CH 78

“Who are you! Why are you doing this to me!”

Ben struggled even though he was in fear and couldn’t see.  He struggled to get out of the hands of those holding his arms, and he struggled to get rid of the cloth covering his face. But it was all in vain. He had no choice but to be dragged by the force he couldn’t defeat.

He was just on his way back to Cersinia with a bracelet he bought after work… But what on earth is happening to him?

“Is this the right kid?”

When a terrifyingly low voice was heard, the cloth blocking Ben’view was removed.

“Haa, haa… Why are you doing this? I have to go back.”

Ben opened his eyes with a stuffy breath. Then, an overbearing middle-aged man, who trembled just by looking at him, was looking down at Ben.

“Are you sure he’s the one?”

Kantrid Shorevarce was furious as if he was not pleased with the wretched Ben in front of him.

“Yes, that’s right. I also checked the half pattern on his shoulder.” Archen replied back.

“Tsk. Gosh, he’s so ungrateful. First, lock him up.”

Kantrid had no mercy even to his own bloodline.

“Please let me go! I have to go! Why are you doing this to me!”

Ben’s voice echoed in the empty prison that was left alone. No answer came back.

“Cersinia…”

He had been trapped in the darkness for more than three days.

* * *

“My name is Archen.”

Archen stopped by prison after three days and greeted Ben. He provided five meals a day, but Ben had never put the food on his mouth, perhaps because he was protesting.

“I have to go. Please let me out…”

Ben stared at Archen with difficulty opening his eyes. He didn’t even drink a sip of water, so he had to lie on the floor of a cold prison without energy.

“Your Excellency the Grand Duke of Shorevarce is your father.”

“Father…?”

His eyebrows wriggled slightly at the word father. When Ben was young, he vaguely heard his father’s story from her mother. Still, his father was so distant and out of reach that he couldn’t remember anything properly.

“Although you are an illegitimate child, you will soon turn into his child.”

“I don’t need it. I don’t need that, so just send me back. Cersinia will be waiting for me. Please let me go…”

Archen firmly grasped his heart weakened by Ben’s desperate appearance and told what he had to say.

“Alexdemikan Shorevarce, the only child of the Grand Duke, has been ill from birth and has never appeared in public. He is currently on treatment, but the chances of saving his life are slim. If Alexdemikan Shorevarce dies, you will live with his name.”

Ben’s pupils shook like rough waves at the unbelievable plan.

“I-I don’t want to. I don’t want to do that. Just send me back to Cersinia!”

Cersinia. Cersinia. Cersinia.

Archen put the name he had heard so many times into his mouth that it scabbed over his ears.

“If you want to meet Lady Cersinia, you have to be healthier than now. We will provide the meals for you.”

“C-Can we meet then? Will you let me meet her?”

Ben, who had been lying on the floor without energy, jumped to his feet with a little hope.

“Yes. So be healthy first.”

Archen nodded and spit out a lie.

“When can I see her? When can I leave?”

“After you become healthier than now.”

It was a vague and vain promise, but Ben believed. If he didn’t believe those words, he would choke on the despair that he could never see Cersinia again. He believed in Archen’s lies to meet Cersinia again. Ben ate five meals a day without any leftovers, and he didn’t neglect the physical training he could do in prison.

When he missed Cersinia, he took out the bracelet he had kept in his pocket and smoothed it.

‘Is she doing well?’

Ben was worried that Cersinia might be waiting endlessly for him to come back. He wished that she would live her life as usual without any fuss. He wanted her to eat regularly, take a walk when the weather is nice, dry the laundry on a sunny day, occasionally think about herself, and live a normal and peaceful life. And when he goes back to her, please greet him with a smile. Then he wanted to tell her the story of the trip when he went missing. 

‘When I go back, I have to say that I came from a long trip.’

Ben had no intention of telling her exactly what happened to him. He’s sure that Cersinia is going to worry about him. He imagined in his head what kind of trip he would talk about when he couldn’t sleep.

He prayed that the day when he could tell that story would come sooner. However, as time passed, Ben became anxious enough to be confused about counting the days he had been imprisoned. He has already become healthier and in better shape than before, but there is no sign for him to get out of here.

“When can I leave?”

Ben grabbed the bars with a desperate face and asked Archen.

“Just wait a little longer.”

Archen could not look into his eyes and answer. Because he couldn’t promise when he could meet Cersinia, which this boy wanted to meet so much.

A month had passed since Ben was brought in, but Alexdemikan was still alive. He even showed more signs of recovery than before. The plan was for Ben to live Alex’s life after Alex’s death. No one will know that Alex is dead. The whole world will only know that Alex overcame his disease and woke up in good health. Because Ben was Alex’s replacement. 

It was top secret that only a few people in the Grand Duchy knew about it. Because the plan was made to even deceive the Emperor. The work was carried out thoroughly in secret, and the only time Ben was able to leave the basement was when Alex died. Only when Alex died could Ben come out into the world.

“When is that? Please tell me clearly. When can I leave?”

Archen ignored his shouting while shaking the iron bars, then he took a heavy step. Because Archen only obeyed the family’s orders, he couldn’t say anything or do anything.

“I have to go. I have to go to Cersinia…”

Only then did Ben realize that everything Archen had said was lies.

“Go. I have to go.”

Ben gave the strength to rip off the bars like a madman.

“Uaaargh!”

The thin string that had been holding his sane mind was cut off. His vagueness of when he might get out of here and the fear that he might never see her again swept over him. Since that day, Ben has attempted to escape countless times.

* * *

KWANG

Ben’s kick headed to the bars.

“Stop it. It’s useless.”

Ignoring Archen, who was looking at him worriedly, Ben pulled the bars until his hands swelled up. His hands were badly wounded, but he didn’t give up whether it hurt or not.

It had been three months since Ben had been locked up in the basement. In the meantime, he had hit the bars hundreds of times, so much that his hands were seriously injured, and not even a single of his kicks missed the bars.

‘I had to leave this place.’

‘Because I had to go back to Cersinia.’

Only by her side does he feel comfortable. It was the only place he wanted to stay.

“Tsk. You little punk.”

Grand Duke Kantrid appeared in the basement. It was the first time since the first day Ben was brought into the mansion. The Grand Duke threatened Ben like a young beast. As if ridiculing the Grand Duke’s warning, Ben slammed his fist again to break the bars.

“Open it.”

The cold voice of the Grand Duke was enough to bring out goosebumps.

“Uaargh!”

When the locked door opened, Ben struggled to get out. However, he was blocked by five men and couldn’t move forward.

“Tie him up.”

“Let go of this!”

At their Master’s instruction, the servants tied Ben with chains and hung him. The Grand Duke entered the prison with an angry face. Soon after, a fatal wound was engraved on Ben’s back along with the sound of air brutally being cut. Ben clenched his teeth and held back the groans that burst out. He felt disgusted by his father’s behavior, and he didn’t want to get along with him. The Grand Duke swung the whip several times and struck Ben on his back. Having reached his physical limit, Ben eventually passed out due to the strong shock and pain.

“…”

He dropped his unconscious head then drooped his whole body. It’s been a long time since the clothes he was wearing were torn apart. There was blood from the long wounds through the torn clothes.

“If he’s going to rebel from now on, swing this whip at him.”

The Grand Duke warned Ben, who had already fainted and left the basement. The servants also followed the Grand Duke. Ben was still tied with chains. That night, Archen secretly went down to the basement and hurriedly released Ben from chains.

“I’m sorry…”

Archen’s face became red as he looked at Ben, who had collapsed helplessly. Even a beast will not treat their children like this. Even though Ben is an illegitimate child, he is still the son of the Grand Duke. Archen was disillusioned with the actions of his Master, but he couldn’t escape. Because he was the subordinate of this family.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry…”

Archen treated Ben’s injured body with the medicine he had brought. Antiseptic was poured over his wounds, and a blood-stopping powder was also sprinkled. The wound on Ben’s hand would get better with constant treatment, but it was clear that the wound on his back from the whip would leave a scar. Ben moved his body, twitching at the pain he felt in hazy consciousness.

“…Cersinia.”

A cracked voice comes from his mouth. Ben was still searching for her in his unconsciousness. That day, Ben dreamed of returning to Cersinia. It was a dream sweeter than candy, but the reality he faced when he came to his consciousness broke him down.