Lydia opened the door gently and after making sure that nobody was in the corridors, she secretly slipped out of the room.
Now was the time when the servants were resting. She went down the staircase without being found by anyone. There also wasn’t anyone in the hall below.
Now is the time!
Just as she prepared to run to the entrance in one breath....
“Liz, were you going to head out?”
The sound of Edgar’s voice came from behind, and she almost lost her footing on the staircase. Lydia grabbed the handrail, sparing no effort to support herself up, and turned her head.
“Y-yes, I wanted to go for a walk.”
As if to prevent Lydia from escaping, Edgar went around her and obstructed the path ahead, then grinned and said:
“Just in time. Would you like to head to the countryside now for a change of mood?“
Because of what happened last night, Lydia could not help but feel suspicious towards Edgar now. She originally believed that Edgar would never again speak kindly to Liz.
“Uh, but........”
“I want to apologize to you. Last night, I became too overwhelmed by my emotions and thus behaved in a very disrespectful manner.”
He lowered his eyes as if he felt apologetic from the bottom of his heart.
“Lydia....my fiancée, suddenly went missing. Although I’ve told acquaintances that she had returned to her hometown, the fact of the matter is, something must have happened to her and she wasn’t able to return. I didn’t have any clues, so I vented my anxiety towards you.”
“Liz” didn’t understand why Edgar would say all this, so she merely listened in silence.
“Perhaps she is similar to you and lost her memories. As long as I think of this, I regret hurting you even more.”
Edgar sorrowfully frowned deeply. Lydia thought that perhaps this was his true feelings, and her chest couldn’t help but feel tight.
But at the same time, she felt afraid.
The person who stood in front of her was not the Edgar she recognized. Even though he was smiling, there was a cold atmosphere.
“Please allow me to apologize for last night. Can you give me a bit of your time?”
Edgar took her hand as if nothing had happened. Unlike last night, he perfectly treated Liz as a lady, and because of this, Lydia understood even less what Edgar was thinking, and was at a complete loss.
Edgar had still not seemed to have realized that Liz was Lydia, but he did understand that Liz had a favorable impression of him. Moreover, Liz was clearly seducing Edgar yesterday; thinking back now, with regards to Lydia, that kind of behaviour was sufficient enough to make her faint on the spot.
Could it be that Edgar wanted to use Liz to replace Lydia now?
This is troublesome.
Following him like this would be very dangerous.
Lydia’s mind undoubtedly understood, but she was unable to shake off Edgar’s hand.
Perhaps this time, he will discover her. Lydia couldn’t restrain the faint anticipation in her heart.
If she were to flee from Edgar’s side like this, she may not be able to come back again. Even if it was an insignificant possibility, she wanted to give it a try, as this was to be expected.
In the end, "Liz" and Edgar boarded the carriage together.
Last night’s downpour had finally stopped in the early morning, and the sunlight occasionally appeared from between the clouds.
Edgar, in order not to let Liz feel bored, chatted about pleasant topics along the way. Nevertheless, perhaps he did this in order not to give Liz the opportunity for her feelings to change.
Up until yesterday, Lydia desperately wanted to make Edgar discover her true identity, but she discovered that the more she did so, the more it brought about a negative influence on each other. Therefore, she was forced to courteously respond to what Edgar said.
As long as one viewed Edgar with this slight distance, then it would become very clear that Edgar was a dazzling person.
The shiny, blonde hair underneath the top hat fluttered in the breeze and glistened under the sunshine. He clearly had an appearance such that one could use a metaphor of purity, yet those ash mauve eyes inexplicably stirred up emotions. If he were to gaze at someone without meaning, then it would make them have the misconception that they were the most important, causing others to believe that perhaps this was his unique expertise.
With that, the majority of young women ought to fall in love with him instantaneously.
Did this kind of Edgar really want to apologize to “Liz”? Lydia couldn’t make out what ideas he had in his mind at all.
Even as they had become engaged, Lydia still had trouble thinking of a gift that would make him happy, let alone the fact that he flawlessly repressed his emotions in front of Liz, who was an outsider. Therefore, it was only logical for Lydia not to comprehend what he was thinking.
The more Edgar stared at Lydia, the more she found it hard to believe that he was her fiancé. She even believed that she was “Liz”, who was unable to receive Edgar’s attention no matter what she did, and that “Lydia”, who was very special to him, was another person.
This was probably the real current situation. The body that was here was Liz, and there was no way to become Lydia.
“You don’t seem to be cheerful. Sure enough, is it because you didn’t want to come out with me?”
“Eh… no, that’s not true.”
“But you’re absent-minded, looking up at the sky like that.”
Lydia mumbled “sorry”. She felt that Edgar was seemingly a bit displeased.
“If you head forward more, there’s a place with very beautiful scenery, have you been there?“
“Oh, it’s my first time.”
“I see, so you do remember something.”
Lydia was shocked and covered her mouth, but Edgar smiled indifferently.
“Uh, how strange, I feel as if it’s the first time coming here.”
She wanted to play the fool, but Edgar, whose whole face was filled with doubt, suddenly leaned over and said:
“Liz, I want to understand you more, for instance, what your true identity is."
Lydia was startled. The name “Lydia” was already at the corner of her lips, but Edgar had never considered that possibility.
Edgar was seemingly going to pursue Liz and tenderly smiled, gently holding her hand.
“Why did you want to rush in front of my carriage? Why did you say that you didn’t remember anything? What’s your purpose in approaching me?”
His tone was very gentle, but the questions thrown out were actually intense.
“Did someone order you?”
“.....Eh, by order you mean.....”
“For instance, being threatened by Ulysses and such?”
“N-no!”
Lydia realized that an intense anger instantly flashed in Edgar’s eyes, and that she misspoke again.
“I see so you do know Ulysses.”
Although Lydia’s hand wasn’t grasped with a lot of force, she was unable to draw back with her strength.
“Was it Ulysses who took Lydia away? For what reason?”
The carriage door was blocked by Edgar, and he was coming closer. Lydia didn’t know what to do.
She only knew that she was suspected by Edgar and was being considered an accomplice of the criminal who took his fiancée away.
“You will tell me.”
Fingers soothingly touched her cheek. If there was a little resistance, then he would probably twist and break her neck.
“No, I don’t know anything.”
Lydia desperately shook her head, but Edgar’s expression didn’t change the least bit.
"...... Everything you know, you will tell me. Have no fear, if Lydia is saved, you will be saved. “
As the underlying small minion?
Edgar was obviously threatening Liz. He decided that no matter the means he must make her to speak.
“No, I don't know anything at all!“
Lydia was shaking her head, but Edgar’s grim expression didn’t change the slightest.
“No matter who, they will say so at the beginning, but it’s just the start.”
“It’s true, I…… I am not your enemy.”
Before she knew it, the carriage had stopped.
She realized that her shoulders were trembling. She was afraid and sorrowful to the point of not knowing what to do.
“......I beg you, Edgar, please recognize me! You know who I am!”
He frowned.
“Close your eyes and feel with your heart, as long as you do this, you will know. You’ve clearly said this before!”
Edgar seemed caught up in contemplation, probably because Lydia’s reaction and the enemy spy’s reaction when being interrogated weren’t too similar.
“I.... won't run away. I believe you’ll realize, so please close your eyes for a moment.”
Lydia begged him, and he did as such, grabbing her hand and closing his eyes.
I must calm down. Lydia took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
She grasped Edgar’s hand in return, confirming those warm and slender fingers. Lydia knew it was a hand that was familiar to her.
Although Liz wasn’t similar to Lydia at all, that was only in appearances; in fact, regardless of her palms, fingertips, hair, ear, and lips, all of it was Lydia, thus he ought to have taken notice.
But suddenly the carriage door opened.
Edgar came to his senses and opened his eyes, then with an expression still full of doubt, he turned around.
“Earl, the preparations are complete.”
Because of the light that illuminated from the back of his face, Lydia couldn’t clearly see who the man that said this sentence was. Edgar then left her, quickly getting off the carriage.
The man rudely ordered Lydia to get down.
After walking outside, Lydia realized that the man was Patrick. However, she simply didn’t have the time to think about why he would be here.
As long as she thought that Edgar abandoned her, and that no one would come to her rescue, Lydia became so worried that she was practically unable to stand.
Although it was the outskirts, it seemed that they arrived at a very distant location. After the carriage proceeded to leave, there wasn’t anyone else apart from Edgar and Patrick. She could only see hills surrounded by ancient stone walls.
To the side, there was a muddy river flowing. It was accumulated by water, probably due to yesterday’s rain.
Along the river, there was a complete row of layered rocks that continued on; this was a rampart, which was practically covered by earth and weeds. Patrick overlooked the rampart from a fairly high place.
Lydia immediately looked over and found that there were threads everywhere.
It was a thread woven by fairies, which ordinary people couldn’t see. Moreover, those threads appeared to be intertwined like a net; in other words, it was a trap used to capture fairies.
Was it Patrick who arranged it?
Lydia hastily looked around. Hopefully Kelpie didn’t come. Although she hoped for this, she didn’t know whether or not she truly wanted this.
“Come here now.”
Patrick pulled Lydia’s hand roughly.
She climbed over the nearly broken stone steps, walking towards the network of threads. Edgar followed behind from a somewhat distant point.
The shaking stone steps on that rampart was like a steep cliff. With regards to Lydia, whose legs were constantly trembling, climbing up was really too difficult.
Furthermore, the river below incessantly emitted the sound of muddy water, making her cower even more. However, Patrick stubbornly pulled her, thus she staggered and fell onto the ground.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and stand.”
Practically being treated like a criminal, she wanted to cry out in pain.
“It’s you who was being too rough to her.”
Edgar came over, unexpectedly helping Liz up gently.
“Earl, this is for Miss Lydia, I have no choice but to be ruthless.”
“I know.”
Edgar sighed, and looked at Liz.
“Is your hand injured?”
Although Edgar spoke with concern, she knew that he wasn’t worried about Liz at all. His gaze still seemed indifferent, like looking at a criminal.
“How could that sort of injury hurt? Later, I’m going to use her blood to draw out the unseelie court, which ought to be nearby. Furthermore, we should get all kinds of things from her mouth.”
“In this case, making her suffer senseless injuries is useless. If humans flinch due to small injuries, then the blood won’t flow out as easily.”
“Then please bring her here.”
Patrick began to walk towards the steps ahead.
Hey, hurry up and escape now.
At that moment, Lydia heard Kelpie’s voice.
“Get away from those threads, I can’t head over to where you are.”
After Edgar helped Liz up, he immediately released her hand. He probably didn’t believe that Liz would run away.
Of course, she wore a heavy dress, thus it was impossible to run past the men. But now, if she shook them off a little, and it was a short distance, then she would be able to reach Kelpie’s side.
Presently, Liz was still considered a spy of Ulysses’ faction, and although running away was equivalent to needing to leave Edgar misunderstood, at least she wouldn’t encounter a bloody end.
It will be fine if I put in strength in my legs to turn back and break out in a run.
However Lydia, whose whole body was tense, was suddenly grabbed by Edgar.
“..... Help me, Edgar.”
She didn’t know what she was doing, and blurted this out.
“Earl, what are you doing!”
Patrick anxiously shouted out, because Edgar used his hand to embrace Liz’s shoulder, as if to protect her.
Lydia was also quite surprised, but he blocked Patrick, who was planning to intervene, then whispered to Liz:
“Liz, haven’t I said this before? If you speak of what you know, you will be saved.”
Edgar wouldn’t sympathize with the enemy so easily. No matter how gentle he seemed, it certainly wasn’t because he could sense Lydia’s existence in Liz’s body.
These arms won’t protect her again.
At the thought of it, Lydia felt frightened.
Even if she knew that the changeling magic would be lifted as a result, she wanted to tell him that she was Lydia. But now, perhaps Edgar wouldn’t believe her.
Compared to him not discovering the truth, Lydia was more afraid of speaking the truth and then being rejected.
Not only has the situation already become like this, if I were to speak the truth now, wouldn’t it hurt Edgar?
Edgar originally wanted to work together with Patrick to question Liz, but if he knew the truth…...
“Earl, if we don’t hurry, the trap will weaken.”
Patrick impatiently pulled Liz apart from Edgar.
“No! Edgar……”
Lydia’s actions and the thoughts in her mind were different. She grabbed Edgar tightly, not letting go, as she didn’t want to leave him.
However, she was forcibly pulled.
“Save me, I beg you!”
Despite this, Lydia still desperately struggled, wanting to flee from Patrick’s side.
But her outstretched arms could only wave in the air.
She recklessly resisted, completely forgetting that the ground by her feet wasn’t steady at all.
“Stop it, Patrick!”
At this moment, Edgar spoke.
Patrick doubtfully loosened his grip, and Lydia, who was on the stone steps, lost balance at that split second.
As soon as she glanced at the river below, her feet had already left the stone steps.
“Lydia!”
Kelpie’s voice?
It ought to be, since Edgar wouldn’t address Liz as Lydia.
Lydia immediately grabbed the long grass between the rock walls, but it was simply unable to support her weight.
She saw Edgar stretching his body forward. Although he wanted to extend his hand out, it didn’t reach her.
It’s already…… no good.
“Farewell, Edgar.....”
As Lydia mumbled, she allowed her body to fall straight down towards the river.
*
The sound of underground shaking resonated in the rock cavern.
Lota, who was dozing off, was startled and opened her eyes, then put up her guard, thinking it was an earthquake.
“What’s that noise?”
“It’s the Trow snoring.”
A fed up voice came from the corner of the cave.
“I recall you are…. Lota, correct? You’re still able to sleep in this kind of place.”
“I can sleep anywhere.”
Lota let out an enormous yawn then remembered, shouldn’t that red-headed youth over there have escaped with Lydia? She remembered that he seemed to be called Fergus.
“How strange. Why are you here?”
“I was captured by the Trow. Since I’m the clan head’s son, it’s as if the Trow wants to take me hostage and have my father agree to taking his clan’s girl away as their bride in exchange.”
“What! Then what about Lydia? Was Lydia also captured?”
Lota promptly looked around, but didn’t see Lydia. Fergus held his head, saying that it would have been better if Lydia was captured by the Trow.
“She…… she was kidnapped by a dreadful fairy, it would be good if she wasn’t eaten.”
“What did you say?”
“That completely black aquatic horse must be a Kelpie…… I don’t know why a Kelpie would appear in a place like this now……”
Was the Kelpie he was speaking of that Kelpie?
Lota leaned her back on the rock walls and heaved a sigh of relief. If that was the case, Lydia should be safe and sound.
“Lydia is all right, she’s a fairy doctor.”
“Even if she’s a fairy doctor, the enemy was a Kelpie! That, is an unseelie court; granted that they’re in the human world, there’s a way to handle them, but if we’re completely unprepared and come across a Kelpie in the fairy realm, it wouldn’t be strange if we were suddenly eaten!”
Lota looked at the exasperated Fergus, thinking to herself that he truly was an interesting guy.
“It doesn’t matter even if it’s a man-eating horse, since that Kelpie is Lydia’s friend.”
“What? How is that possible. Kelpies can’t be friends with humans by any means! If it was me, I absolutely wouldn’t be friends with a pacific herring, which I like to eat the most!
“I understand your feelings, but that Kelpie is a little strange. That said, you really know a lot about fairies.”
Lota chuckled while changing the subject. Through her easygoing manner of speaking, Fergus’s assertiveness weakened, thus he answered hesitantly:
“What……? This is only logical since the island that we reside on is a land where numerous fairies live as well. In addition, one must understand them in order to become the clan head.”
“Anyhow, I was involved for no reason because of you.”
“...... I’m sorry.”
Fergus sincerely apologized, then held his head once more.
“How the giant treats you is your own fault, but you gave Lydia a huge inconvenience. She was going to celebrate a day of happiness later on, yet you came and spoiled it.”
Rather than saying it was a condemnation, it would be better to say that Lota was complaining.
Apart from the point of seeing fairies, regardless of what Lydia could see, she was an ordinary girl. However, Edgar fell for her and involved her within disputes. In some aspects, Lota completely sympathized with her.
But even if Edgar hadn’t fallen in love with Lydia, she wouldn’t be able to keep away from disturbances involving fairies.
“You said it quite clearly…… but you’re not wrong. Before coming to London, I didn’t know that she had a fiancé at all. But also, just because I wanted to see her since long ago, I was really looking forward to it, and I really wanted to find her sooner and bring her back.”
“You wanted to see her since a long time ago? Lydia clearly said that she knew nothing about her mother’s homeland, so why would you be familiar with her? Was it not because of the trouble happening on the island that you began to look for Lydia?”
“Yes, but as a child, I heard my relatives speak about the matter of Aurora eloping with someone, and knew that if Aurora had a daughter, then she would become my fiancée, so I was curious.”
“Then it basically has nothing to do with Lydia, since she’s Professor Carlton’s daughter.”
If Lydia’s mother got married to a man on the island, then the daughter that she’d give birth to wouldn’t be Lydia. This kind of thought was quite common.
“That is true…... but I heard that Aurora was a beauty with a great temperment.”
“So you thought her daughter would surely be a beauty?”
Lota was utterly surprised at first, then laughed because she felt it was too amusing.
“But now, you ought to have another fiancée, isn’t that right?”
“Although I did, she died of an illness two years ago. She was only ten years old, and as far as I was concerned, it wasn’t a real feeling of having a fiancée.”
In other words, this guy’s first love was Aurora, or perhaps Lydia, both of whom he had never met before?
Although Lota felt sorry with regards to his fiancée’s situation, she felt that it was increasingly ridiculous.
First, Lydia was caught in cajolement by a philanderer, and now an innocent gentleman appeared, who would merely fall in love by using his imagination. Even a man-eating horse was fond of her.
Could it be that she was destined to be liked by abnormal men?
“Hey, Trow’s snoring stopped.”
Nervous, Fergus carefully listened to his surroundings.
Lota strained to listen immediately afterwards, and at this time, another sound echoed.
Lota remembered that she had once heard these quiet sounds which seemed both like a stringed instrument as well as the sound of air vibrations.
This was really like the sound of bow-string vibrations.
Just as she thought this, the Trow passed through the rock wall, taking large steps towards their direction.
“Hey, your ring is extremely noisy, think of something to stop it.”
The Trow threw the Moonstone ring towards Lota.
The sound was indeed coming from the ring. The groaning-like sound seemed to be a warning of danger.
Lota’s heart felt a burst of anxiety. Nothing should have happened to Lydia, right?
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