Cain froze at the mention of the Count, his mind racing frantically for an explanation for Patrick's impending visit.
The Count's name stirred a deep uneasiness in him, but he knew he had to remain calm and act with caution. Feigning surprise, he decided to ask the obvious, trying to get some
""Hey, why is the Count coming here, Mom?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant, although inside his thoughts were tormenting him.
He knew it was best to play dumb at the moment, waiting patiently for the truth he sensed but did not yet fully understand.
Sara looked up from the letter, her eyes reflecting a sadness she had been hiding for years. With a deep sigh, she began to speak, her voice filled with a suppressed pain.
"Oh, Cain... Well, you see...", and with those words, he began to reveal the story of his past, a story that until that moment he had kept silent.
She told him how she had been welcomed into the Saimon family, the sacrifices she had made, and the decisions that had left a deep mark on her.
Cain, although he already knew most of what she was saying, listened attentively, allowing his mother to unload the weight she was carrying on her shoulders..
In the moments when her voice broke, he would gently squeeze her hand, offering comfort and making it clear that no matter what the future held with the arrival of the Count, he would be there for her.
Cain remained silent as he listened to his mother. Although he had already known the story in his past life, he was deeply influenced by the Count at that time. and could not fully understand the magnitude of Sarah's sacrifice.
Now, with a different perspective, he felt deep respect and empathy for his mother. While she was venting, he was comforting her with the care of a son, feeling that every word was an opportunity to rebuild the trust that had once been eroded.
"Tell me, mother, when will the Count come? I mean… father," Cain asked, keeping his voice soft but firm.
Sara, wiping away her tears, replied with a slight tremor in her voice: "I think he will come in a few days..."
"I see," Cain said, nodding calmly. Then, with a determination that surprised his mother, he added, "I swear that I will always support you in your decision."
Sara couldn't help but feel shocked. It wasn't the first time Cain had comforted her, but there was something different this time..
The tears continued to flow as Cain, with a gentleness reminiscent of the child he once was, wiped her face.. At that moment, Sara couldn't help but remember when Cain was just a baby and, with his mere presence, he seemed to comfort her in her darkest days.
Despite the twelve years that had passed, Sara had always counted on the unconditional support of her son..
""Let's rest, Mom. Tomorrow will be a better day," Cain suggested in a calm voice, inviting her to rest in her own bed, knowing that she needed it.
Sara nodded and, with a mixture of relief and gratitude, headed to her room, leaving the heavy burden of the conversation behind.
Once he was sure his mother was safe in her room, Cain headed back to the table, where the Count's letter still lay.
Without hesitation, he took it and read it carefully. The written words confirmed his suspicions:
(Cordial greetings to the Raven family, from Count Saimon. Cain Raven has been asked to participate in the Bloodline test. This test is carried out when a legitimate and illegitimate child of someone from the nobility turns 12 years old in the empire. This is an imperial law and therefore cannot be rejected.)
Cain closed his eyes for a moment, letting the words sink into his mind. He knew his life was about to change drastically, but this time, with the knowledge and the experience of his past life, he was determined to protect his mother and face whatever came with unwavering determination.
Cain held the letter firmly, allowing himself a smile to slowly grow on his face, though he tried to keep it under control. "I see... so I will be participating in the test, "Huh? Perfect, this is going better than expected," he whispered to himself, enjoying the pleasure the idea gave him. His gaze turned cold and calculating, and a spark of dark satisfaction crossed his eyes, giving him a decidedly psychopathic air.
""Well," he continued, his voice barely a whisper, but laden with a terrifying certainty, "I think it's perfect. In my past life, I participated without even having a star, but this time... that won't happen."
He looked down at his hand, watching as its veins darkened, tinged with a deep blue that revealed the mana flowing within.
""After 12 years, I'm finally a six-star," he said quietly, as if reaffirming an important fact.
"But three of them are hidden, acting as weapons and power-ups. I only have three embedded in my heart, and that's enough.."
His eyes sparkled as he recalled his discovery, that secret that had granted him incomparable power.
Cain looked up, as if speaking to an invisible interlocutor. "I discovered that in order to house stars in my heart, I had to have exactly three in my body,"
He murmured, a hint of pride in his voice. "These stars turn my heart into a storehouse of mana, allowing it to flow like a river." incessantly, from one point to another and back again, continuously."
However, a shadow crossed his face. "But even with more than six stars, I am still unable to release mana. I can't cast a spell, as if the power is sealed within me."
He gritted his teeth, his frustration momentarily visible. "This mystery tormented me in my past life, but now… now I will solve it."
"I will find a way to unleash that power and use it to my advantage. And when I do, nothing and no one will be able to stop me from completing
my revenge."
End of Chapter 9