42 Is it time to stop?

"I want to get closer."

Those five words drummed inside the researcher's head, he could feel the blood rushing up to his face, 'What does that mean?' he asked in his mind.

'Want to get closer? You are close! You are so close!' he screamed internally when their faces were about to touch each other by the little gap that was left.

'I am...a guy.' Chance told himself.

Then he remembered the times when Ruther kept bullying him that he was gay. What part of him gives off a gay vibe? He was a quiet person before as they all knew that he was introverted. The only times he showed the slightest happiness was when he was teaching history.

[Ruther: You never changed. Silent and gloomy, dark as the night, but when there's something that interests you, your night-like aura lightens up and shows the stars in your eyes.]

Chance went into a daze. 'Come to think of it, why would he describe me like that when we only know each other online?' he thought. Now he is thinking that maybe, Ruther knew him even before the meet-up of the three of them. Though it was impossible, he thought.

"Crown Prince." Caliber called out with emphasis. "Keep your eyes on me." he said, Chance came to reality and was surprised to feel his nose touching his nose.

Alec took a peek and his eyes slightly widened to see them claiming each other's lips. He felt a piercing sensation somewhere in his chest, he did not look away and just watched them with a blank expression.

Ever since Chance was on his mind in the entire dinner, he could not hold back anymore. He deepened the kiss and pulled Chance closer to him. Chance eventually closed his eyes and let his body go with Caliber's flow.

As Alec watched with a blank face, he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Captain, are you--"

Alec immediately pulled him to cover his eyes from seeing Caliber and Chance. Tristan has sweat rolling down his forehead, nervous about the sudden action of his captain. "C-captain, what is wrong? I can not see, stop covering my eyes!" he exclaimed.

The Valorian tightened his grip, almost about to squeeze the dumb knight's head, "Dare speak and I shall move you to Third Squad." Alec said as a warning which made the knight shut his mouth.

The two have not yet noticed that there was someone there other than themselves, while Chance argues with his head about what he currently feels, Caliber was sure of the reason why he did it to him. 

He was sure of why he had given the kiss.

The two aides of Canopus were walking down the same path and were surprised to see the two knights from Antares hiding at the wall on their left. 'What are they doing here?' The female aide thought.

Alec was alert and saw the two right away. It was too late for him to make an excuse to drive them away, the two aides have already seen the two princes.

Alec did not predict how they would react but was slightly surprised that they also hid with him behind the wall. He was expecting a situation or a ruckus but the aides did not want the princes to see them also.

Alec and Niro's eyes met and they both looked at the knight he was holding. Niro understood why, he approached Alec and pulled Tristan away from him, turning him around so he would not see what was happening. "Leave him to me." he muttered.

Alec nodded in a calm manner, "Thank you." 

Sherin and Niro were fazed and stared at the Valorian knight which caused an awkward atmosphere, Alec furrowed his brow, "What?"

The two aides looked away, "Nothing..." they uttered in a low voice.

Niro proceeded to take Tristan away from that area and left Alec and Sherin behind the wall. Silence grew between them, recalling how bad their first impression was to each other. Fights, death glares and rivalry in terms of skills.

"..."

"I was not aware that the words 'Thank You' would come out of your mouth." Sherin whispered.

Alec let out a snort when he heard her remark, "Of course, I, at the least, know what is a proper thing to do at a proper time." he said and Sherin just smirked.

Sherin peeked at the two princes and Alec observed his calm expression, "How come you are not surprised?" he asked. Alec knew that the female aide had been getting hints and ideas about the two but the calmness was still astounding.

Sherin closed his eyes, "It was obvious that there was something about them." she answered and Alec nodded in agreement to find out that he was right. "That will not surprise me," she spoke again.

She looked at Alec and smiled, "I found something more surprising than that."

Alec did not look away from her and was curious to what she was talking about, 'What more does she know?' he thought.

"Stop! Your Highness, we should not do this."

They all turned as they heard the crown prince shouted, Alec could not ask her more about what she had said as Sherin gestured a shush.

None could explain Caliber's expression by the hard push that Chance gave him, "Now you call me 'Your Highness'?" he asked with a little laugh. 

"Prince Caliber, you should be aware of what is proper or not. Stop doing these kinds of things all the time." Chance said with a low gaze, trying not to meet the eyes of the Canopus prince.

Caliber's brows furrowed even more as he stared deeply at the crown prince. "Then..." His low voice has turned into whispers even though they were the only ones in the place. Chance could feel his breath as he was so close, making it hard for him to reject him.

"Say that again while looking at me." he said and held Chance's face into his direction.

Chance was nervous, his heartbeat quickened as he stared directly into the eyes of the Canopus prince. There was a lump forming in his throat but he looked at him straight and repeated his words firmly. "Stop doing these kinds of things." he said with every emphasis.

Caliber stopped and let go of him.

"You should have said so from the start." he said to Chance with a smile.

Despite the smile that he was giving off, one could tell that he was hurt from the look of his eyes.

Somehow, Chance felt guilty even though he did the right thing, 'No, Chance, don't be so soft!' he thought.

Caliber gave a slight bow to the crown prince, "I apologize, I will never do it again."

Sherin noticed the bad atmosphere and thought that it was time for them to appear. She just took a quick glimpse on Alec as a signal and he stood up straight to follow her. They made their footsteps loud on purpose to alert the two princes of their coming.

Sherin saw the two princes far apart from each other and almost let out a laugh because she knows what really happened. "Goodness, we looked all around the palace for you two." she said. "Your Highnesses, do you know how long we looked for you?" she added.

Alec grimaced in secret, it did not take an hour to find them, but they were just hiding behind the wall. Sherin glanced at him as if she had read what Alec was thinking about and glared at him. Alec just looked away.

"We just discussed something but it is already...finished." Caliber stated and Chance flinched at the last word. "We should go back to our chambers." he added and nodded at Sherin, in which Sherin bowed back and followed him.

The two started walking, leaving Chance and Alec behind. But Caliber stopped and looked at Chance and waved his hand to signal that they should follow. Even as it was awkward, Chance approached and now they are walking side by side again.

The two knights followed behind their backs, they were kind of similar. Both blank and calm, in terms of skills they were also equal. A perfect sync.

Alec stopped in his tracks and held Sherin by the arm, "Wait."

She also stopped but took a glimpse first at the princes but it looks like they have not yet noticed that they were not following them. She returned her gaze to the Valorian, "What is it that you need?" she asked.

Alec remembered what she said earlier when they were hiding and was curious about it. "What did you mean by you found out something?" he asked.

Sherin did not want to answer him but there was no loss to take if she said it. 'If it was not for my partner's stupidity, I would never have known.' she thought.

She pulled her hand away from his grip, "I know who that 'servant' is right now." she responded.

"The Crown Prince of Antares."