29 Behind the wall is a lonely man

"My brother does not lie."

Chance was dumbfounded by the sudden words that came out of Louis's mouth. "What do you mean?" he asked, finally ending the silence.

Louis rolled his eyes, "It means that you two really are lovers." he said, making Chance flustered, "No!"

"I swear we are not! Maybe you are wrong about your brother not being able to lie. I have not even been informed that we have a relationship so how can we be lovers?" he defended, but the way he defended it made it look like another proof that they really have something.

Louis squinted at his servant, "Who are you kidding? You are so obvious." he whispered but Chance still heard it. 

"I told you we really are not—"

Louis raised his hand in front of Chance's face to make him stop, "Let's say that you two are really not lovers, but since my honest brother said it, that means,"

He looked at Chance, "He really likes you."

A part of Chance felt unknowingly happy, but another part of him was sad. It was the words that he had feared would come. True or not, it shakes him. He does not know why he felt weird after hearing what Louis said even though it were just words with no proof.

If Caliber were to like him or if he ever fell in love with Caliber, he might change everything that was fated to happen. He does not even know who the real lover of King Charles was, it will just bring him trouble to love someone else. 'Why am I even thinking about this? It's not like I love him...'

"Stop it, Cole." Chance said, if he says anything further, he might start believing it.

There was no point in arguing about it so Louis just stayed silent and secretly rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say." he whispered.

"Why did you choose me as your personal servant?" he asked out of curiosity. A hot headed and stubborn young boy, a smart and arrogant royal. Why does he suddenly change his attitude and take him in as his servant? "Not only that but a servant with perks."

"Why do you need a reason? I chose you because I chose you. That is it." he said, obviously annoyed. "Just like any other royals, I can choose a person and turn them into servants any time I want. I made you my servant just because I am bored and you fit the job."

Chance smiled and shook his head slight after hearing the boy's words, "I do not think so." he whispered.

"You made me your servant because you are lonely."

Louis turned his head to Chance, "What did you say?"

"You are just lonely."

Embarrassed, he could feel his cheeks burning, "W-what are you talking about? Why would you think I am lonely just because I made you my servant?" he did not expect Chance to say that, it took him by surprise.

"You are similar to my brother." Chance stated. Louis listened to know why he thinks he is similar, "Although he is not a brat, but he likes to act mean and grumpy." 

He looked at Louis, "Because he thinks that the world is mean to him, he is also mean in return. The personality he shows is a shield, his attitude is a mask, his words are his weapon and his heart has been locked, waiting for someone who has enough effort to open it."

He might not have known Clayton long enough to say these words, but he knows because he feels it.

He recalled the time where he embraced Clayton Howard in the library, the gush of sadness has been let out a little but still kept it inside and walked away maybe with the belief that being mean will make him strong in the eyes of others.

"Behind the walls he makes, is a weeping man of loneliness." he added, "I believe he will meet someone who is strong enough to break that wall."

The leaves danced as the wind blew, it rained with the falling leaves and Chance watched its beauty. If he has a phone with him, he would surely not miss a chance to take a shot.

After the silence, Louis looked away with a frown, "How is that similar to me?" he whispered. 

Chance smiled, he really finds the young prince adorable, it is not that he is a brat, but he is still a kid in heart. "Just like my brother, you are mean to others because you want someone who would truly understand you." he said and patted the child's head.

"You probably have the mindset 'Why would I be nice to people who I am not sure are really nice to me?' right?" he added and Louis nodded his head immediately, "Of course, why should I waste my kindness on someone who is not worth it?"

"Then why do you think I am worthy of it?"

"Why? Am I being kind to you?" 

"Well, you chose me."

"So? Does making you a servant make me kind?" he said with a furrowed brow, "You are so weird."

"I am your personal servant, you would not choose anyone you think is not worthy." Chance answered. "Fine, think what you would like to think of it." Louis said.

"How about you?"

Chance watched the falling leaves for a little while before turning to him, "Hmm? What?" he asked and saw Louis, blankly staring at him.

"Are you lonely too? Do you also distance yourself from others?"

Chance smiled again, hiding bitterness from showing on his lips, 'I have been lonely my whole life.'

"Unlike the two of you, I am not mean to others. I just...prefer to be alone." he answered. "There are different types of people, some wants to be alone because they are sad, some are sad because they are alone."

Louis tilted his head and rested it on his closed hand, "What type might you be?"

"I am the type that enjoys being alone." he said and faced him with a smile. "It is better that way. I might be unsociable but at least I am in peace." he added.

Cole let out a slight chuckle by his weird answer, "So you do not have friends too?"

The days before he came into Charles's story flashed through his mind and he remembered he and his friends' first meeting. "I have four friends. The three of them are my online friends, I do not meet them at all personally but have known them long enough to consider them as my family. Even though they are far, they make me feel that they are always near."

Louis felt somewhat envious, Chance only has few friends but they are real to him. Friends that one would surely want. His brows furrowed in curiosity again, 'How did they become friends if they have never seen each other?' he thought but decided not to ask.

"You said it was four but you have only mentioned three of them. Who is the other one?" he asked.

"Hmm? You, of course."

It took him by surprise, he never expected him to say that, "Me? Why is it me?"

"Why are you asking? Are we not friends?" Chance asked, Louis looked at him and viewed him like a sad puppy. He looked away and did not answer.

Chance tried to hold back the giggle, 'So cute, this boy.'

He returned his gaze at the beautiful scenery of the garden, the place was heaven for someone like him who likes books, nature and peace. Although he is living a good life in the days he is in Charles's body, he felt a bit sad as he thought of his own world. "I miss my professor, Wish and my online friends..." he muttered.

Louis glanced at him again, curious about a word since earlier. Chance did not notice his master's stare as he felt like he heard a sound in the garden even though it was only the two of them. 'Did Caliber come back already?'

"By the way..." he immediately turned to the young prince after hearing him talk without noticing that someone had already entered the secret place. "What is it?" he asked Louis.

"What do you mean by online friends? What is, 'online'?"

He gulped, there he went again, slipping up every time he talked. 'This boy is smart? What could I possibly give as an explanation for online? Will he know that I am lying?' he thought.

Louis just continued on staring at him, waiting for an answer but his gaze dropped down to the ground.

"Online is..." he was about to explain but he noticed Louis not looking at him anymore, 'What's wrong?'

"Your Highness."

Surprised by the sudden voice he looked down, along with the panic of explaining what online is, he lost his balance on his seat position on the branch. "Ah!"

Before he could hit the ground, a strong set of arms caught him. He saw his, or rather, Charles's knight, Alec, looking at his face, "What are you doing here?" the knight asked.

"Your highness?"