Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Claude's Proposal
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“You're here of all places. My god. You left Aren behind and came all the way here?”
Claude said with a mocking tone.
“You look even happier than usual. Moonlight's over, but you always suffer the aftereffects for a long time, don't you?”
“Weren't you staying at a hotel in Aren?”
“I have to spend this season at the family estate too. Moonlight isn't tough just for you, right? All five families... ugh. You know.”
Claude shrugged and let out a deep sigh. Theodor had zero interest in how Claude usually got through Moonlight.
Just as he turned to ignore him and walk away, Claude called out to Theodor.
“Hey, Your Grace. Have you thought about my proposal?”
Theodor stopped in his tracks and replied slowly.
“You definitely said you wanted to be that child's tutor. I'd forgotten.”
“That's fine. Thinking about it now is plenty, Theodor. Can't you forgive a little thing like that between friends?”
Claude approached Theodor with an utterly relaxed attitude.
“Since you've come all this way yourself, you must have something to investigate. From your sturdy winter kingdom, no less. And the imperial library of Lepayrun, haha. That's too much for mere coincidence.”
“Were you waiting for me here?”
“Nah, not exactly. To be precise, I was waiting for you to come find me. You're pretty late, but I'll forgive you.”
Even after taking a hit like that, he still hadn't come to his senses. Claude's eyes gleamed.
“How was it? Moonlight with your little bride. I'm dying to know what kind of night the arrogant, noble Duke Theodor Diarc spent. Won't you tell your old friend?”
“Nothing much to say.”
“Really? What about 'Lycan Splendor' then?”
Claude grinned and pressed once more.
“Our king, the Lycan King. You must have plenty to say about Lycans, right?”
Theodor turned his head. Sensing the chill of anger starting to flicker in his red eyes on instinct, Claude hurriedly raised both hands.
“Hold on. This is the imperial palace... Theodor. What are you planning to do here? There are plenty of ears and eyes around.”
Theodor, who had been watching Claude make the first move, finally spoke.
“What do you want?”
“That tutor position for the child you're keeping, of course.”
In the end, this was Claude's “warning.” Theodor now understood what he meant by telling him to get through Moonlight well with his bride.
From Claude's perspective, it was the best he'd come up with after racking his brains. To Theodor, it was utterly infuriating. He wanted to deal with him right then and there.
......But Theodor decided to play along with his tune.
“You're utterly insane.”
He muttered with a hollow laugh, and Claude sidled up beside him with a smirk.
“And I want proper treatment as a teacher too. No harsh words to the teacher, got it?”
“...You'd better teach Lara very well. Or I might just wring your neck.”
At Theodor's low, murderous voice, Claude feigned composure and replied awkwardly.
“Of course! You know how well I teach kids.”
Theodor whipped around as if he didn't want to hear more. Claude, gauging his mood, now acted as if he'd gotten full permission and cheerfully hummed a tune as he closely followed behind.
Whispers rose here and there in the imperial palace at the sight of the two.
They were such standout figures. One was the ruthless ruler of the north, the other the promising young master of the Renar family.
Were the rumors true that those two were close friends?
God, look at their heights. They're so handsome.
First time seeing Duke Theodor... Why is he in the capital instead of Aren?
Ignoring the snippets of noise brushing his ears, he pressed on, but Claude, even while following, waved to his “fans” one by one. Of course, only to the noble ladies.
“Woman-crazed fool.”
Theodor muttered in exasperation at Claude's ongoing fan service and kept marching forward without a glance back.
Honestly, no matter how spacious the carriage was, sitting face-to-face alone with Claude inside was pure hell.
Theodor felt like his patience was being tested endlessly as he sat across from him, and finally, he could begin the interrogation.
“I'll give you a chance. Answer well.”
“What's this about? As your future employer, I'll answer with all sincerity.”
Claude's playful attitude showed no sign of seriousness whatsoever.
Theodor stared straight into Claude's eyes.
Those sly, unreadable eyes of Claude, always hiding what he was thinking.
They had been close friends for quite a while, but after becoming adults, their families became an obstacle, forcing them into opposition.
“...You sent the letter saying you'd become Lara's tutor right before Moonlight.”
Theodor, arm propped on the carriage window, recalled that time. When he'd gone directly to the Mason Hotel to see Claude, he'd left some meaningful words.
‘No, you have to hire me.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Moonlight's coming soon. So, have fun with it. With your little human bride, Young Master Theodor.’
Something definitely felt off. Theodor's icy gaze turned to Claude.
“Did you already know that Lara would be a variable during Moonlight?”
“No... not that.”
Claude trailed off at Theodor's question.
Theodor crossed his long legs. How Claude reacted mattered more than his words—the attitude itself. Theodor watched him silently, intending to read it.
“It's a gut feeling. Intuition.”
“Intuition?”
“Yeah, intuition. Mine's sharper than most beastkin's, you know? The moment I saw that girl, I knew she was the Bride of the Wolf. Though I played dumb in front of you.”
“......”
“Plus, your grandfather... Lord Filos Diarc passed not long ago. Sad business. I figured there might be something I didn't know.”
Claude made a pitying face. Theodor had no need for condolences about his grandfather; he had to uncover Claude's true intentions.
“I don't care about your deductions. How did you know the Bride of the Wolf affects Moonlight?”
“Ah~ So that's what you're curious about, Your Grace.”
Claude laughed ha-ha and looked straight at Theodor. For the first time that day, seriousness flickered in his eyes.
“Simple. My father once ‘possessed’ a Bride of the Wolf.”
“......What?”
This was definitely outside Theodor's expectations. Claude continued.
“Seventeen years ago, I think. It was brief, but there was a time Father forbade me from entering a certain annex room. Even looking like this, I was the second son who had all of Father's love. When he tells you not to do something, you want to do it more, right? So, when Father stepped out briefly, I sneaked into that annex room. And inside......”
Claude lowered his voice. In an instant, the carriage space vividly transported back to that moment in his memory.
“There was some woman locked up. Who could it be? Not a servant. His lover? But no need to hide a lover, right? Weird. Shocked, I backed up and tripped. With a loud thud.”
“......”
“The noise made her turn around. Haha, funny thing is, she was breathtakingly beautiful... Probably the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Still is.”
The stranger woman's pale purple eyes gazing at the clumsily fallen young Claude held only mystery. Her long, draped hair seemed painted with the remnants of moonlight.
She blinked slowly in surprise at the fallen Claude, then gave a gentle smile. The young Claude felt instantly enchanted by that smile. His mind went completely blank.
“I thought about going closer. Maybe ask if she needed help. She didn't say a word. Could she not speak? Why was she in our house? Before I could ask, Father appeared with a terrifying look. The door shut again, and as punishment for defying him, I was confined to my room for a week.”
“...So that woman was the Bride of the Wolf? I've never heard that your father possessed one.”
“Of course not. He never told anyone. Soon as my confinement ended, I searched for her, but I never saw her again. Ever. To the point where I wondered if it was all a hallucination.”
“......”
“Father told me much later that she was the Bride of the Wolf. Around when I came of age, I think. Why did he tell me then? Out of the blue, and so late. I still don't know.”
Claude shrugged.
“When Father told me about the Bride of the Wolf, he said the next-generation one would have power beyond compare. Enough to overturn even Moonlight, which Wolfkin can't handle......”
But Claude couldn't finish.
A large hand in flawless leather gloves shot toward Claude's collar. Claude was yanked up by Theodor's strength. He coughed harshly.
Killing intent swirled in his red eyes. Frost began to form around Claude's gripped throat.
“You told Lycan about the Bride of the Wolf.”
“Hey.... Theodor, cough, ah, is this how you treat your future teacher? It's cold, stop!”
“Lycan Splendor sending a welcome to my estate was because of you.”
Theodor sneered crookedly.