My Three Beautiful Vampire Wives can hear my Inner Thoughts-Chapter 45: Traitors

Cedrick’s blood ran cold.

The moment Cornelia’s words settled over the camp, he felt it, the thin edge of a blade hovering just above his neck. These recruits were his. Carefully chosen. Slowly planted. Faces that blended in, talents that grew at just the right pace, loyalty that pointed anywhere but the Moonshade Family.

They were meant to bloom when the family weakened, when chaos cracked open the walls from the inside.

And now Cornelia was looking straight at them.

Cain, lying weak and silent nearby, felt no less panic than Cedrick did, though for an entirely different reason.

This is bad. This is really bad.

His whole plan hinged on people like Cedrick and William. Traitors. Ambitious fools. People who would scheme, whisper, frame, and push blame onto him until his wives finally snapped and kicked him out. If Cornelia uncovered them now, what would happen?

They wouldn’t scheme.

They wouldn’t frame him.

They’d be interrogated. Tortured. Executed.

And then what?

Who would hate him properly?

Who would stir trouble and make him look irredeemable?

Cain wanted to curse the heavens.

I revive them and now you’re telling me they’re about to die before they can even ruin my reputation? What kind of cruel joke is this?

Before Cornelia could speak again, a sharp, heavy sound rang out across the camp.

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

The bell from the Moonshade family’s main building echoed like thunder, deep and urgent. Every soldier stiffened. That bell was not rung lightly. It meant invasion, disaster, or something that threatened the core of the family itself.

Cain almost cried from relief.

Perfect. Perfect timing. Whoever rang that bell, I owe you my life.

Cedrick seized the moment like a drowning man grabbing a rope.

"Madam," he said quickly, stepping forward with urgency carefully painted across his face, "that bell means an emergency. Whatever this is, it can wait. The safety of the Moonshade Family must come first."

Cornelia didn’t even turn to look at the main building.

"That can wait," she said calmly. "This cannot."

Cedrick’s jaw tightened. "With respect, Madam, if something has breached our territory or threatened the inner family, delaying could cost lives."

Cain screamed internally.

Yes. Yes. Push it. Push it harder. Tell her people will die. Say the right words.

Cornelia finally turned her eyes on Cedrick, and for a moment, he felt as if his bones were being weighed.

"Lives have already been endangered tonight," she replied. "And I intend to understand why."

Hall stepped forward, his voice rough with concern. "Madam, Cedrick has a point. We’ve just come out of chaos. The men are exhausted. If something else is happening—"

"It will still be happening after this," Cornelia cut in. "No one is leaving."

Zed frowned deeply. "Madam Cornelia, with all due respect, you are accusing soldiers without proof. These men just broke through. That is cause for celebration, not suspicion."

Cain nodded weakly on the ground, putting on his best pitiful expression.

Yes. Yes. Defend them. Please. I’ll write you a thank-you letter in blood later.

Inside his head, he was screaming encouragement.

Good job, Zed. You’re doing great. Keep talking. Don’t let her think too much.

Cedrick took a careful breath, his voice lowering, as if speaking from the heart.

"Madam," he said, "I’ve served the Moonshade Family for decades. I bled for it. I watched comrades die for it. If you doubt my loyalty now, after everything, then... then perhaps I truly have no place here."

William stepped beside him immediately, his face tight with controlled hurt.

"I feel the same," William said. "If Madam believes we are enemies in disguise, then keeping our positions would be shameful. We will step down. We will retire quietly."

A ripple went through the camp.

Zed spun on them. "What are you saying? Cedrick, William, you can’t mean that."

Hall clenched his fists. "Madam, this is going too far. These two have carried this army on their backs."

Cain’s heart pounded.

Yes. Yes. Threaten resignation. Emotional leverage. Classic move. I didn’t have to watch these traitorous bastards to act like a victim. Good good good...

Cornelia’s expression didn’t soften.

Instead, her eyes sharpened.

"Are you finished?" she asked.

The camp fell silent.

Cedrick swallowed. "Madam... we are only asking for fairness."

"Fairness," Cornelia repeated softly.

She took a step forward, her presence pressing down on everyone at once.

"You speak of fairness while avoiding the simplest request," she continued. "I asked to see how they broke through. Not to arrest anyone. Not to execute anyone. Just to observe."

William spread his hands. "Madam, breakthroughs are personal. For some, it is painful. For others, humiliating. Forcing them to display it now—"

"Is inconvenient," Cornelia finished. "I am aware."

Cain felt sweat bead under his collar.

She’s not backing down. Damn it. She’s not backing down.

He kept his head lowered, pretending to cough weakly while his mind raced.

Think. Think. There has to be a way out of this.

Cedrick pressed on, desperation creeping into his tone.

"Madam, if you truly believe I am not from Moonshade territory, then say it clearly," he said. "Don’t humiliate my men like this."

Cornelia’s gaze flicked to him instantly.

"They are not from Moonshade territory," she said flatly.

The camp exploded into noise.

"What?"

"That’s impossible."

"Madam, you must be mistaken."

Zed stared at her in disbelief. "Madam, Cedrick was born here. I trained with him."

Hall shook his head. "William too. We watched him rise through the ranks."

Cain’s eyes widened slightly.

She said it. She actually said it.

Inside, his emotions were a mess.

Shit. Shit. Shit. This is the worst possible outcome. Why are you so sharp? Why can’t you be a little stupid sometimes? I get that I insulted as a battle brain but why you gotta be smart right now?

Cornelia smirked. Looking proud but immediately reverted to her mad look as she raised her hand, silencing them.

"William and Cedrick," she said evenly, "are likely among them as well."

Zed froze.

Hall took a step back. "Madam... that’s a serious accusation."

Cedrick’s face went pale just enough to be convincing.

"Madam," he said hoarsely, "how could you say that?"

William clenched his jaw, eyes reddening. "If this is how little trust we have earned..."

Zed rounded on Cornelia. "You can’t do this. Without them, the Vanguard collapses."

Hall nodded fiercely. "They’ve defended this family longer than most of us."

Cain was internally applauding.

Fools! You all have been with her for a long time and you all still don’t know her? Turn the room against her. Make her look unreasonable. She’ll be even more resolute.

Cornelia listened to them all, her expression unreadable.

Then she sighed.

"You are all making this far more dramatic than it needs to be," she said.

She turned back to Cedrick and William.

"If you are innocent," she continued, "then there is no harm in showing it."

Cedrick shook his head slowly, voice trembling. "Madam... being doubted like this hurts more than any blade."

William followed immediately. "If you truly believe we are enemies, then perhaps stepping down is the only honorable path left to us."

The camp buzzed with murmurs.

Cain bit the inside of his cheek. Giving up.

Whatever...

Accept their resignation. Let them leave quietly. I’ll just find new traitors later.

Cornelia looked at them for a long moment.

Then she said calmly, "Why not just let them show the way they broke through? I just want to see their blood mana to recognize if they are indeed from the Moonshade family or not"

Silence fell like a dropped curtain.

"We will recognize it immediately," she added.

Cedrick’s heart sank.

Cain’s stomach twisted.

No. No no no no.

This isn’t over.

This is about to get very ugly.