Cain clung to Cornelia’s legs, his fingers still trembling as if he might slip away at any mont.
To anyone watching, he looked like a man who had narrowly escaped death, broken in spirit and body, desperately seeking warmth and reassurance.
Inside his head, however, his thoughts were a sharp, chaotic ss.
Cornelia, my foolish wife, why are you affectionate toward ? He complained silently, equal parts baffled and exhausted. I am acting pathetic and stupid like a child who lost his mother in a crowd. Why are you indulging this? Where is your cold discipline? Where is your iron will? Although this is embarrassing and at the sa ti humiliating. Didn’t you hate weakness? I am showing weakness and being pathetic, don’t tell you changed?
Cornelia’s lips curved just slightly. It was not a mocking smile, nor a smug one. It was warm, almost fond, and that alone unsettled him more than any blade ever had.
She lowered herself a little so she could speak to him without raising her voice, her tone gentle but steady. "When the humans took you as a hostage," she said, "you admitted sothing."
Cain stiffened.
"You admitted that you used a magic scroll to beat the Vanguard Blood Knights," Cornelia continued calmly, as if recalling a simple fact, "and you admitted that you were wrong to do so. You said you were willing to change your way of doing things."
She looked down at him, her crimson eyes clear and serious. "That, to , is strength itself. Admitting mistakes. You have never done that in the past. Never. That’s why it made proud of you."
Cain felt sothing inside him crack.
Right now, she added softly, "I am worried about you that you will never change but it seems you still have hope, my husband."
Inside his head, Cain nearly choked.
What the hell? he scread internally. I never admitted mistakes? The past ? Damn it! Damn it! And safety? Safety my ass. I am an Overgod. An Overgod. I hunted two Emperors because I was hungry, not because I was in danger. Why are you looking at like I’m made of glass?
He forced himself not to react outwardly, keeping his face buried against her leg as if too weak to lift his head. His pride was bleeding to death sowhere deep inside him, and he was not sure whether to be furious or strangely flustered.
Before he could process it further, heavy footsteps approached.
Vanguard Captain Cedrick stepped forward, his expression tight, jaw clenched so hard the muscles twitched. He bowed stiffly, his eyes flicking once toward Cain before returning to Cornelia.
"Madam," Cedrick said, voice strained but controlled, "this is not right."
Behind him, Blood Soldier Captain Hall folded his arms, his battered armor creaking.
Vanguard Vice Captain Zed stood with his hands clenched into fists, and Trooper Captain William looked pale, still clearly shaken from earlier.
Hall spoke next, his tone blunt. "If that passing beast hadn’t appeared, we would have all been in danger. No, worse than danger. We would be dead."
Zed nodded sharply. "Cain used a physical empowernt magic scroll against us. We were caught off guard. The humans sohow escaped during the chaos."
William swallowed. "If the beast hadn’t interrupted... the humans would have slaughtered us while we were down."
Their words piled on one another, frustration and sha mixing with anger.
Around them, other Blood Knights murmured in agreent, the atmosphere growing heavier with each sentence.
Cain listened, his face still hidden, and his thoughts twisted into sothing almost gleeful.
Yes, yes, that’s it, he crowed silently. Bla harder. Push it. Corner . Make it convincing. This is beautiful. This is art. I brought you all back to life, and this is how you repay . Excellent work, all of you. Truly inspiring hostility.
He even nodded faintly, as if agreeing with their accusations.
Cornelia’s eyes flicked over the gathered captains, then back down to Cain. A faint smirk tugged at her lips, one that only those who knew her well would recognize as dangerous.
"Alright," she said slowly.
The murmurs quieted.
"Since my husband, Cain, is guilty too," Cornelia continued, her voice suddenly crisp and clear, carrying easily across the camp, "then I will punish him."
Inside Cain’s head, fireworks exploded.
Yes! Yes! That’s it! Punish ! Throw away! Lock up! Exile ! Hate ! He laughed wildly in his mind. This is perfect. This is exactly how it should go.
The captains exchanged looks. Surprise flashed across their faces, then sothing like relief.
Around them, Blood Knights straightened. So nodded. So even smiled grimly. Justice, at last. Madam Cornelia was famous for her punishnts. Famous for breaking even elites and reforging them into sothing sharper.
"Madam Cornelia does not go easy," one knight whispered reverently.
"I still rember my first training under her," another muttered, shuddering. "I thought I was going to die."
Cheers began to ripple through the ranks, low and fierce, as if morale itself had been reignited.
Cain nearly vibrated with anticipation.
Do it. Destroy socially. Ruin my reputation. Make them all resent . This is my path to freedom.
Cornelia raised a hand, and silence fell instantly.
Her gaze swept over the assembled Blood Knights, then settled once more on Cain, who was still kneeling at her feet like a pitiful creature clinging to his last hope.
"My husband’s punishnt," she declared, "will be this."
She paused.
"He will be trained under ."
For a heartbeat, the world stopped.
Then the camp erupted.
"What?"
"Under Madam Cornelia?"
"That’s... that’s worse than death."
"Is she serious?"
Shock crashed through the ranks like a physical force. Faces went pale. Eyes widened. Several knights audibly sucked in their breath.
Cain’s inner laughter died mid-cackle.
Wait.
What?
He froze, his grip tightening around her leg without realizing it.
Under you? he echoed in disbelief. Training? That’s not punishnt. That’s— No. No, no, no. You are too weak.
Hearing this, the veins on Cornelia’s forehead bulges, but she forces herself to remain calm, utterly unbothered by the reaction she had caused.
The strange mory earlier, she wanted to make to see it with her own eyes. If he’s an Overgod and the one who hunted two magic Emperors.
"You all know my thods," she said evenly. "You know my standards. If he survives, then he proves himself. If he does not... then that is his fate."
The Blood Knights erupted again, this ti with a strange mix of fear and excitent.
"Yes!"
"Madam is ruthless!"
"This is justice!"
mories surged through them. Endless drills under a burning moon. Broken bones forced to heal overnight only to be broken again at dawn. Mana drained to nothing and then demanded again. Pain that carved discipline into the soul.
Only one man stood quietly, his expression unreadable.
Captain Cedrick.
He alone had endured Cornelia’s training to the end. He alone had kept pace with her without collapsing. His hands clenched slowly at his sides as he watched Cain kneeling there, dread and sothing darker flickering in his eyes.
Cain, anwhile, was dying inside.
This is not what I wanted. This is not what I planned. This is not hatred. I’m afraid this is... going to be intimacy. This is dangerous for . She is too beautiful...
Cornelia blushed, but looked down at him, her eyes softening just a little.
"You will recover first," she said quietly, for his ears alone. "Then we begin."
Cain swallowed.
His pride scread. His instincts warned him. His exhaustion begged him to run.
But he only nodded weakly, playing the part.
"Yes... Madam," he murmured, voice trembling just enough to sell it.
Cornelia straightened and turned back to the Blood Knights.
"Are you all satisfied?" she asked.
Silence hung for a mont.
Then, one by one, heads nodded.
Satisfied.
Very satisfied.
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