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Chapter 43  To be a demon and a son

Today, Father had called Cael a hero, but the word had a sour taste.

A devil… Was that really who Cael was in everyone\'s eyes now? He didn\'t think about that before. There was no way to take them back, though, and Cael wouldn\'t do that if he could.

The life of his father and the lives of Oliveira\'s soldiers were worth the blemish on his reputation. In fact…

Cael smirked bitterly. Maybe if he embraced being "the devil", something good might yet come out of this.

He lifted his gaze to Father\'s. Cael\'s face grew hard and resolute. The lie didn\'t feel like one when it left his tongue—because it was the truth, in a way. In a very metaphorical way.

"That day, Father, I met a dying demon. He didn\'t ask for my soul—

he gave me his power for free, with only one hope. He wanted me to become stronger than he was. And I will. No matter what others say or think—I will become the strongest mage in the entire world! Even you won\'t stop me."

Cael clenched his fists and waited in tense silence for Father\'s response. The man\'s expression was dark and unreadable.

Until his breath left Gianni in a loud exhale. He reached out his hand.

"Come here, son."

When Cael came up to Father\'s chair and leaned closer, Gianni put that hand on his shoulder. Cael\'s knees weakened for a moment under the weight of emotion that it awoke within him.

"Vittorio would still make a far better heir than you, Cael. But you will make a far better mage than him."

Gianni\'s hand fell and Cael took a step back. In his father\'s eyes, he read everything the man didn\'t say aloud. For the first time, the meaning of Father\'s actions grew clear to him.

Gianni cared for Cael—enough to fear for his life whenever it was in danger. Lately, it was too often. But it explained why even after being saved, Father couldn\'t find a word of gratitude for his son.

A bitter realization, because Cael would\'ve preferred just that.

"Why Vittorio again?" he asked through clenched teeth. "I\'m stronger than him now! I\'d pass the second rank exam right, or even the third."

"This isn\'t about strength, Cael." Gianni gave Cael a level look. "A lord must possess a different kind of it. He must know how to manage his lands, negotiate with other lords, and work with documents. Not how to run around and stick your head into every wasp nest you see. People who don\'t understand this are the reason so many of the people in this country go hungry."

Cael blinked. "I… never thought about that."

"Exactly! You read the same books as Vittorio, listened to the same lessons. I know your passions don\'t lie in prices of trade goods and taxes. But the tradition is the tradition. I can\'t just make Vittorio my heir if I have a healthy older son. Unless he refuses the title himself."

"If I grow strong enough, the king might just give me another, bigger title, anyway. Especially if the kingdom wins a war and gains new lands."

"He might, and it will be your choice, Cael, whether to accept. Your land to rule, if you will."

Cael nodded. This was something to mull over, but for now… "What about our war with Nuvoloso? Enzo never even officially declared it. You think he would stop his advance now?"

Father easily, maybe even eagerly, accepted the change of topic. "He would be a complete fool not to, and he\'s no fool. Enzo has his own enemies, eager to stick a dagger in his back. We made him vulnerable. I can only hope, though, that he would give up permanently…"

Cael shook his head. "If he\'s anything like his daughter, then I don\'t think he will. We will have to prepare for whatever he will do next."

"His daughter…" Father sent Cael a sharp glance. "Did she truly not harm you when you were her prisoner? You told me as much, but it\'s hard to believe."

Cael made a half-shrug, unsure what he felt about this idea. Not much of a vengeful drive, definitely. To destroy your enemies in an honest fight was one thing, and to kick them while they were weak was another.

"It was nothing. Ginevra didn\'t harm me for the sake of it… Actually, I don\'t think she\'s that cruel at all. Ruthless, definitely." Cael rubbed the cheek she had slapped earlier. "Not as cruel as whoever left the marks on her back."

"The marks?"

Cael explained the whip scars, hoping that Father would know where they might have come from.

Gianni frowned in thought.

"Ginevra was raised as a noble lady until she showed an exceptional talent in magic and fighting. Then she was raised as a noble mage," Father mused aloud. "No one whips either as a lawful punishment. Whoever did it, did so in secret. And I can think of only one person in the Nuvoloso family powerful enough to both overpower Ginevra and keep the entire matter secret."

Cael blanched as the realization struck him. "But it can\'t be! What sort of father does this to his own daughter?!"

Father\'s face hardened. "Not a kind that will have any respect amongst other lords. But it changes nothing for Ginevra herself. Remember that, Cael… No matter what child she was, her current self won\'t change. You are young yet, and prone to follow your lower head. Don\'t."

Cael felt his cheeks heating. "I\'m not. And anyway… I defeated her—

she\'s MY prisoner now. I can decide what to do with her."

Father\'s eyes narrowed. "As long as you don\'t decide to let her go so she could attack us yet again."

"Don\'t worry, Father. Whatever you think of me, I\'m not that foolish."