47 An attempt to poison a Royal

Few days later in the palace of Canopus, Chance Howard did his job as the personal servant of the little prince, His Highness, Louis Cole.

It was weirdly normal. Nothing much happened in those days he served the prince. Chance has gotten used to having himself into some kind of trouble or confusing situations brought by Fate every day.

It should relieve him that nothing wrong was happening, but somehow he has a bad feeling about the peacefulness in the past few days.

Like a calm before the storm.

"What are you doing?"

Chance turned his head and saw Louis with a furrowed brow, with an obvious hint of annoyance all over his face. "Did you hear what I just said?" the young prince asked.

Chance was not in his right mind, so he could not hear what the prince said at all. It was probably another order since he was a servant. There was no use lying that he heard it so he just asked, "I apologize, would you mind repeating what you said, Your Highness?"

Prince Louis kept noticing the odd behavior of his servant for days, Chance's mind has been wandering over places that make him unable to focus on his tasks. Louis sighed, "Come here." he ordered and gestured by moving his hands to his direction.

Chance gulped, knowing that his master will scold him again as he did for a week of serving the little prince. He stopped in front of Louis and bowed his head while his two hands were together with his fingers fidgeting out of nervousness.

Louis stood with his arms crossed as he stared at Chance that was in front of him and not meeting his gaze, he gave out another sigh before calling his name, "Chance,"

Chance nodded as a sign that he is listening and awaiting his order but still not looking at him, "What is it, Your Highness?" he asked.

"Come and eat with me."

Chance nodded immediately, "I shall do it at once, Your Hig--eh? Eat?"

Louis rolled his eyes, "Yes, eat. Have you lost your ability to understand simple words?"

Chance was speechless. The grumpy little highness is ordering him to just eat? "I do not think that is a proper thing to do, Your Highness, Cole." he said and bowed his head.

"Calling me by that second name is already improper and yet I let you do it right?" he said with sarcasm.

"It is because I cannot think of any orders yet to give, now eat with me and do not waste my time of trying to explain." He added using an irritated tone and he walked away, approaching the big garden table.

Chance could not help but smile and chuckle, Louis says it in a harsh way but the truth is, he just wants to give him a break to rest, knowing that Chance is troubled by his thoughts. 'His little Highness is adorable.' he thought and giggled silently.

Alec Valorian turned to the door when he heard a group of people outside. He opened the door and the maids came in to bring the foods, mostly desserts, which Louis Cole requested.

The Valorian Captain of knights were not really pleased about him just standing there, guarding the place.

He should be serving the crown prince by now while staying by his side and yet he cannot, because Chance is playing his role of a servant.

He never liked the idea of Chance being the youngest prince's servant. He finds it ridiculous for a crown prince that is soon to sit in a throne to be a servant of a prince lower than him.

He stayed in his spot, but still kept throwing glances at the two princes from time to time. No matter how much he dislikes Chance working for Louis, he is but a knight that has no say in his firm decision.

The maids set down all the foods on the table, one fixed the plates and flatwares, one is preparing the tea, all of them each have their own tasks.

One of the maids poured Louis a cup of tea. He took it but glanced at Chance before taking a sip. "Why are you still standing there? Sit down." Louis commanded.

Chance did as he was told and sat on the chair in front of the little Canopus prince.

Louis has not yet drank the tea and watched Chance.

'My brother has not dropped by here for days, I guess something really happened between the two of them.' he thought while staring at Chance.

Louis was expecting Caliber to visit them often, as it was obvious of how much Caliber wants to see his servant's face at every chance he could have.

He clicked his tongue, not loud enough for Chance to hear. Somehow, it annoys him that Caliber and Chance are avoiding each other.

'They are just hurting each other, how stupid.' he thought and grabbed a piece in the cupcake stand that was on the table.

He looked at Chance who was just sitting down, then glanced at the maids who were standing in line, waiting for a command.

"What do you think you are doing? Do you not see the other person at the table? Serve him!" he shouted at the maids.

"But—"

"You are not going to follow my command?!"

Chance stood up and waved his hands, "Calm down, Your Highness, Cole. They do not need to serve me. I am just a servant as well." he said.

"So?"

"Huh?"

"So what if you are a servant? Does that mean they can refuse my order just like that?"

The maids gasped and they took a step forward to bow and kneel. "No such thing, Your Highness. We will do every command of yours without complaints." a maid stated.

Louis nodded, "Good that you made it clear."

A maid went near Chance while holding the teapot. Chance slid his tea cup away from her, "No need, a servant like me shall do it myself." he said and went to grab the teapot she was holding.

"I cannot do that, it is an order from His Highness." the maid said and she steered a bit to the side for Chance to not get the pot.

"Um, no, better if you would just let me." he said again and was going to take it from the maid, but she did not let go.

"Miss, let go."

She did not listen, so Chance had to use more force. But when he did, she let go of the pot, which made Chance lose balance.

Chance restored his balance but dropped the pot to the ground.

The maid covered her mouth and gasped, "Ah-! Forgive me, Sir, forgive me, Your Highness." she said and bowed.

Louis Cole pinched the bridge of his nose and facepalmed. "Do you two think you are playing games? Pot of war?" he said in a sarcastic tone.

"Clean that up." Louis said to the maid.

Chance waved his hand, "No, no. I dropped it. I will clean it." he said and the maid let him.

He bent down and started picking up the broken pieces of the pot while Louis just continued eating.

He went a bit under the table because a piece flew there. He picked it up, but his eyes caught something.

There was a little bottle underneath.

'Why would there be a bottle here?' he thought. It was not familiar. No dish or drink on the table required something like it.

Then he looked at it closely, 'Wait, a vial...of poison?' he thought. 'Why is there something like this here?'

The vial was empty and it seemed like someone has used it. There was no vial earlier when he cleaned. That means it was recently used up.

He glanced at the broken teapot and the content that was spilled on the floor.

His eyes widened, "The tea..!"

He went out under the table and stood up and saw Louis was about to drink it. He rushed to his side and whisked the cup he was holding away, and it flew down to the floor.

It surprised the maids and Alec walked towards them to see what was happening.

"Impudent!" Louis muttered.

"I can explain." Chance immediately said.

"You slapped my cup away from me all of a sudden, what is there to explain?" Louis said with furrowed brows, could not believe what Chance did.

Chance raised his hand and showed the vial of poison he saw under the table, it made Alec and Louis flabbergasted while one maid looked as if someone drained her blood as she went pale.

"Someone dared to put poison into His Highness's teapot."

Louis seemed to not believe until a bird that was on the ground bent down to drink at the puddle of the spilled tea. It suddenly got worked up and was resisting, but it froze and fell to the side.

"Poison me?" Louis muttered and let out a snort, "Presumptuous!" he shouted and banged his hand on the table and glanced at the maids.

All the maids except for one, knelt down near Louis and bowed, "We did not know of such poison, Your Highness!"

"We were only doing our own tasks!"

"We would never dare!"

They said and looked at the maid with contempt. It was the maid who was in charge of preparing teas and the one who let go of the pot, causing it to drop.

There was no escape and the maid cried, "Your Highness!" she shook his head and knelt, "I have not done it to harm you!"

"Not to harm me? Who would believe such an outright lie?" Louis said.

The sobbing maid glanced at Chance with hate and it confused Chance to receive such a glare.

"The poison was for you!"