Beast in the Woods, Deep in the Night - Chapter 19.1

Chapter 19.1

Before he turned seventeen, Edgar’s life was perfect.

He was the only son born to Grand Duke Richard and his wife.

The Richard family were the rulers of the northeastern empire and a family that even the emperor wouldn’t dare touch. Their beastly instincts of biting and tearing something to pieces were also passed down to future generations, so whether it was a quarrel or a war, they never lost when a fight broke out.

In addition, the vast territory included seas with abundant catch and fertile agricultural land. Because it was a territory greatly affected by mana, the mountains were constantly producing expensive minerals and rare herbs.

The only drawback of the family was that they did not take part in the capital’s politics or interact closely with the lords of other territories. But that was a disadvantage only for those who wanted to get closer to the family.

Richard found it annoying to associate with the weak and powerless. To be precise, he found it annoying to see the weak seeking his protection in the name of friendship.

So, the family did not engage in exchanges other than making commercial transactions with other territories.

They held a banquet sometimes when the nobles of the capital stopped by with the excuse of going on summer vacation, but even that wasn’t welcome.

It was natural, since they were the descendants of the lone wolf that survived the bloody battle. They knew that if they entered politics, they would instinctively make many sacrifices to reach the highest position. Richard wouldn’t be satisfied with the elders or anything like that and would aim for the throne.

So Edgar had never considered that the close-minded characteristic of the family was a disadvantage. He even thought that the weak things should be grateful that the beasts exercised self-restraint in order not to bite them.

He was a remarkably outstanding figure even among those who inherited the bloodline of the grand duke. Edgar was suited to stand at the top, looking down and ruling, and he had a talent for dealing with power.

Edgar Richard’s life was largely boring until he caught sight of a horrific scene when he was seventeen.

He was born with everything. The Richard duchy was more magnificent than the imperial palace, and countless employees were willing to be their hands and feet for their convenience.

When he looked out the window where the sun shone every morning, the vast land, the endless sea, and the beautiful village; everything that came into view was his. He could have anything else, such as the territories of other provinces or precious treasures, just by saying that he wanted to have them.

The grand duke and his wife loved their only son very much. In particular, the grand duke, who was physically weak for a direct descendant of Richard, treasured his son, who was born with exceptional strength, like his own life. He was a man who would not hesitate to go to war or give independence to his territory if his son so wanted.

“Edgar, always remember that you are my only son. You are the only one worthy of Richard’s name.”

Edgar thought that his father’s repeated words just as he was about to forget were only because he cared about him.

There was no reason to doubt that.

His father was a man who would not open it whenever he received a rare liquor as a gift but would instead keep it in a cellar, saying that he would drink it with his son when he came of age.

He was an affectionate father who taught him to hunt and shave, saying that he had to learn these things from his father even though there were countless employees who could do the troublesome work for him.

The grand duke stayed by his son’s side even when the grand duchess died from an epidemic. He gave his son numerous gifts so that he would not be deeply saddened, and he sometimes wrote letters to comfort him.

Of course, he didn’t meet a new grand duchess. As he had inherited the blood of the wolf, Grand Duke Richard had only one companion.

That was why Edgar only knew him as a good person who loved him and his family.

‘… It was a f*cking delusion.’

Edgar came to realize the truth because of two twin siblings whom he met by chance.

From about the age of fifteen, Edgar had nothing else to learn. He would sometimes go hunting alone in the hinterland of the grand duke’s castle because he was going through a rebellious phase and learning was becoming boring.

Even though he would go hunting alone, no one dared to stop him as he was the grand duke’s son.

Then one day, he encountered children his age living in a small cabin deep in the mountains. A boy and a girl. They were twins, two years younger than Edgar.

Why were children living here? He had never heard of such children living in the hinterland. Besides, the two looked… strangely similar to him.

It was a curious situation and Edgar was very bored, so he talked to the children, which was unlike him.

“Do you two live here alone? Where are your parents?”