The mistletoe pattern that glowed in Lydia’s hands exuded a brilliant silver light.
Even if this new pocket watch’s writing on the surface could only be clearly seen under the candle light, the wooden engraved decorative patterns on top was also beautiful charm against evil spirits, so Edgar would surely like it.
Lydia had been worried about the pocket watch that had fallen into the pond a few days ago and therefore, she thought of it as an engagement gift for Edgar.
Although Lydia hurriedly went to the pocket watch shop and managed to buy one, when she carefully thought about it again, she felt as if she was still unable to give the gift to him.
And there would be no meaning whatsoever to give it to him before “Lydia’s” appearance could be recovered.
However, she did not know when she would be able to return back to her original appearance. Perhaps she won’t be able to come back again.
There hadn’t been any progress, and she couldn’t think up of any good ways. It seemed like it was another day wasted, and the sound of rain made Lydia increasingly depressed.
The rain that had fallen since dusk became increasingly violent as it beat against the window. Occasionally, there had been strange flashes in the distant sky. Recalling the thunderstorm that she came across during the tea party, Lydia’s mood became even more depressed. Fortunately, the thunderstorm was only heard from a vague distance, so even if she was alone now, she wasn’t particularly afraid.
The sounds of the clock in the hall chiming blended in with the sound of the rain, signalling the approach of late evening.
Edgar still hadn’t returned. Lydia wasn’t prepared to rest, thus she quietly waited in her own guest room.
Lately, she had not seen Edgar’s figure. The mansion was quite extensive, and he was always running errands. Even if not being able to meet was quite normal, Lydia felt a lot of pain.
Lydia thought that even if she took a glance and if possible, she also wanted to tell him “good night”. Therefore, she hadn’t changed her clothes and was like this, waiting all along.
Because she carefully tried to listen to the rain, and tried to discern the sound of the carriage, she pretended to occasionally just pass by in the hall. With that, she felt she’d be able to see him for sure.
However, he still had not seemed to come home yet.
Lydia stood up, determined.
Holding a candle light in one hand, she left the room, went towards the depths of the corridor, and walked up the private stairwell.
When Edgar brought her here, it was only a few days ago, but to Lydia it felt like it was so long ago.
Lydia thought as she opened the door to the bedchamber.
Within the dark, the distinct light blue blended, like the feeling of being lured into the sea. Lydia entered the room, placed the candlestick on the table and slowly looked around.
“Will I be able to live here?”
Before when she stood in front of Edgar, she felt endlessly shy and so was not able to reveal her happy emotions so straightforwardly.
As she looked around the room, she unknowingly began to feel excited; in her heart, she even began to look forward to getting married soon now but even then, she just wasn’t able to change such feelings into words. However, it was her sincere hope to somehow at least convey these special feelings to Edgar.
Lydia went to the front of the chest.
She opened the uppermost drawer, and quietly put the silver watch inside.
Perhaps I’ll never be able to set foot in here again. She hated herself for having that kind of thought, and was slowly unable to leave the room, simply gazing at the pocket watch.
When the rainy conditions became worse, Edgar returned to the mansion.
He had been sitting in the frequented club for a long time and thinking about what Patrick said the whole time.
Were Liz and Ulysses in correspondence?
Ulysses was a person who used the Unseelie court as servants.
But, Patrick said that it really wasn’t a goblin or some small fairy lingering by Liz’s side, but rather it was a fairy with stronger power.
In the moment that Patrick and the fairy saw each other, its presence faded away.
Although he didn’t see it clearly, it seemed to be a powerful fairy who could transform into a human appearance.
Was Liz aware that there was an Unseelie Court following her side?
She didn’t seem to be a person who was good at lying, or was she putting on an act?
Within the hall in the dead of night, Edgar set foot on the stairs, and went directly to his room.
If Liz seriously knew Lydia’s whereabouts, he would do anything to make her tell. But Edgar did not trust Patrick at all. If he wasn’t able to first determine whether or not Liz was a friend or foe in this situation, he didn’t have the confidence to thoroughly force any interrogation on her.
If by any chance she arbitrarily asserted that she was not related with Lydia, so as a result any clue couldn’t be obtained, was he willing to become a villain?
But once he started to press for an answer, he couldn’t stop midway. In order to be resolute, Edgar required a little more time to consider things again.
(Earl, you don’t seem well.)
He soon saw the decoration of flowers in the corridor floating in the air.
“You know the reason, Coblynau.”
Edgar sighed heavily and said that at the same time.
(You mean the matter with Miss Lydia? Hehe, then let me bring your spirits up.)
“Please leave that for next time. ”
He had no intention to stop and walked straight past the vase.
(Why don’t you go to the master bedroom and take a look?)
Edgar was unconsciously startled. When looking back, the flower had already fallen down on the floor. Coblynau seemed to have disappeared.
What’s in the master bedroom?
Edgar broke into a run without thinking about another thought.
If he had calmed down, then he would have realized that it was simply impossible, yet he thought that it was Lydia who had returned.
That was his and Lydia’s room. He believed that it was impossible for another person to go in.
As he quickly opened the door, he saw a swaying person’s figure waiting in a dark corner. The room only had a candlelight, thus it was hard to avoid regarding the person’s figure as Lydia.
“Lydia...”
He ran over and embraced her.
Her slim shoulders and rigid body due to being at a complete loss, that was the Lydia that he knew.
He was unable to maintain his self-control and kissed her. For as long as his lips had been kissing hers so anxiously, Lydia also firmly kept her lips sealed against his, not responding the least bit, and thus compelled to keep the same attitude.
Edgar called her name over and over again.
He even felt that her hair had the fragrance of chamomile.
But when she slightly moved the surface of her body so as to face the candlelight, the light shined on her and Edgar was shocked.
He didn’t need to move away from her in order to immediately confirm; standing there wasn’t the caramel color-haired Lydia, rather it was a young girl with brunette hair.
Edgar slowly left Liz, who was gazing at him.
“Why.... are you here…..”
Liz, with a look of disappointment, lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I thought you were Lydia.”
Feeling as if he were suddenly pushed into prison, Edgar leaned on the walls, exhausted.
“Um, I......”
“If you’re angry, then slap me.”
She still hung her head, not raising her hand to slap him, nor planning to leave.
Edgar started to feel very anxious. He knew perfectly well that the one to be admitting any mistake is him, that he was the one to commit wrong, yet he could not tolerate Liz staying in there.
“If you don’t want to hit me, then can I ask you to get out?”
This time she looked up surprised.
“This is the room prepared for Lydia.”
Although she nodded to him, she wanted to approach Edgar.
In order to stop her, Edgar spoke.
“I’m sorry, please forget what happened just now, the person I embraced was Lydia.”
Liz stopped and was silent for a moment, apparently unharmed, and spoke with a firm tone.
“Then let us regard it as such.”
The flame to the candlelight was extinguished as Liz blew it out. Apart from the sky being occasionally lit up by lightning, the illumination of the room was lost, and only the sound of rain could be heard.
When the sky emitted a bright flash once more, Liz stood in front of Edgar and took his hands.
“Now, take me as Lydia.”
She pressed both his hands on her cheeks. In the dark, her face could not be seen clearly, so Edgar felt that it was the contours of Lydia’s face.
Why does this girl make me think of Lydia?
Edgar for a split second wanted to give up thinking about it. If he were to regard her as Lydia, even if it was only for a very short time, then he could also let his tired heart obtain rest.
Not knowing when, Liz had already leaned against Edgar’s chest. And in a firm resolve, she whispered softly:
“......Edgar, I love you……”
These were the words that Edgar had been anticipating for a long time. However…..
Lydia never took the initiative to embrace him like this, but also, even the word “love” she was unable to say.
She was not Lydia.
“Do you really think this is alright?”
Edgar himself was surprised at his particularly cold tone.
“You want me to embrace you, somebody of an unknown origin, in spite of my beloved person. Are you saying you like men who engage in such kinds of affairs?”
Liz was surprised and lifted her head, using a perplexed expression as she looked at Edgar.
She wanted to escape, but Edgar grasped her shoulders and pressed her to the side of the wall. Perhaps it was his rough attitude which made her frightened, as she extended both her arms, wanting to push Edgar away.
Take me as Lydia. Edgar forcefully pushed down on Lydia’s hands, thinking to himself that as long as he completely wrecked her hopes of having some sweet delusion in response, then it would be good.
Probably because of the ache, she let out a painful shriek.
“You don’t want to? This was your wish.”
The repeated flashes of lightning made her body appear intermittently in the darkness.
Edgar undoubtedly had not done anything, yet the pair of eyes which stared back at him looked like they were about to burst out into tears. As he loosened his grip only slightly, Liz spared no effort to push him away.
He thought of Lydia again.
Clearly, nothing had happened, but just because the scent that was given off was filled with Lydia, in the next moment, his state of mind fell apart. Not knowing why, Liz’s eyes made him recall in this room Lydia untying her ribbons, trembling.
Edgar dizzily drew backwards.
After his state of mind calmed down a little, he raised his head just in time to see Liz quickly rush out of the room.
Although this was Edgar’s purpose, the aftertaste was quite unpleasant.
Edgar sighed heavily.
To calm himself down, he casually looked around the room. At that point, he found that the cabinet drawer was open.
Walking over and looking inside, he saw that there was a silver pocket watch inside.
“This is what Liz gave….?”
Because his pocket watch had fallen into the pond, she wanted to compensate him? However, where did she get the money from to buy the pocket watch?
After opening the watch’s cover, there was some engraved writing on top.
Edgar wanted to see the words on top, thus he pulled out a match from his pocket and struck it,
In order to see it clearly, then held the pocket watch near the flame.
To Edgar
From now on, I hope that we will always be together.
In commemoration of our engagement, Lydia Carlton.
This is…. Lydia’s present?
Edgar’s mind burst into a state of confusion as he buried his fingers into his hair.
Was it Lydia, before she went missing, who placed the engagement gift here?
But the day that Lydia’s disappeared was the same day that Edgar showed her the room.
Moreover, him losing the watch was something that happened after Lydia had gone missing. The person who knows of this matter should only be Liz.
So, it was Liz who falsely used Lydia’s name?
Tonight, she was also expressing willingness to replace Lydia. Edgar honestly did not understand what she wanted in the end.
But he was also unable to comprehend that matter.
Moreover, Lydia worrying about Edgar’s engagement gift was a matter that could not possibly have been known to Liz.
If Liz knew, then that could only mean that she had seen Lydia.
Was she related to Lydia’s disappearance?
If this was truly the case, then there was no time to hesitate.
*
Raven was running across the plains, with Nico on his shoulder.
At the same time, a loud sound came from the earth. He hurriedly jumped, not knowing how many times, in order to avoid falling into the cave.
That giant was chasing after them.
Although they passed through the rocks, they met the giant head on, who just happened to return.
At that moment, the giant had been carrying Fergus on his shoulders, whom he had found somewhere. Fergus was probably already unconscious. The giant threw him into the rock that Raven and Nico had just come out of, and afterwards, used his hands to grab them.
Raven took out his knife, wanting to take a challenge and fight but the giant merely glanced at it, causing the knife dissolve like candy. They were really no match for the giant.
Raven and Nico were able to escape first.
The giant used his fearful grandeur to chase after them.
Every time he waved his wooden staff, the sky and ground would raise and transform, creating natural disasters. Under the pursuit of the lightning and tornados, Raven desperately ran, even so much so that he didn’t know when Nico had hopped on his shoulders.
After the both of them rushed into the forest, the lightning and tornadoes vanished; it was likely that the trees created a barrier, making it difficult for the giant to use his magic. But this time, it changed into innumerable branches and leaves which extended towards them.
Raven quickly avoided the vines that nearly tangled around his neck, but at this time he suddenly heard Nico’s screams in his ear.
“Waaaaaaa!”
As he looked back, Nico’s body, tangled with vines, just happened to be thrown in the air.
“S-stop! Trow, your bride is in the rocks, so we can go back, right?”
“No, you need to look after the bride.”
The Trow looked up at Nico, who was hanging by the vines.
“I’m a fairy!! Finding a human to take care of the bride would be comparatively better!”
He glanced at Raven.
“In that case, do you want to replace this guy and stay behind instead?”
He pointed his finger towards Raven, wanting him to head over, to which he stopped and hesitated to get up.
“Raven, save me!” Nico called out.
But Raven soon made his decision.
“Mr. Nico, I’m sorry.”
Raven turned around and broke into a run once more.
“Whaaat, Raven!”
As Nico called out again he desperately struggled and the vines suddenly loosened.
He fell to the ground, shortly stood up and ran after Raven.
“Who is it? Who is it that gets in my way?!”
The wind, filled with the tide’s scent, directly blew past the forest.
“....Is it that creature from the sea?”
At that time, Raven heard a faint voice.
(Hurry, run ahead to the bay.)
He ran under the voice’s instructions. Nico also desperately followed behind him, and the giant was still in pursuit.
After passing through the forest with great difficulty, the sea appeared before their eyes.
But suddenly the path was cut short ahead, and Raven could only stop on top of the overhanging cliff.
(Jump down quickly.)
The same voice could be heard again.
Looking down, there seemed to be countless unknown creatures moving across the sea surface.
Were they seals?
Nico threw himself onto Raven’s back. The giant was also soon approaching. And so with not having any further time to reconsider, Raven jumped off the cliff.
“Uwaaa!”
Nico shouted loudly, as if he didn’t expect that Raven would jump down. In the next moment, the two were already submerged into the sea.
Be that as it may, Raven and Nico were shortly pushed afloat to sea level by the seals. After that, they left the sea, and the giant standing on the cliff was already unable to make a move.
Raven was guided by a seal, arriving at a white seashore.
Then, the seals returned to the sea.
“The Giants of the Sun Clan very much hate the sea.”
Raven immediately forgot to make a response towards the figure standing behind, because it was an existence that was once very close to him.
There was a silhouette of a slender woman wearing a black coat and trousers with hair reaching down to shoulder length, incessantly fluttering by the sea wind.
“Is it Ermine....?”
Nico mumbled the name of Raven’s elder sister.
“In the giant’s island, the sea is only on the west side, since the sun will always submerge into the sea.”
By becoming Prince’s underling, Raven’s half elder sister was able to resurrect as a Selkie after she died. She betrayed Edgar, choosing to obey the one named Ulysses, who was the trusted subordinate of Prince.
Even if the Prince was dead now, she was still under Ulysses’ control.
Although Edgar inherited Prince’s memories, he planned to forever seal them. As long as Edgar was wanting to do that, for Raven, whether it was Ermine or Ulysses, they were both enemies.
“Elder sister, why are you here?”
Seeing her younger brother assume a defensive position, she frowned desolately.
“I can’t answer that question, but those seals have nothing to do with Ulysses, they purely responded to the call of one from their own clan.”
In other words, she summoned the seals in order to help Raven.
Despite this, Raven still did not understand the intentions of his elder sister. She was clearly obedient to Ulysses, but she also wanted to protect Raven.
Edgar said it’s because the both of them were siblings, but Raven was always unable to understand. Even though he still didn’t understand, and even if his elder sister was an enemy who made Edgar feel pain, he was unable to kill her.
Edgar accepted this kind of Raven and thus acknowledged such a thing as good.
The skin color of him and his sister, as well as all the burdens each bore on their shoulders, were all different; even if she was not a human anymore, and even if she had become a traitor, she was still Raven’s sister. Therefore, Raven didn’t need to further speculate the reason as to why she would save him.
“In order to not be discovered by the Trow, you guys should follow the coastline. Mr. Nico should know how to get to the human world’s border.”
She originally planned to leave, but once again turned her head and somewhat hesitantly said:
“Raven, if it’s possible, don't let Lord Edgar come close to the Trow. ”
Raven only gazed sharply at Ermine instead of asking for a reason.
“In any case, you also cannot speak of the reason since such unnecessary comments will only confuse Lord Edgar.”
“....What you said is right. Only Lord Edgar is able to choose the path of his future.”
After Ermine finished speaking, she turned her back towards the two who stood behind and unhurriedly walked forward; her figure slowly disappeared as if becoming one with the far off scenery.
Raven began to walk along the shore. Nico, walking on his two legs, also closely followed from behind.
After walking for awhile, he suddenly noticed something; that is, Nico wasn’t following him like before. When they walked, he deliberately kept at a distance.
Why? After he pondered, he roughly became aware of the reason.
How wouldn’t I be disliked?
After all, Raven did intend to abandon Nico and flee from the Trow alone.
Although it was Nico in the first place who requested for Raven to stay behind in his place, Raven had completely forgotten of that matter and his mind was only left with “I am hated”. This phrase spun around incessantly.
He stopped his footsteps and turned around, to which Nico was certainly frightened, raising his back fur.
“Mr. Nico. ”
“Ah, Raven, listen to me, remain calm…”
“For that moment, I am very sorry.”
“What?”
“I planned on abandoning you, therefore you are angry, right?”
“.....This, um….”
“In my mind, Lord Edgar’s matters are the highest priority no matter when, followed by my own. Sustaining injuries for someone else, and as a result being unable to protect Lord Edgar, this matter, as far as I’m concerned, is a situation that absolutely cannot happen.”
Nico scratched his head in confusion.
“But as I did this, my companions always hated and alienated me, I can’t help myself being hated.”
Be that as it may, Raven never really did care about what his companions were thinking. But as he thought of perhaps how Nico would also respond the same as them, he strangely felt depressed.
“....Oh what, so that’s how it is.”
Nico mumbled; actually a bit frightened as he thought Raven was angry, but that of course, was something Raven was oblivious of.
Nico let out a sigh as if he was relieved, and suddenly puffed out his chest and deliberately coughed.
“Well, it was tough wasn’t it? Humans are weird because they cannot tolerate these kinds of things.”
“Is Mr. Nico is different?”
“Listen up Raven, by no means am I a man who cares about such trivial matters. Regardless of who, everyone has their own special circumstances. I know you meant no harm.”
He gradually approached Raven, like usual, and gently patted him on the knee.
“You don’t need to worry about it. Gentlemen, in the face of a sincere apology, will use a lenient breadth of mind to forgive the other.”
Nico forgave me. Raven accepted this outcome straightforwardly and even came to respect Nico a little, for he thought that Nico truly was worthy of being called a gentleman.
“Then in the future, I can also abandon you.”
“That…. That’s only logical.”
Nico proudly boasted at first, thus he could only reply in this way. Raven heard him say this, yet he was filled with gratitude.
This was what a so-called friendship is.
Raven felt that even if he abandoned the other person and wouldn’t be hated, then perhaps friendship was a good thing.
After restoring the friendship that had a slight crack in it, the both of them stepped forward once more.
The coastline stretched endlessly.
The sun managed to float on the horizon, as if time had stopped, without sinking from beginning to end.
Raven didn’t really understand how time passed in the fairy realm. Although he felt he had been walking for a very long time, but perhaps it was merely an illusion.
Before the huge arched coastline, they could vaguely see a sea cape. That being said, it seemed no matter how far they walked, they were unable to approach the cape.
Just when Raven began to feel doubtful, Nico suddenly stopped his footsteps.
“Raven, only Fergus was caught by the giant, but we don’t know how Lydia is.”
Then he remembered. But Raven believed that regardless of what happened, Lydia would think of a way to return to Edgar’s side.
“She is surely by Lord Edgar’s side.”
But Nico shook his head in doubt.
“The giant has her Moonstone ring. Returning to the human world isn’t simple. Maybe she’s wandering alone in the fairy world.”
“Can you find Miss Lydia?”
“Even if we searched all over the magic lands, it’s not certain that we could find her.”
“Then, we can only return to Lord Edgar’s side; to handle such affairs, manpower is necessary.”
Originally, for the sake of this purpose, they left Lota behind by herself.
Nico however, motionlessly gazed towards the sea.
“Why must human beings have things that are more important than themselves?”
Then he whispered to himself and said:
“Whether it’s you, Lydia, or the Earl, you’re all like this. Perhaps even Ermine is affected, because she was once human, is it not like this?”
“Is this something you need to have? There ought to be people who don’t think so, right?”
“No, everyone is like this. Despite living with humans for a long time now, I frequently thought this.”
After saying that he deeply sighed.
“Although my most precious thing is myself, I also think that Lydia is very precious to me. Is the Earl still fighting with the Prince? If that is the case, then what should Lydia do?”
Since Ermine appeared and gave a warning, Nico felt that the issue with the Prince was still unsettled.
“I only hope that Lydia’s most precious person doesn’t end up betraying her; can you understand?”
This kind of matter would not happen. Raven really believed this answer, but also wasn’t sure whether or not Lydia would be harmed after knowing Edgar’s concealed secret, so he did not say anything.
“Raven, would you want return to the Earl’s side without any hesitation whatsoever? If you speak forth about the affairs that went on here, Ermine’s important advice would just amount to nothing. According to the present circumstances, the Earl would have chosen to protect Lydia, which in turn, will lead to an unavoidable confrontation with the Trow.”
“This is not something I should decide, I can only take circumstances as they are and relay them to Lord Edgar.”
Nico worryingly shook his head, and in the end, he resolutely stopped his footsteps and said:
“So, the boundary is towards here.”
He hastily turned back to the path that they originally came from.
*
Lydia ran back to her bedroom and collapsed on her bed.
She was unable to stop her burst of tears.
When Edgar suddenly appeared in the suite room, and then embraced and kissed her, Lydia had also expected for him to perhaps recognize her; however in the next moment, he’d said that he made an error.
She knew that Edgar was on the verge of frantically longing for her, but at the same time, she realized that regardless of the current situation, no matter how diligently she tried, there was no way she could become Edgar’s lover.
If she definitely thought carefully, then she would understand. Why wasn’t she discovered before?
Lydia had been misunderstanding a very important matter.
The reason why she said she was willing to replace Lydia was because she believed that if she was able to increase the chances of touching Edgar, then he would discover that Liz was Lydia.
But for Edgar, Liz was still not Lydia no matter what.
Lydia simply did not want to hear Edgar regarding other women as lovers other than herself. However, she planned on doing this kind of thing.
Because Lydia realized this, she ran out. Her wrists were still in slight pain, due to the amount of force Edgar used in his grip a moment ago.
This was the first time she saw Edgar like that.
Although Edgar occasionally treated her in an unwavering manner , she never thought of Edgar as scary.
But just a moment ago, she was truly frightened. She couldn’t feel the least bit of gentleness or affection from Edgar.
This was only logical.
Edgar had pledged his heart to only Lydia alone, and he respected that oath. Because of this, he could not accept Liz being someone else in front of his eyes.
If he accepted Liz, then that would represent the undoing of his faithfulness; Lydia would then no longer remain the special girl in his heart.
Lydia finally discovered this matter, and wept incessantly.
She was already unable to try again.
Even if she stayed by Edgar’s side yet not being able to help him, Lydia didn’t expect that being rejected by him was the more painful matter.
“Lydia, are you crying?”
Kelpie’s voice approached.
“This is why I said not to become a changeling.”
He used his large hand to stroke her head. This was entirely different from Edgar’s casual attitude. Edgar was always extremely cautious in touching Lydia, as if each and every one of his fingertips wanted to sense her. Because of this, the slightest touch between the both of them would make Lydia’s heart pound fiercely without stopping.
Just thinking about Edgar once again, Lydia’s chest suffered endless pain. While she repressed her moodiness, she tried to lift her head.
“....Kelpie, I am alright. I wasn’t crying.”
“Oh what, you don’t have to pretend to be tough.”
He stared at Lydia, as he had already transformed into valiant young man with black curls.
In front of her stood someone who knew she was actually Lydia, moreover, it was the same fairy who had treated her no different from how he had in the past, making the bottom of Lydia’s heart feel relieved.
As she spent her time alone, she was practically beginning to forget her own identity, or whether if she really was Edgar’s fiancée.
However, she resisted the urge of wanting to grab Kelpie and weep.
Lydia chose Edgar. She regarded Kelpie, who was well aware of this but was still willing to help her, as a precious friend; because of this, she couldn’t act like a spoiled child towards Kelpie any more.
“No, I have to be strong in order to move forward.”
If Edgar couldn’t notice her, then the Trow would sooner or later suspect the owner of the ring, and Lydia would be pulled back to the fairy realm. In order to help Lota, Nico and Raven, she had to think of an effective method.
“Ah, Kelpie, lift the changeling magic tomorrow. I must return to the fairy realm.”
“You’ll be discovered by the Trow. Even if it was me, I’d be unable to withstand that guy.”
That was also a fairy that Edgar could not withstand. Just because she wanted to stay by Edgar’s side, she relied on the changeling magic. For this reason, Raven also spared no effort to let her escape.
But if continuing to stay by Edgar’s side lost it’s meaning, then she would take the initiative to go the Trow and ask him to release everyone, and then perhaps that would be the more realistic way.
Negotiating with fairies was originally a fairy doctor’s job.
But by merely doing this, it’s possible that she would be taken to the giant’s country, unable to return any more.
“Tomorrow, I need go to the serpentine lake that you dwell in.”
She still needed a little bit of time to think this over.
Needing to make the decision of possibly separating from Edgar wasn’t so simple.
*
The pocket watch that Liz left in the suite room had an engraved seal from a famous old store. Edgar visited the store owner the next morning, confirming that the pocket watch was an item sold from there.
What was a little stranger was the person who came to purchase the pocket watch was a girl with brown hair. The one who requested that a message be engraved as well as Lydia’s signature was also her.
Liz prepared the present that Lydia wanted to give. In the end, what was going on? Edgar already thought to the point of exhaustion.
But regardless of what Liz planned in her mind, she definitely corresponded with Lydia.
And if that was the case, then Patrick’s premise of an evil fairy following Liz’s side increased its credibility.
Would joining forces with Patrick be beneficial?
Edgar contemplated, while looking up at the sky through the carriage window.
Lydia, I’ll definitely save you soon.
He listened to the sound of the church bells, while praying that she was safe.
Soon after, the carriage arrived at the Carlton’s home.
Edgar came to see Lydia's father first thing in the morning.
After Lydia went missing, Edgar decided to visit Professor every morning before he left for the university, even if there wasn’t any information on her.
Worrying about Lydia, of course, was not just Edgar.
The Professor was of course extremely worried, but he still seemed to be very optimistic.
Since Lydia had some dealings with fairies, he probably knew what his daughter came across. Even as her father, he was unable to help, so much so that it was a matter that couldn’t be helped.
With regards to Professor Carlton, his late wife was that kind of person.
Therefore, when Edgar visited every day, even without bringing news pertaining to Lydia, he never blamed Edgar.
“Earl, you don’t need to blame yourself for this. Lydia will definitely return.”
Edgar came here every day, rather than saying he was reporting progress, it would be better to say that he came to seek the Professor’s consolation.
“I only found a clue that may have something to do with Lydia, and I will follow this clue to find Lydia in any case.”
Professor nodded and pushed up his glasses that were sliding, going into a state of contemplation.
“I always thought that the affairs of my wife’s clan already had nothing to do with Lydia, and my wife also shared the same viewpoint as me, but it seems that the McKeel clan don’t feel this way.”
“However this matter may not necessarily be related with the McKeel family.”
In fact, Fergus was also taken away together with everyone.
“Yes, but Earl, the McKeel clan’s lineage will be snuck into your family’s relations. When you stated that you wanted to get married with Lydia, perhaps I should have first explained this to you.”
When mentioning the clans of the Scottish Highlands, regardless of whichever clan, they were all prestigious houses. Although Lydia’s mother wasn’t directly related to the clan head, she belonged to a branch family that would obtain territory. Therefore, it wasn’t likely to harm the Carlton family’s status, and perhaps would also hold no negative influence to both Lydia and Edgar.
In other words, what the Professor was worried about was not the family background, but rather the pure bloodline.
The dormant Prophet, together with the present day society’s social customs, did not match. It seemed as if it was their duty to be forced to inherit the McKeel family’s bloodline upon themselves.
“My wife was a changeling.”
Edgar was not surprised to hear Professor’s confession. Whenever Lydia mentioned her mother, she would describe her as both an extraordinarily beautiful and enigmatic fairy doctor.
“Her clan members seemed to have the tradition of exchanging children, that is, although she was a changeling, she inherited the fairy race’s blood, as well as the bloodline of the McKeel family at the same time. Thus, her clan never lacked a person who had fairy doctor abilities.”
“That would mean that… Lydia also possesses some fairy blood, right?”
“That should be the case.”
“She once mentioned that she might be a changeling.”
“No, she is my wife’s and my daughter.”
The Professor answered resolutely. However, rather than saying that the Professor believed Lydia was definitely his child, perhaps it would be better to say that he said it like this to convince himself.
“Once Lydia was born, she was already taken away by fairies, but my wife wanted to make every effort to bring her back. Since that is what my wife had said, there is absolutely no mistake about it.”
Edgar thought that the Professor’s statements were quite admirable.
In others words, the baby that was taken away and the baby that was brought back to the human world, in the Professor’s eyes, were unalike?
Or was it merely because the baby was quite hard to distinguish?
Despite this, one should be able to differentiate their own child.
The Professor probably realized that Edgar had questions, so he continued on to explain:
“The baby’s eye color had changed. But my wife said that this was because the baby hadn’t yet adapted to the light in the human world beforehand, and had been exposed to the illumination in the fairy realm first.”
Edgar remembered Lydia’s incredible golden green eyes. It turns out, those mysterious eyes that would cause one to think that even if fairies could be seen through them, it was not so strange, having merely experienced what the changeling child would have.
“That’s right, Earl, people whose hair and pupil color change as they mature isn’t uncommon, moreover, even minerals are the same. If one is confused by its color, they will also mistake its essence. Even if something changes, Lydia will still be Lydia.”
Edgar felt that some important matter had swept past his mind, but he didn’t think too much, as he felt that it wasn’t something he could not fully rely on.
Lydia is still Lydia.
Only these words drifted in his heart.
He wanted to grasp that idea, but even the remnant impression had vanished like fog, as something else was occupying his mind.
It was regarding the minerals that the Professor mentioned.
“Professor Carlton, you mentioned something about being confused by the mineral stone’s color. What did you mean by that?”
Although the Professor seemed just a little confused when the topic of their conversation moved away from Lydia, he soon put on the expression of a scholar.
“The difference in the color is only because the condition itself has somewhat of a dissimilarity. Although the external appearance seems to be completely different, as a distinctive mineral, but Earl, let me give an example; did you know both the sapphire and ruby are actually the same minerals?”
“Sapphires......are the same as rubies?.....”
At that time, it was certainly the Merrow’s sword which came up in Edgar’s mind.
Edgar possesses the sword imbued with the Star Sapphire. It was said that it had recently undergone an unusual change. He became convinced that the other sword he saw in his dream really existed, and at the same time, he thought if whether the sudden changes that took place in his sword had any relevance to that.
That sword and the Merrow’s sword were very similar, as if the ruby replaced the sapphire.
“Yes, that’s right, they are made of the same type of mineral known as aluminum oxide. Before, they were once regarded as completely different minerals.”
However, if they are the same type of gems…..
Then should the two swords, also not be the same sword?
But the Merrow sword so to speak, perhaps originally wasn’t the product of mankind. If the sword as well as Lydia’s Moonstone ring, whose inner light would wax and wane in accordance to the lunar cycle, were the same and belonged to the fairies, then the sapphire becoming a ruby wasn’t strange.
If that’s really the case, the ruby-embedded sword that Edgar saw in his dream, was the Merrow sword’s other manifestation.
It is said that a change from within the treasured sword is representative of a crisis to befall the Earl family; furthermore, if the so-called change from the sword indeed was related to the Sapphire which changed into a sparkling red light, then his dream was an important symbol.
In his dream, someone wielding the sword wanted to kill Edgar, as the Blue Knight Earl.
“Earl, is something the matter?”
Edgar looked up, prudently forming a smile.
“It’s nothing, Professor, what you’ve spoken just now, were of great interest and very deserving to be pondered over.”
He then stood up.
“Then I shall return, I’ll most definitely pay a visit again.”
The Professor also stood up soon afterwards and politely lead Edgar to the front door. Then, as if sending off a family member, he cast an intimate yet cautious look as he watched him.
“I would also like to request of you to not force yourself too much, because as Lydia comes back, the only place she would surely go to is by your side.”
Does she seem to like me that much?
But what the Professor said was right. If Lydia was imprisoned inside the fairy realm, then Edgar would be the key to her lifeline. The bond between humans was the more powerful magic, unable to be severed.
And since Lydia and him currently worked out an official engagement, he wanted to believe that there was such a bond between them.
Although Lydia was in a circumstance of having a misunderstanding with him and disappeared afterwards, at least the Professor acknowledged Edgar earlier with what he said, therefore she was surely also willing to believe in the bond between her and Edgar.
“I sincerely thank you, Professor. But when the time comes where Lydia returns, can I be the first to embrace her?”
The Professor wryly smiled and nodded.
“Even if I refused, it’s futile, is it not?”
The Professor had been married to a woman who was a fairy doctor, thus he was a senior to Edgar in that aspect. He wasn’t pushy on others, which taught Edgar an important lesson.
Professor Carlton’s unique and gentle nature, as well as his sharp scholarly insight, made Edgar feel even more amiable, and at the same time, he respected him.
When he straightforwardly and honestly thought of Lydia’s father as his own father, he was even able to forget his own unique experience, and felt that he could become an ordinary youth.
A family with a peaceful daily life. For Edgar, Lydia brought these things that he had once lost. Therefore, he didn’t want to lose anything again.
But the enemy was in his own body.
From now on, could he truly protect what was important to him properly?
As Edgar who left the Carlton’s home, thought about the next plan of action, he felt a sharp pain.
The mistletoe pattern that glowed in Lydia’s hands exuded a brilliant silver light.
Even if this new pocket watch’s writing on the surface could only be clearly seen under the candle light, the wooden engraved decorative patterns on top was also beautiful charm against evil spirits, so Edgar would surely like it.
Lydia had been worried about the pocket watch that had fallen into the pond a few days ago and therefore, she thought of it as an engagement gift for Edgar.
Although Lydia hurriedly went to the pocket watch shop and managed to buy one, when she carefully thought about it again, she felt as if she was still unable to give the gift to him.
And there would be no meaning whatsoever to give it to him before “Lydia’s” appearance could be recovered.
However, she did not know when she would be able to return back to her original appearance. Perhaps she won’t be able to come back again.
There hadn’t been any progress, and she couldn’t think up of any good ways. It seemed like it was another day wasted, and the sound of rain made Lydia increasingly depressed.
The rain that had fallen since dusk became increasingly violent as it beat against the window. Occasionally, there had been strange flashes in the distant sky. Recalling the thunderstorm that she came across during the tea party, Lydia’s mood became even more depressed. Fortunately, the thunderstorm was only heard from a vague distance, so even if she was alone now, she wasn’t particularly afraid.
The sounds of the clock in the hall chiming blended in with the sound of the rain, signalling the approach of late evening.
Edgar still hadn’t returned. Lydia wasn’t prepared to rest, thus she quietly waited in her own guest room.
Lately, she had not seen Edgar’s figure. The mansion was quite extensive, and he was always running errands. Even if not being able to meet was quite normal, Lydia felt a lot of pain.
Lydia thought that even if she took a glance and if possible, she also wanted to tell him “good night”. Therefore, she hadn’t changed her clothes and was like this, waiting all along.
Because she carefully tried to listen to the rain, and tried to discern the sound of the carriage, she pretended to occasionally just pass by in the hall. With that, she felt she’d be able to see him for sure.
However, he still had not seemed to come home yet.
Lydia stood up, determined.
Holding a candle light in one hand, she left the room, went towards the depths of the corridor, and walked up the private stairwell.
When Edgar brought her here, it was only a few days ago, but to Lydia it felt like it was so long ago.
Lydia thought as she opened the door to the bedchamber.
Within the dark, the distinct light blue blended, like the feeling of being lured into the sea. Lydia entered the room, placed the candlestick on the table and slowly looked around.
“Will I be able to live here?”
Before when she stood in front of Edgar, she felt endlessly shy and so was not able to reveal her happy emotions so straightforwardly.
As she looked around the room, she unknowingly began to feel excited; in her heart, she even began to look forward to getting married soon now but even then, she just wasn’t able to change such feelings into words. However, it was her sincere hope to somehow at least convey these special feelings to Edgar.
Lydia went to the front of the chest.
She opened the uppermost drawer, and quietly put the silver watch inside.
Perhaps I’ll never be able to set foot in here again. She hated herself for having that kind of thought, and was slowly unable to leave the room, simply gazing at the pocket watch.
When the rainy conditions became worse, Edgar returned to the mansion.
He had been sitting in the frequented club for a long time and thinking about what Patrick said the whole time.
Were Liz and Ulysses in correspondence?
Ulysses was a person who used the Unseelie court as servants.
But, Patrick said that it really wasn’t a goblin or some small fairy lingering by Liz’s side, but rather it was a fairy with stronger power.
In the moment that Patrick and the fairy saw each other, its presence faded away.
Although he didn’t see it clearly, it seemed to be a powerful fairy who could transform into a human appearance.
Was Liz aware that there was an Unseelie Court following her side?
She didn’t seem to be a person who was good at lying, or was she putting on an act?
Within the hall in the dead of night, Edgar set foot on the stairs, and went directly to his room.
If Liz seriously knew Lydia’s whereabouts, he would do anything to make her tell. But Edgar did not trust Patrick at all. If he wasn’t able to first determine whether or not Liz was a friend or foe in this situation, he didn’t have the confidence to thoroughly force any interrogation on her.
If by any chance she arbitrarily asserted that she was not related with Lydia, so as a result any clue couldn’t be obtained, was he willing to become a villain?
But once he started to press for an answer, he couldn’t stop midway. In order to be resolute, Edgar required a little more time to consider things again.
(Earl, you don’t seem well.)
He soon saw the decoration of flowers in the corridor floating in the air.
“You know the reason, Coblynau.”
Edgar sighed heavily and said that at the same time.
(You mean the matter with Miss Lydia? Hehe, then let me bring your spirits up.)
“Please leave that for next time. ”
He had no intention to stop and walked straight past the vase.
(Why don’t you go to the master bedroom and take a look?)
Edgar was unconsciously startled. When looking back, the flower had already fallen down on the floor. Coblynau seemed to have disappeared.
What’s in the master bedroom?
Edgar broke into a run without thinking about another thought.
If he had calmed down, then he would have realized that it was simply impossible, yet he thought that it was Lydia who had returned.
That was his and Lydia’s room. He believed that it was impossible for another person to go in.
As he quickly opened the door, he saw a swaying person’s figure waiting in a dark corner. The room only had a candlelight, thus it was hard to avoid regarding the person’s figure as Lydia.
“Lydia...”
He ran over and embraced her.
Her slim shoulders and rigid body due to being at a complete loss, that was the Lydia that he knew.
He was unable to maintain his self-control and kissed her. For as long as his lips had been kissing hers so anxiously, Lydia also firmly kept her lips sealed against his, not responding the least bit, and thus compelled to keep the same attitude.
Edgar called her name over and over again.
He even felt that her hair had the fragrance of chamomile.
But when she slightly moved the surface of her body so as to face the candlelight, the light shined on her and Edgar was shocked.
He didn’t need to move away from her in order to immediately confirm; standing there wasn’t the caramel color-haired Lydia, rather it was a young girl with brunette hair.
Edgar slowly left Liz, who was gazing at him.
“Why.... are you here…..”
Liz, with a look of disappointment, lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I thought you were Lydia.”
Feeling as if he were suddenly pushed into prison, Edgar leaned on the walls, exhausted.
“Um, I......”
“If you’re angry, then slap me.”
She still hung her head, not raising her hand to slap him, nor planning to leave.
Edgar started to feel very anxious. He knew perfectly well that the one to be admitting any mistake is him, that he was the one to commit wrong, yet he could not tolerate Liz staying in there.
“If you don’t want to hit me, then can I ask you to get out?”
This time she looked up surprised.
“This is the room prepared for Lydia.”
Although she nodded to him, she wanted to approach Edgar.
In order to stop her, Edgar spoke.
“I’m sorry, please forget what happened just now, the person I embraced was Lydia.”
Liz stopped and was silent for a moment, apparently unharmed, and spoke with a firm tone.
“Then let us regard it as such.”
The flame to the candlelight was extinguished as Liz blew it out. Apart from the sky being occasionally lit up by lightning, the illumination of the room was lost, and only the sound of rain could be heard.
When the sky emitted a bright flash once more, Liz stood in front of Edgar and took his hands.
“Now, take me as Lydia.”
She pressed both his hands on her cheeks. In the dark, her face could not be seen clearly, so Edgar felt that it was the contours of Lydia’s face.
Why does this girl make me think of Lydia?
Edgar for a split second wanted to give up thinking about it. If he were to regard her as Lydia, even if it was only for a very short time, then he could also let his tired heart obtain rest.
Not knowing when, Liz had already leaned against Edgar’s chest. And in a firm resolve, she whispered softly:
“......Edgar, I love you……”
These were the words that Edgar had been anticipating for a long time. However…..
Lydia never took the initiative to embrace him like this, but also, even the word “love” she was unable to say.
She was not Lydia.
“Do you really think this is alright?”
Edgar himself was surprised at his particularly cold tone.
“You want me to embrace you, somebody of an unknown origin, in spite of my beloved person. Are you saying you like men who engage in such kinds of affairs?”
Liz was surprised and lifted her head, using a perplexed expression as she looked at Edgar.
She wanted to escape, but Edgar grasped her shoulders and pressed her to the side of the wall. Perhaps it was his rough attitude which made her frightened, as she extended both her arms, wanting to push Edgar away.
Take me as Lydia. Edgar forcefully pushed down on Lydia’s hands, thinking to himself that as long as he completely wrecked her hopes of having some sweet delusion in response, then it would be good.
Probably because of the ache, she let out a painful shriek.
“You don’t want to? This was your wish.”
The repeated flashes of lightning made her body appear intermittently in the darkness.
Edgar undoubtedly had not done anything, yet the pair of eyes which stared back at him looked like they were about to burst out into tears. As he loosened his grip only slightly, Liz spared no effort to push him away.
He thought of Lydia again.
Clearly, nothing had happened, but just because the scent that was given off was filled with Lydia, in the next moment, his state of mind fell apart. Not knowing why, Liz’s eyes made him recall in this room Lydia untying her ribbons, trembling.
Edgar dizzily drew backwards.
After his state of mind calmed down a little, he raised his head just in time to see Liz quickly rush out of the room.
Although this was Edgar’s purpose, the aftertaste was quite unpleasant.
Edgar sighed heavily.
To calm himself down, he casually looked around the room. At that point, he found that the cabinet drawer was open.
Walking over and looking inside, he saw that there was a silver pocket watch inside.
“This is what Liz gave….?”
Because his pocket watch had fallen into the pond, she wanted to compensate him? However, where did she get the money from to buy the pocket watch?
After opening the watch’s cover, there was some engraved writing on top.
Edgar wanted to see the words on top, thus he pulled out a match from his pocket and struck it,
In order to see it clearly, then held the pocket watch near the flame.
To Edgar
From now on, I hope that we will always be together.
In commemoration of our engagement, Lydia Carlton.
This is…. Lydia’s present?
Edgar’s mind burst into a state of confusion as he buried his fingers into his hair.
Was it Lydia, before she went missing, who placed the engagement gift here?
But the day that Lydia’s disappeared was the same day that Edgar showed her the room.
Moreover, him losing the watch was something that happened after Lydia had gone missing. The person who knows of this matter should only be Liz.
So, it was Liz who falsely used Lydia’s name?
Tonight, she was also expressing willingness to replace Lydia. Edgar honestly did not understand what she wanted in the end.
But he was also unable to comprehend that matter.
Moreover, Lydia worrying about Edgar’s engagement gift was a matter that could not possibly have been known to Liz.
If Liz knew, then that could only mean that she had seen Lydia.
Was she related to Lydia’s disappearance?
If this was truly the case, then there was no time to hesitate.
*
Raven was running across the plains, with Nico on his shoulder.
At the same time, a loud sound came from the earth. He hurriedly jumped, not knowing how many times, in order to avoid falling into the cave.
That giant was chasing after them.
Although they passed through the rocks, they met the giant head on, who just happened to return.
At that moment, the giant had been carrying Fergus on his shoulders, whom he had found somewhere. Fergus was probably already unconscious. The giant threw him into the rock that Raven and Nico had just come out of, and afterwards, used his hands to grab them.
Raven took out his knife, wanting to take a challenge and fight but the giant merely glanced at it, causing the knife dissolve like candy. They were really no match for the giant.
Raven and Nico were able to escape first.
The giant used his fearful grandeur to chase after them.
Every time he waved his wooden staff, the sky and ground would raise and transform, creating natural disasters. Under the pursuit of the lightning and tornados, Raven desperately ran, even so much so that he didn’t know when Nico had hopped on his shoulders.
After the both of them rushed into the forest, the lightning and tornadoes vanished; it was likely that the trees created a barrier, making it difficult for the giant to use his magic. But this time, it changed into innumerable branches and leaves which extended towards them.
Raven quickly avoided the vines that nearly tangled around his neck, but at this time he suddenly heard Nico’s screams in his ear.
“Waaaaaaa!”
As he looked back, Nico’s body, tangled with vines, just happened to be thrown in the air.
“S-stop! Trow, your bride is in the rocks, so we can go back, right?”
“No, you need to look after the bride.”
The Trow looked up at Nico, who was hanging by the vines.
“I’m a fairy!! Finding a human to take care of the bride would be comparatively better!”
He glanced at Raven.
“In that case, do you want to replace this guy and stay behind instead?”
He pointed his finger towards Raven, wanting him to head over, to which he stopped and hesitated to get up.
“Raven, save me!” Nico called out.
But Raven soon made his decision.
“Mr. Nico, I’m sorry.”
Raven turned around and broke into a run once more.
“Whaaat, Raven!”
As Nico called out again he desperately struggled and the vines suddenly loosened.
He fell to the ground, shortly stood up and ran after Raven.
“Who is it? Who is it that gets in my way?!”
The wind, filled with the tide’s scent, directly blew past the forest.
“....Is it that creature from the sea?”
At that time, Raven heard a faint voice.
(Hurry, run ahead to the bay.)
He ran under the voice’s instructions. Nico also desperately followed behind him, and the giant was still in pursuit.
After passing through the forest with great difficulty, the sea appeared before their eyes.
But suddenly the path was cut short ahead, and Raven could only stop on top of the overhanging cliff.
(Jump down quickly.)
The same voice could be heard again.
Looking down, there seemed to be countless unknown creatures moving across the sea surface.
Were they seals?
Nico threw himself onto Raven’s back. The giant was also soon approaching. And so with not having any further time to reconsider, Raven jumped off the cliff.
“Uwaaa!”
Nico shouted loudly, as if he didn’t expect that Raven would jump down. In the next moment, the two were already submerged into the sea.
Be that as it may, Raven and Nico were shortly pushed afloat to sea level by the seals. After that, they left the sea, and the giant standing on the cliff was already unable to make a move.
Raven was guided by a seal, arriving at a white seashore.
Then, the seals returned to the sea.
“The Giants of the Sun Clan very much hate the sea.”
Raven immediately forgot to make a response towards the figure standing behind, because it was an existence that was once very close to him.
There was a silhouette of a slender woman wearing a black coat and trousers with hair reaching down to shoulder length, incessantly fluttering by the sea wind.
“Is it Ermine....?”
Nico mumbled the name of Raven’s elder sister.
“In the giant’s island, the sea is only on the west side, since the sun will always submerge into the sea.”
By becoming Prince’s underling, Raven’s half elder sister was able to resurrect as a Selkie after she died. She betrayed Edgar, choosing to obey the one named Ulysses, who was the trusted subordinate of Prince.
Even if the Prince was dead now, she was still under Ulysses’ control.
Although Edgar inherited Prince’s memories, he planned to forever seal them. As long as Edgar was wanting to do that, for Raven, whether it was Ermine or Ulysses, they were both enemies.
“Elder sister, why are you here?”
Seeing her younger brother assume a defensive position, she frowned desolately.
“I can’t answer that question, but those seals have nothing to do with Ulysses, they purely responded to the call of one from their own clan.”
In other words, she summoned the seals in order to help Raven.
Despite this, Raven still did not understand the intentions of his elder sister. She was clearly obedient to Ulysses, but she also wanted to protect Raven.
Edgar said it’s because the both of them were siblings, but Raven was always unable to understand. Even though he still didn’t understand, and even if his elder sister was an enemy who made Edgar feel pain, he was unable to kill her.
Edgar accepted this kind of Raven and thus acknowledged such a thing as good.
The skin color of him and his sister, as well as all the burdens each bore on their shoulders, were all different; even if she was not a human anymore, and even if she had become a traitor, she was still Raven’s sister. Therefore, Raven didn’t need to further speculate the reason as to why she would save him.
“In order to not be discovered by the Trow, you guys should follow the coastline. Mr. Nico should know how to get to the human world’s border.”
She originally planned to leave, but once again turned her head and somewhat hesitantly said:
“Raven, if it’s possible, don't let Lord Edgar come close to the Trow. ”
Raven only gazed sharply at Ermine instead of asking for a reason.
“In any case, you also cannot speak of the reason since such unnecessary comments will only confuse Lord Edgar.”
“....What you said is right. Only Lord Edgar is able to choose the path of his future.”
After Ermine finished speaking, she turned her back towards the two who stood behind and unhurriedly walked forward; her figure slowly disappeared as if becoming one with the far off scenery.
Raven began to walk along the shore. Nico, walking on his two legs, also closely followed from behind.
After walking for awhile, he suddenly noticed something; that is, Nico wasn’t following him like before. When they walked, he deliberately kept at a distance.
Why? After he pondered, he roughly became aware of the reason.
How wouldn’t I be disliked?
After all, Raven did intend to abandon Nico and flee from the Trow alone.
Although it was Nico in the first place who requested for Raven to stay behind in his place, Raven had completely forgotten of that matter and his mind was only left with “I am hated”. This phrase spun around incessantly.
He stopped his footsteps and turned around, to which Nico was certainly frightened, raising his back fur.
“Mr. Nico. ”
“Ah, Raven, listen to me, remain calm…”
“For that moment, I am very sorry.”
“What?”
“I planned on abandoning you, therefore you are angry, right?”
“.....This, um….”
“In my mind, Lord Edgar’s matters are the highest priority no matter when, followed by my own. Sustaining injuries for someone else, and as a result being unable to protect Lord Edgar, this matter, as far as I’m concerned, is a situation that absolutely cannot happen.”
Nico scratched his head in confusion.
“But as I did this, my companions always hated and alienated me, I can’t help myself being hated.”
Be that as it may, Raven never really did care about what his companions were thinking. But as he thought of perhaps how Nico would also respond the same as them, he strangely felt depressed.
“....Oh what, so that’s how it is.”
Nico mumbled; actually a bit frightened as he thought Raven was angry, but that of course, was something Raven was oblivious of.
Nico let out a sigh as if he was relieved, and suddenly puffed out his chest and deliberately coughed.
“Well, it was tough wasn’t it? Humans are weird because they cannot tolerate these kinds of things.”
“Is Mr. Nico is different?”
“Listen up Raven, by no means am I a man who cares about such trivial matters. Regardless of who, everyone has their own special circumstances. I know you meant no harm.”
He gradually approached Raven, like usual, and gently patted him on the knee.
“You don’t need to worry about it. Gentlemen, in the face of a sincere apology, will use a lenient breadth of mind to forgive the other.”
Nico forgave me. Raven accepted this outcome straightforwardly and even came to respect Nico a little, for he thought that Nico truly was worthy of being called a gentleman.
“Then in the future, I can also abandon you.”
“That…. That’s only logical.”
Nico proudly boasted at first, thus he could only reply in this way. Raven heard him say this, yet he was filled with gratitude.
This was what a so-called friendship is.
Raven felt that even if he abandoned the other person and wouldn’t be hated, then perhaps friendship was a good thing.
After restoring the friendship that had a slight crack in it, the both of them stepped forward once more.
The coastline stretched endlessly.
The sun managed to float on the horizon, as if time had stopped, without sinking from beginning to end.
Raven didn’t really understand how time passed in the fairy realm. Although he felt he had been walking for a very long time, but perhaps it was merely an illusion.
Before the huge arched coastline, they could vaguely see a sea cape. That being said, it seemed no matter how far they walked, they were unable to approach the cape.
Just when Raven began to feel doubtful, Nico suddenly stopped his footsteps.
“Raven, only Fergus was caught by the giant, but we don’t know how Lydia is.”
Then he remembered. But Raven believed that regardless of what happened, Lydia would think of a way to return to Edgar’s side.
“She is surely by Lord Edgar’s side.”
But Nico shook his head in doubt.
“The giant has her Moonstone ring. Returning to the human world isn’t simple. Maybe she’s wandering alone in the fairy world.”
“Can you find Miss Lydia?”
“Even if we searched all over the magic lands, it’s not certain that we could find her.”
“Then, we can only return to Lord Edgar’s side; to handle such affairs, manpower is necessary.”
Originally, for the sake of this purpose, they left Lota behind by herself.
Nico however, motionlessly gazed towards the sea.
“Why must human beings have things that are more important than themselves?”
Then he whispered to himself and said:
“Whether it’s you, Lydia, or the Earl, you’re all like this. Perhaps even Ermine is affected, because she was once human, is it not like this?”
“Is this something you need to have? There ought to be people who don’t think so, right?”
“No, everyone is like this. Despite living with humans for a long time now, I frequently thought this.”
After saying that he deeply sighed.
“Although my most precious thing is myself, I also think that Lydia is very precious to me. Is the Earl still fighting with the Prince? If that is the case, then what should Lydia do?”
Since Ermine appeared and gave a warning, Nico felt that the issue with the Prince was still unsettled.
“I only hope that Lydia’s most precious person doesn’t end up betraying her; can you understand?”
This kind of matter would not happen. Raven really believed this answer, but also wasn’t sure whether or not Lydia would be harmed after knowing Edgar’s concealed secret, so he did not say anything.
“Raven, would you want return to the Earl’s side without any hesitation whatsoever? If you speak forth about the affairs that went on here, Ermine’s important advice would just amount to nothing. According to the present circumstances, the Earl would have chosen to protect Lydia, which in turn, will lead to an unavoidable confrontation with the Trow.”
“This is not something I should decide, I can only take circumstances as they are and relay them to Lord Edgar.”
Nico worryingly shook his head, and in the end, he resolutely stopped his footsteps and said:
“So, the boundary is towards here.”
He hastily turned back to the path that they originally came from.
*
Lydia ran back to her bedroom and collapsed on her bed.
She was unable to stop her burst of tears.
When Edgar suddenly appeared in the suite room, and then embraced and kissed her, Lydia had also expected for him to perhaps recognize her; however in the next moment, he’d said that he made an error.
She knew that Edgar was on the verge of frantically longing for her, but at the same time, she realized that regardless of the current situation, no matter how diligently she tried, there was no way she could become Edgar’s lover.
If she definitely thought carefully, then she would understand. Why wasn’t she discovered before?
Lydia had been misunderstanding a very important matter.
The reason why she said she was willing to replace Lydia was because she believed that if she was able to increase the chances of touching Edgar, then he would discover that Liz was Lydia.
But for Edgar, Liz was still not Lydia no matter what.
Lydia simply did not want to hear Edgar regarding other women as lovers other than herself. However, she planned on doing this kind of thing.
Because Lydia realized this, she ran out. Her wrists were still in slight pain, due to the amount of force Edgar used in his grip a moment ago.
This was the first time she saw Edgar like that.
Although Edgar occasionally treated her in an unwavering manner , she never thought of Edgar as scary.
But just a moment ago, she was truly frightened. She couldn’t feel the least bit of gentleness or affection from Edgar.
This was only logical.
Edgar had pledged his heart to only Lydia alone, and he respected that oath. Because of this, he could not accept Liz being someone else in front of his eyes.
If he accepted Liz, then that would represent the undoing of his faithfulness; Lydia would then no longer remain the special girl in his heart.
Lydia finally discovered this matter, and wept incessantly.
She was already unable to try again.
Even if she stayed by Edgar’s side yet not being able to help him, Lydia didn’t expect that being rejected by him was the more painful matter.
“Lydia, are you crying?”
Kelpie’s voice approached.
“This is why I said not to become a changeling.”
He used his large hand to stroke her head. This was entirely different from Edgar’s casual attitude. Edgar was always extremely cautious in touching Lydia, as if each and every one of his fingertips wanted to sense her. Because of this, the slightest touch between the both of them would make Lydia’s heart pound fiercely without stopping.
Just thinking about Edgar once again, Lydia’s chest suffered endless pain. While she repressed her moodiness, she tried to lift her head.
“....Kelpie, I am alright. I wasn’t crying.”
“Oh what, you don’t have to pretend to be tough.”
He stared at Lydia, as he had already transformed into valiant young man with black curls.
In front of her stood someone who knew she was actually Lydia, moreover, it was the same fairy who had treated her no different from how he had in the past, making the bottom of Lydia’s heart feel relieved.
As she spent her time alone, she was practically beginning to forget her own identity, or whether if she really was Edgar’s fiancée.
However, she resisted the urge of wanting to grab Kelpie and weep.
Lydia chose Edgar. She regarded Kelpie, who was well aware of this but was still willing to help her, as a precious friend; because of this, she couldn’t act like a spoiled child towards Kelpie any more.
“No, I have to be strong in order to move forward.”
If Edgar couldn’t notice her, then the Trow would sooner or later suspect the owner of the ring, and Lydia would be pulled back to the fairy realm. In order to help Lota, Nico and Raven, she had to think of an effective method.
“Ah, Kelpie, lift the changeling magic tomorrow. I must return to the fairy realm.”
“You’ll be discovered by the Trow. Even if it was me, I’d be unable to withstand that guy.”
That was also a fairy that Edgar could not withstand. Just because she wanted to stay by Edgar’s side, she relied on the changeling magic. For this reason, Raven also spared no effort to let her escape.
But if continuing to stay by Edgar’s side lost it’s meaning, then she would take the initiative to go the Trow and ask him to release everyone, and then perhaps that would be the more realistic way.
Negotiating with fairies was originally a fairy doctor’s job.
But by merely doing this, it’s possible that she would be taken to the giant’s country, unable to return any more.
“Tomorrow, I need go to the serpentine lake that you dwell in.”
She still needed a little bit of time to think this over.
Needing to make the decision of possibly separating from Edgar wasn’t so simple.
*
The pocket watch that Liz left in the suite room had an engraved seal from a famous old store. Edgar visited the store owner the next morning, confirming that the pocket watch was an item sold from there.
What was a little stranger was the person who came to purchase the pocket watch was a girl with brown hair. The one who requested that a message be engraved as well as Lydia’s signature was also her.
Liz prepared the present that Lydia wanted to give. In the end, what was going on? Edgar already thought to the point of exhaustion.
But regardless of what Liz planned in her mind, she definitely corresponded with Lydia.
And if that was the case, then Patrick’s premise of an evil fairy following Liz’s side increased its credibility.
Would joining forces with Patrick be beneficial?
Edgar contemplated, while looking up at the sky through the carriage window.
Lydia, I’ll definitely save you soon.
He listened to the sound of the church bells, while praying that she was safe.
Soon after, the carriage arrived at the Carlton’s home.
Edgar came to see Lydia's father first thing in the morning.
After Lydia went missing, Edgar decided to visit Professor every morning before he left for the university, even if there wasn’t any information on her.
Worrying about Lydia, of course, was not just Edgar.
The Professor was of course extremely worried, but he still seemed to be very optimistic.
Since Lydia had some dealings with fairies, he probably knew what his daughter came across. Even as her father, he was unable to help, so much so that it was a matter that couldn’t be helped.
With regards to Professor Carlton, his late wife was that kind of person.
Therefore, when Edgar visited every day, even without bringing news pertaining to Lydia, he never blamed Edgar.
“Earl, you don’t need to blame yourself for this. Lydia will definitely return.”
Edgar came here every day, rather than saying he was reporting progress, it would be better to say that he came to seek the Professor’s consolation.
“I only found a clue that may have something to do with Lydia, and I will follow this clue to find Lydia in any case.”
Professor nodded and pushed up his glasses that were sliding, going into a state of contemplation.
“I always thought that the affairs of my wife’s clan already had nothing to do with Lydia, and my wife also shared the same viewpoint as me, but it seems that the McKeel clan don’t feel this way.”
“However this matter may not necessarily be related with the McKeel family.”
In fact, Fergus was also taken away together with everyone.
“Yes, but Earl, the McKeel clan’s lineage will be snuck into your family’s relations. When you stated that you wanted to get married with Lydia, perhaps I should have first explained this to you.”
When mentioning the clans of the Scottish Highlands, regardless of whichever clan, they were all prestigious houses. Although Lydia’s mother wasn’t directly related to the clan head, she belonged to a branch family that would obtain territory. Therefore, it wasn’t likely to harm the Carlton family’s status, and perhaps would also hold no negative influence to both Lydia and Edgar.
In other words, what the Professor was worried about was not the family background, but rather the pure bloodline.
The dormant Prophet, together with the present day society’s social customs, did not match. It seemed as if it was their duty to be forced to inherit the McKeel family’s bloodline upon themselves.
“My wife was a changeling.”
Edgar was not surprised to hear Professor’s confession. Whenever Lydia mentioned her mother, she would describe her as both an extraordinarily beautiful and enigmatic fairy doctor.
“Her clan members seemed to have the tradition of exchanging children, that is, although she was a changeling, she inherited the fairy race’s blood, as well as the bloodline of the McKeel family at the same time. Thus, her clan never lacked a person who had fairy doctor abilities.”
“That would mean that… Lydia also possesses some fairy blood, right?”
“That should be the case.”
“She once mentioned that she might be a changeling.”
“No, she is my wife’s and my daughter.”
The Professor answered resolutely. However, rather than saying that the Professor believed Lydia was definitely his child, perhaps it would be better to say that he said it like this to convince himself.
“Once Lydia was born, she was already taken away by fairies, but my wife wanted to make every effort to bring her back. Since that is what my wife had said, there is absolutely no mistake about it.”
Edgar thought that the Professor’s statements were quite admirable.
In others words, the baby that was taken away and the baby that was brought back to the human world, in the Professor’s eyes, were unalike?
Or was it merely because the baby was quite hard to distinguish?
Despite this, one should be able to differentiate their own child.
The Professor probably realized that Edgar had questions, so he continued on to explain:
“The baby’s eye color had changed. But my wife said that this was because the baby hadn’t yet adapted to the light in the human world beforehand, and had been exposed to the illumination in the fairy realm first.”
Edgar remembered Lydia’s incredible golden green eyes. It turns out, those mysterious eyes that would cause one to think that even if fairies could be seen through them, it was not so strange, having merely experienced what the changeling child would have.
“That’s right, Earl, people whose hair and pupil color change as they mature isn’t uncommon, moreover, even minerals are the same. If one is confused by its color, they will also mistake its essence. Even if something changes, Lydia will still be Lydia.”
Edgar felt that some important matter had swept past his mind, but he didn’t think too much, as he felt that it wasn’t something he could not fully rely on.
Lydia is still Lydia.
Only these words drifted in his heart.
He wanted to grasp that idea, but even the remnant impression had vanished like fog, as something else was occupying his mind.
It was regarding the minerals that the Professor mentioned.
“Professor Carlton, you mentioned something about being confused by the mineral stone’s color. What did you mean by that?”
Although the Professor seemed just a little confused when the topic of their conversation moved away from Lydia, he soon put on the expression of a scholar.
“The difference in the color is only because the condition itself has somewhat of a dissimilarity. Although the external appearance seems to be completely different, as a distinctive mineral, but Earl, let me give an example; did you know both the sapphire and ruby are actually the same minerals?”
“Sapphires......are the same as rubies?.....”
At that time, it was certainly the Merrow’s sword which came up in Edgar’s mind.
Edgar possesses the sword imbued with the Star Sapphire. It was said that it had recently undergone an unusual change. He became convinced that the other sword he saw in his dream really existed, and at the same time, he thought if whether the sudden changes that took place in his sword had any relevance to that.
That sword and the Merrow’s sword were very similar, as if the ruby replaced the sapphire.
“Yes, that’s right, they are made of the same type of mineral known as aluminum oxide. Before, they were once regarded as completely different minerals.”
However, if they are the same type of gems…..
Then should the two swords, also not be the same sword?
But the Merrow sword so to speak, perhaps originally wasn’t the product of mankind. If the sword as well as Lydia’s Moonstone ring, whose inner light would wax and wane in accordance to the lunar cycle, were the same and belonged to the fairies, then the sapphire becoming a ruby wasn’t strange.
If that’s really the case, the ruby-embedded sword that Edgar saw in his dream, was the Merrow sword’s other manifestation.
It is said that a change from within the treasured sword is representative of a crisis to befall the Earl family; furthermore, if the so-called change from the sword indeed was related to the Sapphire which changed into a sparkling red light, then his dream was an important symbol.
In his dream, someone wielding the sword wanted to kill Edgar, as the Blue Knight Earl.
“Earl, is something the matter?”
Edgar looked up, prudently forming a smile.
“It’s nothing, Professor, what you’ve spoken just now, were of great interest and very deserving to be pondered over.”
He then stood up.
“Then I shall return, I’ll most definitely pay a visit again.”
The Professor also stood up soon afterwards and politely lead Edgar to the front door. Then, as if sending off a family member, he cast an intimate yet cautious look as he watched him.
“I would also like to request of you to not force yourself too much, because as Lydia comes back, the only place she would surely go to is by your side.”
Does she seem to like me that much?
But what the Professor said was right. If Lydia was imprisoned inside the fairy realm, then Edgar would be the key to her lifeline. The bond between humans was the more powerful magic, unable to be severed.
And since Lydia and him currently worked out an official engagement, he wanted to believe that there was such a bond between them.
Although Lydia was in a circumstance of having a misunderstanding with him and disappeared afterwards, at least the Professor acknowledged Edgar earlier with what he said, therefore she was surely also willing to believe in the bond between her and Edgar.
“I sincerely thank you, Professor. But when the time comes where Lydia returns, can I be the first to embrace her?”
The Professor wryly smiled and nodded.
“Even if I refused, it’s futile, is it not?”
The Professor had been married to a woman who was a fairy doctor, thus he was a senior to Edgar in that aspect. He wasn’t pushy on others, which taught Edgar an important lesson.
Professor Carlton’s unique and gentle nature, as well as his sharp scholarly insight, made Edgar feel even more amiable, and at the same time, he respected him.
When he straightforwardly and honestly thought of Lydia’s father as his own father, he was even able to forget his own unique experience, and felt that he could become an ordinary youth.
A family with a peaceful daily life. For Edgar, Lydia brought these things that he had once lost. Therefore, he didn’t want to lose anything again.
But the enemy was in his own body.
From now on, could he truly protect what was important to him properly?
As Edgar who left the Carlton’s home, thought about the next plan of action, he felt a sharp pain.
