Trapped In Hisstory

At the moment where everything was frozen in place, after Fate has vanished, the Crown Prince's surroundings started to return to normal. 

Finally, the arm of the clock moved again and Chance could hear the cheers of the people that were squeezing each other just to see him.

All of the people's voices could be heard even high up on the balcony. They still have not seen the Crown Prince standing on the balcony.

Alec Valorian stood behind the Crown Prince with an arm by his side and his other hand was in the grip of his sword. 

Nicholas Wright stood beside the messenger who stood near the Crown Prince's side, just enough for the people to see him once they raise their heads upon hearing his voice.

The knights that were on the gate, refraining the people from entering through the gates looked up and saw the Crown Prince and the others that were on the balcony.

Alec Valorian, the Commander of the Knights, raised his hand and the knights saw it. The knights signaled to other knights, and they passed it to their fellows.

The noises of the people ceased, they are silenced as all the knights hit their staves to the ground three times in unison.

When there is finally no single person speaking, the messenger spoke, "To the People of Antares!" he started.

"Bow to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!" 

The people were stunned, and they immediately did as the messenger ordered and knelt while bowing their heads, knowing that the Crown Prince they looked forward to seeing was finally there.

"State your greetings to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!"

The people raised both of their arms with the back of their hands facing the direction of the Crown Prince. "Greetings to Your Royal Highness! Glory to Antares!" they all said in unison as their voices echoed from the hundreds of people outside.

The silence grew as the nobles and everyone behind the Crown Prince stare at him. Chance felt too much pressure pressed against him, but he tried not to let it break him.

He took a deep breath and gazed down at the people kneeling below him. "You may all rise." 

All of them followed his order and rose from their kneeling position and they all looked up to the Crown Prince.

The people had different expressions plastered on their faces as they look up to the next in line to be King. Others looked at him with a displeased look, others looked at him with hate, because he was the son of the ruthless king that they abhor.

Some looked at him with desire, admiring the Crown Prince. Some looked at him with hope, wishing that he is different from Cadell. Hoping that he will be the one that they wished for to come all this time.

Chance wondered what the people that were staring at him were thinking, but it does not matter since what is important is what he was going to say to them.

Alec Valorian looked at him from the back with worry. He wondered if he was ready or if he was nervous. He checked if he was shaking, and doubted if he could deliver his speech properly, but he stopped.

The worried thoughts circling inside the knight's face vanished and he stopped thinking the moment his gaze went to the Crown Prince's face.

His lips parted and he went into a daze while staring at the determined look that his master has on his face. That determined look was enough for him to realize that he should not worry. If he worries about him, then that just means that he does not trust his own master.

Since he noticed countless changes in the Crown Prince, he doubted his abilities. He was wrong to worry; he thought. He should believe in the Crown Prince's power. 

The Crown Prince, Charles. Or rather, Chance, raised his hand slightly to the messenger. The messenger bowed and faced the people of the kingdom.

"Hear the words of His Royal Highness!"

"We are blessed to hear the words of Your Royal Highness." The people said, and they bowed their heads, accepting the words of the Crown Prince.

They raised their hands and looked at the Crown Prince again, waiting for the words he was going to say.

Chance went closer to the balcony for the people to see more of him. He abandoned his fear of talking to many people or the crowd because his goal was the only thing inside his mind.

"I greet every people of our kingdom, who made great efforts just to come here to the palace. I thank every each of you for the blessings you have wished for me in the celebration of my birth." Chance started.

King Cadell looked amused as he watched his son, who was standing tall on the balcony, uttering his first words with humbleness. Humble, a word that King Cadell has never been.

The nobles inside the ballroom have started looking at each other, communicating with their eyes, as they are not allowed to be heard speaking while the Crown Prince is giving his speech.

Even the commoners gathered outside are whispering in secret as they hear the words of the next King. 

Just by the start of his speech, they could tell that he was different from King Cadell. Cadell would always go straight to the point and state his words with authority that makes the people immediately tremble from fear.

"I will do everything in my power to exceed your expectations. All of you always wished for us to be blessed by the Goddess, but here I say," he said, "May you all be blessed by our Goddess and may glory be with you." 

The people gasped, looking up at the Crown Prince with widened eyes. They were surprised to hear those words coming from someone that is next in line to be the King.

The words of being blessed by the Goddess are only used to royalty and nobles of high ranks. For the Crown Prince to say it to them, who are just lowly commoners, was shocking for them.

"It is only right for all of you to be blessed. For the kingdom to have glory, if the kingdom is blessed, then its people should also be blessed."

"The people will have nowhere to go without a kingdom. A kingdom will be nothing without people." Chance said. "The kingdom and the people are one."

Smiles started spreading on the people's lips upon hearing the words of the Crown Prince.

"I may be the star of the celebration for now, but I shall remind you that all of you are stars as well. With the power of the royalty that governs you, you will all shine brighter than the sun."

"All of you are stars, and for that, the Goddess will guide you and light your path."

"May all of us be blessed by the Goddess and may our Kingdom, Antares, forever be in glory."

With that, he ended his speech with his first words to the people as the Crown Prince. There was a long silence after what Chance said and suddenly the King clapped his hands, followed by the clapping of the nobles.

Some nobles clapped their hands because they truly liked what he had said, but some are just forced to join other nobles by clapping their hands.

The Crown Prince turned around to look at the ones who clapped and suddenly heard the cheers of the people.

"All hail the Crown Prince!"

"May the Goddess guide your path to the throne!"

"Glory to Antares!"

Various cheers were heard from the roaring of the people, satisfied to know the king they will have in the future.

The commoners gathered outside have been ordered to return to their homes. The Crown Prince turned and walked towards the ballroom and slowly stepped out of the balcony. Alec smiled for a quick moment and followed after Chance from behind.

The nobles stared as he walked slowly and gracefully back to the center in front of the King's throne.

The King looked amused as he stared at the Crown Prince, "Very well, my son." the King said, praising Chance for doing great without a single stutter.

"I thank Your Majesty." Chance said as a response.

"And now, we should bring liveliness to the celebration, do you not think so?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty is right. What method is Your Majesty thinking?" Chance asked.

The King smiled at him and glanced at the Royal Head Butler. "Bring them in, Wright."

Chance's chest pounded hard as he had an idea who the King meant. He slowly turned around, and the doors opened, revealing numerous feet entering the ballroom.

His gaze looked up and saw a group of men with their hands cuffed as they walked in a chain. The nobles started to whisper, and their chattering went louder after looking at the people who went inside.

The men were almost naked except for the cloth that covered their middle part. 'I-it's the male prostitutes. How could they make them wear this little clothing as they walk in front of many people!' he yelled inside his head as rage filled him up.

"In this celebration," the King said.. "There will be an execution."