With a metallic clank, the Heavenly General unlocked the iron door.
Dim firelight slanted in through the barred window, and in the corner, Belle Whitebone trembled as she raised her head.
Her once-delicate, elegant face was now streaked with blood. Through blurred eyes, she saw Aiden Ao, and tears welled up instantly.
"May I speak with her alone?" Aiden Ao turned to the Heavenly General.
The Heavenly General glanced at Belle Whitebone in the cell, then at Aiden Ao, hesitated briefly, and nodded. "Just don't take too long," he said in a low voice.
Aiden Ao pulled a jade gem from his belt and pressed it into the Heavenly General's hand. "Go buy yourself some tea."
With that, he stepped into the cell, his foot landing on the damp stone floor.
The iron door slammed shut behind him.
"You... why are you here?"
Belle Whitebone tried to struggle to her feet, but a jolt of pain made her break out in a cold sweat; her body nearly collapsed to the side.
Aiden Ao quickly hurried over, crouched down to support her, and took out a pill from his sleeve, slipping it into her mouth.
"Did you really think I wouldn't come?"
Clutching her chest, Belle Whitebone frowned deeply, barely managing to swallow the pill.
"No... it's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just..." Belle Whitebone nervously glanced at the tightly shut door, parted her lips, but couldn't continue.
Aiden Ao also glanced at the door. "Don't worry, say whatever you want. It's fine."
"Whatever I want?"
"Yes." Aiden Ao frowned and smiled. "Because I've confessed everything, so it doesn't matter what you say now."
"You've... confessed everything?" Belle Whitebone coughed lightly, her eyes slowly widening.
"That's right. I confessed to everything—real or imagined," Aiden Ao shrugged, taking a deep breath. "Supplying elixirs to demons, having accomplices in Heaven. I haven't written down any names yet, though. If there's any immortals you dislike, let me know and I'll add them to the list."
Belle Whitebone was completely stunned, staring blankly at Aiden Ao, her mind a total blank.
Outside the barred window, the roar of South Heaven Gate continued, and the red light that should have been blocked was now visible even in the distant Ninth Heaven.
"Don't worry, it's nothing," Aiden Ao said, stroking his chin. "Even if Heaven wins this battle, they'll be badly wounded. They'll need the Western Sea Dragon Palace and the other Dragon Palaces more than ever. My father will find a way to protect me."
With that, Aiden Ao gently tapped her nose and flashed a grin.
"Is it... really that simple?" Belle Whitebone shook her head, panic rising as tears streamed down her cheeks. "No, colluding with demons is a capital crime. I've read Heaven's case files in your study—this kind of crime..."
Aiden Ao suddenly reached out and touched her face, cutting her off. "I'm unreliable, sure, but when have I ever lied to you?"
"You've never lied, but..."
"If I haven't lied, what are you worried about? If the sky falls, I'll hold it up." He lifted Belle's chin, putting on a roguish act, grinning. "Come on, give me a smile. Don't pout like that, or I might just refuse to marry you."
Belle Whitebone was actually amused, lowering her head as her laughter turned into a fit of coughing.
"Alright, you don't need to talk. Just listen." Aiden Ao gently stroked her back and said softly, "Honestly, I was thinking a lot out there. Truth is, I've never really been reliable. I've spent my whole life causing trouble just because I'm the Third Prince of the Western Sea—if I'm being blunt, I'm nothing but a pest."
Belle Whitebone finally caught her breath, blinking quietly at Aiden Ao.
"I've always treated you like free labor, but this time it's my turn to do something for you." Aiden Ao scratched his head. "Actually, it's not even for you—if you think about it, this whole mess is my fault. If I hadn't dragged you up to Heaven, none of this would have happened. And yet, you still refused to betray me... Looking back, I've always been muddle-headed..."
Belle Whitebone kept blinking at Aiden Ao.
Seeing Belle's expression, Aiden Ao slapped his forehead. "Great, you think I'm always muddle-headed too..."
"No... cough... it's just you told me not to... not to talk..."
"So you don't think I'm muddle-headed?"
"Not... not really..." Belle Whitebone buried her head lower and lower.
Aiden Ao rolled his eyes. "So you do think I'm always muddle-headed, huh?"
Belle Whitebone pursed her lips and said nothing.
Aiden Ao shifted and sat beside Belle Whitebone, glancing up at the firelit window. "If you know I always do foolish things, why do you never stop me?" he asked quietly.
"I... I can't stop you..." Belle Whitebone replied timidly.
"You could stop me. If you had the fierce spirit you showed when we first met, I'd have no choice but to give in. But where did that fire go?" Aiden Ao sneaked a glance at Belle Whitebone as he spoke.
Belle Whitebone kept her head down, silent.
"Did your attitude change just because I'm the Third Prince of the Western Sea?"
Belle Whitebone still kept her head down, saying nothing.
"Even if it did, it's fine. I know that's the only thing people like about me—there's not much else worth mentioning." Aiden Ao sneaked another look at Belle Whitebone.
Belle Whitebone curled up, head bowed, her long hair hiding her face. In the dim light, her expression was unreadable.
The atmosphere seemed to freeze; the two simply sat in silence.
After a moment, two dry coughs sounded from outside the door. "Dragon Third Prince, time's almost up. If you have anything to say, please hurry up."
Aiden Ao drew out his reply, "Got it."
He then lowered his head, studying Belle Whitebone's face, and sighed softly. "This is Heaven's Prison. The restrictions here are so strong that even soundproofing spells don't work. There's someone eavesdropping right outside—the Heavenly General—so I can't even whisper sweet nothings to you."
"Sweet nothings?" Belle Whitebone suddenly looked up, her face flushing red.
"What, is it a problem for this prince to say a few sweet words to his future consort?"
Belle Whitebone looked at Aiden Ao cautiously. "Didn't you say... our wedding was supposed to be fake...?"
"Can't a fake marriage turn real?" Aiden Ao asked softly.
"But... but..."
"Hey, if I didn't tempt you with a celestial registry, would you really not marry me?"
"Dragon Third Prince, can you not drag this out? There's still a lot to do," the Heavenly General urged again from outside.
"Got it!" Aiden Ao retorted dismissively, then turned to stroke Belle Whitebone's long hair. "Alright, no more idle chatter. Let's get to the point. Fixing this mess... honestly, it's not going to be easy."
"So... cough... will you die?"
"I shouldn't. Normally, I won't," Aiden Ao sighed softly. "But it will be troublesome. I might be imprisoned, or stripped of my celestial registry, or sent off to serve in the army. In any case, I won't be free for a while. As for you, I'll make sure my father arranges things so you're rescued—even if it can't be done openly. When you reach the mortal world, find a place to hide and tell my third sister where you are. Once I'm safe, I'll come find you. Understand?"
"Really... you won't die?"
Aiden Ao's hand paused. "Can you not mention 'death' again? It's bad luck."
Belle Whitebone nodded silently.
"Anyway, I'll come for you. But when that time comes, I probably won't be able to promise you a celestial registry anymore..."
With that, Aiden Ao patted his knee and slowly stood up, sighing. "That's all. I just came to say these things. Don't worry about me, and don't do anything foolish. Just wait for me, okay?"
Belle Whitebone nodded quietly.
Aiden Ao's brow furrowed deeply.
"Hey, I've done something epic—risked my life to save a damsel in distress. Now that I'm leaving, aren't you going to say anything?"
Looking at Aiden Ao's roguish grin, for some reason Belle Whitebone suddenly wanted to cry.
"Really... you won't die?"
"I won't."
"Why... are you saving me? I'm just your... maid."
"Because this prince suddenly wants to be a good man. I want Princess Ten-Thousand Saints to know that breaking off the engagement was her loss."
Belle Whitebone stared blankly at Aiden Ao.
"You really believe that?" Aiden Ao patted her head. "Silly girl. I just don't want you to die. I owe you a lot, and if you died, I'd never get the chance to repay you."
The iron door behind them clanged open, startling Belle Whitebone.
"Dragon Third Prince..."
"Enough! Even a man about to hang himself needs a breath!" Aiden Ao roared at the Heavenly General, then smoothed his brow and whispered to Belle Whitebone, "I'm leaving now."
"Mm." Belle Whitebone nodded quietly.
Turning away, under Belle Whitebone's gaze, Aiden Ao straightened his back and walked out of the cell, step by step.
Just as he stepped out, the Heavenly General closed the iron door and whispered in his ear, "Actually, you really might die."
Aiden Ao shot him a cold glance. "I don't need your advice."
With that, he bowed his head and walked slowly down the dark corridor, step by step.