Earl Cain

Count Cain, also known as Hakushaku Cain, is the gothic shoujo manga by Kaori Yuki. Count/Earl Cain became popular through online scanlation and is divided into two parts. The original manga was completed up to volume 5 where Kaori Yuki placed it on haitus in order to complete her other manga Angel Sanctuary. After the completion of Angel Sanctuary, Count Cain was resumed and published under the new title, Godchild. Godchild is currently licensed in english by Shojo Beat where it runs monthly.

Summary

Count Cain is the story of a nobleman with an interest in poison from 19th century England. Cain inherited the title of Earl of Hargreaves when his father died after failing to poison him. As he fell, he cursed Cain to a life of solitude. The story follows him through many mysteries involving poison. Most of the stories focus on human nature and emotional/social conflict. Some part of the story develop out from the actual events taking place in London, like the Jack the Ripper case. Some of the chapters revolve around Cain's past and Riff, his servant whom Cain is very intimate to and sees as one of his family. Later in the manga, the plot becomes more connect and detail his struggle against a secret society established by his father named Delilah (in which the name overshadow the secret revealed by the end).

Characters

Cain Hargreaves: Cain is named after the bible for the fact that Cain was the first human to kill a relative. He has gold eyes which is rumored to be a sign of the child of incest. The rumor proves to be true since Cain is the son of his father, Alexis, and his aunt, Augusta.

Riff Raffit: Head butler for the Hargreaves. Riff is Cain's personal servant and does everything for him. Riff was a medical student originally, but his house burned down and his entire family died. It was through Alexis, a friend of his father, that he received the job of being a servant. Later on, the story unfolds the truth that indeed, Riff was dead since the fire incident at his house. However, he was brought to life again by the dark medical knowledge praticed by Delilah'. Moreover, the nice and loyal nature of Riff is indeed an artificial characteristic implanted by Delilah'. Towards the end of the story, Riff struggles within due to the fight between two sides of his characteristics.

Merryweather Hargreaves: Cain's half sister. Firstly she was believed to be the daughter of Cain's father and a maid. Her mother committed suicide by swallowing poison and Merry lived as a street fortune teller before Cain found her. Near the end of the story, Cain reveals that she doesn't share the same bloodline as him. She was fathered by the head of servants in Cain's house who died before she was born. Nevertheless, Cain loves her as his true sister despite knowing the fact.

Jezebel Disraeli: Cain's brother by adoption. Jezebel is a doctor and works for Cain's father in the secret society Delilah. He hates Cain because his "father" spends all of his attention on Cain.

Judith: Also sometimes named Shuzette. Cain's first love, who in truth, is his half-sister. She planned to elope with her fiance by faking death, but he was only after her money and left her buried alive. She committed suicide when she found out. Later she was resurrected as "doll" by Jezebel and named Michaela.

Augusta Hargreaves: Cain's aunt and real mother. She went crazy after giving birth to Cain and jumped out of the window of her institution when Cain went to see her. By the end of the story, she appears to be the real wicked one who has plotted and been responsible for Cain's suffering. The name of Alexis' secreat society Delilah, is indeed referred to her.

Alexis Hargreaves: Cain's father. The only person he ever loved was his sister, Augusta. He resolves to make life impossible for Cain because he is responsible for the death of Augusta. By the end of the story, he appears to be also suffering because of the plot set down by his sister. He was killed and afterward possessed by the spirit of Augusta.

Other characters: Clehadol, Oscar, Cassian, Meridianna, Lord Gladstone.