Chapter 3 ♦ The Ark and the Mystery of the fairies
"Hey, Lydia."
Lotta greeted her with a smile as Lydia returned home.
“I've brewed your favorite tea. ”
It was very difficult for Lydia to imagine herself being liked and understood by people outside her family. And not only that, but she also supposedly had close friends and even a “fiancée.” When did these changes begin to happen, and why did she forget them?
The goblins that had no interest in the conversation, just continued to make noise as they selfishly grabbed snacks.
Edgar had returned to London. Lydia felt a little empty and her cheeks still held a feverish feeling, but she was happy that Lotta was here and so she openly hugged her.
"I'm back, Lota. ”
Lota also, naturally hugged her back.
"Oh, Lydia, your friends came to visit you. ”
Lota pulled Lydia by the hand, and led her outside to a nearby teahouse.
"Huh? Friends?”
“I forgot to ask for their names but they seems to be the town’s girls. ”
Now that she thought of it, it may be the three sisters who were together with Edgar when he had come by to town. Even if their reasons to visit were just to get close to other nobles, in Lydia's view, that was still the start of exchanging visits with the town’s girls, so her anticipation grew.
Just Edgar’s very presence seemed to be enough to change the environment around her. It really was quite incredible.
But was it really because of Edgar?
Or was it Lydia who brought about a change?
And with Lota, was it because she was acquainted with Edgar that she was also fond of Lydia?
And, even up to now, Lydia still couldn’t bring herself to imagine being intimate with a man.
Thinking a little more, if there was a lover, it wouldn’t be surprising to imagine such intimacy as hugging and kissing in addition to just mutual gazing.
She knew that Edgar was in need of her abilities as a fairy doctor. But since meeting him for the first time, had Lydia really changed? Had she really come to understand his need so much as to help him with all she could?
"I was going to let them wait here, but I guess when they suddenly saw a mass of leaves fall, they got scared and left. ”
"Yes, it must have been the fairies' prank. ”
It was rather interesting so Lydia smiled.
Although things have changed a little over time, she was still viewed as particularly strange by the residents in town, and so she continued to be treated as an outcast.
But it wasn’t too bothersome.
For Lydia, her relationship with the fairies was more important than anything else.
Because of this, Lydia came to understand that the only company she would ever perhaps have in the future, would be from the fairies.
"Then again, it may have not been just a prank...how do I say it... ”
Lota shrugged as she looked at the teahouse.
Scrambled all over the chair, was a mass of leaves. And what seemed as a small figure wrapped up with leaves, lifted the cup up to its nose area, and looked as if it emitted full enjoyment from the tea’s fragrance.
There was also a small mass of leaves next to the biscuits on the table.
“Nico and Coblynau? What are you guys doing here?”
The leaves on the chair ruffled as if the presence within them got frightened.
“It is..... you could tell just from looking? Even though I'm in disguise!”
“But....”
Lydia and Lota, who were both sitting on a chair, looked at each other and nodded in understanding. Nico was also covered all over by the leaves but his grey tail still stuck out.
While Coblynau was only preoccupied with eating, he forgot to hide his large nose and untidy beard.
“Disguise...but why?”
“If this guy was to be found out by Kelpie, he would be eaten. In my previous time, I was driven out by him too. ”
Kelpie’s magic was only limited to humans. It did not affect fairies such as Nico and Coblynau.
And because of this, he was keeping his eyes open for if they were to catch his attention, he’d immediately get rid of them.
But if Nico was able to come back, then that meant that the magic that was casted on Lydia, would have also weakened. She noted this, and hastily approached forward.
“Well? Is it so? Can you undo the magic?”
Lota was also leaning over to get a good glimpse of the conversation.
“Oh, well in regards to undoing the magic, although your memory will not be recovered, there is a way to take you away from this town. Do you want to go out that much?"
"I want to go to London. ”
Nothing was more annoying than waiting helplessly.
Moreover, the enemy was said to have a fairy doctor on their side. It would be formidable for Edgar to deal with them on his own.
“I have heard that the evil fae were gathering in the wetlands of London and are intending to bring about a disaster soon. But if we can somehow do something that could protect London from these evil forces, then that would help Edgar out a lot too. ”
Buried in a pile of leaves, Nico shook his head helplessly.
"Lydia, I’ll say the ugly words first; before it’s all brought to an end by the Earl, it would be in your best interest to stay here quietly . ”
“But, well, Nico, just as the former Blue Knight Earl’s wife helped her husband deal with similar crisis, the Miss also has a rightful part to play," interrupted Coblynau.
“Ah, you do not know just how recklessly bold Lydia is. ”
“But small Bow said that the moonstone will surely protect the Miss. ”
“Huh, is that so? It can’t undo the magic, it can’t restore Lydia’s memory, and it cannot communicate with anyone else but you. What do you mean protect her? ”
"It has its ways!”
Coblynau puffed out his chest as he spoke--like a mother justifying her children.
“Hey! Where did you guys come from?!”
There came a sound from the windowsill. Nico and Coblynau immediately froze.
“Kelpie! Ugh...that, um...”
“Ah!...I’m the leaf fairy from the trees...”
Nico deliberately tried to change his voice, but his tail was suddenly caught by Kelpie.
"Hey! I was never an idiot!”
"Hey, ah...stop that!”
Coblynau hurried from the table and jumped to escape to the floor. But just as he stuck his head into the knothole, Kelpie caught up from behind and grabbed him.
The two fairies were slammed together by Kelpie roughly. And in that instant, the leafs fell in abundance revealing the forms of Nico and Coblynau.
"You! Did I not say that if I found you again, I’d eat you? ”
"Please stop, Kelpie!”
Lydia walked over to Kelpie glaring at him with her hands on her waist.
“I know you deceived me with your magic!”
Kelpie then wrinkled his brows and slowly released Nico and Coblynau from his grip.
“If you really want me to say it then, it was all designed to protect you. That Earl and I settled it through a contract. ”
He suddenly indicated a change of attitude.
"Contract, with Edgar?”
“He decided to protect you from the enemy. So before he came to see you, we agreed on the fact that no one could touch you nor have any contact with you. ”
“But Edgar was already here, was he not?”
“Well, that, he was able to somehow find a loophole in my magic and used it to his advantage. But it’s still useless. If the Earl ultimately does not find a way to release the magic then it won’t be possible to meet again. ”
It was true that Edgar had no absolute way to break Kelpie’s magic. Lydia couldn't understand why, after knowing such consequences, he would set such a gratuitous contract with Kelpie. However, despite that, he also said that he would do everything in his power to protect Lydia.
“But building such a magic wall around town to prevent me from seeing anyone, and having me forget him was very despicable black magic. Please immediately allow me to restore my memory. ”
"That won't be necessary. ”
Kelpie crossed his arms arrogantly looking down on Lydia.
"You forgot because......"
"What?”
"Anyway, that guy will soon be gone. ”
Kelpie was meaning to say that Edgar would die. Then, did that mean that Kelpie had already known about Edgar’s enemy and his disposition?
“He is not one to die so easily. ”
“Ulysses and Prince have already decided on his death. So in this case, he is unlikely to have a chance of returning alive. ”
“We have already made a promise that we’d meet again! ”
"I'll make you forget that too. As soon as matters concerning that guy come up, you make such a painful expression. Before, you didn’t make that kind of face. ”
Kelpie was also worried about Lydia. Kelpie had never ever shown such a complicated expression before. Lydia felt a stabbing pain in her chest while she noticed that.
"I don't want to.....forget. ”
Whether it was Kelpie or Lydia, they both had changed in their own ways. The reason may have well been due to all sorts of happenings.
Even if Lydia was unable to recall anything, the essence of her precious memories was still retained deep within her. She uttered those few words flatly.
“I want to remember Edgar!”
"Well I can’t think of the words that would cancel the magical incantation. But just so you know, it was never my true intention to have it this way.”
"Incantation? Although you say that, you deliberately made it so you’d forget, didn’t you?”
"I do not want to make you remember anything. ”
Kelpie said, quickly turning away. He then jumped out of the windowsill and disappeared.
Lydia sat on a bench next to the tree in the courtyard and watched the moon.
The moonstone ring bathed in the moonlight creating an incredible brilliance.
This ring was said to be able to avoid the effects of all magic and therefore guard Lydia. And it was also the ring to bring Edgar and Lydia together through the vow of engagement.
It seemed to remind Lydia of it’s great existence. And to also remind her, the ring holder, of her obligation to fight side by side with the Blue Knight Earl as his partner.
But Lydia still could not leave the town on her own.
She let out a sigh and at that moment, suddenly came another sigh from the spot next to her.
She didn’t notice when Nico had placed himself beside her.
"Hey, what are you sighing for?”
“Since you’ve gone on a rampage like this once before, I’ve been left with nothing but to constantly worry. ”
When Lydia was a child, and was often invited over to the fairy world by the fae, she had once gotten herself tangled in deep trouble. Although her mother had always warned her not to accept the invitation of fairies, Lydia entered into their dark lands anyway. But even so, Nico always knew where to find her.
As long as she was alongside Nico, the fairy world became much like her own garden. No matter how far she ended up going, she was always able to find her way back home.
“Did you really worry for me? I thought you always sought me out because you were repeatedly asked to do so by my parents, no matter how troublesome it became for you. ”
“If it was fortunately within town, and if I had known all the faes that lived around there, then even if you didn’t end up returning home right away, I wasn’t put under distress because I knew it was only a matter of playing for a bit until they sent you back. But for me to go meet them time and time again for you, became too troublesome. And when you trotted a little too far from home, it became worrisome. I didn’t know where you went off to, or which fae you had met up with. And because of that, several times, I had panicked.”
Sometimes, when Lydia would randomly enter the fairy world and get lost in distant places, Nico would become angry with her.
Although he was capricious, timid, and often went missing during dangerous moments, when Lydia ran into a real crisis, he would still always come for her.
Though she always quarreled with him, Lydia was still also very grateful to him for that.
He was her partner whom she knew very well.
"Nico, I need to get out of here, will you be my guide?”
"Do you believe in the engagement with the Earl?”
“····· I do not know yet. ”
"So then, is it really necessary to take such a big risk for that guy? Prince seems to intend to do cruel things in London. To go to that place now, would mean that we would also be swept up in that disturbance. ”
"Well, I was wrong, I......"
"Agh... really cannot stand you. ”
Nico was quite peevish as Lydia delightfully patted his paw that felt warm, covered with soft fur.
“But, Nico, if I am able to save someone, that someone would be Edgar. When I had helped him search for the treasured sword, I had also, at that time, wanted to help that desperate person achieve happiness. ”
“But if you were to also get caught up in the Earl’s misfortune, then what would happen?”
“It would be on my own accord then. So even if that were to happen, I would not blame anyone. ”
“Your stubborn personality is very similar to your mother’s. ”
Nico had said this as one being her mother’s closest friend. When Lydia’s mother eloped with her father, this fairy was the only one to accompany her as she abandoned her hometown.
"Human lives are very short, so to do things according to one’s own wishes is something quite significant. ”
Nico was suddenly reminded of the people that were most close to him in the past--Lydia’s mother. With his head drooping to his ears, he looked very much like a wool ball.
“I’m also on your side. Oh, compared to Mother and Father, I plan to live much longer. ”
But to Nico, maybe that still was such a short time.
As Nico gained ground toward her, Lydia looked up. He was motionlessly staring at her.
“....The same face. ”
"As my dear mother? If I was actually that beautiful, that would be nice, but....”
“Well that’s not so. And being beautiful or not is not related to anything. .....For her, it was good that she was able to meet the professor. ”
Nico said this and then stood up.
"Come on, Lydia, we’re going to London. ”
*
On a rare sunny day, the sun in the early spring, seemed to have covered the whole of London.
People went out in order to enjoy the sunlight. Wearing light coats and gorgeous dresses, the ladies were seen going out for walks in spring sceneries.
In Regent's Park open-air cafe, people laughed with one another like they had completely forgotten about the horrible rumors happening in the Eastern district of London.
Edgar sat before a grim-faced, obese middle-aged man, and sighed.
“Perhaps Paul was too happy to be invited out by a girl to play, and so he probably forgot about his duty back home. ”
"Earl, he's not you. ”
Slade, who was also a part of the secret organization “Scarlett Moon” led by Edgar, had rushed over to the cafe where the meeting was taking place. He was a stubborn man who did not know how to have a little fun to ease up the atmosphere a little bit.
"So, then, you should continue to investigate it. ”
"There’s a constant increase in the number of deaths in the Eastern District. And the West of the city had no patients appearing. ”
“Is Paul related to the outcome?”
“Well just a little.”
Slade spread out a note that was written on a piece of paper. It’s printing was coarse like it was written on leaflets.
“Like Paul, the disappearances continued, and there were leaflets like this found from the home’s of the missing people. ”
“Seek salvation in the Ark, and it will open the gates of heaven. ”
Next to the sentence, was a drawing of Noah’s Ark.
"It is a religious term, but looks like it has no relation to the Church. ”
“The one advertising was a Frenchman named Moses Aruba. He seemed like he was the new member to preach divinity. He immediately took the liberty to pass on rumors of London being struck with disaster while simultaneously selling his “Noah’s Ark” cruise tickets saying that so long as the they were on the ark, they would be able to escape from the plague. ”
"Selling it?”
“The boat was believed to come to a halt at the Thames River. And not only was it boarded with some real goods, it was also believed by some people that the spread of the disease from the Eastern district was blocked from entering the city by this same person. In fact, diseases ever only did occur in the East side of London. ”
If it was like what Lydia said, Edgar thought, then the diseases truly were brought in by the evil Unseelie Court. Then Ulysses, who was able to manipulate the fairies, could also limit the dissemination of the disease.
Did Ulysses purposely limit the spread of the disease in order for this preacher to gain the trust of the people?
However, whether the two matters of the “Ark” or the plague were related to Prince, was not yet proven.
"What is it, Earl?”
“The fact that Paul might have been persuaded to also board the ship, may be very possible. ”
“And maybe the French man is under Prince’s control behind the scenes. ”
“Or it just may be a groundless rumor by the townspeople....but in any case, I want to take a look at his face. ”
"He will be here soon. ”
Slade looking very happy with his perfect plan, puffed out his chest.
As Edgar put the hot coffee to his mouth, Slade shifted his attention towards a woman.
In one of the seats of the outdoor cafe lawn, sat a young woman that had the charm of a married one. She looked quite old to be considered a young maiden though.
At least, that’s how she seemed like in person.
"The woman on the right is my Gallery's guest. She very much likes divine preaching, topics of incantations, and such. I overheard that she would be coming here today to see Moses Aruba. ”
“I see. So, are those men also a part of the ‘Aruba group’?”
Three men were seated close to the woman.
As Edgar gazed upon their faces, he noticed that the one seated in the middle wore a black mask to cover the right side of his face.
The sight of him took Edgar by surprise as it reminded him of Prince.
But judging from the left side of his face, the man seemed quite young. Probably around the age of 30 or so.
Nevertheless, Edgar sensed that he must be the character known as Aruba, based on the other two men’s attitudes sitting on either side of him. They seemed to have served him.
“Aruba is said to be blind in one eye, so it’s a given that he would seem so mysterious to people. But perhaps, it is only to disguise his diviner’s performance. ”
In addition to the mask, his face was also very thin. But that didn’t give out such a special impression.
However, his dialect had a strong attraction and sense of dignity.
Although he was French, he clearly displayed an upper-class English accent.
Even his slight hand gestures to call over the waiter were so elegant that the attention of two women nearby, was also attracted to him.
Just staring at him more and more gave Edgar waves of chills and soon enough, his body was covered with goose bumps.
Everything about this man, was like Prince.
His tone, cadence of voice, posture, and even the way he rested his hand on the table, was all exactly the same.
And the mannerisms that Prince and his organization intended on instilling into Edgar, were all excessively similar too.
"What's the matter? Hey, that man… I have seen him before!”
Hearing the voice of Slade, Edgar managed to shake off the dizziness and the chill he had felt from his pondering mind, and redirected his attention to what was going on in front of him.
"Which man?....”
"The one on the left. He wanted to become a painter, and so he was a frequent visitor to my Gallery. His name is Greg. ”
"Well, does Paul also know him?”
"Well, it seems so. ”
That was an instant clue. Even if it was just his imagination and intuition, but it was still related to Paul regardless.
The man who was directed by Aruba, motioned something like an envelope before the woman.
Aruba stood up, smiled, and they shook hands before he left.
Just in the coffee shop, Edgar and Slade sitting behind them, quickly grabbed a newspaper, and looked like they were reading earnestly through it so the departing people would not easily notice them. Then after that, Edgar stood up too.
Edgar approached the woman who had spoken to Aruba.
When he walked by her, she was also beginning to leave her seat. Then, Edgar intentionally shouldered the woman and she hobbled, propping her hand on the table. He pretended to hurry over to her side to help her.
"Excuse me for my rudeness, Madam. ”
“No, It is my fault...I did not look where I was going. ”
Edgar saw that just by saying a few words, her cheeks began to blush.
“Your gloves didn’t get dirty, did they?”
As her hands came down on the table, the cup turned over from the impact, contaminating her fine gloves with coffee stains.
Edgar, to further point this out, held out her hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I’m one to blame. But, can you tell me your name? Please allow me to send you a new pair. ”
He was still holding her hand and staring at her as he said this.
She rushed to shake her head in a panic.
“No, they have not been dirtied all that much to send new ones. Please don't mind me.”
She said hurriedly, and then lowered her head slightly before leaving with her maidservant.
Was this known as the so-called firm wife behavior? Edgar expected as much. Even such charms of his wouldn't be so alluring for a married woman. He was just trying to distract her attention anyways.
Edgar walked back to where Slade was sitting and pulled out the envelope that the woman had received from the man.
"Earl, do you have a history of pickpocketing?”
“Well, yes, I’m embarrassed to say so but I had to learn it, due to some circumstances. ”
“Most normal people don’t learn of such things," Slade murmured, but Edgar merely brushed it off. He opened the envelope.
“The tickets for the Ark.”
Knowing the tickets were for Noah’s Ark, it didn’t seem like a “party on board” was what the ship was embarking for.
There was only content written on the ticket, but Edgar’s attention was attracted to the back of the ticket where the ship’s name was printed, and alongside it, a badge.
"This, this is the badge of the Stuart family!”
"Stuart Family?"
"This is Prince’s way of claiming to be born from the Royal family...... "
Edgar’s rival had claimed the Glorious Revolution to overthrow King James II of England, over 100 years ago. And James II’s grandson, Charles Edward, claimed that the Crown Prince was defeated in the battle for the recapture of the British monarchy .
And as for what kind of treatment was given after the battle, proponents of King James were put under suppression on the orders of the British government.
It was said that the strength of deep hatred, as well the art of black magic, were both combined in unison to create the phenomena of Prince’s birth, who had inherited King James’ royal bloodline.
Their purposes of blending into a dark social organization under cover, was to maintain and pass on the royal bloodline in order to at one point, exact revenge on the British Royal family.
In any case, it was certain that the whole organization of Prince was definitely linked to the Stuart family and with King James of the Royal family.
And for the same reasons, Edgar became their target. They had the pedigree of King James and many British aristocracies within their own lineage, and so based on that, their next chosen candidate had to be someone with the most appropriate descent.
That was why Edgar’s parents were killed. He was also believed to have died but in reality, was abducted and shipped to America as a white slave and was later educated into becoming Prince’s successor.
"Although it’s been through ingenious changes, but this symbolic pattern is specific to the Stuart Family’s unique representation. And the name ‘Aruba’, I think comes from Scotland's oldest collectively, because the Stuart Family is a royal family from Scotland. ”
“So, Moses Aruba is not only associated with Prince, but may also be a descendant of James II who had fled to France...making him a relative of Prince?”
After having had Edgar escape from him, was Prince now planning on finding another successor who would inherit the Royal blood?
It sure seemed as so.
"That's right, that man also received a special orthodontic a while ago."
To be abused to the end, forced to commit total self destruction, and to be molded in accordance to Prince’s will, was what always awaited his so-called dolls in the end.
While Edgar was pondering, he suddenly pushed the letter over to Slade and stood up.
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