The Fake Son Wants to Live [BL]

Chapter 334: Chapter 334 - Serching for allies

”Let go of me! I said let go!”

Bian struggled violently as the two guards dragged him through the detention wing. His golden robes had become wrinkled, and several strands of his carefully arranged hair clung to his tear-streaked face.

”Please! You’ve made a mistake! I haven’t done anything wrong!”

Neither soldier answered.

Bian stumbled when they turned into a narrow corridor, nearly falling to his knees. One of the guards caught his arm, but instead of helping him stand properly, he pulled him forward.

”Please, I need to speak with Dican. If you let me explain, he’ll understand. He loves me. He would never want me treated like this!”

”Keep walking.”

Bian stared at the soldier in disbelief.

Only yesterday, these same guards would have lowered their heads whenever he passed. Some had even competed for the privilege of escorting him through the palace. Now they were dragging him along like an ordinary criminal.

”Do you know who I am?” he demanded.

The older guard glanced at him.

”We know exactly who you are.”

They stopped before a reinforced detention chamber. The door slid open, revealing a cramped room with a narrow sleeping platform, a sanitation alcove and a single light embedded in the ceiling. The walls were made of dull gray stone, without any of the beautiful crystalline decorations Bian had grown accustomed to.

Bian stared inside.

”You expect me to stay here?”

The guard pushed him through the doorway.

Bian stumbled and caught himself against the wall.

”Wait! You can’t possibly—”

The door shut.

He rushed forward and struck the transparent barrier with both hands.

”Open it! I’m Prince Dican’s consort! You can’t lock me in a place like this!”

The soldiers continued walking.

”COME BACK!”

His voice echoed through the empty corridor.

Bian kept shouting until his throat began to ache. Eventually, he sank onto the sleeping platform, trembling with fury.

He couldn’t believe it.

Five years.

He had spent five years establishing himself in the royal family. Five years carefully winning over the servants, cultivating relationships with nobles and ensuring that everyone regarded him as Dican’s beloved mate.

And now he’d been thrown into a filthy prison like some common criminal.

All because Dican had suddenly decided to question him.

Bian bit his lip.

No. That wasn’t entirely true.

Everything had begun falling apart when Jian returned.

That damned Jian.

Bian’s fingers curled against his knees.

If Jian hadn’t come back to Gia, none of this would have happened. Grandpa Rue would have remained hidden, Nansich would never have entered the palace, and Dican would still be the devoted husband who obeyed his every word.

Instead, Jian had brought all those troublesome people with him.

And somehow, Dican had begun recovering.

Bian still couldn’t understand how the serum had weakened so quickly. He’d carefully controlled Dican’s doses for years. Whenever the prince became restless or began questioning things, a little more sap was usually enough to restore his affectionate obedience.

But this time, Dican had refused him.

He’d watched Bian put the serum into his drink.

And then he’d arrested him.

The memory made Bian’s stomach twist.

How dare he?

After everything Bian had done to secure their position, Dican had discarded him without hesitation.

Several hours later, a guard approached carrying a metal tray.

Bian immediately stood.

”Please,” he began softly, allowing tears to gather in his eyes. ”Could you help me? I think there’s been a terrible misunderstanding. If you could just send a message to my husband—”

The guard shoved the tray through the opening beneath the barrier.

It scraped across the floor, spilling some of its contents.

Bian looked down.

A bowl of watery porridge and a piece of dry bread lay on the tray.

His expression stiffened.

”What is this?”

”Your dinner.”

Bian stared at him.

”You expect me to eat that?”

The guard gave him a disgusted look.

”You should be grateful you’re being fed at all.”

Bian’s eyes widened.

”Please, I haven’t done anything wrong. Someone must have deceived Dican. You know how much I love him. I would never hurt him.”

”Save your tears.”

The guard’s voice was cold.

”We swore loyalty to the royal family. His Highness trusted you, and you poisoned him. You should be ashamed.”

Bian’s face paled.

”That’s not true!”

”The investigation will decide that.”

The guard turned to leave.

Bian hurried toward the barrier.

”Wait! Please, at least let me speak to someone!”

The soldier didn’t look back.

When his footsteps finally disappeared, Bian remained standing for several moments.

Then he slowly wiped the tears from his face.

His expression hardened.

”Filthy bastard.”

He kicked the tray.

The bowl struck the opposite wall, scattering porridge across the floor.

Bian stood there breathing heavily, his hands clenched into fists.

These people had eaten from his hands only days ago. They’d smiled at him, praised his kindness and bowed whenever he entered a room.

Now they dared look down on him.

All because Dican had turned against him.

Bian laughed bitterly.

So much for love.

He had given Dican five years of his life, endured his foolish affection and carefully maintained the image of a devoted husband. Without Bian, that useless prince would never have possessed the influence he enjoyed in court.

And this was how Dican repaid him?

By humiliating him in front of his own soldiers?

Bian slowly sat down.

His anger was almost unbearable, but he knew screaming wouldn’t accomplish anything.

He needed to get out.

More importantly, he needed to contact Marius and Sir Loraine before the royal investigators began searching his private chambers.

There were things hidden there that absolutely could not be discovered.

He spent the remainder of the evening listening to the guards changing shifts, carefully memorizing their footsteps.

It wasn’t until the middle of the night that he finally heard a familiar voice.

”Your Highness?”

Bian immediately lifted his head.

A young soldier stood outside the barrier, glancing nervously down the corridor.

Bian recognized him.

The man had served among his personal guards for nearly three years.

”Rian?”

The soldier bowed.

”Forgive me for coming so late.”

Bian hurried toward him.

”Thank goodness. I thought everyone had abandoned me.”

Rian looked uncomfortable.

”I heard what happened, Your Highness. I don’t believe you would intentionally harm Prince Dican.”

Bian’s expression softened.

”At least someone still has faith in me.”

Rian activated the food compartment and passed him a small covered container.

”I brought you something to eat. The regular prison meals aren’t suitable for you.”

Inside was a warm meal of roasted meat, vegetables and soft bread.

Bian nearly laughed with relief.

Finally, someone remembered who he was.

”You’ve always been loyal, Rian. I won’t forget this.”

The soldier lowered his head.

”Is there anything else I can do?”

Bian paused.

Then he glanced toward the surveillance crystal embedded above the corridor.

”Can anyone hear us?”

”Not at the moment. I arranged to cover this section during the night shift, but I can’t stay long.”

Bian’s mind raced.

”Then I need you to deliver a message.”

Rian hesitated.

”To whom?”

”Sir Loraine. If you cannot reach him, find Lord Marius. Tell them it’s urgent.”

The soldier’s expression changed.

”Your Highness, communication with prisoners is restricted. If I’m caught—”

”You won’t be.”

Bian caught his sleeve through the compartment.

”Rian, listen to me. Those men are trusted friends of mine. They’re the only ones who can help prove my innocence.”

The soldier looked uncertain.

Bian tightened his grip.

”Do you remember when your mother was ill? Who arranged for her treatment?”

Rian lowered his gaze.

”You did, Your Highness.”

”And when your family couldn’t afford the medical expenses, who paid them?”

”You did.”

Bian smiled gently.

”I’ve never asked you for anything in return. But right now, I need your help.”

After a long silence, Rian nodded.

”What should I tell them?”

Bian glanced around the cell.

There was no paper, no writing instrument and nothing he could use to send a proper message.

Then his gaze settled on his sleeve.

He tore a narrow strip from the inner lining of his robe.

Rian watched in confusion as Bian bit into the tip of his finger.

”Your Highness!”

”Quiet.”

Bian squeezed the wound until blood gathered against his skin. Then he began writing on the fabric.

The message was brief.

The prince remembers. Destroy everything. Act before the royal investigation reaches us.

Beneath it, he added a small symbol known only to his closest allies.

He folded the bloodstained fabric and pushed it through the compartment.

Rian accepted it with trembling fingers.

”Please be careful, Your Highness. Your hand—”

”Forget my hand.”

Bian caught his wrist.

”Listen carefully. You must deliver this tonight.”

Rian nodded.

”I understand.”

”And tell Sir Loraine that I expect him to honor our agreement.”

Bian’s voice remained steady, but his fingers tightened around the soldier’s wrist.

”Tell him I have kept every promise I made. Now it’s his turn.”

Rian looked at him for a moment before bowing.

”I’ll deliver it personally.”

”Good.”

Bian released him.

Only when the soldier disappeared around the corner did Bian finally allow his composure to crack.

He leaned against the wall, pressing his bleeding finger into his palm.

He’d sounded confident.

But he knew how dangerous his situation had become.

If the Emperor discovered everything, even his title wouldn’t protect him.

And if Marius and Sir Loraine decided he was no longer useful...

Bian swallowed.

No.

They wouldn’t dare abandon him.

He knew too much.

He had spent years helping them build their influence, and he still possessed information capable of destroying every one of them.

They needed him alive.

Bian slowly closed his injured hand.

His thoughts returned to Jian, to Dican and to the Emperor who had allowed his arrest.

A bitter smile spread across his face.

They thought they had won.

They thought locking him inside this miserable chamber would be enough to strip him of everything he’d built.

How foolish.

Bian stared at the closed door, his eyes burning with hatred.

”I’ll make you regret this,” he whispered.

His fingernails dug into his bleeding palm.

”Every last one of you.”

And when he finally lowered his head, there was no trace of the gentle, pitiful prince consort left on his face.