Trapped In Hisstory

Ever since morning, the whole palace was bustling. The Royal Head Butler, Nicholas Wright, was commanding the servants strictly to carry out the tasks that were assigned to them. 

With just a single mistake, the servants went through scolding. Every one of them should be quick and efficient, as per orders from the Head of the servants. The day finally came for the Royal Family Howard, especially the star of the celebration which is the Crown Prince.

The servants moved at a quickened pace as they hurried to their stations. Some are carrying something in their hands and the workers who are not mostly seen working in the palace are also present to do hard and heavy works that butlers are not assigned to do.

Even though the celebration will be held inside the palace, the Antares people are very lively as well. The people are treating it as a celebration for themselves. It should be natural to prepare and celebrate the birthday of a prince that will soon be their king. Although all of them fear the current king, His Majesty Cadell, they put all their hopes into meeting the Crown Prince to see if he would be the same or not.

The colorful pennant banners could be seen in every street that the people walk on. The banners of the symbol of Antares as well as the banner of the Royal Family, Howard, were hung in the palace, spread on every wall and the entrance of the kingdom. 

The laughter of children running around the streets as well as the loud voices of their parents scolding them brings more life to the celebration.

It is the first birthday celebration of Charles Howard as the Crown Prince. All of the nobles with the lowest to the highest ranks will attend just to celebrate with the new Crown Prince of Antares.

But the problem that all of them did not know, was that they are going to meet Charles but not the real one. They will meet Chance, that is inside the body of the Crown Prince. It makes him nervous since socializing has never been in his plan back when he was in his own time. But he practiced, memorized, and is trying his best not to mess up. He is trying hard to be Charles Howard, even though that was not who he really was.

Chance Howard was inside his changer with maids that Tailor Linda has brought with her. Tailor Linda has her fingers on her chin, looking at the Crown Prince from feet to head as the servants dressed him up.

Chance did not bother making a fuss of the servants dressing him up and just let them. He was in a daze, thinking of what the little girl, Teri, said to him.

"The Prophecy that even Fate did not tell you."

He raised his hand and bit his nail as he thinks of the words of the little girl; it bothers him and made him curious to the point he cannot sleep. 'What does Teri mean by that? Some kind of prophecy exists? About what?' he thought.

His arm was suddenly pulled away from his mouth, causing him to stop biting into his nail. The servant just pulled his arm without even bothering to say so, as if she was in a hurry. 'They must be in such a rush for their other tasks.' Chance thought as they continued to dress him up and finish the upper part of his clothing.

Tailor Linda smiled while walking in circles around the Crown Prince, seeing him all dressed up with the outfit that she had made.

The Crown Prince wore a white shirt with a wine-colored cravat, which is held together by a silver clip with an indigo gem in the center with a mark of the Family Emblem, shaped like a diamond. His vest was a deeper midnight blue, and he wore white trousers with a belt secured with a gold buckle. He then has knee-high boots of the same dark shade, with three clasps on and above the ankle, as well as a strap over the top with a gold clasp.

He was wearing a white coat with black, gold, and crimson accents, and a large wine-hued cape with gold decorations that goes down until his leg just above his feet, almost reaching the ground.

"Perfect!" the tailor exclaimed, as she clapped her hands. "Since it was I, Tailor Linda, who arranged it. It would surely fit Your Highness!"

Trying on outfits was indeed a hassle. Some would like it, but not for Chance. He was thankful that Linda did not bring a dozen of clothing like before, which is weird since that is something Linda would not do. "How great, you brought only one outfit." Chance muttered.

Tailor Linda put her hands on her waist, looking as if she never liked the idea of bringing only one to the chamber of the Crown Prince. "His Excellency is scary! Do you know how many outfits I have prepared for Your Highness? He made me bring it all back and get only one piece of clothing for Your Highness to wear!" Tailor Linda said, complaining.

Chance closed his eyes, almost tearing up. 'Damn, thank you, Alec. My savior!'

"I am grateful for your efforts, Tailor Linda." 

Tailor Linda curtsied, "Anything for Your Highness."

The servants have already left and the door that was about to close opened again and the Valorian Knight entered. He was wearing his formal, ceremonial outfit. The one that he wore on the Coronation in Canopus.

Tailor Linda raised her hand and put it on her mouth that was gaping at the handsome features of the knight, "Looking dashing as ever, Your Excellency." Linda said as a compliment and Chance nodded as well in agreement as he stared at his personal knight. "As expected of the handsome Commander of the Antares Knights." she added.

Chance glanced at the tailor upon hearing the last bit of her words. 'Commander?' he asked inside his head. He has been wondering why they were greeting his knight with an honorific of excellence but turns out he was also the Commander.

Alec introduced himself to Chance when they were in the carriage as the Captain of the Knights of First Squad, but never did he know that he was also the Commander of all Knights of Antares. Good thing that he heard it from Linda's mouth. If he did not know about it, he would be more suspicious in the eyes of his knight.

'Come to think of it, I should have pretended that I lost all my memories back then...' he thought. He shook his head. 'Nah, that would not work. Everything might change.'

"Tailor Linda, is everything done?" Alec asked.

Linda nodded proudly and pointed at the clothing that the Crown Prince was wearing. "Of course, if it is I, Tailor Linda, then everything will be done at once," she responded with a smug look on her face.

Alec stared at the Crown Prince's new ceremonial outfit and a slight smile appeared on the knight's face. "It looks good on you, Charles." he complimented.

Chance's eyes slightly widened when he caught him smiling and surprised to hear him call him by his first name again, 'I-is he sick?' he thought, a bit nervous about what he just witnessed.

Tailor Linda blushed as she shifted glances between Alec and Chance. 'I am seeing something I should not be seeing!' she thought and chuckled. "Of course it looks good on him for it is I, Tailor Linda, who made it!" she said, repeating her favorite line with her name.

"I shall now be on my way. I wish Your Highness a happy birthday." Tailor Linda said, and bowed. Chance and Alec returned the bow and allowed her to leave, and she opened the door and left the two of them alone.

"You called me Charles again." Chance said.

Alec just realized that he did call him by name and bowed his head, "Forgive me, Your Highness." he apologized.

"It is all right." Chance said. He did call him Charles already, but that was because Louis did not know that he was a prince yet.

"The carriages of some nobles have already arrived."

"Specifically?"

"Lockhart, Lanstone, Midford, and Millington House." the Valorian knight responded.

"They sure came early." Chance muttered with a stressed sigh. Those are already four houses, attending the celebration. For sure since it is a grand celebration, more houses would attend. It was still early.

"Your Highness, I am sure you already know?" 

Chance turned to face his knight. "Know what?"

"A few houses from Canopus will come as well." Alec responded, causing silence inside the chamber.

A few seconds, Chance's eyes widened. "What? From Canopus?" he asked.

The Valorian knight nodded in response. 'Yes, Your Highness. Though we are not sure which families would come. The only thing we are sure of was the House of Cameron. Duchy of Canopus."

Chance put his hand on his face, but he calmed himself. "I am sure everything would be fine." he muttered to himself.

The Celebration of his birthday is about to start. Hopefully, the liveliness could continue until the end, and would not be replaced by chaos brought by the ruthless King of Antares.

"Let us now go."