The truth is, I don't want the position of Count. After all, in four years, you'll be accused of tax theft, and as a show of loyalty, you'll try to sacrifice me. If I present myself as the heir to the Countship and they uncover the crime, my life would be at risk. It's a game I'm not willing to play. Besides, I can gain better advantages by pursuing another path," Cain thought to himself, imagining the grim fate that awaited him if he were to be sacrificed to protect Patrick—a fate he was determined to avoid.
"That's how an old friend died, the son of the First Commander, Luck," Cain recalled, his expression turning hollow, yet filled with a deep-seated hatred.
"But you know what the Trial of Lineage is, don't you?" Patrick said, trying to regain control of the situation in the face of Cain's unsettling attitude.
(If I can prevent this bastard from participating, Leo's reputation might improve. No matter the means, I must... Wait, if he insists on participating, it would be best to send him to a distant and dangerous land. Hahaha...) Patrick thought, a sinister plan forming in his mind.
"The Trial of Lineage takes place when a boy turns 12 years old. It's mostly conducted in a forest with minimal security," Patrick explained, masking his true intentions with a neutral tone.
(The Trial of Lineage: A ceremony nobles conduct when their sons, both legitimate and illegitimate, turn 12. It typically takes place in a forest where the boy must improve his swordsmanship and survival skills, spending three years there to be recognized as a legitimate son of a noble.)
"If I can complete the trial, I'll be recognized as Patrick's legitimate son and could become the heir to the Countship since I'm the eldest of his children. And since I currently surpass Leo, I'm a loose end that needs to be eliminated as quickly as possible," Cain thought, fully aware of the precarious position he was in.
"Hmm, what's wrong with that? But if possible, I'd like it to be in a cold place with beautiful snow," Cain said, his voice carrying a hint of doubt but also a firm and determined tone. He presented his request to the count, showing uncertainty but also clear resolve.
"A land of snow, huh? If that's the case, it would be…!!!" Patrick began to speak, but suddenly, as if struck by a moment of inspiration or luck, he paused.
"Hmm? What were you going to say, if I may ask?" Cain inquired, maintaining a respectful yet curious stance before Patrick.
"I was thinking of sending you to the Northern Lands. How does that sound?" Patrick suggested, a calculating glint in his eyes.
"Ohh," Cain responded with the innocent surprise of a child. "Perfect," he thought to himself, as if everything were falling perfectly into place according to his plans.
"Very well, I'll respect your decision. In a week, a carriage will arrive to take you to the northern part of the territory," Patrick concluded, his tone formal but tinged with satisfaction.
"Thank you, Count."
"Thank you, sir," Sara replied as the Count departed.
She watched him go, her eyes filled with a mixture of respect and unspoken fear.
Once the door closed, she turned to Caín, her usual calm demeanor replaced by an intensity that Caín had never seen before.
"Caín, can we talk for a moment?"
"Uh... sure."
Sara's expression was a storm of conflicting emotions. Her eyes, usually warm and gentle, now blazed with an almost unbearable fury, yet there was a tenderness there too, as if she was holding back the full force of her anger. Caín felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He had seen her upset before, but this was different. It was personal.
••••
"Father, what are you going to do with him?" Leo asked, his voice low, but the hatred in his tone was unmistakable as they rode in the carriage. His eyes, cold and piercing, glared into the distance, as if already envisioning the fate of the man they were discussing.
"Don't worry. I know exactly where to take him," his father responded, his voice calm, almost indifferent, as if the decision had already been made long ago.
Leo clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "Can I at least know where he's going?" he pressed, his voice betraying a hint of desperation. He needed to know. Needed to feel like he had some control over the situation.
"He's going to the Three Mountains of the North," his father replied without a trace of emotion.
Leo's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the name immediately. The Three Mountains of the North were infamous—an unforgiving place, where the cold was so intense it could freeze a man's soul, and the dangers weren't just from the environment. The beasts that roamed there were unlike any others, ferocious creatures that had claimed the lives of many who dared to venture into their territory. Leo swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"..."
The silence in the carriage grew heavier, the weight of the unspoken words pressing down on both of them. Leo stared out the window, his mind racing. Would this be enough? Would the cold, the beasts, the isolation... would it be enough to break the man who had caused them so much pain?
••••••
"It's... it's... Are you serious?!" Caín's voice broke the tense silence, his eyes wide with disbelief. His hands shook slightly as he struggled to process what he had just heard. Every muscle in his body tensed as if preparing for a blow that he knew was coming but still couldn't avoid.
His father nodded, his expression unchanging, almost as if this was just another part of the plan, another step in a long and calculated game. Caín felt a chill run down his spine, colder than any he had felt before. This wasn't just punishment. This was s
omething more, something deeper and far more terrifying.