43 The one who will always be there

"I suppose there was no need to hide it from you." Alec said with a sigh after Sherin revealed that she knew.

Alec raised his head and looked at her, "Do not tell the little prince about the identity of His Royal Highness." he stated and Sherin looked as if she did not agree to what he had said.

She squinted, "His Little Highness deserves to know that his servant is actually a prince." she said back to him.

They stared at each other for a while, looking like there might be another argument.

The Valorian crossed his arms and also narrowed his eyes towards Sherin, "It is the Crown Prince's order to not tell Prince Louis about his real identity." he stated.

Sherin let out a snort and also crossed her arms to imitate the captain of knights, "His Highness, Louis, is a prince of Canopus. Would I dare lie to him?" 

"His Royal Highness, Charles, is the crown prince of Antares. Would I dare disobey him?" Alec said in return which caused Sherin to be silent.

Sherin removed her arms from the cross pose and straightened her hands to her sides. "Forget it, I have no need to interfere in this scheme." she said and turned around to look at the two princes walking, a bit far from where they were.

"We are knights from a different star kingdom, we might have different masters, but keep it for the sake of their relationship." Alec added before Sherin walked to leave.

"For the sake of their relationship," the female aide muttered and turned her head to him, "What relationship would a prince pretending to be a servant have with our prince?" Sherin asked, does not really like the idea of tricking the little prince for a hidden identity.

"Your prince might see our crown prince as a special friend someday." The Valorian knight responded to her question.

Sherin snorted, "All the more reason to worry of such trickery." 

She was about to walk but turned to him again, "Our little prince is not how you think." She turned her back and went to follow the princes, "Do not underestimate His Highness, Louis." she added while walking away from him.

Alec just watched her walk and he gazed down with deep thoughts. "Was I right?" he asked himself regarding what he thought about during the dinner of royalties. 

He started to take a step and walk to catch up with the three but his attention was caught outside of one of the large windows of the palace. He looked to the same spot where there was a horse outside the gate but as he peeked out, there was none.

"Did my eyes mistake it?" he muttered , but then shook his head, "Not possible for me to see it wrong." 

"Alec!" the crown prince called out. "Why are you still there? Hurry!" he said from afar as he saw that his knight stopped.

The captain, which is his personal knight, nodded and gave a slight bow. He started to make his pace faster to catch up with them. But the horse that disappeared was still on his mind. All the horses by now are near the manor of knights. No carriages and horses would enter far up to the main gate.

"How weird." he muttered for the last time.

~~~~~

Almost near to the path where you see the halls from which their rooms are, Niro came.

He bowed to the prince of Canopus for his greeting and also gave a bow to Chance, knowing that Sherin already knows that he is the Crown Prince so there was no reason to hide the respect any longer.

Though Chance was surprised for him to bow because he has no idea that Sherin already knew.

Niro looked at Alec, from what had happened before, "Where is my knight?" Alec asked.

"Knight Tristan is already waiting in front of the door to His Royal Highness, Charles's room." Niro answered and Alec nodded, Niro just took his nod as an 'okay' sign and a thank you. Last time that he will get a thank you from his mouth is probably back at the wall earlier.

Chance looked at Niro in surprise for his words and shot a glance at Sherin, who was there standing near them. Sherin seemed to have noticed his expression and gave a little smile, "Do not worry, Your Highness, for I have already known about your identity."

'Eh? Who told her?' he thought and looked at the male aide, Niro. Niro saw him staring and immediately shook his head to deny that it was him.

Well, it was true that he did not tell anything, but he slipped. It was still his fault.

He knew that fact and just gulped with seeing mockery in Sherin's face that was giving a smirk. 

Niro coughed and remembered what he came for. He turned to face Prince Caliber with a serious face, "Your Highness, there is news about..." he could not continue it and his gaze went to Chance who was looking at the both of them.

He looked back at Caliber, hesitating to tell it to him in front of others that were from Antares. He was also worried that it might affect something between them since...it was about a girl. Or woman? Old woman? He does not have a clue about it, all he knows is that it was not something to mention in front of Prince Charles.

'Uh...Is His Highness, Charles, the jealous type?' he thought, he was not joking at all, he really wanted to ask.

Caliber was confused as well when he cut off his words, "What is it? Do not try to delay me any longer."

Niro narrowed his eyes, 'Heh, are you sure? If I mention the girl, you might regret it later and kill me.' he said to him with emphasis but that was all inside his mind.

If only he could tell it to him, but he would be killed.

Niro put one hand on the side of his mouth and Caliber understood so he lowered his head a bit near him. "There is news about the one you were searching for." he whispered, the prince flinched and looked at him.

Niro nodded to confirm, "Follow me, Your Highness."

Caliber gave one glance at Chance but there was nothing to be done, knowing the scene that happened earlier. He just nodded his goodbye to him and Chance nodded back.

Sherin followed them and looked at the two Antares citizens in the corner of her eyes and returned her gaze back straight, walking beside Caliber.

Alec stared at Chance's expression as the prince watched them leave until they were nowhere near his sight. He let out a loud sigh when they were no longer there.

The knight knew why he was having that kind of expression, 'Seriously, why say that when you are the one who gets hurt?' he thought.

If he would comfort him, would it be weird?

"Your Highness, these days you have been in low spirits. Ever since you came back to Antares." he stated.

Chance did not seem to hear him, he was dazed and all he was thinking about was what he said to Caliber.

'You should have said so from the start.'

Chance shut his eyes tight when what Caliber said replayed inside his head. His mind was mixed with thoughts of guilt and also his dream.

'What is the meaning of that dream?'

'Why did I act like that to Caliber?'

'Who was in that room?'

'Why did Caliber make that kind of expression?'

'Who was that girl in my dream?'

He grunted in a low voice because of frustration. His head was about to explode, "Why is it I cannot say the things I want to say?" he whispered with a lowered gaze.

Even back in his time, the present Canares, he just let all thoughts inside his head. He felt no need to let it out but also because he was scared to say things that were kept deep in his mind and heart.

'I wish someday I could do everything I want...' he thought.

He was surprised when he felt something warm. When he raised his head, he was in a hug with Alec. "Alec..." he uttered in surprise.

"Your highness," he called out and tightened his embrace around him, "I am here."

He slowly closed his eyes and hugged him back, tired from thinking. Come to think of it, the topic about the girl that Caliber was searching for. Caliber still did not tell him. He was too hopeful that he would tell him.

But still who is he for Caliber to tell him about it.

While in an embrace, Alec caressed the back of his head,

"I will always be by your side."

Yes, Alec Valorian.

The one who will always be there.