P. 247
Diving into the pool, that at one glance looked shallow, Lydia and Nico sank into the depths of the deep sea.
Even if it looked like the sea, they were in faerie territory. It was a separate realm, cut off from the waters at the bottom of the sea and so they could breathe fine and not worry about drowning. The water wasn’t freezing cold and didn’t soak her clothes wet.
She only felt the slight sensation of floating and the constant pressure around her body like she was walking in water.
A school of blue fish passed in front of them. Lydia followed after Nico as she was headed towards a faintly glowing light in the distance in front of them.
It was the town of the merrows.
There were buildings that looked like houses lined atop a hill, decorated with seashells and seaweeds. There was a bright shining light above them-it could be the fishermen’s souls that the merrows have collected.
“Look, it’s a human.”
“It’s walking around freely.”
“So that must mean it isn’t ours.”
P. 248
“And what’s that small creature it has with it.”
“It looks like a faerie.”
“Tsk, hey, we aren’t on exhibition, you know,” mumbled Nico, irritated.
She could tell that a number of merrows were sneaking glances at them from the rocks. The female merrows had the upper body exactly like a human, actually a much more attractive one than a human, with a lower half of the body like a fin of a fish covered in scales, which was just like they were believed to look like in fairytales; but the male merrow’s face and arms were covered with scales and they had fins on their heads and backs. The males looked much more like a fish’s.
Stared at from the gathering crowd of merrows, Lydia stopped. “Excuse me, wasn’t there a human that was just brought here? Has anyone seen him?”
“If their soul hasn’t been taken out yet, then they’d be taken to the ranch.”
She headed to the direction of where one of them pointed to.
It wasn’t long before a hill covered with green seaweed appeared in view.
Schools of fishes circled around inside of the ranch. Lydia immediately spotted a blond-haired figure gazing dazedly at them.
“Edgar! Thank goodness, they hadn’t taken your soul out yet.”
He turned to look at Lydia as she rushed over to him like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
P. 249
“I can’t believe you would appear in my dreams. So you really were mad at me?”
“This isn’t a dream.”
“No, it is a dream. Because, I’m standing at the bottom of the sea quietly watching the fish swim by me. On top of that, no matter hard I pinch myself, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Well, yes, this situation may look to you as if you’re in a dream. But, it’s not like I’m having a dream right now.”
Out of the blue, Edgar pinched Lydia’s cheek.
“Ouch! That hurts, what are you doing!”
“You’re right. What’s going on?”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter! Anyway, you’re coming with me. I’ll let you know that I’m here to save you!”
Lydia tugged hard on his sleeve. But he stood still and didn’t move from where he was.
“Save me? But even if I’m saved, there’s no hope for me. Ermine has died, and I didn’t have enough power to save Raven.”
“Raven must still need you.”
“If he were to be taken back to Prince, they would only use the spirit in him that obeys to me for evil purposes.”
P. 250
“Then you just have to not be captured.”
“Didn’t I tell you it’s useless? Even all this time, I was under the impression that we were escaping his clutches, but he was only letting us roam free. And even you, I used a dirty trick on you, so there’s no reason for you to save me.”
So you’d admit you were tricking me.
Lydia felt a bitter disappointment, but also thought that if that was the case, then she really couldn’t let him die.
“If you die like this, then I will never forgive you. Because, you didn’t cut yourself from guilt towards me. ….It was because you realized there was no star in the sword’s sapphire, wasn’t it? If there wasn’t any star sapphire, then it wouldn’t serve as proof of you as Earl. You realized that all your efforts were useless, and so you just gave up all hope.”
Edgar looked at Lydia with dark, grave eyes, and made a smile as he sighed.
“You’re exactly right. But still……”
“I’m going to have you regret with all your heart that you tried to kill me. You’re going to see that when you sacrifice other people with that arrogant attitude of yours, that all the bad things you’ve done will come back to you. …..So, I’ll give you what you would have never gotten if you were to have cut me at that time.”
“…………”
P. 251
“I can’t promise it will go well. But if it does, then you better repent with all your heart!”
Taking another tug at his sleeve as he still looked shockingly at her in disbelief, he still stumbled after her.
“Oi, now, we can’t have you release them as you please.”
A merrow who seemed to be the caretaker of the ranch appeared, and stopped Lydia.
“I’m not doing this for a simple reason. I need to negotiate about him, so please tell me who’s in charge of taking care of this Earl’s sword.”
Being showed the sword she held out roughly in front of him, the caretaker shrugged his shoulders, and pointed to a house on top of the hill.
“It’s a pity for the humans. If all the females were this head-strong, then they’d rather choose to have their souls become lights.”
She watched as the merrow looked pitifully at Edgar, who let his gaze roll off him with a sour smile, and she marched out of the ranch angrily.
“Well, pardon me for being head-strong.”
“I actually adore that part about you where you say things straight.”
“I can’t promise you that we’ll be alright even if you try to flatter me.”
“You have to be joking, Lydia, we still have time to turn back,” whispered Nico as he jumped up onto Lydia’s shoulder.
When he figured she wasn’t going to change her mind, he turned to face Edgar.
P. 252
“Oi, you brute, even if you live through this, don’t think you’re saved. I won’t be satisfied until I have the brownies pull out every strand on your blond head.”
“Nico, that’s useless. I had Edgar help me make a guide way for them. They wouldn’t do something like that against someone they owe.”
“Whaaat? Are you saying he gave a hand in that? Bloody heeeell! Then what’s the point of me coming here to save him! There’s no reason for me to be here!”
“I feel sorry about what I did, Nico. Until the fur on your tail grows back, I’ll buy you a present of a long-tailed coat that will hide your tail for you.”
Perhaps because he thought he was in a dream, Edgar accepted the fact that he could talk with Nico without hesitation.
“……Are you serious?”
Feeling a strong attraction to the sound of a coat, Nico softened his attitude.
“Yes, I promise. Of course only if we’re able to return.”
After they reached the top of the hill, and passed through the gate covered with starfishes, they were met with a jellyfish curtain overlapping on top of the other in a lacelike pattern.
P. 253
From the other side of it, a merrow appeared.
It was the young female that they met at the Blue Knight Earl’s castle.
She took a look at both Lydia and Edgar, and let out a troubled sigh.
“Fairy doctor, what is the meaning of this?”
“Are you in charge here?”
“No, my father.”
“I would like to meet him.”
“……Please follow me.”
They were lead into the room.
There were no ceilings in the merrow houses. There were hardly any walls as well; only rocks, and pillars and arches made of marine animal bones lined up next to each other, and separated by seaweeds and seashell curtains.
The merrow that was her father was in a room that had a particularly beautiful pillar decorated with pearl oyster shells.
“Lydia, are you sure you’re alright? He looks like a stubborn merrow,” whispered Nico.
“Hmm, who knows.”
Lydia showed her respect by doing a curtsy. Edgar just stood looking curiously at the stocky merrow, and Lydia didn’t couldn’t care less about his behavior.
P. 254
“My name is Lydia Carlton, and I am a fairy doctor.”
“What is your purpose.”
“I’ve come to retrieve the ‘merrow’s star’,” and saying that, she held up the sword and the sapphire.
“The earl has it. You should have heard that if the Earl has not returned, then we cannot put the star in the sapphire.”
“Is there anything else you can do? If this sapphire was once called the ‘merrow’s star’, then didn’t that mean your people had once put a star in it?”
“That’s right. As sign of the bond between the King and Lord Blue Knight, our ancestor who was the lord’s servant put in a star in front of them. But just because of that happening in the past, are you saying to put in a star again? We cannot. Because, there is no Earl.”
“He is the Earl. He obtained the gold and silver key and solved the riddle and made it to the hidden location of the sword. Your merrows should have promised to accept a new Earl who had fulfilled the conditions of the promise made with the Earl in the past.”
Edgar turned to stare at Lydia in surprise, but he didn’t open his mouth.
“However, he has not fulfilled the last condition. Blood was shed by the sword.”
That was the problem.
P. 255
“Why did you put the condition of testing the sword there? That was not the original condition, but a means to protect the Earl’s heir from all possible conspiracies, wasn’t it?”
The merrow grew silent, so Lydia carefully chose her words and continued.
“There might be the possibility of someone taking the advantage of the one who was descended from the Earl. There could be the chance of someone deceiving and accompanying him to get their hands on the gemstone. But this is a sword made of magic. It cannot harm the Earl’s heir and his trusted accomplices. Am I wrong?”
“…….You are completely correct. Daughter from the Earth land. We’ve had all the ones who came to claim sword and call themselves to be the Earl to test the sword. If there were those who shed blood by the sword, then it was also our duty to remove them.”
If he was the true Earl, then he wouldn’t misinterpret the meaning of exchanging with a star. There would be no way that he would bring someone as sacrifice, and the only ones he should be bringing along only the ones he trusted.
But if there was the possibility of someone who shed their blood there, then that proves that there was someone with ill intent who found their way into the group. If the true Earl was in that group, then it was all the more important for the merrows to protect the Earl and remove those with wicked aims.
P. 256
“Then relinquishing the sword in exchange with the soul of the one who shed blood would mean you and your merrows have twisted your promise with the Earl.”
“We have acted according to the promise. If you say not, then daughter of the earth, that would mean we would have to retrieve the sword you have in your hand and drag everyone of the souls that were present in that cave to the sea.”
Aaah, maybe it was foolish of me to think I could haggle a deal with merrows. This is bad, I need to think of something, panicked Lydia and tried to mull over a plan in her head.
“That’s……, that shouldn’t have been your merrow’s original purpose. It will be a misfortune for your merrows and for the island people to continue to wait forever for the Earl’s descendant who could have died out.”
Lydia gulped down the anxiety that was building up in her throat. She had to somehow bring them to consent to their idea.
“So, I would like to ask you to accept him as your new Earl.”
The merrow glanced over to Edgar with openly irritated eyes.
“You’re saying we should accept a thief?”
“Yes, he may be a thief and treat others like they were nothing, but the most important and only good quality about him is that he never abandons his duty of a nobleman.”
“'Only good factor' is a little rude, you know.”
Not paying any attention to Edgar, Lydia continued on.
P. 257
“Isn’t that the duty that your merrows wish from the human fief lord? He will take all the responsibilities, including for your merrows to be able to continue living on this island.”
“Hold on just a moment, Lydia.”
“You wouldn’t say you can’t do it, can you. You’re a peer. What is the big deal of having faeries live on your fief.”
“Well, yes. But just having the merrow’s acceptation won’t make me the lord.”
“So all we need is the star in the sapphire,”
“If you say you need the star that much, then I would like to ask you to understand our situation. Fairy doctor.”
“Of course, I,”
“Will you accept our duty to act upon what was promised with the Blue Knight Earl?”
“……Yes.”
“Lydia, no!” shouted Nico all of a sudden.
It was a bargain trap set by the merrow. It was already too late when Lydia realized that.
She looked down to see there had been water creeping up around Lydia’s feet.
“We may as well accept your offer. You shall have the star. However, in exchange with you. A fairy doctor’s soul is much more valuable than a mere human soul.”
P. 258
What was important for the merrows was that they didn’t break the promise with the Earl. Lydia intended to take advantage of that and tried to force them to accept Edgar as earl, but they had pulled the rug out from her feet.
It looks like the merrows were stubbornly sticking with the idea that the thing that would be traded with the gemstone star would have to be a human soul.
Even if there was a merit to make Edgar earl, they’re implying that there’s no promise of presenting a new star.
“Wait,” said Edgar and stood in front of Lydia. “The true meaning of the contract that you all have made was to accept the star from the earl’s heir and engrain it into the sapphire, wasn’t it? Then you should trade with my star.”
Lydia was surprised and panicked at what he was suddenly saying.
“Y-You don’t have any star.”
“I do, right here.”
Edgar stuck out his tongue like a child, and showed them the branded cross on it.
It looked too painful to the eyes to be called a star, and Lydia couldn’t bare to look at it.
“It may not be the Blue Knight Earl’s star, but the point is keeping the honor of not breaking the promise, right? Then, everything’s fine as long as we respect the formalities. This way, we don’t have to change the interpretation, and your merrows would be able to act exactly as the promise.”
P. 259
“What an interesting way of thinking.”
“Just as Lydia said in the beginning, I will protect your merrows right to live on the island. Of course, that’s if you would accept me.”
The way Edgar spoke in such a firm and resolute attitude made him resemble the Lord Blue Knight who must have took a stand against the merrows at one time.
The merrow looked like he was mulling it over, but that was only for just a moment.
The muddy water that had been sinking Lydia’s feet and lower legs, quickly retreated.
“Hmm, a tetra star. Well, it should do. The star sapphire is a penta star, but there is no rule that the ‘merrow’s star’ has to be that.”
A wind, no, a heave of the sea swirled up around Lydia and Edgar.
“I ask of the new Blue Knight Earl to not forget that the merrows have become your subjects.”
“Here comes the wave,” butted in Nico, clinging onto Lydia’s skirt. At that same time, Edgar clutched Lydia into his chest.
“W-What are you doing!”
“It looks like it’s going to get dangerous.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, for me.”
P. 260
“Huh?”
“Doesn’t it seem safer if I hang onto you?”
“…….Hang on? This is more like we’re in an embrace!”
“I also wanted to express my feelings of gratitude. For laying your life on the line to save me.”
P. 264
“It is my pleasure to welcome you back, my lord.”
So many of the butlers in his family must have waiting for the day to be able to say that. Because, he looked that emotional.
“Please excuse for being in such casual wear. The owner of this house informed me you were here, but it was so sudden, I rushed here as quick as I could when I heard that the lord of the house had returned alive.”
“It’s alright, don’t fret over it.”
“Hold on just a moment. …..So that means, this gentleman is,” questioned the policeman, still with a suspicious face.
“This gentleman is the the Earl Ashenbert, lord of this Mannor Island,” replied Tomkins.
“Is that certain? I have never heard that the lord was living on this island.”
“Yes, since he has been away for a long time.”
“Tomkins, could you fetch me a glass of water,” ordered Edgar, as if he didn’t care about the police’s questioning and gave an order to the butler as if that was usual. Of course, he must be used to ordering people around.
“Yes, immediately,” replied the butler, and happily headed to the kitchen.
“Then, my lord, could you explain how you came to meet Ms. Carlton, and how you both ended up on the shore? A report was filed that she had been kidnapped.”
P. 265
“Uh, this man just saved my life!” She blurted that out without thinking why she would have to cover up for a criminal like him.
But in the end, Lydia made the decision by herself to come along with Edgar. Without realizing that he was hiding a terrifying plan for her. And even after she found out, she couldn’t run away.
To top it off, she went after him to the merrow’s dwellings to save him, and so she didn’t have any intention of handing him over to the police now.
“The one who tried to kidnap me was the eight sibling brothers of the Gossam family, and I think they are still laying unconscious underground the castle. Please put them under arrest.”
“Eight men are passed out in an underground room? My lord, were you the one to bravely face such a number?”
Edgar shook his head and looked at Lydia like he also wanted to know the answer to that.
“Umm, …..that would be my friends.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, we’d like to ask them some questions.”
Lydia didn’t know how to answer that. If she told them they were faeries, then they’re bound to laugh at her.
Seeing Lydia like that, Edgar figured it out and replied to them instead.
“That would be impossible. Since they’re faeries.”
And he smiled towards Lydia. Like friends sharing the same secret.
P. 266
The policeman looked at the both of them dubiously.
There was another noisy commotion by the doorway.
The one who came scrambling in was Carlton. Raven was also with him.
“Father!”
Lydia ran over to her father and jumped up into his arms.
As the both of them were overjoyed in their safe reunion, she also managed to sneak a peek out of the corner of her eye of Edgar and Raven shaking their hands tightly.
She knew that for the both of them, this wasn’t an ending that they could wild with joy over. The sorrow of losing Ermine must be great.
But Lydia managed not to be killed by Edgar. Perhaps Ermine’s death was able to teach Edgar the feelings of Lydia who desperately wanted to save her father.
That’s why, most likely, the reason why Edgar didn’t cut Lydia but himself, was not only because he despaired over there not being a star in the sword.
Maybe, everything wasn’t a lie.
Like when he said he couldn’t lie like his usual self to Lydia as he cut himself with the sword.
Not wanting to hurt others as much as possible must have also been Edgar’s true wish, and that’s why he must have kept his promise that he’ll help Lydia and her father. Or so she hoped.
P. 267
“Oi, Lydia, go outside and look.”
At Nico’s voice, she finally stepped away from her father.
Carlton was stopped by the policeman who was eagerly waiting for the two of them to end their happy reuniting and bombarded him with questions. After Lydia listened as her father explained to him that both Raven and he tied up the Gossam brothers to the gatepost of the castle, she took a step outside of the house.
The view of the sea shore spread out in front of her.
Completely different from when they first arrived on the island, the waves were calmly washing up onto the shore.
She could spot a bunch of brownies rowing out a log like a ship onto the waves.
She felt that they would surely be able to go back and forth between the mainland and island safely now like they had in the past.
Lydia watched Nico run down to them after he told her that he was going to see the brownies off, and she turned to step back into the house.
She picked up the Blue Knight Earl’s sword that had been placed up against the wall near the fireplace, and looked to see that there was a crossed-shaped star that shined brightly in the middle of the sapphire.
“That was so magical. I’m still thinking that what went on was all a dream, yet this gemstone proves this is reality.”
She didn’t notice that Edgar was standing next to her.
If he stood so close to her like that, she remembered how they were in each other’s arms just earlier, and her heart began to race for no reason.
P. 268
For Edgar, that must have been just a part of the dream he was in, but for Lydia, it completely happened in reality.
“So, are you repenting even a little now?”
Even if it was just to reduce her embarrassment, she knew she said it in a way that wasn’t cute at all.
“Yes. I’ve learned that if you’re with someone soft-hearted, then you can’t expect what could happen. I’ve found out that being with those kinds of people can make nothing go according to plan, and they somehow make you not feel right, and nearly kill you.
But Edgar wasn’t cute at all in how he said that with that grin of his. It almost sounded to her like he was trying to pick a fight.
“Wait just a minute, are you making fun of me by saying I’m gullible and easily taken advantage of?”
“No, no. I’m really grateful. Plus, I’d like to think there was something special between us. It seems like you could never be able to desert me.”
He gave Lydia a seductive look which made her stagger back even more.
“Ah….., didn’t I tell you to not to get the wrong idea.”
“But, you know, a girl wouldn’t normally go after and save the man who was trying to kill her. But, even if I am wrong that that, I would be more than delighted.”
“I-I only wanted you to repent what you did! And yet, what is this attitude of yours after I went and saved you? And generally speaking, it’s a grave mistake to think about things in that they don’t go as planned and trying to make other people do as you say. It proves you’re insensitive.”
P. 269
“Well, I don’t think I missed the right points to get you to trust me. If you didn’t know the truth, don’t you think you would have fallen in love with me?”
Even as she was made at his excessive smugness, she was nearly swayed by his graceful smile. Geesh, this man really is hopeless.
“You really are an arrogant scoundrel. It was wrong of me to think you had some good in you. Listen clearly, I will never ever forgive you, and don’t intend of forgiving you either!”
Lydia slipped past him to leave.
“Wait.”
“It’s too late to try to cover up…”
“Leave the sword here. Or I won’t be able to keep the promise with the merrows.”
Lydia couldn’t help but blow her temper.
She threw the sword at him roughly.
“You’d be happy as long as you have the sword, right, then here. This make my job finished. I never want to see your face again. Don’t ever show yourself in front of me again. Understand?”
Showing his surrender, Edgar put his hands up. That gesture seemed like it was still making fun of her, heating her anger even more.
P. 270
Saying “Goodbye” as she panted, Lydia turned around to leave.
She pulled her father who was in deep conversation with the police and left the house.
“Father, let’s hurry home. I want to forget all the bad things that has happened!”
“She really does show her anger at you straight. It’s almost revigerating.”
He listened as Lydia complained loud enough for him to hear it, and picked up the sword as he narrowed like he was having a good time.
Raven stepped over to him.
“Lord Edgar, why did you purposely say something that would anger Miss Carlton?”
“I guess to hide my embarrassment.”
“Um-hm.”
“Because I told her that part about her is also cute as I was holding her.”
“That shouldn’t be that embarrassing. I believe you’ve said much more embarrassing things on a daily basis.”
“You don’t understand, Raven. It’s easy to say something if you don’t mean it.”
“…..then, wouldn’t it be pointless if she cuts ties with you.”
Edgar made an undaunted grin.
P. 271
But he soiled his smile and quietly lowered his eyes into a disheartened expression.
“Shouldn’t I restrain myself for a while?”
Raven went silent with his usual face expressionless, but looking closer, there was a complex mix of confusion and sadness in his eyes.
Edgar placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Let’s go pick some flowers. To pay tribute to her.”
“Oh my god, what is the meaning of this-!”
Two weeks had passed since Lydia and her father made it back to Carlton’s house in London and enjoyed Easter together and when Lydia gripped the newspaper and let out a howling scream.
An article on the paper said that the heir to the Earl family had returned from a three hundred year absence and was allowed a royal meeting with the Queen and formally acknowledged by her highness of his position in court, but that wasn’t the problem.
The problem was the part about how the legendary Earl family scion who was said to have land in the fairyworld, had hired a private fairy doctor.
The name that was printed was [Lydia Carlton].
“You have to be kidding me!”
P. 272
Lydia dashed to see her father to complain to her father. But she froze when she saw Nico standing and making poses in front of a long mirror.
The cat was wearing a finely, tailored overcoat, long enough to hide his tail and proudly looked into the mirror as he satisfyingly fixed his fur.
“Nico, is that….”
“Aah, yes, it just arrived. I was surprised he actually remembered his promise. He may be a scoundrel, but don’t you think he has good taste?”
She had a bad feeling.
“Lydia, a letter arrived for you.”
Just then, her father walked up to her.
Lydia’s mind was still distracted with Nico and she took the letter without much thought, but when she saw the grand crest in the sealing wax, her brows knit together as her bad feeling grew even worse.
She took her time as she nervously cut the seal.
[Dear Ms. Lydia Carlton,
We would like to inform you of this happy occasion about your hire as the private fairy doctor for the Earl family. In regards to your position, please pay a visit to the family town house as soon as possible. Furthermore, her royal highness is well aware of your involvement with the governing of the England fief estate in the fairyworld as the Earl family’s private fairy doctor. We would like to inform you to please carefully consider to accept this offer in a timely manner as it will be best for your sake.
Sincerely,
Earl of Ibrazel
Edgar J.C. Ashenbert]
P. 273
Which means she isn’t given the option of refusing.
Lydia trembled in rage as she balled her hands into tight fists.
“……THAT LOUSY SCOUNDREL!”
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