Chance was no longer looking at the knight but Alec remained staring at his master. He was confused, and curious as to why the Crown Prince was looking at him but he could not ask him for the reason. It has been a while since the Crown Prince looked at him with eyes full of pity. The first time was when Charles saw him lying down in the grave of his first friend, Aloy.

    ~~~~~

    My hands trembled while I carried the heavy sword, my body was still weak but all I could feel was rage. There was not an ounce of fright on the white-haired kid''s face as he looked at me and Aloy''s grave. I was annoyed by the look he was giving me, it was as if he was pitying us.

    How could a prince like him give pity when it is the king, his father, who pushed us to this kind of state and made us become like this? He is part of royalty, a prince, I...I should kill him.

    I have to make sure that everyone dies.

    It was difficult to stand up like there was something holding me back. As I was finally on my feet, I tried to walk towards the boy who was watching us but I noticed a light coming from behind me. Just like that time when I was being swallowed by darkness, Aloy appeared again and he wrapped his hands around me in an embrace, causing me to stop and feel his touch.

    His hands went up to my face. His gentle touch slid against my skin and he covered my eyes. I wanted it to last longer but the sleepiness has taken over causing me to drop my sword and fall to the ground.

    ---

    I noticed the prince''s eyes full of sadness and guilt as he waited for me to answer him. I looked away and did not say anything, I did not know what I would give as an answer. The answer was quite obvious, I know he will not expect me to say yes, knowing fully well what his family did to me and my tribe. I could not say that I do not hate them, because that would be a complete lie. But I do not want to tell him yes because it would put him in pain.

    I sighed, I can just say yes, why am I worried about what he would feel? This complex feeling is so troublesome.

    "I know you do. After all...it made you become like this. It must be hard for you now, staying in the wilderness, surviving all alone..."

    I let out a sigh, "I do not need your pity, Your Highness."

    "I am sorry..." Charles said

    ~~~~~

    Since that time when he told the Crown Prince that he does need pity, that was the last time that the Crown Prince looked at him with that kind of gaze. ''Charles knew that I hated it whenever he gave me a look of pity, but why did he look at me like that again?'' Alec thought.

    He felt strange after seeing his gaze, it was as if the Crown Prince wanted to tell him something. His hand went to his own face, it has been a long time since the day they first met but he could still feel the Crown Prince''s hand that caressed his face before he lost consciousness.

    He glanced at Chance again who had already returned his gaze in front of him. ''What did you want to tell me, Charles?'' he thought, ''Or am I not allowed to even call you Charles once again?''

    ~~~~~

    Chance handed the letter to his knight for him to read, their fingers brushed against each other making the crown prince pull away in a flash and his reaction surprised Alec, although it was not seen on the expression of the blank-faced knight.

    The crown prince gulped, he realized his action had offended the knight in some way. To his surprise, Alec did not question him and focused his gaze on the letter. He was expecting to see a different reaction but he guessed a blank face would be a blank face.

    "Are you sure you want to return without meeting the King of Canopus?"

    He should actually find it good luck that he was ordered to return without needing to meet the new king, but half of him now wants to continue waiting for the king so he could stay longer in Canopus. But he has no choice.

    "Yes. If I wait for the moment I could meet the king, I doubt that I would make it to the celebration." he answered. Up until now, there was no news from the new ruler, it might take a few more days before he could have a chance to have an audience with the Canopus king.

    "Although he had mercy to make me return, I bet King Cadell would have an obvious disappointed look on his face because of my failure." Chance added.

    Alec put his hand on his shoulder, wanting to comfort him but Chance moved away. The knight slowly curled his fingers into a balled fist and put it back to his side. "Why do you seem nervous around me?"

    Chance did not say a word. How could he respond to a question that even he does not know the answer to? Maybe embarrassed to meet with his knight after spending the night with another prince. "I...I am sorry." he said, implying that he cannot answer him.

    Alec just snorted at his apology, "You have no need to apologize to your knight." The captain of the knights'' tone was cold and it made Chance feel bad.

    "About last night--" Alec immediately turned to the crown prince, there was a glint of hope in his eyes, expecting his master to open up to him, "-I apologize, we left you three and never called back."

    "What else, Charles?" he asked, expecting more. His knight calling him by name, without honorifics, sent a weird feeling inside him. "Are you guilty about something you are not telling me?" he stated with suspicion which made Chance cold.

    From the start, he wanted to tell it to him. About everything. About why he ended up in this century. About Charles''s lover, his death, their deaths. But it is not allowed by Fate. "Yes. Yes, I am." The historian whispered, enough for his knight to hear. "I am guilty."

    The crimson knight did not avert his burning eyes and continued to stare at his master, "What are you guilty about?" he asked. His tone was firm, serious, but at the same time it was as if a plea. For Chance it felt like his knight was begging him to answer.

    "Guilty about something I cannot tell you." the crown prince answered with a lowered head.

    "Something you cannot tell your--" he paused and closed his eyes like he was holding back. He let out a snort and a slight smile, "That is right, I forgot. These days, I am just a knight for you. Nothing more than a servant."

    The way he said it was cold and distant, although it would sound normal for people that are used to Alec being emotionless, Chance could feel the pain in his voice. He wanted to tell him the truth, but he couldn''t. What was he supposed to say? ''I am from the future, I went to your master''s body. All of you are already dead.'' The truth would destroy him, his feelings and their fate.

    The Valorian turned around, "I will be outside, guarding your chamber''s door. Call me if you need me, Your Highness." he said and started walking towards the door to open it.

    Chance bit his lip, "I am sorry--" the door shut and the knight was no longer in the room.

    ~~~~~

    That time, he had already closed the door and could not hear what the Crown Prince was about to say. ''For taking? For taking what?'' Alec thought and asked Chance inside his mind. ''What were you about to say?''

    The conversation he had with the female aide was still on his mind, and recalling the memories of his past made him feel heavy and now because of the Crown Prince gaze, the worse he felt. It was not just a gaze of pity, but also guilt.

    Alec does not understand why he looked guilty. He understood why he was guilty before, but it has been ten years, why was he still guilty about what the royal family did to his friend and his clan? It was surely a different reason, Alec thought.

    He almost let out a snort, as he remembered his expression when he told him he cannot tell him the reason, ''What are you hiding from me? What are you so guilty about?'' he thought. ''Why can you not tell me what it is about?''

    ''I will find out soon what it is. Soon, I will confirm whether my suspicions about ''you'' are true or not.''

    He raised his gaze to the Crown Prince again but the Second Prince of Canopus, Caliber, was looking at him. Their eyes met and he could see a warning from Caliber''s gaze, Alec snorted, ''I have not even done anything to receive that threatening look.''

    ''Do not stare at him like that, Valorian.'' Caliber said inside his mind and the two communicated using their eyes.

    Caliber wrapped his hand around Chance''s waist and pulled him closer to his side. No servants were around so he could do that without worry. It left an annoyed feeling inside Alec to see his master being taken away from his side. The boy he once swore his life to, the boy who promised to be by his side, was slowly disappearing.

    Slowly walking too far for him to reach.

    In the end, it was the same. Both friends who promised to be with him went away.

    But at least this time, instead of lying down in his grave, he would be able to watch over the prince from afar and protect him silently. He has a chance to not repeat the mistake he made before.