome back, my son."