Beast in the Woods, Deep in the Night - Chapter 36.1

Chapter 36.1

After calling the server and handing Christine a glass of champagne, William realized he had not yet greeted Edgar.

He let Christine talk to Isaac before talking with Edgar for a while on a corner of the terrace.

“Edgar, I’m alive thanks to you. I must have been crazy… Why did I think of smuggling a sample of a weapon on a spice import ship?”

“From now on, sample weapons will also be imported through the guild.”

“Of course. If the weapons we will use for the rebellion are seized by pirates, not only me but also my uncles will all fall to the ground clutching the back of our necks.”

How many people were anxious that this rebellion would be discovered before it even began? William thanked Edgar again for taking care of it.

Then, he waited until Edgar had half a glass of champagne before asking in a voice only he could hear.

“I appreciate the real power of the Black Fang Guild helping me, but… are you still not willing to help me as Grand Duke Richard?”

Grand Duke Richard. It was a title that no one except William would mention in front of him.

Rather than being happy to hear it after a long time, Edgar frowned slightly.

“Are you drunk already? You’re talking nonsense.”

Edgar left as if he had no intention of talking about the subject further. Watching him leave him behind, William recalled the moment he first met Edgar without realizing it.

He was about ten years old. William accompanied the elders of the imperial family and the great nobles of the capital to visit Grand Duke Richard’s territory in the northeast.

William, who may have been less powerful than his half-brother, the first prince, but was smart and quick-witted from a young age, immediately recognized the intention of visiting the Grand Duke.

The nobles would go there on behalf of the emperor to confirm that Richard was also his subject and was strictly ruled by him.

Officially, they were going there to see if Grand Duke Richard had arranged hunting schedules for the high-ranking officials in the capital, prepared luxurious carriages to tour the territory, and secured suitable craftwork for the ladies.

As expected, the Grand Duke prepared endless banquets and a dizzying array of local specialties to ensure that the guests who came from the capital had a great time.

However, nothing in the Grand Duke’s castle caught his attention more than Edgar Richard.

“I am Edgar, son of Grand Duke Richard.”

William vividly remembered how nervous the people of the capital were when the young boy introduced himself in a stiff voice with no friendliness at all.

Even at that young age, Edgar Richard exuded such an intimidating presence that it made his opponents shrink on the spot. His dark green eyes reminded him of the common knowledge that Richard’s lineage originated from beasts.

Even the Empress’ forces, who were so experienced that they could understand the flow of politics and power with their eyes closed, swallowed dry when they saw him. As if they could guess how far he would chew when he was in his twenties or thirties, and whether his fangs would reach the capital.

William liked the way he could instantly overpower not only himself but also those he feared. The boy was naturally drawn to strength.

‘I don’t know if he thinks of me as a friend, though.’

Edgar tried to cut all ties with the family by faking a carriage accident, but William was able to continue their friendship because he came to the Grand Duke’s territory and made a fuss about how he couldn’t be dead.

[I’m alive as you say, so don’t be so obsessed.]

How delighted he was when he received a short letter full of annoyance from Edgar, whom he thought was dead.

Anyway, the lukewarm friendship between the two began to shine after Edgar faked his death, abandoned his identity as the grand duke’s successor, and joined the Black Fang Guild. After the rescued chimeras, it was William who benefited the most from the guild.

Ever since he was born, William was stuck in a game of mind over the position of first prince and crown prince.

When William realized early on that he could not defeat the first prince, who came from the best martial arts family in the empire, by force, he acknowledged his inadequacy and began to commission the Black Fang Guild to do things that would honor him.

It was then that he became more and more closely associated with the guild and entrusted it with smuggling weapons to use in the rebellion.

‘It’s a good thing that Edgar, who was focused only on saving the chimeras, became interested in other things as well…’

The clever William knew that if Edgar regained the position of grand duke and stood by his side, he would become the next emperor.

The fact that he had the support of Richard, who showed no interest in matters outside of the duchy, meant that he had the qualities of an emperor.

That was why he had been encouraging Edgar to regain his position as the grand duke, but it had always been in vain.

‘But there’s been a big change in the meantime, so let’s attack that side.’

William’s intrigued eyes turned back to Christine.

She was the first woman Edgar had ever had by his side. If his interest was serious and not a passing fad, Christine might just be the one to move Edgar.

Unlike Edgar, who was like a rock who wouldn’t move no matter what he said, that pretty lady seemed innocent and ignorant of the ways of the world.

So, William seized the opportunity and approached her again. Then, he smiled so that she wouldn’t be frightened.