My Three Beautiful Vampire Wives can hear my Inner Thoughts-Chapter 43: Breakthrough

Praise broke out almost immediately.

"Madam Cornelia is fair," Hall said first, planting a fist over his chest as he bowed deeply. His voice was loud, steady, and full of conviction. "No one can say otherwise."

Zed followed, his usual sharp tone softened by respect. "Yes. Fair and decisive. The Moonshade Family would not stand where it is today without you."

Around them, murmurs spread like ripples through water.

Approval. Agreement. Relief.

Many of the Blood Knights had expected chaos after what happened. Instead, Cornelia had cut through it cleanly, assigning blame and punishment without hesitation.

Cain stayed silent, his head lowered, shoulders slumped. To everyone else, he looked humbled, even ashamed.

Inside his head, he was floating.

Fair. Yes. Very fair. You hear that? I am being punished fairly. This is excellent. Everything is proceeding beautifully.

He sounded sarcastic and his eyes were even rolling.

Damn it! I need to get away from her! I don’t care how hard her punishments are; to me, they feel like nothing but a tickle. The real torture is the blood pact; it makes me extremely attracted to my wives! Damn it!

Cornelia inclined her head slightly, accepting the praise without indulgence. "Enough," she said calmly. "If there is nothing else—"

"There is," Cedrick said suddenly.

The camp went quiet.

Cedrick stepped forward, slow and deliberate. He did not look at Cain. Instead, his gaze stayed fixed on Cornelia, careful, respectful, and measured.

Cornelia’s eyes narrowed just a fraction. "What is it, Captain Cedrick?"

Cedrick hesitated, as if choosing his words with extreme care. "Regarding Cain’s punishment," he began. "While your judgment is unquestionable, there may be... a more suitable arrangement."

Cain’s heart skipped.

Oh? He thought, barely containing himself. Go on. Dig your grave.

Cornelia did not interrupt him. She simply watched.

Cedrick cleared his throat. "You are... busy, Madam. Your duties span the entire family, the Vanguard, the Blood Knights, and external threats. Training Cain personally would demand time and focus."

Hall immediately stepped forward, nodding. "Captain Cedrick has a point. Madam’s training is intense. It requires constant supervision."

Zed crossed his arms. "And Cain’s body is... fragile right now," he added carefully. "He nearly died. Forcing him into your regimen might be excessive."

William, who had been silent until now, shifted uneasily before speaking. "If the goal is correction and discipline," he said, "then perhaps he should begin under someone... closer to the soldiers."

Cornelia’s gaze sharpened. "Say what you mean."

Cain looked at them as if he knew what they were planning.

Cedrick inhaled slowly. "What we mean is this," he said. "Rather than training directly under you, perhaps Cain should be placed temporarily under Soldier Captain William."

Cain nearly laughed.

Yes. Yes. That’s it. Separate me. Lower me. Put me under another authority. Frame me. Isolate me. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. This is what I am talking about! You make me so proud! Very proud!

William stiffened. "I did not ask for this," he said quickly.

Cedrick turned to him. "You didn’t need to," he replied smoothly. "Your discipline is strict. Your methods are thorough. You understand the struggles of common soldiers."

Hall nodded. "If Cain trains under William, he will learn humility."

Zed added, "And responsibility."

William frowned, clearly uncomfortable. "I am not certain—"

"It is only temporary," Cedrick cut in. "Until he regains strength and proves he can follow orders."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Cain kept his eyes down, his face carefully blank.

Inside, he was practically vibrating.

Yes. Please. Convince her. I beg you. This is everything I want. Put me in the hands of people who already dislike me. I know what you are planning. Go scheme! Let mistakes be blamed on me. Let them accuse me of things I didn’t do. This is destiny. Ah! This Overgod is overjoyed! I want to dance in a pool of blood!

Cornelia’s expression did not change, but her eyes cooled.

"No," she said flatly.

The word landed like a blade.

Cedrick’s jaw tightened. "Madam—"

"No," Cornelia repeated, her voice firm. "Cain’s punishment is my responsibility."

Hall stepped forward, his tone earnest. "Madam, we only wish to lighten your burden."

Zed nodded. "And to ensure fairness."

William swallowed. "I fear that if he fails under your training... the consequences will be irreversible."

Cornelia turned fully toward them now, her presence pressing down on the camp like a gathering storm.

"Do you think," she asked quietly, "that I would choose a punishment without considering the consequences?"

Silence.

Cedrick bowed his head slightly. "Of course not."

"Then why persist?"

Cedrick lifted his gaze, meeting hers with something dangerously close to resolve.

"Because this concerns the morale of the Vanguard," he said. "If Cain is trained under you, some may believe he is being favored."

Cain’s inner voice screamed.

Yes. Yes! Say it louder!

Cornelia stared at Cedrick for a long moment.

The air felt heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

"Favored," she repeated softly.

Hall nodded quickly. "It would appear that way to some."

Zed added, "Even if it is not true."

William looked torn. "Perception matters, Madam."

Cain nearly applauded in his head.

These traitorous fools are doing better than I expected. Reviving them was the best decision I’ve made in centuries.

Cornelia’s eyes flicked to Cain.

He remained kneeling, silent, compliant, the image of a man too weak to even defend himself verbally.

Inside, he was screaming encouragement.

Come on. Join them. Agree with them. Let them take charge. Let me rot somewhere inconvenient.

Cornelia looked back at the captains.

"Enough," she said.

Her voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it.

"I will not entrust my husband’s punishment to anyone else."

Cedrick opened his mouth to speak again, but she raised a hand.

"This discussion is over."

A ripple of tension ran through the ranks. Some knights exchanged glances, uncertain. Others lowered their heads, accepting her decision.

Cain’s inner celebration stumbled.

Tch. So close.

But before he could sink into disappointment, something changed.

At first, it was not that noticeable. Like a faint pressure in the air. A warmth that did not belong to the campfires.

Hall blinked. "Do you feel that?"

Zed frowned. "Mana?"

William looked down at his hands. "Wait..."

Cedrick’s breath caught. His aura flared suddenly, blood-red energy rippling outward.

"What is happening?" Cornelia asked sharply.

The answer came too fast.

All around the camp, Blood Knights gasped. Some cried out. Others dropped to one knee as power surged through their bodies.

"I—I broke through!" someone shouted.

"My mana is stabilizing!"

"I can feel it. Sixth stage. I reached the sixth stage!"

Laughter erupted. Shouts. Cheers.

Aura flared everywhere, overlapping, colliding, rising like a tide. Knights who had been stuck for years felt barriers shatter. Troops who had barely reached the fifth stage suddenly surged forward.

"Fifth to sixth Blood Infusion!"

"Seventh stage! I reached seventh!"

"My aura... it’s stronger!"

The camp exploded into chaos, joy and disbelief mixing in equal measure. Some knights laughed hysterically. Others dropped to their knees, crying openly.

Cornelia’s eyes widened.

This was no coincidence.

She scanned the area, her senses sharp, her mind racing.

Hall stared at his hands, trembling. "Madam... I—"

"Sixth stage," Zed whispered, awe in his voice.

William looked pale, overwhelmed. "I was stuck for three years."

Cedrick clenched his fists as power surged through him, his aura stabilizing at a higher level.

"This... this shouldn’t be possible."

The Blood Knights roared in celebration. The sound echoed into the night, fierce and triumphant.

Cain slowly lifted his head.

Something was wrong. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Very wrong.

He felt it then. The subtle pull. The echo of his own power, rippling outward, feeding back into those bound to him.

Oh.

Oh no.

His inner voice went very quiet.

Of fuck.